Visiting Split, Brac Island and Bol: A Croatia Travel Guide

Located between Central Europe to the east and Italy across the Adriatic Sea to the west, Croatia has seen a surge in popularity in recent years, and for good reason. With castles nestled in the mountains, cities full of narrow, medieval streets, a rugged coastline of beautiful beaches and thousands of islands to hop around, it's difficult to know which part to visit first. So to help you narrow it down, we've picked the Dalmatia coast and chosen Croatia's second largest city Split and the neighbouring island of Brac to give you a small taste of what to expect.

Factfile on Croatia

Split - The historic coastal city

Things to do in Split:

One of the finest examples of Roman Antiquity can be found at Diocletian Palace - a UNESCO World Heritage Site. These well preserved buildings make up the heart of the old town, where you might even spot local actors dressed up in Roman garb. To see as much of the city as possible, climb the Bell Tower steps of the Cathedral of Saint Domnius.

Take a stroll down the Riva promenade, flanked by cafes, restaurants and boutiques or visit the fish market (Peškarija) and discover the types of local fish fresh off the boat. If you want to venture out of the city, visit the impenetrable-looking medieval Klis fortress, which guards the gap between the mountains of Kozjak and Mosor.

FACT: Game of Thrones fans might recognise Klis's dramatic location from an episode of the hit TV show. Diocletian’s Palace has also been used in scenes from the programme - it's where one of the leading characters, Daenerys, trains her dragons.

Eating and Drinking:

Seafood such as sea bass, octopus, tuna and Brujet (a seafood stew) are worth trying, and restaurants will often pride themselves on selling the catch of the day. Two popular places to eat are Konoba Marjan or Dvor. The latter has an open air terrace and sea views, and should be booked in advance at peak times. The area around Split is renowned for the quality of its red grapes, so try and sample some of the local red wine. The Paradox Wine and Cheese Bar, next to Croatia's National Theatre is a great place to sample the local produce and cheese boards. Zinfandel wine bar also comes highly recommended. As well as more than 100 bottles of Croatian wine, their other speciality is a three-tired platter of local cheese, charcuterie and roasted vegetables.

Useful info

Brac - An island overview

Things to do in Bol:

Sunbathing, swimming and watersports

The most famous beach is the triangular Zlatni Rat (Golden Horn), near Bol, which juts out from the island. This sandy-looking pebble beach, with a pine wood running along its length, can actually change shape depending on which way the wind is blowing. Head to the harbour where you'll find Bol's sailing, diving and windsurfing schools. You can also hire jet skis or try para-sailing.

Eating in Brac:

The food here has a Mediterranean feel, and they are very proud of their olive oil, grown on the island. Lamb dishes of all types are a main staple, and some of the dishes are made from the meat of lambs that have only been reared on their mother's milk. Look out for Vitalac on the menu, which are lamb skewers cooked on hot coals. Cheese is another island speciality. Made from sheep milk, it's left for 24-hours before being sliced, baked in sugar and caramelised. You should also try food prepared with the Brac condiment Varenik, made from the island's red grapes.

Drinking:

Useful info

Getting there: Take the scenic route by ferry from Split to Supertar on the north of Brac. The ferries, which take around an hour, run from  around 5am to 11pm from Split in the summer months. Get ferry times and prices here.

Feeling inspired?

If you've been to the Dalmatia Coast we'd love to hear about your tips. Share your experiences by leaving a comment below. Find out more about holidays in Croatia