Brač is the third-biggest Croatian island, the closest to Split, and the cheapest summer base on the Dalmatian coast that still has serious beaches. We drop guests at Split ferry port for Brač constantly — Supetar most weeks, Bol on day trips, occasionally Sumartin for the Makarska connection. After enough back-and-forths, we have a clear sense of which beaches deserve the drive and which don’t.
The biggest correction we make for guests on the way to the ferry: Brač is not a sandy island. Zlatni Rat is pebble. So is everywhere else worth swimming, with one real exception. If you came expecting Caribbean sand, adjust expectations now.
Brač in numbers
- Distance from Split: ~13 km by sea to Supetar
- Supetar ferry (car): 50 minutes, ~€7 foot passenger, ~€36 with a small car
- Bol catamaran (foot only): 50-60 minutes, ~€8
- Sumartin ferry from Makarska: ~1 hour, useful if coming from the south
- Main towns: Supetar (north, ferry hub), Bol (south, beach centre), Milna (west bay), Sumartin (east)
- Highest point: Vidova Gora at 778 m — the highest point on any Adriatic island
Getting there — which ferry to take
Three options matter — and live timetables for all of them are on the official Jadrolinija site:
Split to Supetar (car ferry). Run by Jadrolinija. Takes vehicles. ~50 minutes. Departures roughly every 1-2 hours from early morning to late evening, more frequent in summer. Cheapest option for foot passengers and the only one if you’re bringing a car. Supetar is the largest town on the island, with bus connections to Bol (~45 minutes by bus across the ridge).
Split to Bol (catamaran). Run by Krilo or Jadrolinija. Foot passengers only. ~50-60 minutes. Sails directly to Bol, which puts you ten minutes’ walk from Zlatni Rat. Useful for day trips. Fewer daily departures than the Supetar ferry — book online in summer.
Makarska to Sumartin. The eastern back door to the island. Useful if you’re coming up the coast from Dubrovnik or Makarska Riviera. Fewer departures, longer drive across the island once you’re on, but quiet.
For a beach day in Bol with no car, the catamaran is the clean choice. For a multi-day stay or a road trip across the island, the Supetar car ferry is the call.
Zlatni Rat — yes, but with realistic expectations
The famous V-shaped beach tip just west of Bol. Photo most people came for. We won’t tell you to skip it — the shape really is unusual, the water is clear, and the surrounding pine forest is genuine.
What to know:
- It’s pebble, not sand. Small white pebbles. Bring water shoes if you have feet that protest.
- The shape shifts with the current. Wind from the east pushes the tip one way, west wind the other. Sometimes the V is sharp, sometimes it’s nearly flat.
- It’s crowded by 11:00 in July and August. Earliest you can manage means a more peaceful experience.
- The eastern side is calmer water; the western side often has surf-school rentals.
- Sun loungers cost €15-€25 per pair plus umbrella, peak season. Bring your own towel and pick a spot off the beach edge if you’d rather save the cash.
It’s worth seeing once. Whether it’s the best beach on Brač for actually swimming and relaxing — that’s another question.
Lovrečina — the only true sand beach
If sand is what you’re after, Lovrečina is the answer. A protected cove on the north coast, between Postira and Pučišća, about 18 km east of Supetar.
The bay has fine sand, shallow water that warms early in the season, and the ruins of a 5th-century basilica at the back of the beach. Perfect for kids. Limited shade, so umbrella or arrive early.
Parking is at the top of the path; the walk down to the beach is 5-10 minutes through pine and olive groves. There’s a single beach bar in summer. No restaurants beyond that — bring food or eat in Postira before/after.
Murvica — the quiet pick near Bol
Murvica is a tiny village 5 km west of Bol, with a string of pebble coves below it. Easy to drive or cycle from Bol. Smaller crowds than Zlatni Rat, water just as clear. The bay at Murvica itself has a small konoba and a few beach loungers; the better swimming is in the smaller coves a 10-minute walk east.
Above the village, a steep path leads up to the Dragon’s Cave (Zmajeva špilja) — a 15th-century hermit’s chapel carved into the rock with relief carvings of a dragon. Guided visits only, and you need to book ahead through the local guide. Worth it for the right traveller, skip if you’re tired.
Sumartin and the eastern coves
The east end of Brač is the quietest part of the island. Sumartin itself is a small ferry port (the Makarska connection), with a few restaurants and basic accommodation. Beaches around here are pebble coves, mostly accessible by boat or short walks from the road:
- Vela Lozna. A protected pebble cove with shade. Good for families.
- Lučice. A series of small bays near Selca; pebbles and stone slabs.
- Sumpetar. Just outside Sumartin; basic but quiet.
The eastern beaches won’t make most “best of” lists, but they’re empty even in August, which counts for a lot if you’re allergic to crowds.
Bol harbour and the town beaches
Bol itself has a small town beach near the harbour and the Bijela Kuća/Borak stretch east of town. Borak is a string of pebble bays separated by stone groynes, with beach bars and snorkel rentals. Crowded in summer but practical if you’re staying in Bol without a car.
Bol harbour has the catamaran connections to Split and a few restaurants worth the walk. The town climbs up the hill behind the harbour with a Dominican monastery at the eastern end.
Blaca and the hidden coves
The southern coast between Bol and the western tip of the island has a string of remote pebble coves accessible only by boat or by serious hiking. The standout is Blaca — a 16th-century hermitage carved into a cliff above a beach. The hermitage itself is a small museum (small entry fee) and the cove below is one of the cleanest swims on the island.
Boat trips from Bol harbour cover Blaca regularly in summer. By land, it’s a long, hot walk from the road — only do it if you’re a confident hiker with water and proper shoes.
What surprises first-time Brač visitors
- Booking the catamaran to Bol expecting it to take cars. It doesn’t. Foot passengers only.
- Going to Zlatni Rat at midday in July. Crowded, hot, no shade. Go before 10:00 or after 17:00.
- Wearing flip-flops on pebble. Closed water shoes save your feet. Available in every Bol shop.
- Driving to Vidova Gora with sea sickness or fear of heights. The road is a series of switchbacks. The view is excellent — straight down to Zlatni Rat from 778 m — but the drive isn’t for everyone.
- Not booking accommodation in Bol for July/August. The town is small and fills up.
What we tell clients on the way to the ferry
If you have one day — take the catamaran to Bol, walk to Zlatni Rat, swim in the morning, lunch in town, walk to Murvica in the afternoon for a quieter beach, catch the late catamaran back. That’s the cleanest day trip.
If you have three days — take the car ferry to Supetar, drive across to Bol or set up in Milna, do Lovrečina one morning, Zlatni Rat early another morning, and one of the eastern coves on the third day.
If you have a week — add Vidova Gora, Blaca by boat, the Pučišća stonemason workshop, and a meal in Skrip (the oldest village on the island).
Bottom line
Brač works as a Split day trip and as a quieter base for a longer stay. The beaches don’t all live up to the photos — Zlatni Rat is impressive but crowded, and most “sandy beach” claims about Brač are wrong. But Lovrečina is genuine, Murvica is quiet, and the eastern coves are nearly empty even in August. The catch is matching the beach to your day.
If you’d like us to handle the drive to the ferry — and the meet-up on return — send us your dates from Split. Croatia Limo drives this route year-round and we know which catamaran fills first in July.
Frequently asked questions
How do you get to Brač from Split?
Three main ferries. Jadrolinija car ferry Split-Supetar (50 min, every 1-2 hours), Krilo or Jadrolinija catamaran Split-Bol (50-60 min, fewer daily), and the Makarska-Sumartin car ferry from the south.
Is Zlatni Rat sandy?
No. Zlatni Rat is small white pebbles, not sand. The famous shape comes from the V-shaped tip that shifts with the current. Most Brač beaches are pebble — only Lovrečina is genuinely sandy.
What is the most beautiful beach on Brač?
Zlatni Rat is the most photographed and the busiest. Lovrečina is the only true sand beach. Murvica is the quiet pick. The lesser-known coves between Sumartin and Bol are the favourites of locals.
Can you drive on Brač?
Yes — Brač has a proper road network connecting Supetar, Bol, Sumartin and Milna. The interior road over the island is winding but scenic. Take the car ferry rather than a foot-passenger catamaran if you want to drive.
What is the best base on Brač?
Bol for the southern beaches and Zlatni Rat. Supetar for ferry convenience and a working harbour town. Milna for a quiet bay. Sumartin for the eastern beaches and the Makarska ferry.
