Things to do on Brač in Croatia – our 15 best tips

Writer: Helena Bergström

Updated: August 2026 | Brač is one of our favorite islands in Croatia. We have visited the island four times and spent more than a month here in total – swimming at Zlatni Rat, living in Bol, exploring the island by car and boat, tasting local wines and eating amazing lamb. Here we collect our best tips for things to see and do on Brač, from famous sights to small bathing coves and local taste experiences.

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Where is Brac located?

Brač is a large island in Dalmatia in Croatia, not far from Split. The central town on the island is Supetar, but the most important tourist resort is Bol, with the famous beach Zlatni Rat.

The island's population makes a living largely from tourism, but also from fishing and the cultivation of figs, olives, almonds and grapes. Marble is also quarried here, which has been done since ancient times.

What can you do on Brač?

Here we have collected our 15 best tips for things to see and do on Brač. We have visited the island four times and spent a total of more than a month here. During our travels we have stayed in Bol, explored the island by rental car and taken our own boat trips along the coast.

1. Discover picturesque Bol

The town of Bol is the most important and most famous holiday resort on Brac. The town center consists of charming stone houses, nice restaurants and small shops with clothes and holiday items. There is also a long and really nice beach promenade, which is magical to walk between Bol and Zlatni Rat next to the crystal clear and green shimmering sea.

There are several beaches and the most famous of these is undoubtedly Zlatni Rat, which has been repeatedly named one of the most beautiful beaches in the world, located a 30-minute walk from Bol.

2. Sunbathe and swim at Zlatni Rat

”Zlatni Rat”"" means "Golden Cape" and consists of a 350-meter-long tip that extends into the Adriatic Sea. The special thing about the beach is that it changes shape depending on the wind, waves and currents.

We visited this beach in October, which was magical. At this time of year, it was still great for sunbathing and swimming (unless you're unlucky and get caught in the rain), and we were often almost alone on the 634-meter-long beach. In the summer, there are significantly more people here.

3. See the view from Vidova Gora

Vidova Gora is the highest mountain on the island. The mountain is located at 778 meters above sea level and from here you have a fantastic view of the famous beach Zlatni Rat, Bol and the island of Hvar opposite.

The mountain is named after the small church ruin of St. Vid from the 14th century that is located at the top of the mountain. You can get almost all the way there by car, or walk up if you want to get some exercise.

4. Stroll around Supetar

Supetar is the largest town on Brac, but it feels like a relaxed and cosy holiday resort. The stone houses are tightly packed, with narrow alleys between them where you can browse the town's shops. Down by the water, there are many outdoor cafes and 'konobas' (traditional Croatian restaurants) where you can enjoy grilled fish or lamb, for example.

In Supetar there is a nice harbour promenade surrounded by palm trees, and both inside and outside the town there are several nice pebble beaches. In addition to sunbathing and swimming, there are opportunities for various water activities, such as snorkelling and jet ski rental.

5. Discover the stone town of Pučišća

Beautifully situated in a deep bay on the north of Brač, Pučišća is strongly associated with the island's long tradition of quarrying and stonemasonry. The light-coloured limestone from Brač has been quarried since ancient times and is visible everywhere in Pučišća – in houses, roofs, stairs and streets.

The famous stonemasonry school is also located here. Stonemasonry School, founded in 1909. Students still learn traditional techniques and work with hand tools of the same type used by stonemasons in Roman times. For those interested in crafts and the island's history, the school is one of the most special attractions on Brač.

When we visited Pučišća in October, we hoped to check out the school and see the work, but at the time we couldn't find anyone to ask. However, the town itself, with its bright stone houses around the bay, is well worth a stop.

6. Visit the Blaca Desert and Blaca Monastery

Despite its name, Pustinja Blaca, or Blaca Desert, is not really a desert. It is an old hermitage located secluded among the rocks on southern Brač. Glagolitic monks settled here in the 16th century, and over the centuries the site grew from a simple cave into a monastery complex with a church, library and observatory. The last monk, Niko Miličević, was also an astronomer.

A big part of the experience is the location itself. Blaca is isolated in the barren landscape and can be reached on foot, making the visit both a natural and cultural experience. The site is now protected as a cultural monument and is also on Croatia's tentative list of future UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

7. Walk the beautiful promenade between Bol and Zlatni Rat

The entire way between Bol and Zlatni Rat runs a nice promenade, lined with greenery and absolutely beautiful views. Along the way you will also find nice little cafes and restaurants.

8. Rent a boat and experience the Croatian archipelago

The Croatian archipelago is magically beautiful, and the best way to experience it is by boat, of course! There are plenty of boats for rent around the island, some of which require a license and others do not.

We chose to rent a small motorboat in the port of Bol and had a wonderful experience. The boat we rented was a rather slow thing with five horsepower, but that didn't matter much. It was nice to steam around along the coast and see Brac from a different angle. After a while we found a cove where we could sunbathe, swim and eat our pasta salad.

9. Hiking on Brač

Brač is great for hiking, with trails through the rugged Mediterranean landscape, past olive groves, small villages and along the coast. One of the most famous hikes goes up to Vidova Gora, the highest point on the island, where you are rewarded with fantastic views of Bol, Zlatni Rat and the island of Hvar.

Another exciting hike is the one to Blaca Desert, the old hermitage that lies secluded among the cliffs on the southern part of the island. There are also great opportunities for shorter walks and hikes along the coast and between smaller towns.

Keep in mind that it can get very hot during the summer. For longer hikes, spring and autumn are better suited, while summer hikes are best done early in the morning or later in the day.

10. Find small beaches and coves

There are many beaches and coves on Brač. Take the opportunity to look for little gems when traveling around by boat or car. If you are lucky, you will be completely alone in a small cove.

11. Try water sports

Brač is ideal for various types of water sports. The area around Bol and Zlatni Rat in particular is famous for windsurfing and kitesurfing, as the winds here often provide great conditions out on the water.

Around the island there are also opportunities to try out kayaking, SUP, snorkeling and diving. If you want a little more speed, there are also other water activities available in many places during the summer season. For us, the crystal clear Adriatic Sea is a big part of the charm of Brač – whether you want to be active or just jump in and swim.

12. Sample Croatian wines at the Stina Wine Cellar in Bol

Located along the quayside in Bol's harbor, Stina Winery is a great place to sample Croatian wines. Here you'll find both red and white wines, and you can learn more about local Dalmatian grape varieties like Pošip and Plavac Mali.

13. Taste local food and olive oil

Brač has a long tradition of olive growing and the island's olive oil is an important part of the local cuisine. There are also vineyards, and among the ingredients and specialties are fish and shellfish, sheep's cheese and, not least, lamb.

A truly traditional dish from Brač is vitalac, which is made from lamb or kid entrails that are skewered, wrapped and grilled. It may not be a dish for everyone, but it is definitely part of the island's culinary tradition. For those who prefer something less adventurous, there is of course regular grilled lamb – something we ate ourselves at the Kopačina restaurant in Donji Humac and remember as one of our best dining experiences on Brač.

14. Eat lamb at the Kopačina restaurant

If you want to experience really good lamb, we can recommend the restaurant Kopačina, which is located in Donji Humac in the middle of the island. Here you can choose from many different lamb dishes. When we were here, we chose lamb on a spit together with potatoes "Island style" and grilled vegetables. We can only agree with everyone who says that lamb on Brac tastes extra good.

15. Take an excursion to Split or Hvar

The historic city of Split is just a short boat ride away, as is the beautiful island of Hvar. With Brač as a base, you can take the opportunity to make nice day trips. Read more here:

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

Accommodation and camping on Brač

There are plenty of hotels in both Supetar and Bol, and there is also the possibility of renting houses. If you are camping, you also have many campsites to choose from.

Among other things, there are several campsites in Bol. We chose to stay at Camping Kito, which is a small family-run campsite. We camped here for almost a month in October and had a great time. While we were here, the family took turns taking care of and harvesting the olives with the guests.

A special memory is that the family needed to travel away for two days and then asked us to "keep an eye on it" because we were the only guests, at the end of the season.

Getting to Brac

Brač is easily reached by ferry or catamaran from the Croatian mainland. The most common route is car ferry between Split and Supetar, which runs all year round and takes about 50 minutes. Supetar is located on the north side of the island and is a good starting point if you have a car or camper.

Another option is car ferry between Makarska and Sumartin on eastern Brač. This crossing also takes about 50 minutes and can be a convenient option if you are coming from the south along the Croatian coast.

If you are travelling without a vehicle, there are also catamarans. Jadrolinija operates the route, among others Split–Bol, which takes approximately 1 hour and 5 minutes and continues on to Hvar. The number of departures varies depending on the season, so always check the current timetable before travelling.

You can easily compare routes and book ferry tickets via Ferryhopper.

Getting around Brač

Brač is a relatively large island and if you want to see more than the town where you live, car a very convenient way to get around. We rented a car in Bol and drove around the island, which gave us the opportunity to visit Vidova Gora and Pučišća, among other places, while stopping at smaller towns, viewpoints and bathing coves along the way.

It also works local buses between several of the resorts on Brač, including from Supetar to Bol, Pučišća, Postira and Sumartin. Buses can therefore work well if you don't want to rent a car, although you will have less freedom to make spontaneous stops along the way.

Another great way to experience Brač is from the water. In the tourist resorts there are opportunities to join boat trips or rent your own. Boat. We rented a small motorboat in Bol and paddled along the coast in search of nice swimming coves – one of our favorite experiences on the island.

When is the best time to travel to Brac?

Brač is primarily a destination for spring, summer and early autumn. June and September In our opinion, these are particularly nice months if you want to combine sun and swimming with excursions around the island, while it is usually quieter than during the absolute high season.

July and August are the warmest and liveliest, with the most visitors to beaches and resorts like Bol. This is also when the range of restaurants, boat trips and other tourist activities is at its greatest.

We have visited Brač ourselves also in October, and we got to experience a completely different side of the island. It was much quieter and we could still sunbathe and swim, but during the low season you can expect that some restaurants and tourist activities are closed and the weather is less predictable.

How many days do you need on Brač?

It is possible to visit Brač for the day from, for example, Split, but if you really want to experience the island, we recommend staying at least three to four days. Then you have time to combine Bol and Zlatni Rat with some other parts of the island, such as Supetar, Pučišća, Vidova Gora and one of the smaller bathing coves.

Do you have one week you can take it much more slowly and alternate excursions with beach life, boat trips and good dinners. Brač is larger and more varied than you might first imagine – and we have returned several times ourselves and spent a total of over a month on the island.

Films from the island of Brač

Want more inspiration from the island of Brač? Check out the videos that Peter has put together.

More to see in the neighbourhood

If you're staying for a longer period of time, there are of course various excursions available! Here are tips and advice on four places on the mainland that deserve a visit:

• Trogir
• Omis
• Makarska Riviera
• Cruise with Katarina Line