Villa Yanko
- Feb 29, 2020
- 3 min read

Biokovo Nature Park and Biokovo Road - The highest road in Croatia

Updated: May 17, 2023

Biokovo

Biokovo is the second-highest mountain range in Croatia and the second Natur Park as well. It is one of the most popular hiking destinations. The Park in total covers 19,550 hectares. It is a fascinating topography and is home to many animals.

The best views

Nowhere on the Adriatic are the mountains as close to the sea.

The first few hundred meters are lush green then a rapid ascent begins. At sunrise and at sunset, coolers on the rock face change pretty and romantic, but the beach view and sea view is ever-present and unforgotten.

Biokovo Nature Park Skywalk

SKYWALK on the Biokovo Road, a new attraction lookout - see earlier post here: https://www.makarskarivieravillayanko.com/post/skywalk-biokovo

Biokovo Road

The Biokovo Road is the highest road in Croatia. It leads from the main entrance of the Biokovo Nature Park at 365 meters to the peak of Sveti Jure at 1762 meters. It is 23 kilometers long, one-lane, only 3-4 meters wide in places, and requires careful driving. Therefore, lay-bys exist every 300 meters to allow passing. This Entrance is allowed for vans, cars, motorcycles, bicycles, and pedestrians. Due to the traffic characteristics of Biokovo Road, buses are forbidden to enter, and trucks can only enter with a special permit from Nature Park. The road serves the locals who have livestock or farmland on Biokovo, mountaineers, picnickers, and transmitters and links staff who maintain the FM / DVB-T transmitter on St. Jure. Visiting with the purpose of sightseeing is charged from April 1 to November 15.

Direction: https://is.gd/L12d3U

There are several restaurants on the road, of which only one or two are open, mainly during the tourist season. A detachment of the road leads to the peak of Vošac above Makarska, the most popular picnic area on Biokovo, under which is the Štrbina lookout point overlooking the Makarska coast and islands.

The beginning of the construction of the road goes back to the 19th century: Austro-Hungarian soldiers in 1878 broke the Macadam road to the pass of the Trails at 897 meters above sea level. Work continued until 1964 after Television Zagreb had to set up a television transmitter on St Jure, which was not possible without the construction of the road. The road was pierced with great effort by people from the Makarska Riviera. It was paved in 1978.

Biokovo Natur Park Hiking

There are countless routes and trails, but also there are challenges to suit all abilities. The 23 km long Biokovo Road means you can take your car to Biokovo Natur Park skywalk and peaks.

There are a number of Biokovo Natur Park hiking trails.

The northwestern part of the Biokovo mountain range consists of several peaks: Šćirovac (1619 m), Sveti Ilija (1642m), Veliki Šibenik (1467m), Sveti Jure (1762m), Vošac (1421)and Kimet (1556m).

The southeastern part of the Biokovo mountain range consists of the peaks Sutvid (1155 m), Sokolić (788 m), and Sveti Ilija (773 m). Many paths are actually ancient trade routes into the hinterland.

On the north side of Biokovo, there is a region Zabiokovlje.

There are so many peaks, viewpoints, and hiking routes in Biokovo Nature Park, and it is hard to describe all, but some of the most notable and most famous are:

Sveti Jure (Saint Georg)

The highest peak is accessible to all. You can take your car to the top of Biokovo Sv. Jure.

However, there are also hiking trails to the peak.

Vošac

Certainly the best bird's eye view of Makarska! The most beautiful view of the sea and islands Brač, Hvar, and Korčula!

Sveti Ilija (St.Elijah)

It lies above the hamlet of Rastovac in the municipality of Zagvozd. There are incredible views on each side. From the peak, you can also see the entire central massif of Biokovo.

There is the most inaccessible Holy Mass in Croatia, mass in the chapel of St. Elijah (on July 20th St. Elijah's Day)