Korcula Island is a must-see spot in Croatia. It’s much less-visited than neighboring island of Hvar, but that’s part of what makes it so wonderful. It feels like you’ve stumbled upon an idyllic little slice of Croatian paradise, without the crowds. When researching Korcula Island before my trip, I kept reading about how Korcula is much “sleepier” than Hvar. Based on this, I thought there wasn’t going to be much to do in Korcula. However, I was pleasantly surprised that my expectations were wrong. There are so many awesome things to do in Korcula! Keep reading and start planning your trip to this epic island.
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Korcula Island Trip Overview
- PTO/Vacation Days: 4-7 (assuming you want to see other parts of Croatia on your trip!)
- Currency: Kuna
- Exchange Rate: $1 USD = 7.22 Kuna
- Closest Airport: DBV or SPU
- Getting Around: Taxi or walking
READ MORE: The Ultimate 7-Day Croatia Itinerary
Best Place to Stay in Korcula
There are plenty of great hotel and VRBO options near the main town. We stayed at this 2-story apartment overlooking the marina, and it was awesome! It comfortably slept our group of 5 (but it can sleep 7), was a quick and easy walk to the heart of town, and also was just a block away from a beautiful local beach.
If you’re looking for a hotel, Hotel Korsal is a great option with fabulous reviews. It’s in the same area as the apartment I stayed at that I listed above, which is a quaint car-free zone right across from the local beach and only a 5-minute walk to Old Town Korcula.
When to Visit Korcula Island
The peak season is May-September, with the most popular of those months being July and August. I recommend visiting around April- early June, or September – October. This way, you will beat some of the summer crowds, but you’re still visiting at a time where it’s warm enough to enjoy swimming!
How to Get to Korcula Island
Ferry from Hvar to Korcula
There are multiple ferries per day that go from Hvar to Korcula. The ride is just over an hour long, and is about $16-20 per person, depending on which of the three ferry companies you choose.
Ferry from Dubrovnik to Korcula
There are three different ferry companies that each leave once per day from Dubrovnik to Korcula. It’s about a 2-hour ferry ride, and costs about $21-25/person.
Ferry from Split to Korcula
If you are coming from Split, I recommend going to Hvar first since it is on the way to Korcula. However, if you want to go straight from Split to Korcula, you can take a high-speed ferry that leaves 3 times per day and take about 2.5 hours.
What to Pack for Korcula Island
Besides the obvious items, don’t leave home without these things too:
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- Outlet Converter – so you can charge your phone! This is the one that I used
- Portable charger – so you will have enough juice to take pictures throughout the day and use your maps
- Sneakers
- Travel Backpack– This is the one I have, and I absolutely love it!
- Sunscreen
- Mini Fan: something I wish that I had when I was there
- Water Shoes: the shoreline is rocky. These are a life saver!
The Best Things to Do in Korcula
1. Spend the Afternoon at La’Banya Beach Club
La’Banya Beach is one of the best beaches in Korcula. Take a golf cart taxi here from town (or a real taxi, but the golf cart ones are more fun!). It’s about a 15 minute, scenic ride. La’Banya Beach Club is part of Korcula Hill Beach Resort, but you don’t have to be staying here to enjoy the beach club. You can rent a chair and umbrella on the beach, sit by the pool overlooking the ocean, or splurge for one of the over-water cabanas.
The cabanas cost $200 for the full day or $120 for a half-day, and includes a bottle of Prosecco and a fruit platter. 5 of us fit comfortably in it, and there’s steps leading down from your cabana right into the ocean. You’ll have a waiter come check on you throughout your time there to bring you drinks and food.
The view from the cabana, and from the beach itself, is beautiful! The water is crystal-clear, and you’re tucked away in a little cove. There’s a floating platform you can swim out to and jump off, and there’s also a swing in the water. You’ll want to spend quite a few hours relaxing here. It’s amazing!
2. Wander Through Town
The town of Korcula is idyllic. There are cobblestone streets weaving up and through different alleyways leading to different restaurants, bars and shops. There are two water-view streets where you can stroll along watching the boats come and go. Spend some time soaking in the scenery and the atmosphere.
3. Visit the Marco Polo House
Allegedly, famed explorer Marco Polo grew up in Korcula. One of the most popular things to do in Korcula is to stop by his house In town. It costs about 20 Kuna to go inside, but I hear there is not much to see of an actual house (there are only the 4 exterior walls remaining). At the time of writing this, they are reconstructing it to be a museum. It’s still fun to stop by for a photo-op from the outside, though, and to say you’ve seen it!
4. Moreska Sword Dance Performance
Moreska is a traditional sword dance + drama that has been performed in Korcula for over 400 years! It originated in Spain, and was common throughout the Mediterranean region through the 12th and 13th centuries. Eventually, interest in the dance wore off in the other locations in the region, but it stuck with Korcula and their residents. The dance/drama is held at the open-air theatre in the center of town, and you can walk up and buy tickets at the box office there. In the summer, they have the dance every Monday and Thursday evening. It’s definitely a fascinating cultural experience!
5. Visit a Winery
Korcula Island is known for it’s local wine, so it’s no surprise that one of the best things to do in Korcula is to go to one of the vineyards! There are quite a few wineries in the nearby Lumbarda region of the island (about a 15 minute drive from the main town). We went to Vitis Winery, and loved it! The views are incredible – you see rolling hills, vineyards, and sunflowers in the foreground, and the glistening of the ocean in the background. Not a bad spot for a wine tasting! The staff is super friendly and will even give you a tour of their winery to show you how they make the wine. Sipping wine here under the shaded terrace enjoying the view is such a great way to spend the afternoon!
6. Check out the Beaches in Korcula
There are several great beach options in Korcula. We only spent 2 days in Korcula, so didn’t have time to explore all the beaches in Korcula. However, we did go to three beaches in Korcula. My favorite is the first one listed below, Bacva Beach!
Bacva Beach
If you are looking for the best beach in Korcula, I highly recommend going to this one! It’s about a 20 minute drive from town. The drive is super windy towards the end, going up and around curvy mountain roads until you start a descent towards what feel like a secret beach in a cove between two mountainous areas. It’s lush and green surrounding the bright blue water. It’s absolutely breathtaking!
There’s a small bar on the beach if you want to order drinks (the cheapest drinks we’ve encountered in Croatia, which means this is definitely not a tourist spot!). You can also rent an umbrella from the bar too. The small, rocky beach was completely uncrowded except for a few locals. The water was clear and clean (and not as cold as it was in Hvar for some reason). Spend some time here soaking in the mountain and ocean views.
Pro tip: If you know that you are only going to stay for an hour or so, then consider paying your taxi driver to just stay at the beach until you are ready to leave. This is what we did. If you don’t do that, it might be difficult to get a taxi back to town since it is in a slightly remote area (although I’m sure you could still make it work as long as your phone works and you have the number of a local driver).
Vela Przina
In my research before the trip, I read about Vela Przina beach and the fact that it was the one sandy beach on the island of Korcula. Knowing this, and the fact that it was just a short walk from Vitis Winery where we were at the time, we had to check it out. However, I hate to report that we were severely disappointed in this beach. It seemed like a tourist trap. There were screaming kids everywhere and a huge inflatable water trampoline contraption right off the shore. The beach felt kind of dirty. If you are traveling as a family with young kids, it might be a good option. But otherwise, I don’t recommend wasting your time at this one!
Pupnatska Lutka
This is one of the most iconic beaches in Korcula. I really wanted to go here during our 2 days in Korcula, but we ran out of time. It seems that to have similar views as Bacva Beach, set in a cove between two mountains. However, it is a bit further from town AND more crowded. If you only have time for one beach in Korcula, I would choose Bacva Beach! But if you have more time, Pupnatska Lutka beach seems to be worth checking out.
Banje Beach
This little beach is walking distance from town, but away from the main drag. We stumbled upon this beach because it was only a block away from the townhouse we were staying at, and I’m so glad we did! It seems like more of a local spot. Low-key vibes, nice, calm ocean, and a great view of the marina with all the sailboats.
Pro tip: stop by the grocery store in town and get some lunchmeat and bread to make a sandwich for the beach!
7. Sunset Drinks at Cocktail Bar Massimo
I’m a sucker for sunset drinks with a view, and let me tell you – this is one of the coolest spots to do just that! To get to Bar Massimo, you have to climb up a few ladders inside a fort to get through the “trap door” that leads you to the top of the fort. It’s pretty small up there, so plan to get there early to get a spot. You might have to wait at the final ladder to let others come down first before you can get up. Once you’re up there, the views overlooking the ocean and the town are incredible. The drinks come up there via a pulley system. Overall, it’s just a super cool experience!
8. Get Dinner in Town
There are several great restaurant options in Korcula, including a Michelin Star restaurant overlooking the water. If you aren’t looking to splurge on fine dining though, there are plenty of other great spots to choose from overlooking the water on that same street. Just take a stroll and pick one that suits your fancy, whether that be a restaurant that serves traditional Dalmatian cuisine (there’s a lot of those) or something a bit different, like LoLe Wine & Tapas Bar (make a reservation if you’re there on a weekend in high season!).
Where to Next?
If you are spending more time in Croatia, after your Korcula trip I recommend heading to either Dubrovnik or the island of Hvar. Both are amazing!
Read more:
10 Epic Things to Do in Hvar, Croatia
The Perfect 2 Days in Dubrovnik Itinerary
Enjoy!!
