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The Hidden Gem of the Dalmatian Coast
Korčula is a beautiful island in the Adriatic Sea, off the coast of Croatia. Often overlooked by it’s more popular neighbor Hvar, we promise that Korčula is not a destination to be missed. Korčula is known for its stunning beaches, charming old town, and rich history, and the island is also home to a number of vineyards, making it a popular destination for wine lovers. Come spend some time relaxing on this beautiful island and soaking up the hot Croatian sun!
The 8 Best Things to Do in Korčula
1. Explore Korčula’s Old Town
The Old Town of Korčula is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is one of the best-preserved medieval towns in the Adriatic Sea. It is a charming maze of narrow streets and alleyways, lined with shops, cafes, and restaurants. Korčula’s old town reminded me a lot of Dubrovnik’s – just a smaller and less crowded version of it! Consider booking this walking tour if you want a local’s insights to the beautiful history as well as some lesser-known spots!
If you are interested in history, make sure to tour Marco Polo’s house (yes, that Marco Polo!) and the Korčula Town Museum!
2. Visit Wineries in Lumbarda
Korčula is home to a number of vineyards, making it a popular destination for wine lovers. There are many wineries that offer tours and tastings, where you can learn about the local wines and sample some of the best. We recommend going to a few different wineries in Lumbarda, which can be reached from Korčula Old Town via local buses, taxis, or taxi boats, or you can rent bikes if you’re feeling adventurous!
The first winery we went to was Vitis Winery, a cute family owned place with amazing views. Here you can do a wine tasting of the three wines – Grk, a rosé, and a red – and get amazing cheese plates as well as full meals! Korčula is known for Grk – a type of white wine that’s only produced here and not exported due to limited production – so make sure to try some during your Korčula travels!
Lovrić Winery is another small, family owned winery serving the same three wines as Vitis. The bottles of Grk are much cheaper at the wineries versus in the Korčula old town!
3. Visit the Korčula Cathedral
The Korčula Cathedral (in old town) is a beautiful Gothic cathedral that was built in the 15th century. It is home to a number of artworks, including a painting of the Madonna and Child by Titian. You can climb to the top of it for a small fee to see panoramic views of old town.
4. Spend Some Time at the Beach
Korčula is home to many beaches, so there are plenty of options if you’re in the mood for a beach day! The most beautiful beach (which is somewhat hidden), is Vela Pržina, located on the eastern side of the island. This sandy beach is a beautiful spot to spend time sunbathing, swimming, and playing beach volleyball! Another beach nearby to Vela Pržina is Bilin Žal, which has a lovely walking path along the water.
5. Explore Korčula in an Active Way
If you want to have a more active experience, there are tons of ways to do some exploring both on land and in the water!
For a fun on land adventure, we recommend renting bikes and biking the island. Though you won’t be able to see the whole island this way (it’s pretty big!), you can at least bike over to Lumbarda to do some wine tastings, which is what we did! If you want to see more of the island, consider this buggy tour!
For those who want to get out on the water, kayaking is a great way to get around. There are many places where you can rent your own kayaks, or you can opt to go on a kayaking tour where you can learn more about the island and its history!
6. Have a Drink at Cocktail Bar Massimo
This is definitely going to be one of your most interesting cocktail bar experiences! Getting to this bar requires you to climb up the ladder of a medieval tower and yields beautiful views of old town and the surrounding area. It was crowded and a bit expensive, but it’s worth the experience of sipping cocktails atop a centuries-old tower!
7. Take a Day Trip to Mjlet National Park
Mljet National Park is a beautiful island in the Adriatic Sea, off the coast of Croatia. It is known for its two saltwater lakes, the Great Lake and the Small Lake. The park is also home to a number of hiking trails, as well as the Monastery of St. Mary, a 12th-century monastery located on a small island in the Great Lake.
A day trip to Mljet from Korčula is a great way to experience the beauty of the island and its park. You can either go on an organized boat tour and spend some extra time on the water, or you can book your own ferry tickets!
8. Explore the Nearby Islands
From Korčula, you can water taxi to the nearby small islands such as Badija and Vrnik. These islands are both part of the Korčula archipelago and are known for their beautiful beaches, crystal-clear waters, and unspoiled nature.
Badija is the larger of the two islands and is home to a Benedictine monastery that was founded in the 15th century. The monastery is now a hotel and spa, and it offers stunning views of the surrounding islands and the Adriatic Sea. This island also has really cute and friendly deer.
Vrnik is the smaller of the two islands and is less developed than Badija. It is a popular destination for hiking, swimming, and sunbathing. There are also a few small restaurants and bars on the island.
Day Trip from Dubrovnik
If you’re based in Dubrovnik and don’t have time to spend a few days in Korčula, we highly recommend doing a day trip to the island (that includes a wine tasting!). With its stunning beaches, charming towns, and rich history, Korčula is a truly special place to visit and really shouldn’t be missed on a trip to Croatia.
Best Time to Visit Korčula
The best time to visit Korčula is in the summer, though be aware that that is when the crowds flock to Croatia. When we went during the summer of 2023, it didn’t feel as overcrowded as Split or Dubrovnik, but I’m sure it will become that way in the coming years. Therefore, the shoulder season months of May and September may be better options, but you might get cooler weather.
Where to Stay on Korčula
Korčula is definitely on the expensive side of things (as is most of Croatia!), but it is possible to find affordable accommodations whether you’re a backpacker, luxury traveler, or somewhere in between. We definitely recommend staying in or close to Korčula’s old town, as that’s where most of the restaurants and things to do will be (and the ferry port is very close to there as well).
Korčula Accommodations
How to Get to Korčula
If you’re looking to visit Korčula, the easiest way to get to the island is fly into either Split or Dubrovnik and take a ferry to Korčula.
The ferry from Split takes around 3 hours and from Dubrovnik takes around 2 hours. We recommend booking through Ferryhopper for cheap, reliable ferries! A great option for when you’re looking to visit Korčula is to do some island hopping, as other Croatian islands such as Hvar and Mjlet are usually stopped at along the ferry routes. All of the Croatian islands have something different to offer, so take some time to explore them all!
Our Favorite Travel Resources
Accommodations: We use Booking.com for hotels and HostelWorld for hostels. We also use VRBO or TrustedHousesitters for longer stays.
Flights: We recommend using Skyscanner to find the cheapest and best flights.
Ground Transport: We use 12Go and Omio for buses and private transfers, and rentalcars.com and Discover Cars for rental cars.
Activities: GetYourGuide and Viator are the best websites for booking organized tours.
International Medical Insurance: We highly recommend SafetyWing for Digital Nomads and HeyMondo for those not traveling full-time, or who frequently engage in higher-risk adventure activities.
eSIM: We recommend Airalo for getting data internationally.
VPN: Surfshark is the best VPN for protecting your privacy without slowing down your connection.
Check out our Travel Resources Page for more of our favorite travel-related products and services!
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Things to do on Korčula FAQs
Is Korčula worth visiting?
The beautiful old town, crystal clear blue waters, cuisine, wineries with Grk wine that is only found in Korčula, boat tours, and easy access to neighboring islands is why many people visit Korčula every year. Korčula was one of our favorite destinations we’ve been to to date.
Why is Korčula famous?
Korčula is famous for being Marco Polo’s Birthplace, and for it’s Grk wine, which is unique to this island.
Should I go to Korčula or Hvar?
Both are beautiful and have many great things to do. Hvar is more of a party island, while Korčula is much more relaxed–to each their own!
How many days do you need in Korčula?
Staying for 3-5 days in Korčula is standard, depending on what you want to do and if you want to go to any of the neighboring islands. Korčula can be a great place to base yourself if you’d like to explore some of the smaller, less crowded islands!
What are the most popular islands in Croatia?
Hvar, Vis, Krk, Korčula, and Mljet are the most popular islands in Croatia
