Planning a few days in Korcula is an excellent way to unwind and relax when visiting Croatia. Located off the Dalmatian coast from Dubrovnik, the island of Korcula is one of the country’s most popular islands to visit and it isn’t hard to see why.
Though many visit as a simple day trip, planning a 2- to 3-day itinerary for Korcula is an excellent way to really get the most out of the island and even explore some nearby areas.
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How Many Days on Korcula?
Even a day trip to Korcula is doable and you can cover a lot of ground, however, if you want to have a relaxing holiday and manage to see a lot of the island, I recommend spending at least 2 days on Korcula.
If you plan out 2 days for your Korcula itinerary, then you’ll have time to explore the Old Town, sample some Grk wine in Lumbarda, take advantage of some of the best beaches on the island, go wine tasting and tour some wineries that lie a bit inland.
For those with more time, 3 days on Korcula can be ideal if you either want to relax on the beach for a day or are keen to explore the nearby Peljesac Peninsula. This will allow you to really get to know this area of Croatia and will be an altogether more relaxing time.
Getting To & Around Korcula
As an island, Korcula is only accessible via ferry or personal boat but there are a few options open to you for those arriving to the island.
Assuming you don’t have your own boat to reach Korcula, you’re going to access the island via ferry. There are ferries to Korcula from Dubrovnik, the town of Orebic and Split.
The ferry to Korcula from Dubrovnik is only a passenger ferry and, therefore, you cannot take a car. It also only operates seasonally. You can view ferry schedules here.
The most frequent ferries go from Orebic on the Peljesac Peninsula to Korcula Town. These are car ferries and the journey time is only about fifteen minutes. Orebic is located about a 2-hour drive north of Dubrovnik.
You can also catch a car ferry from the city of Split to the town of Vela Luka on the western end of Korcula. This journey takes about 3 hours and doesn’t sail nearly as frequently as the Orebic to Korcula Town ferry.
In general, if you’re spending more than a day visiting the island, you’re going to want to have your own car in order to get to all of the best things to do in Korcula.
It makes it a lot easier to get around and you can reach some of the more remote beaches and explore a number of different villages with ease. You can browse car rental options here.
However, if you’re up for it, Korcula is also quite cycle friendly and it is popular to hire bicycles on the island. It’s not a very mountainous island (unlike an island like Hvar) and you will see many cyclists pedalling all over the island.
2 to 3-Day Korcula Itinerary
Whether you have 2 days to spend on Korcula or 3, this itinerary is ideal to help you plan out the ideal trip to explore this island. Covering the historic old town, beautiful beaches and plenty of wineries, this is sure to be a trip you won’t soon forget.
Day 1 – Korcula Town & Lumbarda
Korcula Old Town
No trip to Korcula is complete without taking the time to explore the beautiful old town of Korcula. If you’re arriving from Dubrovnik or Orebic, this is where you will arrive into and Korcula Town also makes for a great place to base yourself on the island.
Claiming to be the birthplace of Marco Polo (though there is no real evidence to back this up), Korcula Old Town is a compact and completely charming area to explore either independently or on a walking tour. Enter through the imposing Old Town Gate and take the time to wander through the winding, cobbled streets.
Make your way to the St Mark’s Church and, if you’re up to it, you can even climb the bell tower. If you want to learn more about the history of the island, you can also pop into the Korcula Town Museum. Not far, you can also find the alleged birthplace of Marco Polo.
Making your way over to the seaside, take in the Kanavelic Tower – one of the few towers still standing of the old city walls. There are also fantastic views of the Adriatic and the Peljesac Peninsula.
For those who want to go for a swim, there are some small beaches and swimming areas along the promenade in Korcula Town, however, there are better beaches in Lumbarda.
And if you want to take in an incredible view, make your way up some of the winding stepped pathways outside of the old town to the Panorama Korcula viewpoint – here you can get a bird’s eye view of the picture-perfect old town.
Degustation and Sveti Antun Church
Making your way out of the old town, it’s about a 20-minute walk (or a very quick drive or bicycle ride) to OPG Komparak, which is a great place to stop by and sample some local products.
Known mostly for organic, local honey, you can learn a bit about beekeeping and also sample a few kinds of honey along with some delicious jams and fresh-pressed extra virgin olive oil.
They also distil their own gin here and you can even do a tasting of that if that interests you! This is also a great place to pick up some unique, local souvenirs to take home with you.
Not far from OPG Komparak, you will find the Sveti Antun Church which is a historic church sat atop a hilltop. There is a steep, stone staircase to climb up to visit this church, but it is peaceful and tranquil up there and you can get some great views of the surrounding area from the top.
Lumbarda
Now it’s time to make your way to the town of Lumbarda, which is only about 6 kilometres from the church – it’s a very quick drive and is also accessible by bicycle. There are also organised tours such as this wine tour or this wine and bike tour.
Lumbarda Town itself is pretty sleepy with not much going on, but it’s worth visiting because the town is known for having some of Croatia’s only sandy beaches and also for its wine production.
Lumbarda is studded with countless vineyards and it is incredibly picturesque. It is also home to a unique white grape variety – Grk – that only grows in this specific area on Korcula.
Because the Grk grape needs sandy soil, it’s not ideal for anywhere else in Croatia. The vine also only produces female flowers and, therefore, cannot self-pollinate. This means that Grk vines must be grown in between Plavac Mali vines – a red grape variety that is quite commonly found throughout Croatia.
Lumbarda is dotted with wineries and you can spend your afternoon hopping between them and sampling some local vintages. Most wineries also offer food so you can enjoy a platter with local cheese, charcuterie, anchovies and olive oil all while sipping a chilled glass of Grk white wine.
We highly recommend heading to Sabulum Winery and Vitis Winery, however, there are plenty more to choose from in the town of Lumbarda and they’re all very easy to access.
Dinner and Drinks in Korcula Town
If you haven’t had enough local wine in Lumbarda, head back to Korcula town for your evening and grab a pre-dinner drink at Mariola Wine Bar. Tucked in a quiet alleyway in the old town, they have a great list of Croatian wines available by the glass.
And if you’re looking for a great dinner option, then head to Konoba Aterina. They have a local, seasonal menu with great specials where you can sample delicious local specialities at good prices. They also have a lovely outdoor terrace to enjoy.
Day 2 – Southern Beaches & Smokvica
Pupnatska Luka Beach
On your second day, it’s time to venture a bit further out from Korcula Town and Lumbarda and explore some of the beautiful beaches on the southern coast of the island.
In fact, if you’re stuck choosing between islands like Hvar or Korcula and you want to have a number of gorgeous beaches to choose from, then Korcula has a number of great ones to choose from.
Begin your day at, arguably, one of the most beautiful pebble beaches on the island – Pupnatska Luka. To reach this beach, direct yourself to the View Point Pupnat on Google Maps and follow the small road down to the beach – it isn’t listed on maps but the road is paved and in good knick (though there are some switchbacks).
From the beach car park, there is a small staircase down to the beach and, for those who want to have a drink or refreshment, there is also a beach bar here. The beach itself is tranquil and there is plenty of room for those looking to spread out a towel, go for a swim and simply enjoy a day here.
If you’re looking for other great beaches nearby, the smaller Zitna Beach is a great option and the quiet Zal Beach in Brna Town is also a nice place to stop for a splash in the Adriatic.
Vela Luka
If you want to explore more of the island, then after soaking up the sun on the beach, consider heading to the western end of Korcula to visit the second-largest town of Vela Luka.
If you arrive on a ferry via Split, this was your port of entry, however, it’s very much not as visited of a town and it has a much more local vibe than old town Korcula.
Take the time to wander along the seaside promenade and maybe pop into a cafe for a cup of coffee or an ice cream. There are also restaurants here where you can get a bite to eat for lunch.
Smokvica
As you’re driving across the island, you will be winding your way through hectares and hectares of vineyards. There are countless wineries throughout Korcula and if you want to sample some more local wines, then consider making a stop in the village of Smokvica.
This town is home to the white Posip grape (a common grape variety found throughout Croatia but particularly on Korcula and on the Peljesac Peninsula). However, there are plenty of other grapes and wines to sip at the wineries here, as well.
Much like in Lumbarda, there are several different wineries to hop between where you can sample some local wines and have a plate of food while learning more about winemaking in this area.
The views of the valleys below are also absolutely stunning so it’s worth coming here just for these vistas alone.
Day 3 – Peljesac Peninsula
Peljesac Day Trip
The final day will see you heading off of the island and over to the Peljesac Peninsula. Though this peninsula is quite a well-known destination among European tourists, it’s not as popular for visitors form further afield and you can get quite a good, off-the-beaten-path experience here if that’s what you’re after.
Start by taking the ferry from Korcula Town to Orebic (it’s only about fifteen minutes). Orebic is worth exploring in its own right – you can definitely grab a coffee here – but there is far more to see than this town.
Peljesac, like Korcula, is completely covered in vineyards and there are a number of incredible wines to sample and wineries to visit. And if you’re into other gastronomic products, the peninsula is also known for its mussels and its oysters and you will see farms dotting the coastline.
Those looking for a good place for a swim will find plenty of great, calm and secluded swimming spots and places to splash around. And there are also beautiful villages and historic towns to explore.
One particularly popular place to visit is the walled town of Ston, where you can enjoy a walk along the city walls with a fraction of the crowds found in Dubrovnik!
And if you’re a fan of modern architecture, make sure to take in the beautiful and brand-new Peljeski Most – a bridge that connects the peninsula with the Croatian mainland and prevents having to cross into Bosnia & Herzegovina when driving to or from Dubrovnik.
Where to Stay on Korcula
Apartments Milion – Located in the heart of Korcula Town, this hotel offers both double rooms and fully furnished flats along with plenty of great amenities for guests to enjoy.
Aminess Korcula Heritage Hotel – Located on the coast in the centre of Korcula’s old town, this luxe hotel has many lovely rooms on offer along with breakfast, room service and an on-site bar.
Villa Nobilo – This place in the village of Lumbarda has several fully-furnished studios to choose from along with an excellent location for exploring the island.
Hostel Korcula – This highly-rated hostel located in the centre of Korcula Town has a range of dorms and private options available along with good common areas and self-catering facilities.
Not quite what you’re looking for? Click here to browse more Korcula hotels!
Planning the perfect trip to Korcula is truly a joy when you consider just how much this lovely Croatian island has to offer. From wineries to beaches to historic towns, Korcula is the ultimate Dalmatian island escape.
Are you planning to visit Korcula? Have any questions? Let us know in the comments!
