Getting to Bol
Driving to Bol
Follow the road signs for Bol, not only your sat-nav. Some navigation apps send cars down the unfinished road via Vela Farska, which is dangerous and suitable only for 4x4 vehicles, or into Put Oleandra, a narrow dead end that finishes on the crowded seaside promenade near Zlatni rat. On summer Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, the Makarska to Sumartin ferry, booked a few days ahead, is often the better crossing.
Two sat-nav routes to avoid
Do not take the road via Vela Farska. Some navigation apps choose a shortcut to Bol past Vela Farska bay, west of Bol. The road is unfinished, rough and dangerous, and only suitable for off-road (4x4) vehicles. If your sat-nav tells you to leave the asphalt road or turn towards Vela Farska, ignore it and stay on the main road signposted for Bol.
Do not drive into Put Oleandra. When you set Zlatni rat or one of the big hotels as your destination, navigation often sends you down Put Oleandra. It is a very narrow dead end that finishes on the seaside promenade, full of people walking in summer, and backing out is very hard. Set your destination to your accommodation's car park or to a public car park instead, and follow the local signs for parking.
Which ferry to take in high season
Most drivers cross from Split to Supetar. That ferry has no reservations: cars board in the order they arrive, and on summer weekends the queue at Split port can mean waiting for a later sailing.
If you arrive on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday in July or August, consider the ferry from Makarska to Sumartin instead.
- It is the only car ferry to Brač where your ticket reserves a place on a chosen sailing, so you do not queue in hope.
- You skip the traffic into Split and the waits at Split port.
- The drive from Sumartin to Bol is a little shorter than from Supetar.
- Book a few days ahead on the Jadrolinija website or in the mJadrolinija app, because weekend sailings fill up. Arrive at the port at least 45 minutes before departure; in summer Jadrolinija asks for an hour.
More on each crossing: Makarska to Sumartin and Split to Supetar.
Fuel and help on the road
Bol has one petrol station, the INA at the west end of the harbour, closed on Sunday afternoons. For a breakdown or towing anywhere on Brač, numbers are on our practical Bol page.
Do you need the car at all?
If you are staying in Bol, probably not. The town, the beaches and Zlatni rat are linked by the promenade, and parking costs money in summer. Without a car, the year-round Jadrolinija catamaran from Split is the cheapest way to Bol: Split to Bol by catamaran.
Questions about driving to Bol
Is the road via Vela Farska to Bol safe?
No. It is unfinished and rough, suitable only for 4x4 vehicles. Stay on the main asphalt road signposted for Bol, even if your sat-nav suggests the shortcut.
Can I drive to Zlatni rat?
You can drive to the car parks near the beach, but do not follow a sat-nav into Put Oleandra, a narrow dead end onto the promenade. Set a car park as your destination instead, or walk the 20 to 25 minutes along the promenade from town.
Can I reserve the car ferry to Brač?
On the Makarska to Sumartin line, yes: the ticket reserves your place on that sailing. The Split to Supetar ferry has no reservations, and cars board in the order they arrive.