Brač is close enough to see from Trogir and big enough to fill a day — ferry across from Split, climb Vidova Gora for the view down over Zlatni Rat, and swim off Croatia's most famous beach. Here's the honest, practical way to do it in a single day.
Written by Ante Milic · Last updated July 2026
Brač is the largest island in Dalmatia, yet only around 13,000 people live on it — which tells you most of what you need to know about its pace. From Trogir you can reach it, climb its highest point and swim off its most famous beach inside a day, without rushing. The route below is exactly how we'd do it; tap any point on the map to jump straight to that part of the day.
There is no ferry from Trogir itself — both routes start with the same 35–40 minute drive to Split ferry port. From there the choice matters, because the two boats land on opposite sides of the island.
The Jadrolinija car ferry crosses to Supetar on the north coast in about 50 minutes, and runs all year. From there it is roughly 40 minutes of island road up to Vidova Gora and down to Bol.
What you realistically fit: the whole loop — the summit, Zlatni Rat and the villages in between — without watching the clock.
Good for: anyone with a car or a scooter who wants the island, not just the beach.
A passenger catamaran runs Split to Bol in about an hour, landing a short walk from Zlatni Rat. It sails from mid-May to the end of September only. There is a morning boat out and an early-evening boat back, which leaves the best part of a day on the island.
What you realistically fit: Bol, Zlatni Rat and a long swim. Vidova Gora is not realistic on this option — the summit sits 778 m above the town, about two hours up on foot, so you would need a taxi or a booked transfer.
Good for: a beach and old-town day with no driving at either end.
Both routes share the same start — the drive to Split ferry port — then part company: the car ferry lands at Supetar for the full island loop, the catamaran goes straight to Bol. Tap a marker to jump to its write-up below.
Start your day here.
2Drive about 35–40 minutes to the Split ferry terminal.
3Cross on the Jadrolinija ferry — about 50 minutes.
4The highest peak of any Adriatic island (778 m).
5Croatia's most famous beach. Swim, then return via Supetar.
Tap a marker to jump to that stop — for live directions and sailing times, use your maps app and the ferry timetable below.
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≈ 35–40 min, Trogir to the Split ferry port.
≈ 50 min, Split to Supetar (Jadrolinija).
Car — the easiest way to link the stops.
Catamaran to Bol, mid-May to September.
A full day, setting off early.
Swimwear, water and a layer for the breezy summit.
Honest notes on each part of the day — what to expect, how long it takes, and where we'd linger.
Every version of this trip starts at home. Have breakfast, fill the car, and aim to be on the road reasonably early — the earlier you catch a ferry, the more of Brač you get before the afternoon crowds and the drive back. If you're still deciding where to base yourself, our beaches guide and things to do pages cover the rest of the area.
It's about a 35–40 minute drive from Trogir to Split's ferry terminal, right on the edge of the old town. A car is easily the most practical way to do this whole trip — it's what lets you drive up Vidova Gora and down to Bol later without waiting on anyone's timetable but the ferry's. If you'd rather travel light, a scooter is a fun alternative for confident riders.
We wouldn't rely on buses for a day like this: the local connections exist, but they rarely line up cleanly with the ferry, and you can lose half the day waiting around. If you haven't sorted transport, it's cheapest to book a hire car at Split Airport near Trogir and collect it on arrival — see our car rental guide for the details.
📷 Our photo
The Jadrolinija ferry from Split to Supetar — Brač's main port — takes around 50 minutes, and in summer the sailings are frequent. It's a genuinely pleasant crossing: Split shrinks behind you, the islands slide past, and by the time the harbour comes into view you already feel a long way from the mainland.
Supetar itself is an easy, relaxed place to land — a low-key harbour town with a palm-lined waterfront, a few cafés and a good-natured, unhurried feel. It makes a nice contrast with busier Bol later on, and it's where you'll come back to for the ferry home. From here, the road climbs south across the island.
📷 Our photo
From Supetar, drive up to Vidova Gora — at 778 metres, the highest peak of any island in the Adriatic. The road winds up through pine and low scrub to a broad, breezy plateau, and then the whole south coast opens up beneath you. The view that everyone comes for is the one looking straight down onto Zlatni Rat, the pale spit of shingle reaching out into impossibly blue water far below. It's the sort of view that quietly stops conversation for a moment.
There's a simple konoba near the top if you want a drink with the panorama. Bring a layer — it's noticeably cooler and windier up here than at sea level.
Down in Bol lies Zlatni Rat — the "Golden Horn" — Croatia's most photographed beach: a long finger of white shingle that genuinely changes shape as the wind and currents shift it, so it's never quite the same twice. Bol, the town it belongs to, is livelier and more touristy than sleepy Supetar, with more bars, boats and beach traffic.
An honest word on the beach itself: on my first visit I actually found it a little overrated — it's smaller and busier close up than the drone shots suggest, and in peak season you're sharing it with a crowd. That said, it's unquestionably worth seeing, the water really is that clear, and having looked down on it from Vidova Gora first makes it click. Spend the afternoon swimming and lazing, then head back to Supetar in good time for the ferry to Split and the short drive home to Trogir.
A car turns Brač into a smooth loop: ferry over, drive up Vidova Gora, down to Bol, back to Supetar. It's cheapest to book a hire car at Split Airport near Trogir and collect it on arrival.
If you're a confident rider, a scooter is a lovely way to take the island's quieter roads — just factor in the mountain road up to Vidova Gora and the summer heat.
Island buses do run, but the timings rarely dovetail with the ferry, and connections are sparse. For a single day, they'll cost you more time than they save.
Foot passengers can usually just turn up, but if you're taking a car across, arrive early in July and August — vehicle spaces fill first. Always glance at the day's Jadrolinija timetable.
Outside catamaran season, or if you'd rather not drive at all, organised Brač day trips run from Split. Worth a look if the ferry-and-car logistics are the part putting you off — see what's running from Split.*
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The Jadrolinija car ferry from Split to Supetar takes about 50 minutes, with frequent summer sailings. The seasonal passenger catamaran to Bol takes about an hour. Check the day's timetable and arrive early if you're taking a car across in peak season.
It depends on the day you want. For the full loop — Supetar, Vidova Gora and Bol — a car is by far the most practical, and a scooter suits confident riders. For a beach day you don't need one: from mid-May to the end of September a passenger catamaran runs from Split to Bol, a short walk from Zlatni Rat. Only Vidova Gora stays out of reach without a taxi or a booked transfer.
It's Croatia's most famous beach and genuinely worth seeing — the shingle spit even changes shape with the wind and currents. Honestly, on our first visit we found it a little overrated compared with the aerial photos, but the water is beautiful and the view of it from Vidova Gora is unforgettable.
Yes, either way. With a car: 35–40 minutes to Split, the roughly 50-minute ferry to Supetar, then a loop over Vidova Gora down to Bol. Without one: the same drive to Split, then the seasonal catamaran straight to Bol — a morning boat out and an early-evening boat back leave the best part of a day on the island.
Hi, I'm Ante. My family has been connected to Trogir for many years and we've spent countless summers exploring this stretch of coast and its islands. This guide shares the trips we genuinely recommend, along with honest advice on what is—and isn't—worth your time.
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