By the Dalmatia Express crew — skippers running the Split–island routes daily, 24/7. Updated 2 September 2026.

The quickest way from Split to Bol is a private water taxi straight to Bol’s harbour. Bol is a small beach town on the south coast of Brač island, facing Hvar. The trip takes about 35 minutes, door to dock. By public transport, there is a seasonal direct catamaran. It takes 55–60 minutes, with only one or two sailings a day. The more frequent route is the car ferry to Supetar (the main ferry port on Brač island). Then you take a bus or drive across the island. This adds up to roughly 2–2.5 hours in total. Bol sits on Brač’s exposed south coast, facing Hvar island. Supetar is on the north shore, facing Split. This is why many visitors arrive in Supetar and think Zlatni Rat is close. Zlatni Rat is the famous long pebble beach near Bol. In fact, they are still an hour’s bus ride away.

We say this as the crew who run Split to Brač transfers every day. Bol is one of the few harbour towns in Dalmatia where the “obvious” ferry route is not the fastest one. Below is every realistic way to get there in 2026. We checked each one.

Why Split to Bol isn’t as direct as it looks on the map

Brač is shaped like a long wedge. Its two main towns sit on opposite coasts. Supetar, the island’s ferry hub, faces Split. That is why Jadrolinija (the national ferry company) runs its main car ferry there many times a day. Bol faces Hvar on the south coast. This is also why the Zlatni Rat sand spit formed there. Bol has no big car-ferry link of its own. Anyone arriving in Supetar still has a real journey across the island ahead. It is about 35 km over Vidova Gora, the highest mountain on any Adriatic island.

There is a direct seasonal catamaran to Bol (a fast passenger boat, no cars). We cover it below. It runs only once or twice a day, and it does not run outside summer. So planning Split to Bol means choosing one of three things. You can choose frequency: the Supetar ferry, with a long second leg by bus. You can choose a direct boat on a limited timetable: the seasonal catamaran. Or you can choose speed and flexibility at a higher price: a private transfer.

Is a private transfer actually worth it? The honest math

Take the worst realistic version of the “cheap” public route and compare it to our boat at its best — a full boat of 14 sharing one hull, Split Airport → Bol.

For a full boat you pay less per head than the “cheap” route — and arrive hours sooner, often half a day saved.

What else you get with Dalmatia Express

• Private — just your group. No strangers, no packed ferry deck.
• Met at the gate. Our driver takes your luggage, walks you to the boat, and the crew helps you off — door to door.
• Radar cabin, licensed crew. Safe in rough sea, and we sail when the catamarans are cancelled.
• 24/7, on demand. Book by call, SMS or WhatsApp — even mid-flight — and we are waiting when you land.
• The scenic route. Open sea, islands and hidden coves the whole way, not a crowded car deck.
• Concierge on board. Crew tips on the best beaches, konobas and what to see.
• Special rates on our tours. Transfer guests get preferential pricing on our Blue Cave and island excursions.
• Trusted names. Chosen by Mate Rimac and a James Bond production.

The part nobody tells you: the last catamaran to Bol leaves around 16:00 — evening sailings go to Milna, not Bol in peak. Land after that — a delayed or late-night flight — and there is no public boat until morning: a Split hotel night (€100–180) plus next-day tickets, or hours at the port. Our closed-cabin boats run 24/7 and still sail in a bura when the catamarans cancel.

Skipper’s tip: 4+ people with luggage, or any flight after ~19:00 → the private boat usually wins on total cost once taxis, tickets and a possible hotel are added, and always on time.

See our Split → Bol prices, or tell us your flight time — we reply 24/7.

Split to Bol: every route compared

New to the Split–Brač crossing? Our Split to Brač ferry guide explains every port, operator and season in one place. It is useful background before you pick a route to Bol.

Here is how the options compare for 2026, door to beach. “Total door-to-beach time” assumes you are going to Zlatni Rat. The beach is a 20–30 minute walk from Bol harbour. You can also take a short taxi-boat or the small tourist train.

The first row surprises people. The Supetar ferry itself is fast and frequent. But the bus across the island is the part nobody plans time for. We have seen guests step off the early ferry and expect to swim at Zlatni Rat within the hour. Then they find the next bus is in 40 minutes, and the bus ride itself takes over an hour. That is the hidden part of this route. Plan for it, and it is a good way to travel. Ignore it, and it takes your whole morning. If you want to skip all of that, book a private taxi boat. It takes you from Split or the airport straight to Bol harbour in about 35 minutes. See our Split to Brač and Bol prices.

Skipper’s tip: if you drive from Supetar, skip the coast road. The inland road over Vidova Gora, through the villages of Nerežišća and Pražnica, is usually quicker. It also has a great viewpoint. You look straight down over Zlatni Rat and across to Hvar. Plan fifteen minutes for photos. Everyone stops there.

Option 1: Jadrolinija car ferry to Supetar, then bus or drive

This is still the most-used way to reach Brač from Split. It is the only route with a real car deck, and boats leave almost every hour. Jadrolinija line 631 crosses in 50 minutes. There are up to ~22 sailings a day in high season, and 9–11 a day off-season. A foot passenger pays €4.40–€6.50, depending on the season. A standard car costs about €18–€26. A ticket is valid for any sailing on the date printed on it. You do not need to choose an exact departure.

From Supetar, Arriva/Autotrans buses run to Bol. The trip is about 37 km and takes 55–70 minutes. A ticket costs around €7 one way. There are far fewer buses off-season, so check the current timetable before you decide. If you drive yourself, the ferry puts your car on Brač in under an hour. Then it is another 35–45 minutes to Bol.

Our honest verdict: this route is cheap and reliable. It is the right choice if you stay in Supetar or somewhere else on the north coast. It is also right if budget matters more than time. If Bol is your destination, plan the bus leg into your day. Do not treat the ferry crossing as the whole journey.

Option 2: the direct seasonal catamaran to Bol

From mid-May to the end of September, Split Fast Ferries runs a passenger catamaran straight from Split to Bol. Split Fast Ferries is the brand of Krilo Shipping Company (a different company from the Kapetan Luka “Krilo” catamarans). The trip takes 55–60 minutes and lands right at Bol’s harbour pier. In peak season, about 8 June to 15 September, there are two sailings a day. In the shoulder weeks, there is one. The adult fare is €25 one way. Children aged 3–12 pay half price. It leaves from berth 6 or 7 at the main Split ferry port, a short walk from the Riva (Split’s seafront promenade). It docks at the Ante Starčevića pier in Bol.

There is also a cheaper Jadrolinija fast boat, line 9603. It calls at Bol on its way to Stari Grad and Jelsa on Hvar island. The fare is about €6.40 off-season or €10.00 in peak season. The problem is timing. There are only one or two sailings a day. Outside peak weeks, the useful morning boat continues to Hvar and does not come back the same day. It works if the daily time matches your plans. Otherwise it is not built for a day trip in the way Split Fast Ferries is.

Both catamarans are faster than the Supetar ferry plus bus. But neither runs outside the season, and neither runs as often as the Supetar ferry. If you miss the daily departure, you wait until tomorrow. Always check the current timetable. These schedules change each year, and they are the first boats cancelled in rough weather.

Skipper’s tip: the direct Bol catamarans are popular with locals as well as day visitors. In July and August, the one or two daily sailings can sell out days ahead. Buy online instead of hoping for a seat at the port. If the times do not fit your flight or check-in, that is usually when people message us instead.

Option 3: private water taxi, direct to Bol’s harbour

This is what we run every day of the season. A closed-cabin boat with radar goes straight from Split — or Split Airport — to Bol’s harbour in about 35 minutes. No ferry timetable, no bus connection, no end-of-season date. We land at the dock in Bol, at a villa mooring, or closer to Zlatni Rat itself if the sea allows. It is worth asking, because the town harbour and the beach are about 2 km apart along the promenade.

Whole-boat pricing for Split to Brač and Bol is €270–900. The price depends on boat size, time of day and pickup point. This is for the whole boat, not per person. A group of six or eight shares it. On a small boat that is about €35–€45 per person, close to two catamaran tickets. On a large boat at a busy time it is more, but with no timetable risk. A private boat makes sense with a group, or with a flight that misses the daily catamaran. It also helps if you stay at a villa with its own dock. And some people simply do not want their holiday built around someone else’s timetable. Our fleet (Great White 49, 39 and 35 boats, plus the Lolivul 9) keeps sailing in seas that stop the public catamarans first. So it is also the backup when the fast ferries are cancelled by the bura (a strong, cold north wind) or the jugo (a warm, wet south wind). Message us on our contact page with your dates, group size and where on Brač you are going.

Flying into Split Airport, or coming from elsewhere on Brač or Hvar

If you land at Split Airport instead of starting in central Split, the maths changes again. The airport is about 24 km from the city ferry port, a 25–30 minute taxi ride (around €45–65). The public route via Supetar then has three legs: taxi or bus into Split, the Supetar ferry, and the Supetar–Bol bus. So add an extra hour. We cover the full airport timings in Split Airport to Bol 2026.

Everything above works in reverse for the return trip too. For more of the island, our guide to Milna, Brač, in 2026 covers the quiet marina town on the west tip of Brač. It is a good add-on if you are island-hopping. Some visitors stay on Hvar instead and visit Bol as a day trip. Hvar Town and Bol face each other across a narrow channel. It is a private-boat trip of well under an hour. We run it often for guests on the Hvar side.

See Bol and Zlatni Rat before you go

FAQ

What is the fastest way to get from Split to Bol?

A private water taxi is fastest, around 35 minutes direct to Bol’s harbour. Among public options, the seasonal direct catamaran (55–60 minutes) is faster than the Supetar car ferry. The ferry route adds a bus or drive of about an hour.

Is there a direct ferry from Split to Bol?

Yes, but only in season. Split Fast Ferries (Krilo Shipping Company) runs a direct catamaran from mid-May to the end of September. There are one or two sailings a day, at €25 one way. A separate, cheaper Jadrolinija catamaran, line 9603, also stops at Bol on its way to Hvar, but only once or twice a day.

Why doesn’t the Split–Supetar ferry go to Bol?

Supetar and Bol sit on opposite coasts of Brač. Supetar faces Split and handles the island’s main car-ferry traffic; Bol faces south towards Hvar and has no similar ferry link. So passengers who arrive in Supetar and want Bol need a bus or a drive across the island.

How long does the bus from Supetar to Bol take?

Around 55 to 70 minutes for the roughly 37 km crossing, with a one-way fare of about €7. Departures are more frequent in summer; always check the current timetable off-season, as the schedule thins out considerably.

How much does a private boat transfer from Split to Bol cost?

Our 2026 whole-boat rate for Split to Brač/Bol is €270–900, depending on boat size and timing. This is the total price for the boat, not per passenger. So it’s competitive with public fares once you’re a group of four or more.

Can I drive from Split to Bol?

Yes. Take the Jadrolinija car ferry to Supetar (50 minutes). Then drive across the island to Bol, about 35–45 minutes depending on the route. The inland road over Vidova Gora is often the more scenic and quicker option than the coast road.

How do I get from Bol harbour to Zlatni Rat beach?

About 2 km, roughly a 20–30 minute walk along the pine-shaded promenade. In season there’s also a short taxi-boat hop (10–15 minutes) or the small tourist train, both for a few euros.

Is it better to fly into Split or take a ferry from Hvar to reach Bol?

Both work. Based on Hvar, Bol is a short private-boat hop across the channel. If you fly in, Split Airport connects to Bol by the same public-ferry or private-transfer options as central Split. You just need an extra taxi ride from the airport first.

One more reason people come to Bol: wind. Big Blue Sport is on Borak beach, a short walk from Zlatni Rat. It rents windsurf boards and runs lessons from May to October.

If you have half a day, the Blaca Hermitage is Brač’s most surprising sight. It is a 16th-century monastery built into a cliff. You reach it by a walking trail (closed Mondays). We can drop you by boat at the Blaca cove trailhead on request.

For dinner in Bol, locals will point you to Konoba Dalmatino or Mendula. A konoba is a traditional family restaurant. Both are family-run and a short walk from the port.

For a smaller stay, Villa Giardino near the port is an old house with a deep garden. It is Bol’s heritage B&B favourite.

Related guides

• Best islands from Split, ranked — our ranked list of the best islands to reach from Split.
• 7-day island hopping from Split — a one-week route for hopping between islands from Split.
• Split or Trogir to the Blue Lagoon — boat options to the Blue Lagoon, a calm swimming spot near Drvenik.

Sources & further reading

• Jadrolinija — Split–Supetar (Brač), line 631, official schedule and prices
• Split Fast Ferries (Krilo Shipping Company) — official Split to Bol timetable and tickets
• Krilo — Split–Bol–Split sailing schedule
• Arriva Croatia — Supetar to Bol bus timetable and tickets