Bol on Brač in Croatia – guide to the charming holiday resort

Writer: Helena Bergström

Updated: August 2026 | Bol on the island of Brač is one of Croatia's most famous holiday resorts – and a place we've returned to several times ourselves. It's home to charming stone houses, a small harbour, crystal clear waters and a beautiful promenade leading out to the famous Zlatni Rat beach.

We have experienced Bol both by motorhome and on a cruise, rented a car and boat and had plenty of time to discover both the town and the surroundings. Here we collect our best tips for Bol on Brač.

Where is Bol located?

Bol is located on the southern side of the island of Brač in Dalmatia, overlooking the Adriatic Sea and the island of Hvar. The resort is located at the foot of Vidova Gora, Brač's highest mountain, and is best known for the beach Zlatni Rat.

Although Bol is one of the most popular holiday resorts on Brač, the old part of the town has retained much of its charm, with stone houses, narrow alleys, a small port and restaurants along the water. From here it is also easy to make excursions both on Brač and out into the Croatian archipelago.

Things to see and do in Bol

Bol is not very big, but there is still a lot to do here. In addition to sunbathing and swimming, you can walk along the sea, discover the old settlement, try local wines, go out on the Adriatic Sea or try one of the water sports that the area is famous for.

Stroll around old Bol and the harbor

Bol has grown into one of Brač's most popular holiday resorts, but there are still plenty of older stone houses and charming settings to discover. Stroll through the small streets and continue down to the harbour, where fishing boats and excursion boats mingle along the quays.

Around the harbor there are restaurants, cafes and small shops, and in the evening it is nice to sit by the water and watch the people go by.

Walk the promenade to Zlatni Rat

One of the most beautiful walks in Bol runs from the center out to Zlatni Rat beach. The promenade follows the sea westward and is lined with pine trees, bathing areas, restaurants and small bars.

The walk takes about half an hour from the center of Bol, depending on where you start and how often you stop along the way. We have done this walk many times and like to stop to take photos or admire the views. The view of the clear Adriatic Sea is a big part of the experience.

The promenade leads all the way to Zlatni Rat, Bol's most famous beach, which we'll tell you more about below.

Discover more beaches and coves

Zlatni Rat gets almost all the attention, but it's far from the only place to swim in Bol. Along the coast there are several smaller beaches and coves where it can be much quieter.

It is also part of the charm of Bol that you don't necessarily need to decide on a swimming spot in advance. Walk along the coast and stop where the water and the environment attract you the most. We have discovered many nice pearls that way, and sometimes we have had a small cove all to ourselves.

Try wine at Stina Winery

In the middle of Bol, right by the harbor, lies Stina Winery. Housed in a historic building that was previously used by a wine collective, the winery is a nice stop for anyone who wants to get to know Dalmatian wines.

Here you can sample wine made from Croatian grape varieties, among other things. Among the most important are the blue Plavac Mali grape and the green Pošip. The combination of wine tasting and the location right by the sea makes Stina an easily accessible experience even if you only have a few days in Bol.

Incidentally, on our last visit, leaflets with information about the wines were provided in Swedish – an unexpectedly nice service.

Try water sports

Bol is one of Croatia's most famous destinations for windsurfing and kitesurfing. The wind conditions in the strait between Brač and Hvar create good conditions, especially during the summer.

Of course, you don't have to be an experienced surfer to be active on the water. Depending on the season, there are opportunities for things like SUP, kayaking, snorkeling and diving, and there are businesses where beginners can book courses and rent equipment.

Take a boat trip from Bol

Seeing Brač from the sea gives a completely different perspective of the island. From Bol you can join organized boat trips, but there is also the option of renting your own smaller boat.

We chose the latter option ourselves and rented a small motorboat from the harbor. It wasn't very fast, but it was all the more pleasant to steam along the coast and eventually find our own little cove for sun, swimming and a packed lunch.

Zlatni Rat – Bol's famous beach

Zlatni Rat, which means ”Golden Cape”, is located just west of Bol and is one of Croatia’s most photographed beaches. Its distinctive shape, with a narrow headland jutting out into the turquoise Adriatic Sea, makes the beach easy to recognize in photos.

The headland consists of pebbles that have been shaped by ocean currents, waves and wind. Therefore, the appearance and direction of the tip can change slightly depending on the conditions in the sea. Behind the beach, pine trees grow, which both give character to the landscape and offer much-needed shade on hot summer days.

Zlatni Rat is most popular during July and August, while the experience can be completely different during spring and autumn. We visited the beach itself in October and were still able to sunbathe and swim – and at times we had large parts of it almost to ourselves.

READ MORE: Zlatni Rat - one of the most beautiful beaches in the world?

Excursion to Vidova Gora

Above Bol rises Vidova Gora, Brač's highest point and one of the island's finest excursion destinations. The peak is 778 meters above sea level and from here you get a fantastic view of southern Brač, Zlatni Rat and the Adriatic Sea. On clear days, Hvar is clearly visible on the other side of the strait.

Vidova Gora is named after Saint Vitus, and near the top are the remains of an old church dedicated to the saint. But for most visitors, the view is the main reason they come here.

It is possible to hike up to Vidova Gora from Bol, but the elevation difference is considerable and on hot summer days the hike can be demanding. An easier option is to drive up from the island's interior, from where you can get much closer to the peak by car.

We took ourselves up by car and were rewarded with one of the views we remember best from Brač: far below us lay Zlatni Rat like a small bright tip in the blue sea.

Bol in low season

We have also experienced Bol during the off-season, when the pace is much slower than in summer. During October, restaurants, shops and activities may still be open, but the range of options gradually decreases and towards the end of the month many of the seasonal tourist activities begin to close. For us, the off-season still had a very special charm – not least because we could sometimes have the beaches almost to ourselves.

Our experience of Bol

The first thing that strikes you when you walk in and around Bol is how incredibly beautiful it is everywhere. The beaches are charming little coves, the sea is crystal clear and the pine trees are intensely green.

When we returned to Bol on a cruise in the spring of 2025, it was fun to revisit the town many years after our first visit. This time we encountered Bol during a slightly busier season. Yet much of what we remembered remained – the stone houses, the harbor, the promenade and the wonderfully clear water.

Camping in Bol

There are several campsites in Bol. We chose to stay at Camping Kito, which is a nice family-owned small campsite. Here you stand among greenery, charming stone buildings and olive trees.

Getting to Bol

If you are travelling without a vehicle, you can take the catamaran, which operates the Split-Bol route, a journey that takes just over an hour. The number of departures varies depending on the season, so always check the current timetable before travelling.

If you want to bring a car or camper, you can take the Split-Supetar car ferry or the Makarska-Sumartin car ferry, and then drive across the island to Bol.

When is the best time to travel to Bol?

Bol is primarily a destination suitable for spring, summer and early autumn. If you visit the resort during the absolute high season (July-August), you can expect a lot of people and that it is lively and perhaps a little crowded on the beaches, while there is a wide range of activities and excursions. 

If you choose pre- or post-season, things will be a little quieter. During the month of October, you can expect many restaurants and activities to be closed, and by the end of October, almost all holiday activities will close.

More to see in the neighbourhood

Starting from Bol, you have the chance to discover the rest of the island of Brač. It is also close to historic Split and several other islands. Here you will find reports and tips:

• Things to do on Brac
• Things to do in Split
• Things to do on Hvar
• Things to do on Korcula