Island Brac in Croatia
Bol is a popular tourist destination located on the south coast of the island Brac. We offer organized day trip to Bol. Nearby there is a village of Murvica. This village is the only inhibited location on the south coast of the island. It is because of the specific geographical constitution of that side of the island. The south coast is basically made of “cliffs” and is not suitable for building. The location of Bol is special due to the fact that it is situated just under the highest peak of Dalmatian islands called Vidova gora. The first mention of Bol dates back to the 12th century. During the period from the 16th to 19th century it was a culturally reinvigorated place. During WW2 it was a central location for the Brac partisan armies supply of ammunition. Today the island lives off tourism and agriculture, with the population of 13,800.
The largest island in Dalmatia
The island of Brac is not only the largest island of the central Dalmatian group of islands, but it is also the third largest among all of the Adriatic islands with a population estimated around 13,800 inhabitants. Brac Channel separates Brac from Split. Split Gate(Splitska vrata) separate Brac from the island of Solta and Hvar Channel from the island of Hvar. The highest point of the island, Vidova Gora (Vitus’ Mount) (778 m), has a great view and is also the highest peak of all Croatian islands. There are buses that can drive you up to the hill of Vidova Gora on your day trip to Bol. Also,from there you can see the Golden Horn beach.
The white stone of Brac
The white stone of Brac has been used for the construction of a number of famous buildings worldwide. The most famous one is the Diocletian Palace in Split. There also exists a popular rumor or an urban tale that the White House was constructed with the use of the famous Brac stone. There exists no material proof of it. It is still a popular tale to tell that expresses the quality of the stone. There still exists a stone cutters school in Pucisca and it is one of the few remaining in the world.
Towns, villages and other sights to see on a day trip to Bol
Considering that there is no surface water on this island, permanent water sources are provided only around Bol. There are Aleppo pine forests all around coastal towns and villages. Usually they cover higher parts of the island (above 400m), sometimes larger, other times smaller forests. Dominant are dense evergreen underbrush (macchia) and rocky ground.The largest towns are Pucisca and Supetar. Olive oil, wine and fruit (sour cherries and almonds) are the major farming products. The chief occupations also include livestock breeding and fishing. Fish canneries are located in Postira and Milna. There are major quarries near Pucisca, Splitska, Postira, Selca, and Donji Humac. That is where the famous building stone of Brac is excavated.
Hermitage Blaca on a day trip to Bol
In places that you would not expect on your day trip to Bol, and which are often not easy to access, some valuable pieces of art are hidden. One of them is Blaca Hermitage (Pustinja Blaca), a glagolitic monastery. The Franciscan friars founded it in the 16th century in the untouched landscape or the mysterious Dragon’s Cave (Zmajeva Spilja). Glagolite priests built the monastery under the cliffs of Brac in 1555. For centuries it has been the center of culture and scholarly events on the land which prince of Brac gave them.
Dragon’s Cave
From the Early Christian period the oldest abode of hermits is the Dragon’s Cave (Zmajeva Spilja). Glagolitic monks from Poljice inhabited it in the fifteenth century, where they found refuge from Ottoman invasions. It was stipulated that the hermits could not be disturbed as an order by the local authorities in 1609.
Brac heritage
There is a celebration that every village has on the island, formally called “fjera” of its own patron saint with activities such as processions, street markets, and open-air concerts. For example, the fjera of Supetar is celebrated on the 29th of June because the town’s patrons are Saint Peter and Paul whom are celebrated on that day. All around the southern parts of Dalmatia there are a lot of places that have the prefix “SU” in their names. That term indicates the word “holy”. It is due to the impact of roman Catholicism that is widespread throughout the whole of Dalmatia. For example, on Brac there are places named Sumartin, Sutivan and Supetar, that take the names after their patron saints. So Sumartin would translate to Saint Martin, Sutivan to Saint John, and Supetar as Saint Peter. The inhabitants of Brac celebrate their annual patron saints during summer months all over the island.
The traditional dish
The traditional dish, which is actually the specialty of places ranging from the inner parts of the island (Dol, Nerezisca, Humac Gornji/Donji, Skrip), is made of the local dormouse. It has been a traditional meal since the Romans first came to the island. On the nearby island of Hvar locals also prepare similar dishes due to the cultural diffusion and Roman influence. Make sure to try some of the traditional food on a day trip to Bol.
How to get to Brac and Bol?
Throughout the island there is a construction of a road network; ferry lines Split – Supetar, Makarska – Sumartin; ship lines with Supetar and Bol. Airport “Brac” (for smaller aircraft) is located above Bol. One of the advantages of traveling to Bol is that it is easily available because of the good traffic connections. Regular catamaran line connects Bol and Split. Regular ferry line connects Supetar with Split and Sumartin with Makarska. Also, you can choose our Split to Hvar and Golden Horn Bol Brac tour with speedboat that takes you to Bol, Hvar, Pakleni Islands and Milna.
Ferry to Bol
There are 14 daily ferry lines from Split to Supetar (50 minute travel to Bol) during the summer season and 9 ferry lines other times of year. The only direct line drives only once a day from Bol to Split and once a day from Split to Bol. It takes one hour to get to Bol. Better choice would be to buy tickets as soon as you arrive in Split because it is not possible to buy them online. It is hard to get the ticket because the purpose of this line is that local people can get to Split more easily.
What to do on a day trip to Bol?
Plenty of beaches are spreading through Bol. Zlatni rat(Golden Horn) is the most popular beach, which you will notice is seen on every brochure. There are many small but also beautiful beaches that are located in bays on the south side of Brac. Without counting those, the area of beaches in Bol is roughly 60000 square meters. Zlatni Rat is only 2 km away from Bol and it is reachable by 20 minute walk under the pine trees next to the seashore that overlooks the beautiful archipelago of the neighboring island Hvar.
The Golden Horn beach
The particular shape of Golden Horn beach is what makes the beach so exquisite and allows it to appear in many of the world’s most famous magazines, such as New York Times and National Geographic, The Insider Travel listed it as one of the most magnificent beaches in the world. It also holds the title of one of the most exceptional beaches in the world. The government of Croatia protected it as a Geo-morphological monument because of its appeal. What also makes it so unique is the spectra of colors transforming from turquoise to dark blue as you swim deeper into the sea. Tall pine trees provide natural shade which also influence the color of the sea. The area that is filled with pine trees used to be a vineyard until 1950’s. The government has planted pine trees there now.
Shape of the Golden Horn
Remaining on the peninsula, this spectacular beach is 500 meters although the size of the whole area is over 20000 square meters. The shape of this beach completely depends on the current, wind, and tide because the tip rotates in different directions. The sea is always calm on the one side of the beach and the other side is wavy. Mornings are usually not that windy but the situation changes as hours go by. Normally the wind begins to pick up in the afternoon.
How to get to Golden Horn
If you are wondering how to get to Zlatni Rat there are few options for you to choose. While walking from the town of Bol to the beach there is a nice view over the sea and also the trees provide the shade. It takes around 20 to 30 minutes to get there if you choose to take a relaxing stroll. A street tourist train is another option and costs 2,5 euros in one direction. Taxi boats drive from the center of the town straight to the beach, so this is interesting choice if you want to feel the wind in your hair. The water taxi capacity is 20 to 50 passengers and it takes 10 to 15 minutes, costing 2,5 euros in one way. One of the options to get to Golden Horn from Split is with our private boat tour to island Brac with speedboat.
Getting to Bol by car
The traffic and narrow streets make it harder to arrive with a car and also there is a lack of parking. The best way to experience Brac would be to take your car or to rent a car and drive through the island. The city bus lines do not always travel to all the places you would like to visit. There are plenty of things to see and hidden spots that you might encounter whilst on your car journey. Despite that it can be a drag going by car because it is hard to find a parking place, especially during the summer when it is hot. There is a parking lot that you pay 70 kuna or 9 euros, in case you decide to go by a car on a day trip to Bol.
Activities on a day trip to Bol
Behind Veli Most (Bol Peer), in the center of Bol there is a popular beach for children with crystal clear sea. There are many fun activities you can spend time on and enjoy on your day trip to Bol. Especially during the summer months you should use your time to try at least some of these sports activities, such as windsurfing, volleyball, scuba diving or kite surfing, as there are centers where you can rent the equipment or take lessons. The strong dalmatian wind called Maestral increases the adrenaline experience and fun.
Water activities
Bol has the perfect wind conditions for windsurfing and kite surfing so those are the most popular water sports in town. Scuba diving is another activity that attracts tourists. The temperature is excellent for exploring the bottom of the sea from the middle of the April until the beginning of November.
Things to do in day trip to Bol
There is something for everybody on this beach because it offers plenty of different things to do. You can play volleyball on the beach, play tennis, go on banana boat rides or tube ride. You could rent a paddle boat or a kayak and explore the coastline. Parasailing or parachuting gives you a special experience of sightseeing from above with a fantastic view over the Golden Horn and Bol. If you are not a fan of adrenaline activities, there are cafe bars and a few restaurants close by so you can try local specialties or refresh yourself with a cocktail. You should try some traditional Dalmatian food when you have the opportunity. Another option is to rent a boat and explore other secluded beaches.
Scuba diving experience on a day trip to Bol
Around Bol there are many popular scuba diving locations and it takes only 20-40 minute to get there by boat. Diving schools organized daily trips to dive on reefs, caves and ship wrecks. It is definitely worth to explore the bottom of the sea in Croatia. The visibility is high and there are many different species of fish and sea creatures that are interesting to see. There is a great potential for the Adriatic Sea to develop scuba diving tourism. Despite the weather conditions, geographical position makes it safe to dive. There are all types of courses available in the event that you would like to become a scuba diver. You can choose from beginner to instructor level courses. Also there are specialty courses, such as night diving, cave diving and many more.
Curiosities on a day trip to Bol
It is interesting to visit the remains of an ancient Roman Villa Rustica, just a few meters from the beach, hidden among the pine trees. Another is a “lucky pebble” in a shape of the shells of snails. “The stone of happiness” is how people call it. It brings luck to the finder some say it is hard to find, but with a little effort it is not impossible. Take your time on your day trip to Bol to find a lucky pebble so that it brings you some luck.
Blue Flag
Zlatni rat beach has the “Blue Flag”. It means it is clean, safe and eco friendly. It is necessary to take care of environment so that the beaches and sea stay protected and unpolluted . There is a tradition in May, during the first week in which local tourist organization invites divers to come to Bol to help cleaning the sea bottom. Over 200 divers join in this tradition for the last 10 years before the tourist season begins.
Day trip to Bol
Nobody regrets doing a day trip to Bol as it is the perfect combination of nature, relaxation, exploration and adrenaline. It is a great place for families because it is safe for children and provides activities for varying ages. Bol is a charming town for couples, providing romantic walks on the promenade. It is perfect for people who love adrenaline because of the many sports activities and a vibrant destination for those who enjoy night life with a few night clubs hosting great parties for the younger population.
