Island of Brac

Croatia’s extraordinary coastline is an absolute tourist attraction during summer season. With so many islands and coasts to choose from, Croatia can satisfy everyone’s needs and demands. But do not get tempted to visit only the most famous places like Split, Hvar island or Dubrovnik. There are lots of smaller and less “famous” islands offering everything you look for during your vacation.

This summer, we chose to visit the island of Brač, the third largest among the islands of the Adriatic coast. Several beautiful towns, sleepy villages and a sensational Mediterranean landscape with many steep cliffs, clear waters and pine forests which are a true beauty for the eyes. Despite its proximity to Split, Brac is less touristy than Hvar located further south, that’s why it provides an excellent window into the authentic island life.

Getting to Brač

Unless you’re travelling by plane (the island has an airport), you can only reach Brač by ferry boat from 2 main ports: Split and Makarska.

The ferry boat from Split takes you to Supetar, which is also the main and largest port of the island. Jadrolinija ferry rides take 50 minutes and provide a year – round high traffic link between Split and Supetar. There is no need to book your tickets in advance. Just make sure to be at the port at least 30 minutes in advance.

The other ferry boat, leaves from Makarska port to Summartin. This one is a really small port and the ferry has a capacity of only 25 cars. Also, the departure schedule is limited (only 5 rides per day). Make sure to be at the port as early as possible to get in line for the desired time.

Accomodation in Brač

There are many small towns on the island, but we recommend you to stay in Bol Town, since all the best beaches are in the southern part of the island. This little town has kept its Mediterranean spirit. The narrow, stony little roads and the wide piazzetas are simple and often noisy. Book an apartment or an entire villa near the main promenade of Bol and you can reach the best beaches in only 5-10 minutes drive.

Our favorite beaches in Brač

The first thing that strikes you about Brač’s beaches is the remarkable clarity of the water. When it’s set against a dazzling white pebbly beach, it sparkles with a jewel-like intensity in shades of emerald and sapphire. There are also long sandy beaches in the northern region of the island, perfect for those lazy summer days, but we recommend the white pebble beaches. Almost every beach in Brač is a public beach. You don’t have to pay for the umbrella or sunbeds (the price is about 30 Euro/umbrella). Just take your own umbrella and towels and get comfy under the pine trees’ shadow. Below we are listing our top favorite beaches in Brač:

Dracheva Beach (Murvica)

This beach is literally a paradise found and our absolute favorite. It is a lovely secluded pebble beach with small bays. You need to get down to the beach on foot through the pine forest. The path is a bit steep, so we do not recommend it for families with little children. Once you get there, enjoy the wonderful crystal clear waters, relax under the pine trees and feel the fresh summer breeze. Besides the amazing sea, this cove must be visited for the monastic remains dating back to the 15th century. Most important, dot not forget to pack all the supplies needed for a day at the beach, since there are no services or facilities in this area.

Martinica Beach

Martinica Beach, near the town center, is devided into two parts by a small cape with a monastery. To the east of the monastery, lies a beautiful bay with wonderful views of the hillside and Hvar Island. The beach offers little or no shade, but in the afternoon, it is sheltered by the monastery’s promontory. We can recommend this beach for families with children because in summer, swimming lessons take place. Withing the monastery’s courtyard, lies a beach bar and a restaurant where you can find shelter from the hot sun. Further from the beach, there is a lovely path among the rocks, leading to a nudist beach.

Zlatni Rat Beach

This is for sure the most famous beach not just in Brac Island, but all over Croatia. Also know as the Golden Horn Beach in english, this long pebble beach in Bol town which extands 500 m elegantly into the sea, is the biggest attraction on the island. The beach is particulary interesting, as it naturally changes the direction of its top, due to strong sea currents. Being the most famous and most frequented beach on the island, it is overcrowded, making it difficult to enjoy the sea and relax. Our suggestion is to get there as early as possible in the morning and stay until 12.00 am. After, move on at the dense pine forest and enjoy a cold beer.