Hotel Đuro Salaj

A workers’ resort on the Makarska Riviera built for miners from the Bosnian coal mines of Đurđevik, Banovići and Kreka. The Croatian War of Independence ended its use and the building has been left to decay above the sea.

Hotel Đuro Salaj sits in Dalmatia, a part of Croatia with its own character, and the abandoned place is the reason most people stop.

These buildings decay fast and floors give way. Sturdy boots, a torch and a charged phone are the minimum, and treat the place as a memorial, not a playground.

Practical info

• Entry: look up the current price and opening hours before you go. Both change through the year, and a few spots close completely out of season.
• How to get there: Use the map above for directions. Town parking is usually paid and signposted, watch for the blue P zones, and allow extra time if a ferry is part of your route.

When to go

Aim for May to October at Hotel Đuro Salaj, and within that, June and September for warm water without the peak crowds. High summer means heat and queues; winter, by contrast, is quiet, cheap and surprisingly handsome inland.

Photograph by John covers Croatia honestly. Every spot here is real, mapped and free to read. If this guide helped, pass it on to someone planning a trip.