Korčula

Looking for a breath of simple life during your Croatia vacation? In southern Dalmatia, the enchanting island of Korčula is the destination you’ve been dreaming of. With lush nature, crowd-free beaches and a rich history, the sixth largest island in the Croatian Adriatic will take your breath away!

On our Korčula travel guide, you can find out all about attractions, activities and hidden gems on the island. Plan a relaxing Dalmatian getaway, and book your ferry tickets on Ferryhopper hassle-free.

The glorious old town and fortification of Korčula

Holidays in Korčula

Holidays in Korčula are all about spending time in nature, discovering unspoilt landscapes and peaceful coves, and exploring its rich past. With dark pine forests, vineyards and olive groves, it is no wonder its ancient Greek inhabitants used to call the island “Black Corfu” (Kerkyra Melaina).

Unlike its more popular and busy neighbors, Dubrovnik and Hvar, Korčula is for those who seek a quiet vacation of simple pleasures: relaxing by the beach, enjoying great local wine, strolling around picturesque cobbled streets. But there’s also activity options for the more adventurous!

Korčula is an ideal choice for a family vacation, couples seeking tranquil moments, as well as solo travelers looking for a secret retreat in Croatia.

How to get to Korčula

As there is no airport on the island, your best option is to fly to Split or Dubrovnik and then catch a ferry to Korčula from there. The 2 ferry connections to the island are normally active all year round.

Alternatively, if you wish to travel to Korčula along with your vehicle, you can catch a car ferry from Orebić in the mainland, which is less than 2 km away from the island.

Discover more about ferries to Korčula below!

What to do in Korčula

One of the highlights of your visit in Korčula is, of course, exploring its fortified old town, one of the best-preserved medieval towns in the Adriatic, included in UNESCO’s tentative world heritage sites list. The crenelated walls and narrow cobbled streets will make you jump back in time.

But it’s not just Korčula town that will take your breath away. There’s also scenic villages across the island, stunning beaches for every taste, and the idyllic Škoji archipelago with several isles to discover. And let’s not forget about the island’s excellent wine-tourism opportunities and local gastronomy!

Find out all about Korčula’s popular attractions and hidden gems below!

Beaches in Korčula

We could easily say that Korčula has some of the best beaches in Croatia. The island boasts pristine bays, offering a sweet feeling of isolation. The southern part of the island has mostly sandy beaches, while in the northern part beaches are more pebbly and shallow.

Here you can discover some of the top beaches in Korčula:

• Pupnatska Luka: one of our favorite beaches on Korčula’s south coast. Pebbly and with transparent turquoise waters, it is just a 20-minute drive from the main town. As there is not much shade on the beach, it’s best to bring your own umbrella. By the beach, you will find two restaurants to have a bite after a good swim.
• Vela Pržina: close to the lovely fishing village of Lumbarda, it is one the best sandy beaches in Korcula (Pržina means sand in the local dialect). With soft and fine sand, warm waters all year round, a volleyball court, and a seaside restaurant/café, it is perfect for families.
• Bilin Žal: not far from Pržina, on the eastern shores of Lumbarda, Bilin Žal is another cozy and beautiful swimming spot. It is a sandy beach with shallow waters, with crystal-clear waters, a stone wall in the background providing some shade and a stone pier, making it ideal for families.
• Martina Bok: heading to the western part of the island and to the area of Vela Luka village. On the island’s northeastern tip Martin Bok is a beautiful pebble beach located 7 km from Vela Luka. The bay is a 10-minute walk through a pine forest that leads to a wonderful scenery with all shades of blue and waters ideal for long swims.
• Bačva: close to the villages of Pupnat and Žrnovo, Bačva is a dreamy shingle bay. One of the hidden gems of Korčula, it can be accessed by a narrow road (careful there!) or by boat. There’s a hut where you can buy refreshments at the beach. 

Tip: in the same area as Bačva, we also recommend visiting the even more secluded bays of Orlanduša and Smokova.

The spectacular Pupnatska Luka beach surrounded by vegetation

Sightseeing in Korčula

The main attraction of Korčula if you are a history and culture enthusiast, is definitely the old town. And here are some of its must-visit sights:

• St. Mark’s Cathedral
• The Abbatial Treasury
• The House of Marco Polo
• The House of the Brotherhood of All Saints
• The Town Museum

Leaving the main town, there are many more treasures to unearth inside or close to the island’s amazing villages:

• Τhe Etno House Barilo and the Blato Cultural Centre in the small rural town on Blato
• The cave and archaeological site of Vela Spila near Vela Luka
• The Franciscan monastery on Badija island (Korčula archipelago)
• The large rock formations of Kočje nature park in Žrnovo village

Activities in Korčula

Here's some exciting activities that you should try during your stay in Korčula:

Wine tours

Wine connoisseurs have a very good reason to visit Korčula: the island stands out for its vineyards, which makes it an ideal destination for wine tourism. There are several wine tours available for every taste, from private ones to joining cycling groups, with local guides introducing you to family-run wineries. Some of the most fine wines to try in Korčula are Pošip, Grk, Rukatac, and Plavac.

Tip: Lumbarda village is well-known for its great white wine.

Island hopping in the Škoji archipelago

Starting from the old town’s marina, you can ride a water taxi or rent a speedboat and explore 3 pine-covered islets in the Škoji archipelago: 

• Vrink: tiny island, often attracting celebrities, with a lovely pebbly beach and a famous restaurant (Vrnik Arts Club). Sunbathe, try some water sports and relax with a good glass of wine.
• Badija: the largest of the 3 islets and an uninhabited one, it will enchant you with its 15th-century Franciscan monastery including art gallery, hiking paths and wildlife, such as deers.
• Stupe: here, you can enjoy a more luxurious and modern vibe, as well as a white rocky coast by the popular Moro Beach Club restaurant and bar.

The breathtaking scenery of the Franciscan monastery on Badija island

Nightlife in Korčula

Korčula is definitely one of the chillest island options in Croatia, and is a must for those seeking calm moments and enjoying nature. No wonder the island’s nightlife scene is more low-key than the ones in Hvar or Dubrovnik.

So, cocktail bars and seafood restaurants are where you can mostly hang out on a night out. We strongly recommend Massimo Bar for drinks with an awesome sunset view. However, if you feel like having a late night, don’t miss the party in the Boogie Jungle nightclub, hosting international DJs and wild events in its series of terraces.

Food in Korčula

As we already mentioned, wine is one of the top products made in Korčula. But the island also stands out for its gastronomy based on fresh local ingredients. The cuisine of Korčula is renowned for its seafood- and meat-based recipes, and mouth-watering sweet flavors. 

Some of the must-try recipes and delicacies that you must try when in Korčula are:

• Žrnovski makaruni: handmade pasta variety from Žrnovo, traditionally served with thick meat sauces
• Peka: a variety of meats and vegetables cooked slowly under a metal or earthenware bell
• Pijana hobotnica: octopus cooked in white wine and seasoned with olive oil
• Lumblija: aromatic sweet bread
• Kupus na tabak: vegetable dish with finely chopped cabbage
• Amareta: traditional dessert made of whipped egg whites, sugar, almonds and lemon/orange zest
• Klašuni: small cookies with a buttery dough and a nut-based filling
• Extra-virgin olive oil

A traditional Croatian “peka” dish

Useful information about Korčula

Very close to Croatia’s mainland coastline, the Dalmatian island Korčula is just 276 km² in size.

When it comes to finding accommodation on the island, we strongly recommend staying in the main town or in one of the larger settlements on the islands, such as Blato and Vela Luka. They offer all essential amenities and are connected by public transport. However, if you have a vehicle on the island, you can opt for accommodation in one of the smallest settlements.

As for pharmacies, you can find 2 in Korčula town, and some Vela Luka, Blato and Smokvica, while there are hospitals and health centers in the main town, Vela Luka and Blato. If you are looking for an ATM, there are many spread across the island.

Important phone numbers for your stay in Korčula

Take a look at some phone numbers that you may need during your stay in Korčula:

• Korčula port authority: +38520711178
• Kapetan Luka Prigradica port agency: +385020815226
• Korčula police station: +38520444333
• Taxi Korčula: +385958277319
• Water taxi: +385924097284
• European emergency number: 112

Transportation in Korčula

The small island is easy to explore in just a few days, and there are many taxis and buses connecting the main town with most points of interest and settlements, such as Lumbarda, Vela Luka, Blato. It takes around 45 minutes to get from the easternmost to the westernmost part of the island. Bus services are run by the Arriva company.

If you want to bring your vehicle to Korčula and explore the island at your own pace, you need to catch a car ferry from the port of Orebić. There are also several car rental services in Korčula and Vela Luka.

Ports in Korčula

The main port of the island is located in Korčula town, in the eastern part of the island. The port is well connected to mainland Croatia as well as to the neighboring islands of Korčula. Most ferries traveling there don’t support car transportation.

There’s also the smaller port of Prigradica in the northwestern side of the island.  Kapetan Luka catamarans run to this port from Split, the island of Hvar, as well as the main port of Korčula.

Note: car ferries from Orebić travel to the port of Domince, which is a 0.5-hour walk from the Korčula Old Town. There is a regular bus service connecting Domince to Lumbarda and Korcula town.

The charming old town of Korčula and ferries at its port

Island hopping from Korčula

Want to continue your adventures in Dalmatia from Korčula? There are several nearby islands to visit! The ferry ports that connect Korčula to other Croatian gems are the Korčula main port and Prigradica.

Specifically, the islands connected to Korčula by ferry are:

• Hvar
• Lastovo (Uble)
• Mljet (Pomena)
• Brač (Milna and Bol)

Korčula ferry: schedules and tickets

Korčula is connected to 4 ports in mainland Croatia, thanks to the ferries of Kapetan Luka - Krilo, TP-Line, Jadrolinija, and G&V Line. You can bring along your vehicle only on ferries from Orebić to Korčula (Domince), as the rest of the routes to Korčula are normally operated by foot-passenger catamarans.

The ferry routes from and to Korčula are the following:

• Dubrovnik - Korčula ferry: the route to Korčula from Dubrovnik is usually operated up to 4 times a day, with ferries making the crossing in around 2 hours. The connection is active most months of the year, and ferry tickets start at around €10.
• Split - Korčula ferry: ferries travel to Korčula from Split most months of the year, with an average travel time of 3 hours. There are usually up to 5 daily crossings, and ticket prices usually start at around €8.50.
• Makarska - Korčula ferry: this ferry route is only available in the high season with 1 daily crossing. Crossings to Korčula last a bit over 1 hour and ferry tickets normally cost around €25.
• Split - Prigradica ferry: this seasonal route is normally served with 1 daily crossing. The ferry duration is around 2 hours, with tickets costing around €10.
• Orebić - Korčula ferry: with a duration of 15 minutes, this is the shortest route connecting Korčula to the mainland. It is available all year round, with up to 16 crossings a day in the high season. Τickets are at around €2-3.
• Orebić - Korčula (Domince) ferry: this route is only 20 minutes long and active all year round. There are up to 18 crossings a day. Passenger tickets start at around €2-3 and car tickets at around €10. 

Tip 1: for detailed information regarding all Croatia ferry schedules, take a look at our complete guide.

Tip 2: note that you can normally bring along your bicycle on all ferries traveling from/to the ports of Korčula.

The gorgeous town and waterfront of Vela Luka

Book ferry tickets to Korčula online

No time to lose! The verdant gem of the Adriatic Sea awaits you!

Take a look at our Map of ferries: book ferry tickets to the stunning Korčula with no hidden fees, plan your island-hopping experience to nearby islands, and visualize your trip across the Dalmatia coast!