Hotels in Supetar
Supetar is the island's gateway: the Jadrolinija car ferry from Split takes about 50 minutes, with 14 departures a day each way in July and August and fewer in winter. That makes it the base I would choose for a first stay on Brač without a car, since buses also run from here to Bol in about an hour. Where to sleep depends on the evening you want. The historic core around the harbour is for couples who like to walk to dinner; Hotel Osam, adults-only, has an indoor and outdoor pool there. West of the centre, the resort strip sits in pine woods along long gravel and sand beaches, some with concrete sunbathing platforms: Aminess Vival Velaris Resort and Casa Velaris, and Hotel Waterman Kaktus with its year-round outdoor pool. One sight is worth the walk: the cemetery on the headland, where the Petrinović mausoleum, built from white Brač stone between 1924 and 1927 with five domes, is the work of the sculptor Toma Rosandić. The trap: Supetar is not Bol. If Zlatni rat is the reason for your trip, sleep on the south coast; Supetar wins on ferries, walking distances and family beaches.
Supetar is Brač's ferry town on the north coast, about 50 minutes from Split on the car ferry, and the most practical base on the island for families and anyone arriving without a car. The town is compact enough to walk end to end, and its hotels split into two kinds: the adults-only Hotel Osam in the historic core, and resorts along the shore to the west, such as Aminess Vival Velaris Resort and Hotel Waterman Kaktus, set among pines with their own pools. Apartments like Villa Mare and Apinelo fill the gap for longer stays near the riva and the beaches.
Supetar at a glance
Apinelo
Beachfront aparthotel with sea views and pet-friendly rooms
Why guests love itApinelo is a beachfront aparthotel in Supetar with direct access to the sea, which makes beach days with children very simple. Rooms are air-conditioned with modern amenities, balconies look out to sea, and the restaurant and bar save a trip into town at mealtimes. Pets are welcome. The Riva promenade and Acapulco Beach are close by for evening walks. I would book it for a family week on Brač, and a 9.6 score from 109 reviews is outstanding.
VILLA MARE
Family-friendly aparthotel with a garden, play area, and beach access
Why guests love itI would pick Villa Mare for a family that wants a kitchen, a garden and a play area in Supetar. Family rooms have private bathrooms, air conditioning and fully equipped kitchens, and the sun terrace, barbecue facilities and outdoor fireplace give the evenings somewhere to happen. Vela Luka Beach is listed as a two-minute walk, and pets are welcome. A rating of 9.5 from 36 reviews is excellent.
Hotel Osam - Adults Only
Adults-only hotel with sea views, a pool, and spa services in Supetar
Why guests love itHotel Osam is an adults-only four-star hotel in the historic core of Supetar, so I would not suggest it for a family with children. For couples and adult travellers it has an indoor and outdoor pool, a buffet breakfast and an à la carte restaurant. Rooms and suites are modern and air-conditioned with a flat-screen TV, minibar and tea and coffee facilities, and some have a private balcony with sea views.
Hotel Waterman Kaktus
Beachfront hotel with sea views, a spa, and family-friendly amenities
Why guests love itHotel Waterman Kaktus in Supetar has a year-round outdoor pool right by the beach, which keeps children happy whatever the sea is doing. Family rooms are available, rooms have balconies and air conditioning, and many look out to sea. The restaurant serves international cuisine, and parents can use the spa and wellness centre. I would choose it for families arriving by ferry from Split, and a score of 8.3 from 72 reviews is reassuring.
Aminess Vival Velaris Resort
Beachfront resort on Brač with sea views, a spa, and outdoor pool
Why guests love itAminess Vival Velaris Resort sits on the beach in a cove on Brač, a short walk from Supetar, which I like for families who arrive by ferry from Split without a car. The outdoor pool overlooks the sea, the Mediterranean gardens give children room to move, and many rooms have sea views. Parents can use the spa and the fitness centre, and pets are welcome. A score of 8.3 from 404 reviews is a fair signal.
Aminess Vival Casa Velaris
Beachfront family resort with a pool, spa, and direct beach access
Why guests love itAminess Vival Casa Velaris sits in a pine forest near Supetar on Brač, with direct access to a pebble and sand beach where concrete plateaus make it easy to get in and out of the water. Children can snorkel off the beach or use the outdoor pool, and parents have a fitness and spa centre. Pets are welcome, and the main port is within walking distance, handy for families arriving on the ferry from Split without a car.
What to expect
- Car ferry from Split in about 50 minutes, with 14 departures a day each way in July and August.
- Buses from Supetar to Bol in about an hour, for Zlatni rat without a car.
- Long gravel and sand beaches in pine woods west of the centre, some with concrete sunbathing platforms.
- The Petrinović mausoleum (1924 to 1927) by Toma Rosandić, in white Brač stone, at the town cemetery.
Local tips
- ✓Without a car, there is no need to take one across: Supetar is walkable, the ferry is about 50 minutes from Split, and buses to Bol take about an hour.
- ✓With a car in August, arrive early at the Split port: there are 14 departures a day each way, but car queues still build at the height of summer.
- ✓Choose the resort strip west of the centre for children: the beaches are gravel and sand in the shade of pines, and hotels like Waterman Kaktus have their own pools.
- ✓Walk out to the cemetery on the headland for the Petrinović mausoleum, five white domes of Brač stone carved by Toma Rosandić between 1924 and 1927.
- ✓Book the old core, not the resorts, if you want dinner on foot: Hotel Osam, adults-only, sits in the historic centre a few minutes from the harbour.
Where to stay
FAQ
How do you get from Split to Supetar?
By the Jadrolinija car ferry, which crosses in about 50 minutes. In July and August there are 14 departures a day in each direction, and fewer in winter. Faster passenger catamarans also run on the route in season. Check the current timetable on the operators' websites before travelling, especially for the last boats of the day.
Is Supetar or Bol better to stay in on Brač?
Supetar for easy ferry access from Split, a walkable town and family beaches in the pines. Bol if your trip is about Zlatni rat and the livelier south coast. Buses link the two in about an hour, so a stay in Supetar with a day in Bol works well without a car.
Does Supetar have sandy beaches?
Partly. West of the centre, the beaches are long stretches of gravel and sand in pine woods, some fitted with concrete platforms for sunbathing. Do not expect a fine-sand beach: water shoes are still useful for children. The hotels along that strip have pools as well.
Do you need a car in Supetar?
Not for Supetar itself: the town is compact and can be explored entirely on foot, and buses run to Bol in about an hour. A car helps if you want to explore the island's inland villages and smaller coves, but taking one across on the ferry means queuing in high season.
What is there to see in Supetar?
The cemetery on the headland is the highlight: it holds the Petrinović mausoleum, built from white Brač stone between 1924 and 1927 with five domes, the work of the sculptor Toma Rosandić, and gravestones by Ivan Rendić, a sculptor born in Supetar. The harbour and its riva are the centre of evening life.