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Zlatni Rat Beach, Brac, Croatia

Spotlight on: Zlatni Rat Beach, island of Brac

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One of the most famous visuals of Croatia, one that you will have surely “seen” whether you’re paying close attention to Croatia or not, is Zlatni Rat beach on the island of Brac. Translating to Golden Horn in English, images of this beach appear practically everywhere there’s a feature or advertising on Croatia! But what and where actually is the beach? And is it actually made from sand?

Zlatni Rat Beach, Brac, Croatia

About Zlatni Rat Beach and its Features

Located around 2 kilometres west of the main part of the town of Bol, this famous beach is a spit (a long, thin strip of land) that juts 634 metres out into the Adriatic. Looking like a horn (hence its name), the beach changes shape depending on the winds and the sea current. The change of the beach’s shape occurs most commonly in Spring or Autumn.

As it’s a long, thin beach, the beach essentially has two sides. The water temperature on the western side is slightly warmer than on the eastern side. Another feature of Zlatni Rat Beach that makes it look oh-so-gorgeous in photos is the colour of the water – with a lightish turquoise shade immediately surrounding the beach, which blends into dark blue waters fairly dramatically and quickly.

There is also a reasonably large pine forest on Zlatni Rat Beach, which, as well as providing fragrance and picturesque contast to the pebbles, also provides all-important shade! It is delightful to base yourself for the day in amongst the pine trees, away from the strong sun.

Zlatni Rat has been a Blue Flag Beach since 2012, a designation that is awarded to beaches and sites that meet high environmental and safety standards.

Top Sights in Croatia - Zlatni Rat Beach
Aerial view of Zlatni rat beach in Bol, Island Brac, Croatia
Zlatni Rat Beach, near Bol on the island of Brac, Croatia - aerial view
A different shape of the beach from the image above!

Sand, yes or no?

No. Despite appearances to the contrary – i.e. photos taken from a drone that’s relatively far away – Zlatni Rat beach is NOT sandy. It is, in fact, a fine pebble beach, as many of the beaches in Croatia are. Yes, I know it does look like golden sand in the photos. It is not.

The pebbles of Zlatni Rat Beach
Pebbles! Pebbles galore!

Getting There

As I’ve mentioned, the beach is on the outskirts of the town of Bol on the island of Brac. If you’re already in Bol, it’s around a 20-25 minute walk from the centre of the town along the coastal path. You can enjoy a nice, leisurely walk to the beach and treat yourself to a refreshing drink once you’re there.

Alternatively, you can hop on the “street train” which takes you from the centre of Bol to Zlatni Rat in 15 minutes. These trains run from May to September, with a higher frequency in peak summer. There are also quick taxi boats that will ferry you from Bol to the beach.

And yes, there is parking near the beach, so you can also reach it using your own car.

To Zlatni Rat Beach from elsewhere in Croatia

If you’re travelling from further afield to see the famous Zlatni Rat Beach with your own eyes, it’s easiest to travel from Split on the mainland. There are several catamarans that operate from Split to Bol run by Jadrolinija and Kapetan Luka. There is also a summer, coastal catamaran that runs from Dubrovnik to Bol. Full details of all of these sailings can be found on our Getting to Brac page.

You can absolutely visit Zlatni Rat Beach on a day trip, for example, from Split to Makarska. Most day trips include a visit to Zlatni Rat as part of a tour of other nearby points of interest (such as the Blue Lagoon) or islands. Take a look at some of the options below:

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Experiencing Zlatni Rat Beach

Well, as it’s a beach, your experience of it will be much like any other (popular) beach! You will very likely be coming here to have a proper seaside experience, so make sure you pack or wear your swimming costumes, bring your towels and goggles and maybe your beach games too. As with many Croatian beaches, it would be advisable to bring beach shoes to make sure your little (or large) feet are comfortable walking on the pebbles.

As with many of Croatia’s beaches, entrance into the water is shallow, making it very suitable for families and those with young swimmers (or splashers). It is best to stay in the waters on either side of the beach rather than immediately off its southern point, which has a stronger current.

There’s no denying that the beach does get busy – pretty busy indeed – during the summer months. Quiet time by the twinkling Adriatic, this is not. But if you’re holidaying in Bol, you must spend some time on Zlatni Rat – you may well have chosen Bol as a destination because of the beach!

Zlatni Rat Beach, Bol, island of Brac in Croatia
A side view of Zlatni Rat Beach – it’s certainly a popular place!

Facilities

There are excellent facilities at Zlatni Rat, as befitting such a popular beach. As well as toilets, showers and changing cubicles, several manned lifeguard towers can be found here to guard over swimmers.

If you tire of swimming and sun worshipping, you can make use of the sports courts and facilities located nearby. The younger generation can enjoy a playground, whilst older beachgoers can head off to play volleyball. There is also an inflatable “aquapark” on the sea, a common sight at beaches all along the Croatian coastline, for people of all ages to enjoy.

There are also a number of companies located here that can offer equipment or opportunities for parasailing, pedal boating, banana boating and similar.

Eating and Drinking

Once you’ve had your fill of sun, sea and…er…sports, you will have worked up an appetite! Luckily, there are a number of eateries located right by Zlati Rat beach for you to frequent for food and drink. These include several food stalls selling things such as sandwiches, salads, pancakes, poke bowls, fruit salads, burgers, cevapcici, pizza…and more.

For a proper sit-down affair, head to the nearby restaurants of Mali Raj or D’Oro Restaurant within Zlatni Rat Beach Resort. Both offer proper dining, however, so don’t turn up in your bikini!

To turn your visit to this beach into a bit of a party, 585 Club or its sister site Auro Beach Bar are the places to be.

Accommodation

There’s a good choice of accommodation in Bol for you to choose from. Search using the map below:

Zlatni Rat Beach Resort is within walking distance of the beach.

Opening Hours and Price

As it’s a public beach, Zlatni Rat is of course open 24 hours a day, all year round and is (unsurprisingly) completely free to visit!

More info

You can learn more about Zlatni Rat Beach on the website of Bol Tourist Office.

New Split to Supetar catamaran - Aerial view of the harbour of Supetar, on the island of Brac, Croatia

New Split to Supetar catamaran launched

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Great news for all of you who love to travel to the island of Brac – this week, Krilo/Kapetan Luka launched a brand new Split to Supetar catamaran that makes the journey in only 22 minutes. For 2025, the catamaran will sail four times a day each way until the end of October, and then twice a day for the rest of the year.

Situated on the northern part of the island, Supetar is the main town on Brac and a lovely place to visit at any time of year. This catamaran will definitely help travellers and locals alike reach Brac quickly and easily. And – given the number of sailings per day during the summer months and even during the shoulder season – this sailing can be utilised for day trips in either direction.

New Split to Supetar catamaran - Aerial view of the harbour of Supetar, on the island of Brac, Croatia
An aerial view of Supetar

Timetable for the Split to Supetar catamaran

13.10 – 31.10
01.04 – 30.04
Depature Times from Split (Daily) Depature Times from Supetar (Daily)
6am  7am
12pm  1pm
3pm4pm
7pm8pm
01.11 – 31.12
01.01 – 31.03
Depature Times from Split (Daily) Depature Times from Supetar (Daily)
6am  7am
3pm4pm
01.05 – 30.09
Depature Times from Split (Daily) Depature Times from Supetar (Daily)
6am  7am
8am9am
10am11am
12pm1pm
2pm3pm
4pm5pm
6pm7pm
8pm9om

Tickets for the Split to Supetar catamaran

Tickets cost €10 one-way and can be booked online on the Kapetan Luka website or at a Kapetan Luka sales point – for example, from the kiosk right by Split port.

Other ways of getting to Brac island

Take a look at our Getting to Brac page for details of other ferries and catamarans to Brac. Although this is only the second connection from Split to Supetar – the other being a car ferry – there are sailings from Split, Dubrovnik, Makarska, Korcula and Hvar to the other towns on the island.

Bus company Arriva operate local buses from the island, so you can also reach other destinations on Brac by utilising this catamaran. Once you’ve arrived in Supetar, you can then take a bus to Bol, Milna, Sutivan, Postira and other locations.  

More info

All information about this route can be found on the Kapetan Luka website. Do also look them up on Instagram or Facebook for their latest travel news.

Find out what there is to see and do in Supetar on the Supetar Tourist Board website.

If you’re planning on staying a while, take a look at our Accommodation in Supetar page.

Brac Film Festival

8th Brac Film Festival starts next week

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The eighth edition of the celebrated Brac Film Festival will be hosted in the lovely Supetar on the island next week, from 10th to 13th August 2022. With a programme richer than ever, the festival will show a variety of screenings at the outdoor summer cinema in town, from feature-length films to shorts, as well as a good selection of kids’ films. Brac Film Festival will offer a wonderful cinematic experience on one of Croatia’s most beautiful islands!

Brac Film Festival

Short Films

Short films will proceed the main feature each day, starting at 9.30pm. These short films have been produced by students of local film academies, and the Brac Film Festival gives them an excellent opportunity to screen their works. 2022’s festival will see shorts such as “Pištolji i kacige” (“Gunz and Helmets“), “Kriza” (“Crisis”), “Džonika” and “Sound Mixer” shown.

Main features at Brac Film Festival

The opening evening of the festival will see the screening of the film “Divljaci” (“Savages“), directed by Dario Lonjak. This action comedy tells the story of three Croatian football fans who accidentally end up in a terrorist camp!

The second evening the outstanding “Strahinja Banović” (titled “As Far As I Can Walk” in English), directed by Stefan Arsenijević, will be screened.

On the third night “Zbornica” (“The Staffroom“), by Sonja Tarokić, will be shown; this film has been declared “one of the best Croatian films in recent times” by critics.

The sports drama “Zlatni dječak” (“Golden Boy“) is the main feature screening on the final night of the festival. Directed by Ognjen Janković, the film tells the story of a 20-year-old promising soccer player who, upon entering the professional world, finds it increasingly difficult to reconcile his private life with the demands of sport at the very top.

Brac Film Festival

Films for children

Children’s films will be screened at the festival every day at 9pm. Aimed at kids aged 6 and upwards, both Croatian and foreign films will be shown – these include “Ljeto kada sam naučila letjeti” (“The Summer I Learned to Fly“) which tells the tale of 12-year-old Sofija who enjoys an adventure she couldn’t have dreamed of during her summer holiday on Hvar.

The other kids’ films that will be shown are “Comedy Queen”, “Nelly Rapp: Monster Agent”, “Even Mice Go To Heaven” and the well-known “The Egg“.

S

Brac Film Festival

More info on Brac Film Festival

Full details on the festival can be found on the official website – bracfilmfestival.hr/en.

Tickets for all film screenings can be purchased at the box office on the Riva in Supetar. Tickets start being sold from 8th August.

Brac Film Festival
10th – 13th August 2022
bracfilmfestival.hr/en

Our Stories from Bol - Bol Tourist Board

New initiative from Bol Tourist Board – Our Stories from Bol

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We’re sure that many of you have holidayed on the stunning island of Brac, and plenty of you have also enjoyed visiting or staying in the scenic town of Bol, set on the south side of the island.

Our Stories from Bol - Bol Tourist Board

Perhaps you’d like to ‘revisit’ this dream destination, or find out more if you’ve never been? How about finding out more about organically grown products that you can eat there, or where’s best to buy locally produced goat milk products and extra-virgin olive oil? Maybe you are interested in finding a fishmonger selling freshly caught fish? What about learning which are the best restaurants for enjoying local specialties prepared with wild herbs? Or merely getting lost in holiday daydreaming while listening to beautiful guitar sounds?

Our stories from Bol is a new project by Bol Tourist Board (TZ Bol) that will reveal all of this and more! With an emphasis on unity and support from the local community and the population that has tourism written in their DNA, Bol Tourist Board has brought its locals together to send you a simple message – “See you in Bol!”

These Bol locals send this message to all those who have already visited this beautiful town, as well as to future visitors who will hopefully visit one day soon.

Bol Tourist Board – Our stories from Bol


The Our stories from Bol project focuses on local restaurants, farmers and producers as well as small hotels who are understandably experiencing mixed emotions at the moment – from fear and uncertainty to optimism and trust that the future will be brighter.

Unity is the key to the sharing of an genuine experience of Brac by the citizens of Bol, known as Bolke and Boljani. They wish to share first-hand stories with their guests, stories that cannot otherwise be found in magazines; stories about about irresistible tastes and scents of local food and products, about wild plants and herbs, about an authentic experience of their town and all of its beauty. That means not just referring to the famous Dominican monastery from which you can enjoy a scenic walk to one of the most beautiful beaches in the world, Zlatni rat (Golden Horn) or attractive biking trails, but also to the generations of dedicated and hard-working people that make this small town so charming. 

So what are some of the Our Stories from Bol? In the perfectly imperfect video clips and photographs, Franci Marinković from the Pusa restaurant shares his story. As well as his wild herb specialties that are adored by many, he always enchants his guests with singing and guitar playing.

Franci Marinković Risotto
Risotto at Pusa Restaurant

For almost ten years now, Meri Bodlović and her husband have dedicated themselves to organic farming, olive and wine growing on their family farm.

Mirjan and his mother Irena successfully combine farming, production, and catering. Their specialty, Cheese in sugar, can be tasted at their tavern Dišpet.

Dišpet

Nikica Bodlović from the Bodlović family farm proudly talks about olives and the family olive grove, which has 250 olive trees that produce golden drops of their extra-virgin olive oil.

Pravdan Katić, a professional fisherman with 15 years of experience, enthusiastically talks about his job.

And while playing the guitar, Pjerin Jugović sings and plays in the same way that has entertained many tourists over the years.

You can see all the videos in the series on the Bol Tourist Board YouTube channel.

The director of the Bol Tourist Board, Markito Marinković remarks:

“This project aims to engage the local population in active promotion of their town. We would like to introduce our guests to people that will be there for them during their stay in Bol. I believe that this is a winning formula because who can tell the stories of Bol better than its people? This is also an opportunity for Bolke and Boljani to actively participate with their suggestions and engagement in the joint promotion of our Bol.”

This is just the beginning of Bol Tourist Board’s narrative that, over the next few months, will show accounts of their citizens and positive local experiences. Be sure to follow them on social media – on Instagram and Facebook – to see more!

Bol Tourist Board – Our Stories from Bol
www.bol.hr

Accommodation in Bol

Catamaran direct from Split Airport to Bol

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Following on from the launch of a new catamaran service from Split Airport to central Split, this summer has also seen another new service – a catamaran direct from Split Airport to Bol on the island of Brac, and to Stari Grad on Hvar.

Split Airport to Bol catamaran
Bol on the island of Brac

This service, run by SplitExpress, actually started operating on 1st June this year. However, for those of you yet to travel to Croatia this summer, we’re sure this is still welcome news, even now!

This catamaran service will prove very, very useful for anyone wishing to travel direct from Split Airport to the island of Brac and Hvar.

Timetable

There are four sailings a day from Split Airport to Bol at 10am (arrives 11.25am), 1pm (arr. 2.05pm), 4.20pm (arr. 5.25pm) and and at 8.50pm (arr. 10.15pm). The first and last sailing also stop at Split along the way (arrival time in Split is 15 minutes after departure from the port near Split Airport).

Additionally, the 1pm sailing from Split Airport travels on to Stari Grad on the island of Hvar, reaching it 2.50pm.

See the full timetable below:

Split Airport to Bol - SplitExpress catamaran outbound
Split Airport to Bol - SplitExpress catamaran inbound

Note: where two times are listed in one box, the first time means the arrival time and the second the departure time. For example, the 10am service arrives at Split at 10.15am, then departs at 10.30am to travel on to Bol, arriving there are 11.25am.

The timetable can also be found here.

Ticket prices

All tickets for the SplitExpress catamaran can be booked as one of three types – Lowfare, Lowfareplus or Flexplus. Lowfare is the cheapest option (understandably) and cannot be refunded or changed. Lowfareplus tickets cannot be refunded, although the departure can be changed (subject to availability). Finally, Flexplus tickets – as you may have guessed – are both refundable or can also be changed to another journey.

From Split Airport to Bol or Stari Grad, it costs 199 Kn (lowfare), 229 Kn (lowfareplus) or 299 Kn (flexplus).

Travelling from Split Airport to Split, costs 50 Kn (lowfare), 129 Kn (lowfareplus), or 199 Kn (flexplus).

From Split to Bol, it costs 99 Kn (lowfare), 129 Kn (lowfareplus), or 199 Kn (flexplus).

For Bol to Stari Grad, it costs 79 Kn (lowfare), 109 Kn (lowfareplus), 169 Kn (flexplus).

Prices are the same for adults and for children aged 2 and over. Children under 2 years of age travel free.

Tickets can be booked online.

Enjoy travelling from Split Airport this summer!

New catamaran route in Croatia for 2017!

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Some exciting news about another new catamaran route in Croatia for 2017 – one that we’re sure will benefit many visitors to the country.

This new catamaran route will hop between the mainland and some of Croatia’s most popular islands, connecting Split, Bol on the island of Brac, Makarska, Korcula, Mljet and Dubrovnik.

The service is being run by Kapetan Luka, who already also run a popular route connecting Split with Milna on Brac, Hvar Town on Hvar, Korcula, Mljet and Dubrovnik.

This new service will commence sailing on Monday 12th June 2017, running daily until Sunday 17th September 2017. The timetable of the new service is as below:

New catamaran connections and day trips

This new route brings up some exciting new sea connections. In particular, Makarska is now connected by sea to the prime spots of Bol, Korcula, Mljet and Dubrovnik. And to Split as well, of course, although as it’s only an hour or so down the road, it’s already easily reachable from Croatia’s second city! (Makarska does already have a car ferry to Sumartin on the eastern side of the island of Brac.)

This catamaran also sets up some opportunities for day trips not previously possible by public ferry. A day trip from Split to Bol is now possible; you’ll certainly get a full day in Bol, and be able to experience the delights of Zlatni Rat, one of Croatia’s most famous beaches. And from Makarska, you can also consider a day trip to Korcula or Mljet. (Dubrovnik is a little too far, and you’d only get four hours there!).

Online ticket booking

Tickets can be booked on Kapetan Luka’s booking website. We’d certainly recommend pre-booking tickets in advance, as we’re sure this route will be popular.

As a catamaran, this is obviously a foot-passenger only boat. No cars can sail on this route!

Other catamaran and ferry routes

Of course, there already are plenty of other routes running off the Croatian coast. Two other popular services – both of which have also started running in recent years – connect Split and Dubrovnik and stop at Brac (Milna or Bol), Hvar, Korcula and Mljet along the way.

For more details about these routes, and for other sailings, see our Ferries in Croatia section.

Happy catamaran travelling!

Milna, Brac

Travel question: Island day trips from Split and Dubrovnik in May

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I am spending three nights Split and three nights in Dubrovnik in late May. I was wondering if you had any suggestions about possible ferry day trips to go on while in either of these two cities?

A.

Island day trips from Split in May

From Split, either Hvar Town or Milna on Brac (but not both on the same day!) would be most suitable locations for ferry day trips. This catamaran (which runs daily in late May) sails to both places, departing from Split quite early in the day and then making the return journey in the evening. This means you would get a full day on either Brac or Hvar.

Island day trips from Split - Milna on Brac

Milna on the island of Brac

Jadrolinija do also have sailings to Hvar Town. However, in late May they don’t yet have any in the morning (with a return in the afternoon/evening) meaning you can’t use their sailings for a day trip to Hvar at this time of year. They do, however, have a slow car ferry to Stari Grad on Hvar but at two hours sailing each way, that’s quite a lot of travel time! 

Vis is also not suitable as an island day trip by public ferry from Split.

For something closer and more ‘off the beaten track’, how about the island of Solta? Definitely possible as a day trip from Split (with Jadrolinija, sailing time 1 hour) you can find out more details about the island on the tourist office website. A tranquil place away from the crowds, it would certainly earn you brownie points as a place that not many people visit or have heard of! Travel expert Simon Calder wrote an article in the Independent on visting this island: Slavic secret Solta is steeped in history and rich in beauty.

Island day trips from Dubrovnik in May

From Dubrovnik, you can visit one (or possibly two, if you time it right!) of the Elafiti islands of Sipan, Lopud and Kolocep with Jadrolinija.

Unfortunately, there are no sailings in late May that make a day trip to the islands of Korcula or Mljet possible.

Of course, visiting the small island of Lokrum *is* possible! There are frequent sailings from Dubrovnik’s Old Town – see the timetable on the official Lokrum website.

Happy day-tripping!

Ferries in Croatia - Jadrolinija catamaran

New Jadrolinija catamaran line from Dubrovnik to Korcula, Hvar and Bol!

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Croatia’s main ferry company Jadrolinija will be running a brand new catamaran line for summer 2016! The new Jadrolinija catamaran line will connect Dubrovnik with Korcula, Hvar Town and Bol – meaning that some of the Croatia’s most popular destinations and islands are connected.

Ferries in Croatia - Jadrolinija catamaran

A Jadrolinija catamaran departing Hvar Town

Operating daily from 1st July to 11th September, the catamaran will sail from Dubrovnik in the morning and make the return journey in the late afternoon/evening. That means that you could potentially make day trips to Hvar and Bol from Dubrovnik using this catamaran service. (And to Korcula of course as well – although this was already possible.)

What will also interest many travellers is that this catamaran can also be used to make day trips from Hvar to Bol on Brac! (Although, as you can see from the timetable, not the other way around.) There’s currently only a catamaran service – also run by Jadrolinija – connecting Jelsa on Hvar with Bol.

The full timetable:

Dubrovnik - Korcula - Hvar - Bol

Full details of this service and prices can be found on the Jadrolinija website. We’d definitely recommend pre-booking this Jadrolinija catamaran if you intend to travel on it – booking can be done Jadrolinija’s homepage – as we’re sure this will be an exceedingly popular service.

Kapetan Luka have run another catamaran service for a few years which has also proved to be exceedingly popular. Their service also runs daily (in high summer), and several times a week in May and October, connecting Split, Milna (Brac), Hvar Town, Korcula, Pomena (Mljet) and Dubrovnik. This line however goes from Split in the early morning (reaching Dubrovnik at midday), and from Dubrovnik in the late afternoon (reaching Split at 8.20pm). The full timetable, prices and ticket booking can be found on the Kapetan Luka website.

For more on travelling around Croatia by sea, check out our Ferries in Croatia and Ferry and Catamaran Prices sections.

Bon voyage!