Nature park in Dalmatia – Split
Biokovo
- Best time to go
- May, June, Sept, Oct
- Part of
- Dalmatia – Split
Biokovo is the great limestone mountain that rises straight out of the sea behind the Makarska Riviera.
Its highest peak, Sveti Jure, at 1,762 metres, is the second highest in Croatia, and on a clear day the view reaches across the islands of Brač and Hvar towards Italy. A winding road climbs almost to the top, past the glass Skywalk viewpoint, and marked trails lead up from the villages on the coast. It is a dramatic change from a beach day, and much cooler than the shore below.
Things to do
Don't miss in Biokovo
- Drive the mountain road up to Sveti Jure for one of the widest views on the Croatian coast.
- Step out onto the Biokovo Skywalk, a glass platform hanging over the cliffs above Makarska.
- Hike up from Makarska or Baška Voda to Vošac, a peak with a view over the town and sea.
- Visit the Kotišina botanical garden on the slopes above Makarska.
- Look out for chamois and wild mountain flowers in the high meadows.
- Go at sunrise or late afternoon in summer, when the light is soft and the heat is lower.
Where to stay
Pick your neighbourhood
Makarska
the liveliest base, with a seafront, beaches and the shortest drive to the park entrance
Baška Voda and Brela
beach days with pebble coves and pine trees, and hiking trails up Biokovo behind the villages
Tučepi and Podgora
families who want a quieter beach town close to Makarska
Mountain villages
hikers who want to stay above the coast, in old stone villages on the slopes
Tours and getting around
Day trips from Biokovo
Jeep tours and guided hikes on Biokovo leave from Makarska and the riviera towns, and some include the Skywalk and the summit. Guided sunrise trips are popular in summer.
A car or a scooter is the way to drive up the mountain road yourself. Without one, join a jeep tour from Makarska. Bring water and a jacket, as there are few services on the mountain and it can be windy at the top.
Getting there
How to get to Biokovo
Biokovo is the steep mountain wall right behind Makarska and the towns of the Makarska Riviera, about an hour and a half by car south of Split. The park entrance is on the road from Makarska towards Vrgorac, a short drive up from the coast, and from there a narrow mountain road climbs to the summit of Sveti Jure. The road is mostly a single lane with passing places, so allow plenty of time and drive carefully. The number of cars on the summit road can be limited in summer. Check opening hours, ticket prices and any road closures on the park's official website before you go, as they change with the season.