Wedged between the karst mountain of Biokovo and the Adriatic Sea, Brela is a picture-perfect holiday town on Croatia’s Dalmatian Coast. It’s been nicknamed “The Pearl of the Makarska Riviera”, with one of its most iconic landscapes found at the beautiful Punta Rata beach and its rocky offshore island.

Things to do

A highlight of visiting Brela is relaxing on its pebbly beaches, including the ever-popular Punta Rata. Backed by pine trees, it was featured in “Forbes” magazines as one of the most beautiful beaches in the world, with its crystal clear waters undeniably inviting. Rent a set of snorkelling equipment to discover the region’s underwater wonders or board a glass-bottom boat if you prefer to stay dry.

Brela can be used as a base for exploring the Biokovo Nature Park, a mountainous landscape of craggy limestone rocks and dramatic cliffs that’s blanketed with olive groves, vineyards and pine forests. Follow one of the various hiking paths that wind along the slopes of the Biokovo massif or tackle the 1,421-metre-high peak of Vosac.

A short boat ride from Brela will take you to Brač, a laid-back island that centres around the main town of Supetar. You can kick back on the beach of Zlatni Rat or learn how to windsurf in favourable conditions. Overlooking a sheltered bay on the north-east coast of the island is the charming town of Pučišća, which is famed for its traditional architecture and white limestone quarry.

Getting around

Brela is around one hour’s drive from Split and 1.5 hours from Split Airport, which has flights to destinations across Europe. Buses travelling on the highway between Split and Dubrovnik stop in Brela while the town itself is compact enough to explore on foot.