Brač (Bol & Supetar)

The Split to Supetar car ferry is the backbone of getting to Brač. Operated primarily by Jadrolinija on line 631, the crossing takes around 50 minutes and departs from the main Split ferry terminal, a short walk from the bus and train stations in the heart of Split.

This route runs every day of the year. In high summer there are up to around 22 sailings a day; in the quieter winter months it drops to roughly 9–11 daily, so even off-season you have plenty of options. It's the most economical way across — foot-passenger tickets are inexpensive (around €6–7) and a standard car costs from roughly €26 one way.

A useful quirk: on Jadrolinija's Split–Supetar line, tickets are typically not tied to a specific departure. If your sailing fills up or you miss it, your ticket is usually valid for the next available crossing that day. Cars board on a first-come, first-served basis, so in July and August it pays to arrive at the ramp well ahead of your intended sailing.

The car ferry drops you in Supetar, not Bol, so factor in the island crossing. It's about 38 km between the two towns over a scenic interior road, roughly 30–40 minutes by car or taxi.

Without a car, Arriva runs a public bus between Supetar and Bol timed loosely around ferry arrivals. The ride takes about 45–50 minutes, costs around €6 one way, and departures are spaced out (often roughly every two hours), so check the timetable before you sail — a missed connection can mean a long wait. Once in Bol, Zlatni Rat lies about 1.5–2 km west of the town centre, an easy 20–30 minute stroll along a shaded pine-lined seafront promenade.

From spring into autumn, fast passenger catamarans sail directly from Split to Bol, cutting out the island crossing entirely. The trip takes roughly 55 minutes to just over an hour, and you step off within walking distance of Zlatni Rat.

Several operators cover this route in season, including Jadrolinija, Kapetan Luka (Krilo), Krilo Shipping Company and TP Line. Frequency and dates vary by company: Jadrolinija's seasonal Bol catamaran, for example, is set to run from mid-June to mid-September 2026 with a couple of sailings a day, while other operators extend the shoulder season. In peak months (roughly June–September) there can be up to five or more daily fast connections between the two ports; in the very early or late season it may thin to a single daily sailing.

The catch: catamarans carry foot passengers only — no cars, and luggage space is limited. Seats sell out in high summer, so book online in advance rather than relying on the harbour ticket window.

Brač rewards having wheels — the island is large, its best coves and hilltop villages are spread out, and bus service between towns is infrequent. If you're staying several days and want to reach places like Škrip, Milna or the remote southern beaches, a car (or scooter) is genuinely useful, and that means the Supetar car ferry.

But a car is not essential if your plan is Bol, Zlatni Rat and the surrounding beaches. Bol is compact and walkable, the beach is a promenade stroll from town, and you can rent bikes, scooters or a boat locally. For a beach-focused stay, arriving car-free by catamaran and getting around on foot is often simpler and cheaper than dealing with summer car queues and Bol's limited parking.

Yes, and it's a popular one — but timing is everything. The realistic day-trip target is Bol and Zlatni Rat via the direct catamaran, which gives you the most beach time for the least faff. Take an early departure, spend the day at the beach or windsurfing, and catch an afternoon or early-evening return. Because the catamaran is seasonal and sailings are limited, check both the outbound and return times before you commit, and buy tickets ahead.

Day-tripping via the Supetar car ferry is doable but eats into your day: you lose 1.5–2 hours each way just crossing the island by bus on top of the ferry. If you only have one day and want the beach, the catamaran to Bol is the smarter choice. Numerous organised boat excursions from Split also bundle Brač (often with Hvar) if you'd rather not plan the logistics yourself.

The direct Bol catamarans are a summer phenomenon — expect them from around May through October, at full frequency in July and August. Outside that window, reaching Bol means the year-round car ferry to Supetar plus the onward bus or drive, so shoulder-season and winter visitors should plan around Supetar.

Zlatni Rat itself is shaped by the wind. Its distinctive tongue of white pebble actually shifts direction with the currents, and the afternoon maestral — a steady northwesterly of roughly 11–16 knots — makes Bol one of the Mediterranean's premier windsurfing and kitesurfing spots. Mornings are usually calm and beginner-friendly; the wind builds after midday. If you're chasing wind, aim for July–August afternoons; if you want calm swimming, go early.

In peak season Bol becomes a small hub of its own, linked by seasonal fast ferries to other Dalmatian islands and coastal towns — handy if you're island-hopping rather than coming straight from Split. Typical summer connections (mostly June–September, foot passengers only) include Hvar–Bol (around 45 minutes), plus longer-haul seasonal links from Makarska, Korčula, Vis, Dubrovnik and beyond, depending on the operator and month. Schedules for these routes are shorter and change year to year, so confirm current sailings before building an itinerary around them.

Most visitors reach Brač through Split Airport (SPU) at Kaštela. There's no ferry from the airport itself — you first transfer into Split's ferry port, about 25 km away. The airport shuttle bus and city buses run to the Split bus station, which sits right beside the ferry terminal, taking roughly 30–40 minutes; a taxi covers it in about half an hour. From the port you connect to either the Supetar car ferry or, in season, the Bol catamaran. Private door-to-door transfers with ferry tickets included are also widely available if you'd rather skip the connections.