I’ve just spent a week with my son Tyrone on Brac Island during our three-week amazing road trip exploring the beautiful coastal towns and islands along the Dalmatian Coast. We are happy to share with you in this travel guide all the exciting things to do on Brac Island to help you plan your perfect itinerary. I hope you will enjoy Brac in Croatia as much as we did.
Brač Island Croatia is the largest Croatian island, the third largest island in the Adriatic Sea and it’s situated near Split City. The island is famously known as the location of the highly rated and unique, Zlatni Rat Beach or Golden Horn Beach. Yes, Zlatni Rat is stunning, but Brac Island has much more to offer.
First things first, here are some answers to Brac Island Croatia FAQs.
What is Brac Croatia known for?
Brac Croatia is best known as the home of one of Croatia’s gorgeous beaches, Zlatni Rat. The island is a great place to unwind, discover quiet beaches and coves, and enjoy amazing food and local wine. Brac Island’s highest point, Vidova Gora, offers an unbeatable view of the Adriatic Sea and nearby other Adriatic islands such as Hvar and Vis.
How do you get to Brac Island Croatia?
The easiest way to get to Brac Island is to take the 60 minute ferry ride from Split Ferry Port. It’s also possible to get to Brac Island from Dubrovnik by ferry.
See Split to Brac Island ferry times here.
How to get around Brac Island?
Getting around Brac Island is best done by car. We travelled to Brac on the car ferries with a rental car from XL Rent a Car (car rental price €400/week) This gave us the freedom to explore the island in comfort and at our own pace. It’s also possible to explore Brac by local public buses. See Car Hire on Brac Island.
Brac Island Day Tours from Split
What are the best places to stay on Brac Island?
Brac Island has numerous beach resorts which are mostly located in Supetar (the main town on Brac Island) as well as in Bol (a popular tourist town on the island).
Booking.com and Airbnb are great resources to find lovely Brac Island hotels such as the Bluesun Hotel Elaphusa as well as great self-catering accommodations. We based ourselves in a beautiful apartment booked via Booking.com in Donji Humac, a tiny village located close to Supetar (€100 / one night- August).
Things to do on Brac Island in Croatia
1. Visit Zlatni Rat (Golden Horn) Beach
Visiting Zlatni Rat Beach, also known as the Golden Horn, is one of the most popular things to do on Brac Island. The beach is said to be the most photographed Croatian beach due to its unique shape which is said to change shape with the wind direction.
There is no doubt that Zlatni Rat is special and probably one of the most beautiful beaches in the region. However, Zlatni Rat attracts many people, so it’s quite difficult to fully enjoy and appreciate it.
Bol, the town where Zlatni Rat is located, is lovely to explore as well as the area around the beach where the entertainment ranges from parks and pools to restaurants and bars.
We found it enjoyable to visit Zlatni Rat in the morning, we had breakfast at the beach and spent the day exploring the rest of the island.
If you’re a lover of religious art, St Mary’s Church of the Dominican Monastery, located about a 20-minute walk from Bol Centre, is worth a quick stop. It’s home to an altarpiece of the Madonna with Child and saints painted by the workshop of Venetian Tintoretto.
2. Hike Vidova Gora
Vidova Gora is the highest point on the Adriatic Sea, so it’s pretty exciting to take the challenge and hike its highest peak (778m). Hiking Vidova Gora is one of the most rewarding things to do on Brač Island. The view of the Adriatic Sea, as well as other surrounding Adriatic islands such as Hvar or Vis and Zlatni Rat, are just amazing.
The hiking trail to Vidova Gora, close to Bol is marked but steep and unshaded. We were on the trail by 6 am to avoid the hot sun, didn’t work and we were back in Bol by 10 am.
Keep in mind that there are no shops at the peak, so bring plenty of water or snacks with you because you’ll need them.
The Vidova Gora hiking trail starts here
3. Visit Blaca Hermitage
The Blaca Hermitage, also known as the Blaca Monastery, is a well-preserved 16th-century hermitage. The hermitage was impressively built on the cliffs of Vidova Gora by Glagolitic Priests who came to the island fleeing attacks from the Turks in mainland Croatia during the mid-16th century. At some point in history, the hermitage was one of the largest religious centres on the island.
The hermitage museum has on show religious artefacts, paintings, transcripts and antique furniture collected by the monks over the centuries. If you’re a fan of religious art and history you’ll definitely appreciate exploring the Blaca Hermitage Museum.
Taking a boat tour from Bol Harbour is probably your best bet to get to Blaca Hermitage if you’ve no access to a car.
4. Visit the Island of Brac Museum in Skrip
Price: €2.50
Driving around and finding unique places like the Island of Brac Museum, also Muzej otoka Brača, in the small village of Skrip is one of the most delightful things to do on Brac Island.
The Island of Brac Museum displays tools, antique furniture, paintings and sculptures collected by early settlers of the island. The guides at the museum tell the history of the early settlers engagingly.
5. Visit the Museum of Olive Oil in Skrip
Price: 30kn – €4
We discovered the Museum of Olive Oil in the small village of Skrip on Brač Island by chance and this turned out to be one of the most enjoyable things we did. Museum of Oil is a small family-run olive oil factory offering tours that tell the history of olive oil, the processes involved and the various tools used.
A variety of olive oil tasting experiences are offered where you get to sample or buy the factory’s olive oils, a variety of fruit jams, local cheese, wine and so much more.
The oil museum tour is less than an hour long so it can be easily fitted into a tight itinerary.
Brac Olive Oil, Wine and Food Tour
6. Sample some local wines at Stina Winery
Price: €13
Stina Winery on the harbour in Bol is a conveniently located winery if you enjoy wine or want to learn a thing or two about Croatian wine.
There is no shortage of places to try local wine on Brac Island, but Stina Winery’s location on the harbour is unbeatable. A selection of cheese served alongside bread and olives are offered with their variety of wines.
Stina Winery run tours of their winery every day from 5 pm to 6 pm daily from April to October.
7. Take a stroll around Bol
Bol is a small town where the famous Zlatni Rat Beach is located on the island Brač. The town is small with narrow streets, lovely stone buildings and a beautiful waterfront.
Bol is a popular tourist town which is nice to hang out, especially in the evenings since it’s the heart of Brac Island nightlife. Entertainment in Bol includes a variety of food markets and food stalls, restaurants, beach bars and nightclubs.
8. Visit Pucisca
Personally, Pucisca, located in the northern part of Brac Island, is the prettiest town on the island.
One of the most recognisable buildings in the world, especially to Americans (the White House), was built using the stone found in Pucisca. All of the buildings in Pucisca were built using this stone, so you can see why I think it’s so beautiful.
UNESCO World Heritage Sites such as the Diocletian’s Palace in Split, the Cathedral of St James in Sibenik and the Cathedral of St Lawrence in Trogir are all said to have been built using the Pucisca white stone as well.
An exciting thing to do in Pucisca is to visit Pucisca Stonemasonry School where you can learn about the ancient skill of stone sculpting and view amazing finished items made by the students of the school. It’s interesting to know that the Stonemasonry School in Pucisca is the only one of its kind in Croatia.
Be sure not to miss Pucisca Market as it’s a great place to buy lovely and unique souvenirs made by the locals.
9. Relax at Lovrecina Beach
Lovrecina Beach, located in Lovrečina Bay, between Postira and Pucisca on the island’s northern part, is a perfect alternative to the other bigger and busier Brac beaches. It’s the perfect choice especially if you’re travelling with young children as it’s somewhat a sandy beach with shallow and crystal clear water. The green trees backing the bay offer some shade which is refreshing, especially in the height of summer when the sun is intense.
We recommend bringing along supplies you need for comfort in the sun, though a the beach comes with a small bar and restaurant offering snacks and cold drinks.
Related: Split Beaches
10. Take a walk around Supetar
Supetar is the largest and main town on Brac Island. Ferries from Split arrive and leave from Supetar’s harbour along with buses to the rest of the towns and villages on the island. The main attraction in Supetar is its promenade which features beautiful colourful buildings, a variety of small shops and stalls as well as a good selection of restaurants and bars.
A few steps from the waterfront takes you to a beautiful but tiny square. The square is surrounded by Supetar’s main church, the Church of St Peters, a tiny museum which showcases local art as well as some ancient gravestones with interesting Croatian inscriptions. The atmosphere in Supetar is friendly and laid back.
Popular Supetar Kayaking Tours
11. Sample Brac Island’s cuisine at Konoba Toni
Konoba Toni, located in the small village of Dol, is one the best places on the island to enjoy delicious traditional Brac Island food. The menu at Konoba Toni is made up of dishes which are created using fresh and high-quality ingredients either produced by the restaurant itself or sourced locally.
The restaurant is housed in a well-preserved 300-year-old building furnished with rustic decor. You can enjoy fish and meat dishes prepared using Croatian traditional cooking methods, freshly-pressed olive oil, cheese and the restaurant’s own wines..
Choose to finish off your meal with the restaurant’s famous Hrapoćuša cake. It’s said to be the best in the world.
12. Take a day trip to Hvar Island
Setting aside a day during your stay on Brac Island to visit Hvar Island is one way to make your trip an unforgettable experience. Hvar is a stunning island which offers a good mix of things to do and see.
Hvar Town, the island’s main town, offers a vibrant atmosphere, it’s home to stunning historical architecture, quaint streets and squares and overlooks the stunning Adriatic Coast.
One day in Hvar will give you plenty of time to see some of Hvar’s top attractions such as the Cathedral of St Lawrence, Hvar Fortress and a visit to the Franciscan or the Benedictine Monasteries.
You can all choose to take a simple stroll along Hvar Town’s scenic promenade, wander around the Old Town’s streets and enjoy a meal or drink in one of the town’s chic cafes and bars.
Getting from Brac to Hvar
See the ferry times from Milna Brac to Hvar.
To maximise your time in Hvar, choose to get the ferry from Milna to Hvar Town instead of Bol to Hvar Jelsa as this will leave you too far away from Hvar Town centre.
A boat tour to visit Hvar from Bol is a convenient option worth considering.
Bol to Hvar Boat Tour
13. Go mountain biking
Brac Island is a great place to hire a bike and explore the island’s rich cultural heritage and beautiful natural landscape. The best places to hire a bike on the island are the towns of Bol and Supetar but if you’re too lazy you can even hire quad bikes.
Big Blue Sport in Bol, located close to Zlatni Rat Beach, is a great place to hire bikes of all types for all ages. The company also run mountain biking classes which are quite handy if you need to brush up on your biking skills.
Popular Vidova Gora Biking Tour
14. Visit the inflatable playground at AquaPark, Bol
Price: €12.50 per person (30 minutes)
Spending time at the inflatable AquaPark Bol, also known as Brac Island Water Park, is one of the most popular things to do on Brac Island, especially for families with small children. AquaPark Bol is conveniently located along Zlatni Rat Beach. It’s a small water playground but will excite children of all ages, at least for a while with its water trampolines, slides, rope walks and so much more.
There is also a small water park along the beach in Supetar which is worth checking out in case you’ll be based in that part of the island.
☆☆☆☆☆
I hope this guide inspires you to visit Island Brac. We thought the island of Brac Croatia, with its laid-back charm, was a great place to spend a week on the Dalmatian Coast. There was a little bit of history to learn, beautiful small towns and fishing villages as well as quiet beaches which were a joy to explore.
I hope you will enjoy your holidays in Croatia Brac.
Please leave a comment below if you need more practical information. I will be glad to help!
Brac Island Map
Refer to this map of Brac Croatia to see all the points of interest shown in this guide.
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