Podgora

There are a number of restaurants along the seafront of Podgora. So far, I have yet to be disappointed by the food in Croatia and that disappointment wasn't about to start here. If anything the food here was better than Dubrovnik. Other than the 'normal' shops, hotels, and other local amenities there were stalls and other shops tailor-made for tourists with information about the area, excursions, and money exchange. This is exactly what I needed.

By now I had learned that most people in Croatia can speak English well, very well. It was no different in this picturesque town.

A town mostly unheard of and often overshadowed by its bigger cousin - Makarska, I was pleased to see the pride the town folk seemed to have by the way they look after their greenery and surroundings providing the town with a vibrant feel and not to mention their delicious cuisine – I had first-hand experience of this pride when my temporary neighbour invited me in to try some of his home made cherry flavoured digestifs.

The first day in Podgora I was on a mission trying to find a gym, as usual. I had been directed by locals and Google to try the gym in the Medora Auri Family Beach Resort but to no avail as you are not allowed to use the gym unless you are staying at the hotel. Go figure. So I looked for alternative means to stay active.

Some of the aforementioned shops along the seafront were offering bike rentals, I admit, my go-to isn't usually to bike ride but I do enjoy it so I decided to rent one out. At first, I rented a normal mountain bike and decided to ride to Makarska. The ride takes about 45 minutes to an hour depending on your fitness level. It's a nice bike ride but there are some really tough points along the path, if you are more on the unfit side this path can be testing. Take precaution, as there is a point of the path that took me onto the main road, again this will be difficult for anyone not used to bike riding as it is hilly and it's a main road. Be careful and wear a helmet, they should be able to provide one in the rental shop.

This bike ride is suggested for you fitness freaks but if you wish to play it safe then a 10-15 minute cab ride will also do the job. If you are staying in Makarska then you can do the journey backward, the nearby towns of Tucepi and Podgora are definitely worth exploring for the day.

Discover the ultimate seaside escape at Podgora hotels, or if you're craving the bustling energy of Makarska, click here for nearby options!

Biokovo Skywalk

After the arduous task of biking the twisty uphill roads in what is likely to be very hot weather, I finally reached the piece de resistance of the journey. By whatever means you scale the mountain it is all worth it in the end. The recently built (2020) Skywalk is a great attraction and one I highly recommend to see.

Here is where you can comprehend the beauty that Makarska and nearby towns have to offer. Whether you are afraid of heights or not you simply have to take a walk round the curved bridge that hangs off a mountain... made of glass!

I myself suffer a little from vertigo but it's an exhilarating experience that is sure to get your blood pumping, especially if you didn't go up by bike!

Words nor pictures can really give you a sense of what it feels like to be there but I'll show you some anyway.

The weather was clear when I reached the Skywalk however after a few pictures and hanging around it started to get a little cloudy/misty. Something to consider as the weather can really dull this experience if there aren't clear views.

Skywalk is 1228 metres above sea level, not far from the coast, so some precipitation is not uncommon.

Difficulty level: 8.7/10

For me, the best thing about this journey hasn't even started yet. You'd think the reward was the views and the Skywalk attraction, which by itself is worthy enough, but no. The feeling of giddiness overcame me at the thought of heading back down the mountain on a bike, a heavy bike no less. Yep, let the fun begin.

And it did, it really did. This is the closest thing to skiing I have tried except maybe better (and I love skiing) because there is no pressure on your legs.

You don't have to go fast of course and as always you should take care coming down because if you do not control your speed you will go extremely fast. With the potential to really hurt yourself or worse.

If you are careful then all I can say is enjoy the experience. The twisty roads that were hell on the way up will now be a joy to behold.

Please remember to bring sunglasses and close your mouth on the way down because you will splat a few flies on your head. Sounds easy but you'll likely have a goofy smile the whole way down so enjoy the extra protein if you don't heed this warning.

3-3.5 hours up and about 45 minutes to come down and it was all worth it. A really great experience that I didn’t expect to be so memorable.

Final Thoughts on Biokovo Skywalk

Expectations of a place can sometimes change the way you experience said place before you even arrive, at times having no expectations is the best way to go about it. That's part of the reason why I like to go into things a little less prepared than I could be. Spontaneity is sometimes like a power to enhance your experiences. I believe this had an effect on my stay in Podgora. Biokovo and the Skywalk was a welcome and unique experience to date and one I would highly recommend.

If you consider going from Dubrovnik to Split or vice versa, then the Makarska area is a great place to stop and explore for a couple of nights. It is a great way to break a longer journey as it sits in between the two cities and you never know you may reach highs that you never expected.

*History: N/A – I didn't have the time to explore the history but Makarska is supposedly an ancient town.