Brač

June to September is the main season. The sea is warm, days are long and the weather is mostly dry. July and August are the busiest and hottest months. Late May and September are good choices for swimming with fewer people.

Spring and autumn suit walking and sightseeing, but the sea is cooler. Winter is quiet. Many restaurants and rooms close, and ferries run less often. Rain and strong wind are common from October to March.

Ferry timetables change by season.

• Golden Horn is the island's best-known beach. It is a long pebble spit that points into the sea at Bol. Wind and currents slowly change its shape.
• Vidova gora is the highest peak on the Adriatic islands, at about 780 m. It rises above Bol. Come for the wide view over the sea and the neighbouring islands.
• Blaca Hermitage is a hermitage built into a cliff. Monks lived here for about four centuries until 1963. Today it is a museum with a library and an old telescope collection. You can reach it only on foot, about 40 minutes uphill from the bay. The path is steep and rocky. The museum opens in season. Bring water, as nothing is sold there.
• Zmajeva špilja is a cave above Murvica with a carved dragon, made by a monk in the 15th century. Other reliefs show the moon and human figures.
• Muzej Otoka Brača is in Škrip, the oldest settlement on the island. The museum holds Roman and early medieval stone carvings and a display of local farming and stonemasonry.
• Mausoleum of the Petrinovic Family stands in the cemetery in Supetar. It was designed by the sculptor Toma Rosandić and is protected as heritage.

• Windsurf at Bol: the town is known for windsurfing. You can watch the sails from the beach even if you do not sail.
• Take a boat to Blaca bay: boats run from Bol to the bay below the hermitage. The walk uphill from the bay takes about 40 minutes to Blaca Hermitage.
• Drive the inland villages: roads cross the hills past stone houses, olive groves and dry-stone walls. Stop for a drink in a village square.

Brač itself fills several days. For a day away from the island, the choices are mainly by boat.

• Split: about 50 minutes by car ferry from Supetar. Good for the old town and the Roman palace, which is built partly of Brač stone.
• Hvar: a fast catamaran links Bol with Hvar in summer. Jelsa and Stari Grad on Hvar have a link from Bol all year.
• Makarska: a car ferry runs from Sumartin on the east end of Brač. Check the timetable and book a car space early.

• Općina Bol is the town on the south coast, near the main beach.
• Split is the mainland gateway to Brač, with ferries to Supetar and Bol.
• Hvar is the neighbouring island to the south, linked to Bol by catamaran in summer.
• Makarska is a coastal town with a car ferry to Sumartin on Brač.

• By air: Brač Airport near Bol has limited flights in summer. Split Airport (SPU) on the mainland is the main option. From there, travel to the Split ferry port and cross to Brač. Allow extra time for the transfer.
• By ferry from Split to Supetar: a car ferry takes about 50 minutes. It runs every day all year, at least 9 times a day. Foot passengers and cars do not need an advance ticket on this line.
• By ferry from Split to Bol: a fast catamaran runs from Split to Bol, about 1 hour. Times change by season.
• By ferry from Makarska to Sumartin: a car ferry runs daily. Book ahead if you bring a car, as space is limited.
• From the port to your town: Supetar to Bol is about 35 km, around 40 minutes by car. Buses and taxis also run between them.

Check sailing times and book on the Jadrolinija site.

• Buses: buses link Supetar, Bol and other towns, with fewer runs outside summer.
• Taxi: taxis are the easy option for a one-way trip, for example from Supetar to Bol. Book ahead in the high season.
• On foot: Bol, Supetar and the other harbour towns are small and easy to walk. Distances between towns are too long to walk.
• Cycling: roads are hilly. Cycling suits fit riders more than casual ones.

Official information for Bol is on the Bol tourist board site.

• Is a car worth it?: yes, if you want to see more than one town. The island is large. If you stay in Bol or Supetar and only want the beach, you can manage without one.
• Ferry: cars travel on the car ferries only. Book the Makarska to Sumartin ferry ahead.
• Parking: space is tight near Bol's beach and harbour in July and August. Arrive early or walk in from the edge of town.
• Road: from Supetar to Bol is about 35 km, around 40 minutes. Inland roads are narrow in places.

Brač food is simple and local. Look for lamb, local olive oil and fish. Brač olive oil has a protected designation of origin. The island also makes varenik, a sweet syrup from a local grape variety. It is used in desserts.

Good eating clusters along the harbour fronts in Bol and Supetar. For a quieter meal, try a konoba, a family-run tavern, in one of the inland villages. Ask in advance for slow-roasted dishes such as peka.

Brač is safe for visitors. Petty theft is rare. Take normal care with bags on busy ferries and in crowded town centres in summer.

• Sun and heat: summer days are hot and shade is limited on beaches and trails. Bring water and sun protection, especially for Blaca and Vidova gora.
• Sea urchins: rocky shores have sea urchins. Water shoes help.
• Wildfire: dry summers bring a fire risk. Do not light fires outside.
• Ferries: strong wind can cancel sailings. Keep some time spare before a flight.
• Medical help: the island has small clinics. Serious cases go to the mainland. Call 112 in an emergency.

People have lived on Brač since prehistory. In Roman times the island's white stone was cut for buildings. It was used in Diocletian's Palace in Split. You can see old stonework in the Muzej Otoka Brača in Škrip.

In the Middle Ages the island was ruled by several powers, including Venice. The administrative centre moved from Nerežišća to Supetar in 1827.

Monks settled in the cliffs in the 16th century. They built Blaca Hermitage, where they lived until 1963. Many islanders left from the late 19th century, and the population fell from about 24,000 in 1900 to about 14,000 today. Today tourism, stone, olive oil and farming support the island. Pučišća has a stonemason school.

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