Top 4 Bike Tours in Makarska

Tucked between the rugged peaks of Biokovo Mountain and the glittering Adriatic Sea, Makarska is the kind of Croatian coastal gem that feels like it’s still waiting to be discovered by the crowds that flock to Split and Dubrovnik each summer. Unlike those busier hubs, it’s small enough to wander in an afternoon, but packed with hidden coves, ancient hill villages, and some of the clearest blue water you’ll ever see — and the absolute best way to take it all in is on two wheels. Bike tours here let you skip the summer traffic snarls that clog the main coastal road, zip past tour bus parking lots to reach hidden swimming spots, and stop whenever you spot a konoba serving fresh grilled fish or a stand selling ripe local figs.

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No matter your fitness level or riding style, there’s a tour here that fits what you’re looking for: gentle paved coastal paths for casual riders and families, rugged single track through pine forests for mountain bike fans, and slow, low-key routes that wind through olive groves and tiny villages for anyone who wants to skip the tourist traps entirely. We’ve rounded up the top four bike tours in Makarska that hit all the right notes, from easy day trips to full-day adventures that leave you tired, happy, and with a phone full of photos you won’t find on any travel blog.

1. Makarska Riviera Coastal Leisure Loop

This is the perfect tour for anyone who wants to soak up the classic Makarska Riviera scenery without breaking a sweat. The 25-kilometer paved route starts right in Makarska’s charming old town, winding along the flat, dedicated seafront bike path that runs all the way to the village of Baška Voda, with an optional detour to the pebbly cove of Podgora if you have extra time. Most tours stop mid-route at a family-run konoba for a lunch of grilled sardines, fresh tomatoes, and crusty local bread, and you’ll have plenty of chances to dip your toes in the water at hidden coves that are impossible to reach by car. It’s fully supported too, so if you get tired or your kid’s bike gets a flat, the tour van is never far behind to pick you up.

This loop is tailor-made for families with young kids, casual riders who don’t want to tackle hills, and anyone who’d rather spend their day swimming and eating than grinding up mountain passes. The route is almost entirely flat, the path is separated from car traffic for 90% of the ride, and most operators cap group sizes at 10 people so it never feels crowded or rushed.

• Best time to go: Late May through mid-June, or mid-September through early October. Summer midday temperatures can hit 35°C (95°F) on the exposed coastal path, making the ride miserable, while the shoulder seasons offer mild, sunny weather and far fewer tourists to dodge on the path.
• Booking tip: Skip the big international tour platforms and book directly with a local Makarska operator, most of whom will throw in a free stop at a nearby family olive oil farm for a tasting of locally pressed extra virgin olive oil as part of the tour price — a perk almost no generic booking site includes.

2. Biokovo Mountain Technical Descent Tour

For riders who want a bit more of an adrenaline rush paired with unbeatable views of the entire Adriatic coast, this tour is hard to beat. Most operators shuttle you up to the 1,762-meter peak of Sveti Jure, the highest point on Biokovo Mountain, so you don’t have to waste energy grinding up the steep, winding paved road to the top. From there, you’ll ride 18 kilometers of mostly rolling single track and fire road down the mountain’s northern slope, winding through scented pine forests, past abandoned shepherd stone huts, and out to the tiny coastal village of Brela. The route has a few short, rocky technical sections that are fun for intermediate riders but not so extreme that they’re off-limits to casual mountain bikers who are comfortable on dirt.

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This tour is ideal for intermediate to advanced mountain bikers, thrill-seekers who love big views, and anyone who’s tired of the same old flat coastal routes. Most tours wrap up with a cold beer and a plate of seafood at a beachside bar in Brela, so you can cool off after the ride and brag about the 1,000-meter descent you just crushed.

• Best time to go: Early July through late August, when the wild mountain flowers are in full bloom and the forest canopy keeps the trail cool even on warm days. Just be sure to book a tour that starts at 8am or earlier, so you miss the midday heat and the crowds of hikers that flock to the mountain’s summit viewpoints later in the day.
• Booking tip: Only book with a guide certified by Biokovo Nature Park. Uncertified guides often take riders on unmarked, unsafe trails that are closed to the public to avoid park fees, while certified guides know the safest, most scenic routes, carry full repair kits and first aid supplies, and will stop at hidden viewpoints that 99% of hikers never get to see.

3. Omiš and Cetina River Valley Day Tour

This 35-kilometer tour is the perfect pick for anyone who wants to mix coastal scenery with inland Dalmatian charm, without the steep hills of the Biokovo routes. You’ll start in Makarska and ride inland along gently rolling paved and gravel paths that wind through olive groves and citrus orchards, all the way to the historic pirate town of Omiš, perched at the mouth of the Cetina River. Most tours include a stop at a local wine cellar for a tasting of Plavac Mali, the bold red wine that’s native to the Dalmatian coast, and you can opt to add a 30-minute rafting trip on the Cetina if you want to cool off mid-ride. The ride back to Makarska follows the river valley, so you’ll have shaded, flat paths for the whole return trip.

This tour works for casual to intermediate riders, history buffs, and food and wine lovers who want to see a side of the Makarska area that most tourists miss. Omiš’s old town is packed with tiny stone streets, 14th-century fortresses, and local craft shops, and most tours leave enough free time to wander for an hour or two before heading back to the coast.

• Best time to go: Late September, right after the local grape harvest. Most of the small, family-run wine cellars along the Cetina Valley offer free tastings of their new vintage for tour groups during harvest season, and the summer crowds have already cleared out so you won’t have to fight for space on the river paths.
• Booking tip: Choose a small group tour capped at 8 people instead of a large 20+ person bus tour. Small groups can stop at the tiny, family-run cellars that big tours skip, and guides can adjust the pace of the ride to match the slowest rider in the group, so no one feels left behind.

4. Hidden Eastern Riviera Village Hopping Tour

Most tourists stick to the western side of the Makarska Riviera, between Makarska and Brela, but the quieter eastern stretch, running from Makarska past Podgora to the tiny fishing village of Drvenik, is full of hidden spots that most visitors never see. This 20-kilometer gentle route winds through olive groves and past tiny pebble beaches, with stops at a local bakery for a slice of soparnik (the traditional Dalmatian chard and onion pie), a small family soap maker that uses locally grown lavender and rosemary, and a hidden cove where you can swim before heading back to Makarska. Most tours include a stop at a local family’s konoba for a home-cooked lunch of grilled octopus and wild asparagus, depending on the season.

This tour is perfect for slow travelers, anyone who hates crowds, and riders who want to get a feel for local life outside the tourist hubs. The route is almost entirely flat, with very little car traffic, so it’s a great pick for new riders or anyone who just wants a relaxed day out without worrying about steep hills.

• Best time to go: Early May, when the olive groves are in full bloom and the air smells like wild herbs and citrus blossoms. There are almost no tourists on the eastern riviera this time of year, so you’ll have the paths and swimming spots almost entirely to yourself.
• Booking tip: Book directly with a local family that runs small, private tours instead of using a big booking platform. Most of these family operators include a free home-cooked lunch at their own family konoba as part of the tour price, which is far more authentic than the generic tourist restaurants that big tours use.

What makes Makarska such a special spot for bike touring isn’t just the unbeatable scenery, though that’s hard to beat — it’s the way you get to slip into the slow, warm rhythm of local life, whether you’re stopping for a cold drink at a family’s roadside fig stand or swapping stories with a fisherman who’s been working the same hidden cove for 40 years. Even if you only have a long weekend to spare, these four tours will give you a taste of the coast that most tourists never get to see, and leave you already planning your next trip back.