Brac Island in Croatia is famous for its picturesque Golden Horn, which looks especially impressive from above. But the place offers more attractions and is a perfect destination for one of the day trips from Split.

Of course, it would be best to stay longer there and enjoy all the things to do in Brac, but even if you are short on time, you can still explore the island a bit and see its highlights. That’s what I did, too, and I had a really great one day on Brac Island.

If you are wondering how to visit Brac from Split and how to plan your perfect day trip there, look no further. I put together this day trip to Brac from Split guide with all the necessary information you might need. Read on and enjoy visiting Brac!

Why visit Brac

Brac Island is often in the shadow of more popular destinations nearby, mainly Split, Hvar Island, and Korcula Island. But this stunning place on the Croatian coast is well worth a visit, too.

Not only will you find some of the most beautiful beaches in Croatia here, including the famous Golden Horn, but you can also visit charming towns and enjoy the laid-back vibe of the place.

Brac is not as popular and crowded as other nearby places to visit in Croatia, and it’s very easy to escape crowds here.

The island is also a good destination for watersports such as windsurfing, so if you like those, Brac is a good place for you.

Tours from Split to Brac

Since visiting Brac independently can be a bit of a hassle for some travelers, there are tours from Split you can join. Most of them have more than just Brac in the itinerary—usually, you can also visit Hvar Island and Pakleni Islands during the tour, which is a great option if you are short on time and would like to see more of Croatian highlights.

If you would like to visit Brac on a tour from Split, here are some of the recommended options:

• Split: Hvar, Brač, and Pakleni Cruise with Lunch and Drinks
• From Split: Brač and Šolta Island Cruise with Swimming
• Full-Day Private Hvar, Brac and Pakleni Islands Boat Tour from Split

How to go on a day trip to Brac from Split

You can easily get from Split to Brac by ferry but how smooth the trip will be depends on the season.

The main port on Brac is Supetar, located on the northwest side of the island. All year long there are regular ferries connecting Split with Brac – these are the large ones that also take cars onboard. Depending on the season and day of the week, there are between 7 and 14 ferry crossings per day, with a travel time of 50 minutes.

Other places on Brac where you can get from Split are Bol (near the famous Golden Horn beach) and Milna. However, the number of departures to those destinations highly depends on the season. Between October and May, there is usually only one boat per day, but in the high season between June and September, you can find more options, which makes planning a day trip from Split to Brac so much easier. The journey time from Split to Bol is around one hour, and to Milna, it is around thirty minutes.

Ferries depart in Split from the harbor near the bus station, which is only a short walk from Diocletian’s Palace and the Old Town. At the entrance to the harbor, you will find the timetable of the next departures, the name of the company operating each journey, and the number of docks the boat is at. Everything is clearly marked and easy to find.

If you travel in the off-season, you will most likely get the ticket even shortly before the departure at the ticket offices in the harbor (each company has its booth). In the summer, purchasing the tickets at least a few days in advance is recommended, especially for smaller boats (the ferry to Supetar should be fine).

You can check the ferry schedules from Split to Brac and see which company operates each connection here. To purchase the ticket online, visit the companies’ websites.

How to get around Brac

Brac Island has a local bus network. The connections aren’t very frequent, but they can still work for your one day in Brac if you want to see more than just the place where you arrived from Split.

This is what I did, too. I took a ferry to Bol, and then I departed back to Split from Supetar. I used the local bus between the towns. The buses between these two places go via charming Pučišća, so you can include it in your one-day in Brac itinerary, too.

You can check the Brac bus schedule and current prices here.

What to see on Brac in one day

The biggest attraction of the island and one of the main reasons why tourists visit Brac is the famous Golden Horn (“Zlatni Rat”) beach. It is a truly magnificent place, although, from the ground level, it does not look as impressive as on the aerial pictures you most likely have seen online.

Still, Golden Horn Beach is definitely worth visiting, not only to see the famous place but also to enjoy all the water activities and relax here. The tip of the beach changes its direction depending on the wind and water currents. The place is considered one of the most beautiful beaches in Croatia, especially since it’s sandy, which is a rarity in the region.

The Zlatni Rat beach is located around two kilometers (30 minutes walking) from the town of Bol. A nice promenade with stunning views of the surroundings (including nearby Hvar Island) will lead you there.

To get the best view of the Golden Horn beach as well as the turquoise waters of the Adriatic Sea and the beautiful landscape of Brac and Hvar Islands, you can head to Vidova Gora.

Even if it is located not too far from Bol, hiking there takes too long, and the best way to get there is by car or on a tour.

But despite the inconvenience of getting to the top, the views are spectacular and worth all the effort. Vidova Gora is, in fact, the highest mountain in the Croatian islands, with an altitude of 780 meters.

The town of Bol is pleasant too and worth spending a bit of time in. There’s a charming marina and winding lanes perfect to wander around. It’s a relatively small place, so you don’t need that much time here, but it’s still worth seeing.

While Bol and the Golden Horn beach are the highlights of the island, there are more places you can see there during your one day in Brac.

The main entrance to the island is Supetar town, which is well-connected by ferries with Split. If you are traveling in the offseason or if you want to see more than just Bol, there are big chances that Supetar will be on your Brac itinerary, too. It’s another pleasant town with a lovely marina and a nice center.

There are a few decent restaurants along the waterside where you can sit down and try local food in lovely surroundings. Supetar is less popular than Bol, and it’s a perfect place to escape crowds and enjoy the charming vibe of the Croatian coast.

There are a few more places you can see on your day trip to Brac from Split, but they might be slightly more challenging to visit (unless you rent a car, as public transport is a bit limited, although it exists).

Some of the highlights of Brac Island are the Dragon’s Cave in Murvica, the Dominican Monastery near Bol (with the amazing paintings by Tintoretto), and the charming towns of Sutivan and Pucisca. The landscape of Brac is pretty great, too, so if you are driving around, you will surely stop many times along the way to admire the beautiful views around.

Or you can spend your day in Brac enjoying the seaside, trying watersports (like windsurfing, which is very popular here) and simply having a good time in this relaxed place.

Returning back from Brac to Split

Once you are done exploring Brac Island and ready to go back to Split, all you need to do is catch a ferry. The last one from Supetar departs at 22:45, giving you plenty of time to enjoy Brac. If you want to return from Bol, in the peak season, the last boat is at 20:10. Since those are smaller, it is recommended to have a ticket booked in advance.

In Split, you will arrive at the harbor where you departed from in the morning, right in the center of the city.

Further reading

I published many articles about Croatia that you might find useful when planning your trip there. Here are some of them:

• 33 Best Places to Visit in Croatia
• 25 Wonderful Things to Do in Zagreb, Croatia
• The Bay of Abandoned Hotels in Kupari, Croatia – the Urbex Heaven
• 23 Amazing Things to Do in Dubrovnik, Croatia
• How to visit Krka National Park in Croatia
• 11 Perfect Day Trips From Split, Croatia
• 17 Fantastic Things to Do in Hvar, Croatia
• Visiting the Abandoned Željava Air Base in Croatia
• 19 Best Things to Do in Rijeka, Croatia
• Visit Opatija, Croatia – the Charming Seaside Town
• and many more!

If you are looking for articles about a specific destination – check out the map with all the articles I’ve published (and their locations). You can also join my Facebook group about traveling in the Balkans and ask your questions there.

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