Destinations · Central Dalmatia
Brač,the white-stone island
The island the White House was built from. A quiet guide to villa holidays on Brač, its stone villages, its pine forests and the famous beach at Zlatni Rat.
The island in short
Brač is the largest island in central Dalmatia and the closest to Split, fifty minutes by catamaran or thirty by private speedboat. Its stone has built the Diocletian's Palace, the Reichstag and, according to a persistent local claim, part of the White House.
The southern coast is dramatic: pine-covered cliffs plunge into turquoise water, and the famous Zlatni Rat beach shifts its long white finger with every tide. The northern coast, around Supetar and Milna, is calmer, greener and closer to the ferry.
Brač suits guests who want an island holiday without ever losing sight of the mainland.
- 778 m
- Vidova Gora peak
- 50 min
- Ferry to Split
- 634
- Metres of Zlatni Rat
- 40+
- Stone villages
Why Brač
Island quiet,mainland proximity
Brač is chosen by guests who want island life without a long crossing. It is also the best island for stone villas: whole hamlets of restored houses in Skrip, Dol and Nerezisca sit at 300 metres above the sea with views to Hvar.
It is the practical answer to the question, which island suits us if we also want to fly in and out of Split easily.
Luxury lifestyle
Stone estates,olive groves, tender days
The archetypal Brač villa is a restored stone farmhouse with an infinity pool, an olive grove and views south toward Hvar. Days move between the pool, the beach at Zlatni Rat or Murvica, and long lunches at family konobas inland.
Bol on the southern coast has the most polished harbour, with contemporary restaurants and a private-tender scene that rivals Hvar's.
Best beaches
Zlatni Ratand the southern coves
Zlatni Rat, the Golden Horn, is a 634-metre pebble spit that changes direction with the current. It is genuinely photogenic and, outside July and August, still uncrowded before 10am.
For quieter swimming, Murvica, Blaca and the cove below the Blaca hermitage are the best on the south coast. Lovrecina in the north has soft sand and shallows for children.
Fine dining
Bol restaurants,and konobas in the villages
Ribarska Kucica and Marinero in Bol for harbour dining. Konoba Kopacina in Donji Humac for the finest lamb on the island, cooked under a peka. Toni's in Postira for northern-coast seafood.
Brač does not chase Michelin stars, but the standard of family konoba dining is unusually high, and prices remain gentler than on Hvar.
Family activities
Sand at Lovrecina,kayaks at Bol
The north coast around Postira and Lovrecina is our first recommendation for families with young children: soft sand, gentle water and short drives.
For older children, Bol offers windsurfing (the maestral wind is reliable in the afternoons), kayaking along the coast, and the Blaca hermitage walk through a canyon of goats and beehives.
Nature
Vidova Gora,Blaca and the interior
Vidova Gora, at 778 metres, is the highest island peak in the Adriatic. The road to the summit ends at a view over Hvar that is worth an early morning drive.
The Blaca hermitage, hidden in a canyon on the south coast, is a 40-minute walk from the nearest track and one of the most atmospheric small sites on the coast.
Local experiences
Stonemasons,olive mills, quiet villages
A morning at the stonemason school in Pucisca, still the only one of its kind in Europe. An olive oil tasting at Mirko Kastelan or Uljara Milicic. An evening in a village square where nothing happens quickly.
In summer, an early boat to Zlatni Rat, then a slow lunch in Nerezisca, followed by a swim from a private cove reached only by tender.
When to visit
A long season,gentler than Hvar
June through mid-October is the villa season. Brač is a few degrees cooler than Hvar because of the higher interior, which makes July and August slightly more comfortable.
May and October are excellent for guests who care more about hiking, cycling and slow days than swimming. The ferry runs year-round from Split.
Helpful information
Practicalitiesfor Brač
Getting there
Fly into Split, then a 50-min catamaran to Bol or a 50-min car ferry to Supetar. Brač has its own small airport near Bol (May to September).
Getting around
A car is useful because villages are spread across the island. Roads are narrow but well-maintained.
Where to base
Bol for the harbour scene and Zlatni Rat; Milna for a pretty west-coast harbour; inland villages (Skrip, Dol, Nerezisca) for stone estates and privacy.
Beaches
Zlatni Rat is best before 10am. Murvica for quiet on the south coast. Lovrecina for families.
Restaurants worth booking
Konoba Kopacina, Ribarska Kucica, Toni's in Postira. Book two to three days ahead in July and August.
What to pack
Water shoes for pebble beaches, a light layer for evening breezes at altitude, and something for a walk to the Blaca hermitage.
Frequently asked
Bračin questions
Luxury concierge
Plan your Bračholiday
Tell us your dates and whether you want beach, stone village or south-coast drama. A specialist replies within four hours with a shortlist.
Luxe Villas Collection
Browse villason Brač
Restored stone estates inland, contemporary sea-view villas around Bol, and family houses in the quieter north-coast villages.