Sutivan
About this place
Sutivan is a small, peaceful town on the island of Brač, with a Mediterranean atmosphere, pebble beaches and waterfront promenades. Stone lanes and cultural landmarks lie behind the seafront, while the hinterland offers walking and cycling trails. It is therefore well suited to a relaxed rhythm of a morning stroll, swimming and a bike ride. Nearby is Park prirode Sutivan, an excursion site with animals, while Ložišća makes a worthwhile cultural outing. The village is known for its tall, ornate bell tower designed by sculptor Ivan Rendić. Sea and island views accompany much of a stay by the coast, and Sutivan is best discovered without an overly structured itinerary.
Sutivan has a protected historic centre where fishermen’s and farmers’ houses stand alongside Renaissance and Baroque summer residences. One of the village’s distinctive details is the Kavanjin residence, whose doorway bears an inscription expressing that its doors are open to friends. Sutivan also has an unusually long documented tourism history: Hotel Vesna opened in 1927 and the village recorded 2,464 tourist overnight stays in 1929. Despite these layers of history, Sutivan remains compact, with the old centre, harbour and the beginning of the coastal promenades close together. Visitors can therefore explore the settlement comfortably on foot before switching to a bicycle for the coves, olive groves and countryside west and south of town.
Stays nearby
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Klenovica
Klenovica, 231 km from Sutivan
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Things to see
The Parish Church of the Assumption was built between 1576 and 1590, later enlarged, and contains a Gaetano Moscatelli organ dating from 1799. On the hill above the village stands the votive Church of St Roch, where maritime offerings include a ship model from 1819. Beside it, the old cemetery contains unusual catacombs built in 1913 as two underground corridors with skylights. On Sutivan’s eastern edge, the foundations of a 6th-century Early Christian basilica remain visible around the small Church of St John. These four sites can be combined into a compact walking route that reveals several very different periods of Sutivan’s history.
Crkva Uznesenja Marijina u Sutivanu
Landmark · Sutivan
The Parish Church of the Assumption of Mary is recognised by the tall bulb-topped bell tower that defines Sutivan’s seaward skyline.
Beaches
Sutivan’s shoreline on both sides of the harbour consists of a string of small swimming areas that can be linked on foot. The local tourist board lists Majakovac, Tatinja, Prbuja, Likva, Lučica, Bistrica, Grgina luka and Bunta. Most are pebble beaches, while the tourist board identifies Likva as the exception with sand. Tatinja includes a designated dog beach, and a naturist area lies west of the village. Sutivan’s advantage is therefore not one large central beach but the ability to move between several coves along the waterfront during the same day. Likva also lies on the Maestral cycling route, combining swimming with a ride west of town.
Bathing water quality nearby
- Bunta · 298 mexcellent · season 2025
- Lučica · 635 mexcellent · season 2025
Source: European Environment Agency (EEA); data from Croatian authorities. · bathing water profile
Things to do
For an active visit, start by climbing from the centre towards the Church of St Roch and the old cemetery with its catacombs, then continue on one of Sutivan’s themed cycling routes. The Maestral trail heads west towards Likva, Deralo, the traditional lime kiln near Timunić, olive groves and the Vela lokva site before returning towards the village. Another option is Tramuntana, linking St Roch with Vičja Luka, Bobovišća and Ložišća. For an easier day, simply follow the coastal promenade, stop at several beaches and return to the harbour. This works particularly well in Sutivan because heritage, swimming and cycling connect directly without requiring long transfers.
Food and drink
Several of Sutivan’s restaurants sit within a very short walk of the harbour. Restaurant Miki operates on the waterfront and focuses on Mediterranean and seafood cooking, while Pizzeria Bracera is located on Obala kralja Tomislava. Konoba Bokuncin is also tied closely to the village centre and is associated with locally inspired dishes and desserts. Farther into the older streets, Restaurant Dora offers a garden-like stone setting away from the immediate waterfront. The compact layout therefore gives visitors a choice between dinner directly beside the sea and a quieter meal only a few minutes inland, without needing a car for an evening out in the village.
Practical information
Practical information
The Sutivan Tourist Board information centre is at Trg dr. Franje Tuđmana 1 in the central part of the village. A car is generally unnecessary for moving around Sutivan itself because the harbour, historic centre, Majakovac, Bunta and the starts of the coastal promenades are close together. The tourist board publishes maps for the Levanat, Maestral and Tramuntana cycling routes, useful when heading into the olive groves and neighbouring villages. Travelling to Split requires two separate stages, the Sutivan–Supetar bus and the Supetar–Split ferry, so visitors relying on public transport should coordinate both timetables for the actual date of travel.
Getting there and around
The most common arrival from the mainland is through Supetar. Jadrolinija ferry line 631 between Split and Supetar takes about 50 minutes and in 2026 operates under a year-round timetable divided into high- and lower-season periods. From Supetar, Arriva runs buses to Sutivan throughout the year; the operator gives the road distance as nine kilometres and the journey time as approximately ten minutes, with additional seasonal departures. Drivers simply continue west along the island road after leaving the ferry. For visitors staying without a car, the ferry-and-bus combination provides a straightforward connection from Split and the same practical route for the return journey.
Frequently asked questions
Can beaches be reached on foot from central Sutivan?
Yes. Sutivan has pebble beaches and waterfront promenades within the settlement.
Why is Sutivan interesting for cyclists?
Sutivan’s hinterland is criss-crossed by walking and cycling trails.
What does Park prirode Sutivan offer?
The park is an excursion site with animals; visitors can see the animals and take part in outdoor activities.
Which village near Sutivan has a well-known Rendić bell tower?
Ložišća is recognised for its tall, ornate bell tower designed by Ivan Rendić.
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