Island in Dalmatia
Korčula
- Best time to go
- May, June, Sept, Oct
- Part of
- Dalmatia
Korčula is a long, green island in southern Dalmatia, just off the Pelješac peninsula.
Its main town is a small walled town on a peninsula, with streets laid out like a fishbone to let in the summer breeze and keep out the winter wind, and it claims to be the birthplace of Marco Polo. Beyond the town, the island is all vineyards, olive groves, pine forest and quiet bays, and it is known for its white wines.
Things to do
Don't miss in Korčula
- Walk the old town of Korčula and climb the bell tower of St Mark's Cathedral.
- Visit the house said to be Marco Polo's birthplace, with a tower you can climb.
- Watch the Moreška, a centuries-old sword dance performed in Korčula town on summer evenings.
- Taste Pošip in the villages of Čara and Smokvica, and Grk, a white wine grown almost only around Lumbarda.
- Swim at the sandy beaches near Lumbarda or at Pupnatska Luka, one of the island's most beautiful bays.
- Kayak or take a taxi boat to Badija, a small island with a Franciscan monastery and tame deer.
- Climb up to Vela Spila above Vela Luka, a large cave where people lived in prehistoric times.
Where to stay
Pick your neighbourhood
Korčula town
first-time visitors who want the old town, restaurants and ferry connections on their doorstep
Lumbarda
sandy beaches and vineyards, a short drive or bike ride from Korčula town
Vela Luka
a quieter, local feel at the island's western end, with its own ferry and catamaran connections
South coast villages
peace and coves around villages like Prižba and Brna, if you have a car
Tours and getting around
Day trips from Korčula
From Korčula, boats go to Badija and the nearby islets, and day trips run to Mljet National Park and to the Pelješac peninsula for its wineries and the oysters of Ston. Wine tours visit the Pošip and Grk vineyards.
Korčula town is easy on foot, but you will need a car or scooter to explore the island's villages, beaches and wineries. Bikes work well for Lumbarda. For the islets and hidden coves, rent a small boat.
Getting there
How to get to Korčula
The quickest way over is the car ferry from Orebić on the Pelješac peninsula to Dominče, just outside Korčula town, which takes about 15 minutes. Catamarans run from Split, stopping at Hvar or Brač, to Korčula town and Vela Luka, and in summer there are also catamarans from Dubrovnik. A car ferry also connects Split with Vela Luka. The nearest airports are Dubrovnik and Split.