Bol Holiday
Bol is probably the most popular destination on the island of Brac and is Croatia's favourite windsurfing spot. It's a lively village with a lot to offer: natural beauty, watersports, shops, restaurants and nightlife. The oldest coastal town on the island, Bol was initially a fishing village and centre of wine production, but its location, views over the channel to the neighbouring island of Hvar, and, above all, its spectacular beach have made it an obvious tourist destination. Despite its status as a major tourist centre, the town of 1,500 people does not look touristy as most of the guest accommodation is hidden in a pine forest to the west of the town, close to the very popular Zlatni Rat beach.
Bol, like Brac as a whole, has been occupied by Greeks, Illyrians, Romans and more recently, the Turks, French, Austrians, Germans and Italians, and the architecture of the town and surrounding areas reflects this history. Prehistoric hill forts and burial mounds, Roman remains and interesting churches from different periods can all be found nearby. The island's rugged karst limestone landscape, which includes Mt. Vidova Gora (778 m), the highest peak on the Adriatic islands, is popular with mountain bike enthusiasts, with Bol being a major centre for bike hire and organised excursions. Much of the area around Bol is covered with Aleppo pine forests, interspersed with lush cultivated valleys with vineyards, olives and almond trees.
On the south coast of the Adriatic island of Brac, which lies between the island of Hvar and the mainland city of Split on Croatia's Dalmatian coast.
Beaches
Bol is home to the famous Zlatni Rat (Golden Cape) beach, popular with sunbathers and windsurfers. Accessed via a tree-lined promenade, the little road train or even a boat ride from the village, the white-pebble cape stretches half a kilometre into the clear waters of the Adriatic, and its tip is constantly changing direction under the influence of the currents.
Shopping
Despite being a major tourist destination, Bol can in no way be described as a shoppers paradise, although the old town has some interesting little speciality stores and fresh markets while the hotels, connected to the town centre by a coastal promenade shaded by pine trees, have the usual selection of resort hotel shops.
Nightlife
Bol is a youthful destination with a vibrant nightlife. For something a little quieter, visit an exhibition of work by local artists, see a fashion show or theatrical production, eat out at one of the many restaurants, or just stroll along the beach.
Local Specialities
Bol is packed with restaurants offering fish, seafood and other local specialities, including vegetarian options, and of course the local Bolski plavac wine. If you want a quiet location, relax by one of the large barbeques in the shade of the pine trees next to the beach.