Biokovo Skywalk guide: what to expect on the glass walkway
Split: Dalmatian Hinterland Quad Tour, Swimming & BBQ Lunch
How do I get to the Biokovo Skywalk from Split and how much does it cost?
Biokovo Skywalk is about 75 km south of Split near Makarska. By car, allow 75–90 minutes. Public buses run to Makarska (60–75 minutes, €5–8) but the Skywalk itself requires a further drive or taxi up the mountain road to 1,228 metres. The Skywalk admission is €18–20 for adults. The road up requires a 4WD or a vehicle with confidence in mountain driving.
Quick answer: Biokovo Skywalk sits at 1,228 metres above the Makarska Riviera, 75 km from Split (75–90 minutes by car). Admission is €18–20. The glass platform offers a vertiginous view down to the Adriatic. The mountain road is steep but manageable in a standard car. Open April–October, weather-dependent.
What the Biokovo mountain range actually is
Most visitors to the Makarska Riviera barely look up at the mountain behind the beach resorts. This is a mistake. Biokovo is one of Croatia’s most dramatic landforms: a limestone ridge that rises from sea level to 1,762 metres over a horizontal distance of roughly 10 km, creating a wall of karst that defines the entire Dalmatian hinterland east of Makarska.
The mountain has been a nature park since 1981 and the terrain above the coastal zone is genuinely wild by Croatian standards. The karst landscape holds rare endemic plants, birds of prey, and a network of hiking trails that receive a fraction of the tourist traffic that the coast below does. For most of the year, the mountain is more accessible than it looks.
The Biokovo Skywalk, opened in 2020, brought significant tourist attention to a part of the park that was previously visited mostly by dedicated hikers. The glass platform is the reason most day-trippers make the mountain drive. It is a legitimate attraction, but the mountain itself rewards more than the Skywalk alone.
The Skywalk itself
The platform consists of a glass-floored horseshoe walkway cantilevered from the cliff face at 1,228 metres. The glass allows a direct visual drop of over 1,000 metres to the coast below — hotels, beaches, and the sea visible through the floor beneath your feet.
What makes it distinctive versus similar glass walkways elsewhere: the angle. Biokovo’s eastern face drops nearly vertically to the coastal strip, meaning the glass below you is not showing a gradual slope — it is showing near-vertical cliff. The Makarska Riviera, Brač, Hvar, and on clear days Korčula and Vis are all visible from the platform.
The actual glass walkway section takes about 10–15 minutes to walk. Most visitors spend 30–60 minutes total at the platform area including photographs and the adjoining viewpoints on solid ground.
Tickets (€18–20 adults) are purchased at the park entrance on the mountain road, not at the Skywalk itself. During peak summer, queues at the entrance can add 20–30 minutes to the visit.
Getting there from Split
By car (most practical)
The most direct route from Split takes the coastal D8 south to Makarska (approximately 60 km, 55–70 minutes), then turns inland up the mountain road to the park entrance. The mountain road from Makarska begins near the village of Kotišina and climbs steeply for 20 km to the plateau area.
The road is paved throughout but narrow with frequent switchbacks. Guardrails are present on the most exposed sections but not continuously. Passing oncoming vehicles requires care. The most common rental car categories (compact, economy) can manage the drive but drivers who are uncomfortable with mountain roads should consider an organised tour instead.
Allow 90 minutes total from Split to the Skywalk including the mountain drive.
By public transport
A bus from Split to Makarska runs every 30–60 minutes in summer (60–75 minutes, €5–8). From Makarska, there is no public transport up the mountain. A taxi from Makarska to the Skywalk is possible but expensive (€40–60 each way) given the distance and road conditions. Most budget-conscious travellers without a car skip the Skywalk or join an organised excursion.
By tour from Split
Several tour operators in Split offer Makarska and Biokovo excursions. The Dalmatian hinterland quad and jeep tours from Split pass through this general terrain, though not always to the Skywalk specifically — confirm before booking.
Split: Dalmatian Hinterland Quad Tour, Swimming & BBQ LunchThe mountain road experience
The drive up Biokovo is itself part of the experience. The road gains altitude quickly — within 15 minutes of turning inland from Makarska, the views open dramatically over the coast. The ferry lines to Hvar become visible, then the profile of the island itself, then the open sea beyond.
At the park entrance (where you pay the Skywalk fee), a short additional drive reaches the viewpoint areas. The plateau above the escarpment is a different world from the coast below: cooler by 8–12°C in summer, windier, and with a distinct karst landscape of grey limestone, low shrubs, and occasional mountain pine.
Beyond the Skywalk: the broader park
If you drive up Biokovo and spend only 15 minutes at the glass platform, you are wasting the trip.
Botanical Garden at Kotišina: A 30-minute walk from the lower park road, this garden focuses on Biokovo’s endemic and rare species. The chamomile found on Biokovo (Achillea multifida) is used in local herbal products sold throughout Makarska.
Sveti Jure (1,762 m): Croatia’s second-highest peak, accessible by the mountain road (most of the way by car) with a final walk. The summit has a communications tower but the views — across the length of the Dalmatian coast on a clear day — justify the effort. In May, there may still be snow patches near the summit.
Walking trails from the plateau: The marked trails in the upper park cover varied terrain. Most require at least half a day and proper footwear. The park map (available at the entrance) is worth picking up.
Combining Biokovo with Makarska
Makarska town is 10 minutes below the mountain turnoff and worth a brief stop for lunch before or after the mountain drive. The town has a pleasant waterfront and significantly fewer tourists than Split — in part because the beach is pebble-and-stone rather than the sandy reputation the Riviera tries to project.
Makarska Riviera’s beaches (Brela, Baska Voda, Tučepi) are further north and south along the D8 and covered in the Makarska Riviera beaches guide. For a full beach and mountain combination day from Split, leave Split by 9am: coast road south, Biokovo mountain drive by 11am, Skywalk by noon, lunch in Makarska, beach at Brela by 3pm, return to Split by 7pm.
For the broader outdoor adventure picture from Split, see best day trips from Split.
Honest assessment
The Biokovo Skywalk is a worthwhile stop on a day that includes the mountain drive, but it should not be the only thing you do at Biokovo. The glass platform itself is impressive for 20 minutes. The mountain, the views from the plateau, and the dramatic coastal-to-alpine transition are what make the detour worthwhile as a half-day.
If heights are genuinely distressing to you, skip the platform and drive to the plateau anyway — the views from solid ground are nearly as good. The mountain does not require the glass to be impressive.
For pure adventure without heights, the Cetina River rafting guide and canyoning near Omiš offer equally dramatic Dalmatian landscapes without the vertiginous component.
Frequently asked questions about Biokovo Skywalk guide: what to expect on the glass walkway
What is the Biokovo Skywalk?
The Biokovo Skywalk is a glass-floored observation platform and walkway at 1,228 metres altitude on the edge of the Biokovo mountain range, overlooking the Adriatic Sea and the Makarska Riviera. The glass sections allow you to see the mountain face dropping away beneath your feet — a vertical drop of over 1,000 metres to the coast below.Is the Biokovo Skywalk suitable for people with vertigo?
No. The platform is designed for maximum exposure to the vertical drop. Standing on the glass with nothing but the slope below is a genuinely vertiginous experience. People with significant height sensitivity regularly report difficulty completing the walk. The surrounding non-glass sections of the platform are less intense but the main draw requires standing above an enormous drop.Do you need a 4WD to reach Biokovo Skywalk?
The road from Makarska to Biokovo is steep, narrow, and has switchbacks — a 4WD is not strictly required but a vehicle with a confident gearbox, good brakes, and no low ground clearance issues makes the drive considerably less stressful. Regular rental cars can typically manage it, but drivers unfamiliar with mountain roads may find it challenging. Organised tours from Split handle the driving.Can I hike to the Biokovo Skywalk?
Yes, but the hike is serious. The trail from Makarska rises over 1,200 metres in elevation. Allow a full day (5–7 hours each way for average hikers). The summit ridge is exposed and requires good navigation. Most visitors who want to see the Skywalk drive up the mountain road rather than hiking. Hiking to Sveti Jure (Biokovo's highest point at 1,762 metres) is a separate, more demanding undertaking.What else is there to do in Biokovo Nature Park beyond the Skywalk?
Biokovo Nature Park covers 196 km² and includes walking trails through varied terrain from coastal scrub to alpine rock. The Botanical Garden at Kotišina is a half-day walk from Makarska with endemic plant species. Sveti Jure peak (1,762 m) is Croatia's second-highest point. The park is also used for paragliding and has viewpoints accessible by walking from the road.When is the Biokovo Skywalk open?
The Skywalk and the mountain road are generally open from spring through autumn (approximately April–October). Mountain weather can close the road or the platform on short notice — fog and strong winds make the experience less worthwhile and occasionally unsafe. Check the Biokovo Nature Park website or call ahead before making the trip, especially in shoulder season.Is there a restaurant or café at the Biokovo Skywalk?
There is a small visitor facility at the platform area but do not expect a full restaurant. Bring your own water and food for the visit. Makarska town below has plenty of dining options — most visitors eat before or after the mountain drive.
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