If you’re planning a trip to Croatia, chances are you’ve seen photos of that stunning beach that changes its shape with the wind. That’s the Golden Horn Beach, also known as Zlatni Rat and it’s a great day trip to do from Split!
But here’s the thing! Getting there isn’t as straightforward as it seems. When we tried planning our day trip, we genuinely struggled to figure out ferry timings and the best route.
So in this guide, I’m telling you how to get to Golden Horn Beach from Split, what’s changed recently, and how to plan it without the confusion we had.
Where is Golden Horn Beach in Croatia located?
Golden Horn Beach (Zlatni rat) is located in the town of Bol, on the island of Brač, just off the coast of Split.
Which Port Will You Arrive at in Brač?
You can get to Brac by taking a ferry from Split (Google location) to one of the five ports on the island. But to get to Zlatni Rat from Split, there are only two ports which are most suitable – Bol and Supetar.
1. Bol – 2 km from Golden Horn Beach
Bol port is located within walking distance of Zlatni Rat so this will probably be your port of choice. However, fewer ferries run on this route so timings are slightly more limited, especially in the off season.
Ferry companies operating on this route: Jadrolinija, Krilo Shipping Company, Adriatic Fast Ferries, TP Line and Kapetan Luka
Number of options per day in the off-season (winter months) – 1 per day
Number of options per day in the peak season (summer months) – 7 per day
When we visited, even in the summer months, there was only 1 option per day on this route. Thankfully, that has changed, making travelling to Bol a lot easier.
2. Supetar – 37 km from Golden Horn Beach
Supetar is located on the northern section of the island of Brac. It has excellent connectivity to Split with tonnes of ferry timings, which is why it is a superb option for your visit to Zlatni Rat beach. However, to get to the beach, you need to take additional transport (a bus or cab), which is why it is NOT the most convenient.
Ferry companies operating on this route: Jadrolinija and Kapetan Luka
Number of options per day in the off-season (winter months) – 12 per day
Number of options per day in the peak season (summer months) – 22 per day
How to get to Golden Horn Beach from Split
Now that you know of the suitable ports and the number of ferries that run to each, let’s get into the exact ways to get there!
Option 1: Direct Ferry from Split to Bol
Duration of the journey: ~1 hour
Pros: Easy and convenient
Cons: Limited ferry timings especially in winter months
Route:
- Take a ferry from Split to Bol.
- Walk the last 2 km stretch from Bol to Golden Horn Beach: The walk is a beautiful shaded one along the coastline.
You can find year-round ferry timings here.
Option 2: Ferry from Split to Supetar + Bus/Taxi to Bol
Duration of the journey: 2–2.5 hours
Advantages: Many ferry timings
Disadvantage: Need to take two modes of transport to get to the beach – a ferry + a taxi/bus
When this makes sense: In the summer months when you want to reach the beach early in the morning before the crowds get there and in the winter months for flexibility.
Route:
Step 1: Take a ferry from Split to Supetar– This ferry on the route is operated by Jadrolinija and Kapetan Luka and takes about 20-50 minutes depending on which operator you pick!
Step 2: Take a bus from Supetar to Bol– This bus service takes about 1 hour to reach Bol. Alternately, you can also take a taxi, which costs a lot and is absolutely not worth it unless you’re a big family with luggage.
Step 3: Walk the last 2 km stretch from Bol to Zlatni Rat Beach: The walk is a beautiful shaded one along the coastline so it doesn’t really feel like it’s even 2 km.
You can find year-round ferry timings here.
Can Zlatni Rat Be Done as a Day Trip from Split?
Yes, it can be done. But you have to be very intentional with timings. Ferry timings change year round so your options change too. Here are some of the best routes depending on when you visit.
Winter
Months: Oct, Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, March, April
Route: Take a ferry from Split to Supetar, then take a cab or bus to Bol. Same way back.
Split to Supetar to Bol
On this route, Kapetan Luka operates a 20-minute ferry that runs early in the morning. In January, February and March it leaves Split at 6:25 AM reaches Supetar at 6:45 AM and in October, November, December and April it leaves at 6:00 AM and reaches at 6:20 AM
However, the bus that’s supposed to take you to Bol leaves Supetar at 6:15 AM. So considering the ferry timings, you will not be able to board it. Therefore, you will have to take an expensive taxi. If budget is not a concern, then go for this option.
Else go for the option mentioned in detail below:
9:00 AM – 9:50 AM: Jadrolinija ferry to Supetar
10:25 AM – 11:20 AM: Bus from Supetar to Bol
11:20 AM – 11:45 AM: Walk to Golden Horn Beach
Bol to Supetar to Split
To come back, you have two options:
Option 1: Less time at the beach but faster to get back to Split
2:20 PM – 3:15 PM: Bus from Bol to Supetar
3:15 PM – 3:35 PM: Kapetan Luka ferry from Supetar to Split
Option 2: An hour extra at the beach but longer travel time
3:25 PM – 4:35 PM: Bus from Bol to Supetar
6:00 PM – 6:50 PM: Jadrolinija ferry from Supetar to Split
Spring
Months: May
Route: Take a ferry from Split to Supetar then a cab or bus to Bol. On the way back, take a direct ferry from Bol to Split
Split to Supetar to Bol
On this route, Kapetan Luka operates a 20-minute ferry that runs early in the morning. In May it leaves Split at 6:00 AM and reaches Supetar at 6:20 AM
However, the bus from Supetar to Bol leaves at 6:15 AM so you will not be able to get on it. You will have to take an expensive taxi if you want to reach the beach early. If budget is not a concern, then go for this option.
Else opt for the next option:
9:00 AM – 9:50 AM: Jadrolinija ferry to Supetar
10:25 AM – 11:20 AM: Bus from Supetar to Bol
11:20 AM – 11:45 AM: Walk to Golden Horn Beach
Bol to Split
To come back, you have two options:
5:15 PM – 6:10 PM: Kapetan Luka ferry directly from Bol to Split
6:15 PM – 7:15 PM: Krilo Shipping Company ferry directly from Bol to Split
Summer
Months: June to September
Route: Multiple
If you’re travelling in the summer, you’re going to have several ways to do this. Here are the options:
Option 1: Most convenient
In this option, you will only be able to reach Zlatni Rat earliest at 9:45 AM, by which time the beach will no longer be empty. If that’s okay with you, then choose this route.
8:30 AM – 9:25 AM: Ferry from Split to Bol
2:15 PM (Jadrolinija), 5:15 PM (Kapetan Luka) or 6:15 PM (Krilo): Ferry back from Bol to Split
Option 2: If you want to avoid crowds
If you want to reach there in the morning and avoid the crazy crowds at this famous beach, you have to make the effort of waking up super early and getting on multiple modes of transport. This is precisely what we did and had the beach almost to ourselves for two hours before people started to arrive.
5:15 AM – 6:05 AM – Jadrolinija ferry from Split to Supetar
6:15 AM – 07:35 AM– Bus from Supetar to Bol
2:15 PM (Jadrolinija), 5:15 PM (Kapetan Luka) or 6:15 PM (Krilo): Ferry back from Bol to Split
Day Tours to Golden Horn Beach from Split
If you don’t want to have to book ferries and transport and let someone else handle all the logistics, then a tour might be a great option. Best bit is that they’re available year round. Here are two that I would recommend.
Golden Horn Beach, Vidova Gora & Olive Oil: This option lets you get a bird’s-eye view of golden horn beach from a viewpoint (the only way you can see its shape without a drone), enjoy the beach itself, and do an olive oil tasting. While the mode of transport to get to the island of Brac is a ferry, the tour handles all your transport on the island itself. So this is a great option for those who want to see more of Brac than just to enjoy the waters of Golden Horn Beach.
Bol, Hvar, Pakleni Island, and Solta Full-Day Tour: This tour lets you kill a few birds with one stone. If you’ve been wanting to visit Hvar but can’t seem to fit it into your itinerary, then do this tour that only lets you enjoy the Golden Horn beach but also the charming island of Hvar as well as the beautiful blue waters of the Pakleni islands.
I hope this answers your question, and you have a superb time at Zlatni Rat Beach! Do let me know if you have any questions below!
Other posts from Croatia that’ll help you plan your trip:
Best Blue Cave Tour from Hvar
How to Plan a Day Trip to Mostar from Split or Dubrovnik
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