Spotlight on: Zlatni Rat Beach, island of Brac

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?

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.

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.

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:

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!

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.