Imotski

Imotski is a small town in the Dalmatian hinterland, inland from the Makarska Riviera and close to the border with Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is famous for two dramatic karst lakes on its doorstep – the Blue Lake and the Red Lake.

Why visit

The Blue Lake (Modro jezero) lies in a deep crater right below the town. In wet seasons it fills with intensely blue water; in dry summers it can almost disappear, and locals play football on the dry lake bed. A path leads down to the water, and the Topana fortress above gives the classic view over the crater.

The Red Lake (Crveno jezero), a few minutes’ drive away, fills a huge sinkhole ringed by reddish cliffs and is almost 300 m deep – one of the deepest lakes in Europe. You can only look at it from the rim; there is no way down to the water.

Where to stay

Imotski has a few small hotels, apartments and rural holiday houses with pools in the surrounding villages. It is also an easy day trip from the Makarska Riviera.

Getting there and around

Thanks to the Sveti Ilija tunnel through Biokovo, Imotski is about half an hour by car from the Makarska Riviera. Split is about an hour away, and Međugorje and Mostar in Bosnia and Herzegovina are about an hour across the border.

Parking

There is parking near the Blue Lake and in the town centre; it is rarely a problem outside August.

Day trips

Nearby destinations

• 

  Dalmatia

  Biograd na Moru

  A lively seaside town south of Zadar, gateway to the Kornati islands and Lake Vrana.

• Dalmatia

  Konavle

  Croatia’s southernmost valley beyond Dubrovnik: vineyards, villages, Cavtat and Sokol Grad.

• 

  Dalmatia

  Krka National Park

  Waterfalls and river canyons inland from Šibenik, with Skradinski buk as the highlight.

• Dalmatia

  Makarska Riviera

  Sixty kilometres of pebble beaches between Brela and Gradac, under the wall of Biokovo mountain.