Boat trips
Zlatni rat and Bol
A shingle spit that changes shape with the wind and the current, the best-known beach on the Adriatic, and Bol below Vidova gora on the south coast of Brač.
- Duration
- Full day
- Jelsa (NM)
- 7
Zlatni rat reaches up to half a kilometre into the Hvar Channel, west of Bol. Its tip shifts with the wind, the waves and the current, so the beach never looks quite the same. Behind it is a pine wood, and above it all Vidova gora, the highest peak of the Adriatic islands.
In the afternoon the maestral blows regularly in the channel, which is why Bol is one of the best-known windsurfing spots in Croatia. The morning is therefore better for swimming and anchoring, and the afternoon for sailing.
What to see
- Swimming on one side of the spit or the other, depending on the wind
- The promenade under the pines from the beach to Bol
- The Dominican monastery at the eastern end of the town
- The view of Vidova gora from the sea
Departure points
| Departure point | Distance | By speedboat | By sailboat |
|---|---|---|---|
| Split Boat rental: Split | approx. 22 NM | 53 min | 3.7 h |
| Makarska Boat rental: Makarska | approx. 17 NM | 41 min | 2.8 h |
| Jelsa Boat rental: Jelsa | approx. 7 NM | 17 min | 1.2 h |
Distance one way. Travel time is calculated at about 25 knots for a speedboat and about 6 knots for a sailboat, without stops.
With your own or a rented boat
No ticket or permit is needed to come by boat. Coming alongside the beach itself is not allowed, and the nearest harbour is Bol.
Good to know
- The spit is a protected landscape with a roped-off bathing area: anchor outside the barrier and at the prescribed distance from the beach.
- Bol harbour, a mile to the east, is small and exposed. For the night Milna, Jelsa or Vrboska are safer.
- In the afternoon watch out for windsurfers and kitesurfers crossing the channel.
Boat trips
Other trips
The Blue Cave on Biševo
The best-known sea cave on the Adriatic, five miles from Komiža. Around noon the sun fills it with blue light through an underwater opening.
Open tripThe Blue Lagoon at Drvenik Veli
The shallow turquoise bay of Krknjaši between Drvenik Veli and two islets, six miles from Trogir: the most popular half-day trip in central Dalmatia.
Open tripThe Pakleni islands off Hvar
A chain of some twenty islets just off Hvar harbour: turquoise bays, Palmižana and Vinogradišće, restaurants under the pines and swimming from spring to autumn.
Open tripSafety
Emergency at sea
Croatia's national maritime search and rescue coordination centre (MRCC Rijeka) is on watch 24 hours a day. Save the number before you set off.
- 195Maritime search and rescue
- VHF 16Distress and safety calls
- 112Single emergency number
Before you call, have ready the boat's position (coordinates or the nearest headland, island or bay), the number of people on board and a description of the problem. A call to 112 is put through to the maritime rescue centre.
Get out on the water yourself
Find a boat directly from its owner and arrange the rental with no commission.
The information is for guidance only and does not replace official nautical charts, pilot books or forecasts. Check the current conditions and regulations before you set off.