This list of places to see in Korcula will help you discover the most charming corners of one of the most beautiful islands in Croatia, making the most of your time.
Located in the archipelago of the Dalmatian coast and easily accessible by boat from Split, Dubrovnik and its neighbor Hvar, the island of Korcula falls in love with its green landscapes of forests, vineyards and olive trees, and above all, for its coastline full of beaches, caves and coves bathed by turquoise waters. Despite the fact that it is a fairly large island, you can cross it by its main road in just over half an hour, so one day is enough to get to know its main tourist attractions, among which the capital Korcula, known as little Dubrovnik, stands out. Although it has a bus service that connects its main cities, it is better to take the car on the ferry or rent it on the island, since it is not very frequent and does not stop at the natural viewpoints and coves.
Based on the day we spent on this island during our trip to Croatia and Bosnia, we have made this list with the 10 most beautiful places to visit on the island of Korcula . Let’s start!
1. Vela Luka, one of the places to see in Korcula
If you arrive by ferry from Split you will disembark in the city of Vela Luka, a town located in the extreme west and the most populated to see on the island of Korcula. It is worth taking time to explore its promenade and port full of restaurants where they serve delicious fresh fish and seafood dishes accompanied by good local wines, go to one of the surrounding beaches such as Poseidon or take a boat to get to the paradisiacal island of Proizd, surrounded by beaches with turquoise waters.
2. Spila candle
Another of the best things to do in Korcula is to visit the cave where the Vela Spila rock settlement is located, located a few kilometers from Vela Luka. This photogenic elliptical-shaped cave is up to 17 meters high and has two large openings in the ceiling, although its importance is due to the archaeological remains found in it that show human activity for more than 20,000 years.
3. Korcula beaches
On the way to the capital, you can take a detour along one of the paths that lead to some of the best beaches to see in Korcula, the vast majority of which are located on the south coast. These pebble beaches and crystal clear waters are perfect for snorkelling, lying in a hammock or eating in one of its beach bars. Traveler favorites include Vela Prižba, Pupnatska Luka, Orlanduša, Istruga, Bratinja Luka and Bačva Beach in the south, and Vanesa, Rasoha, Račišće in the north.
4.Pupnat
About 10 kilometers from the capital, you can stop for an hour in Pupnat, the smallest town and one of the oldest to visit on the island of Korcula. Located at the highest point of the island, at 360 meters above sea level, remains of the Illyrian and Roman times have been found in this town and it is surprising for its single-story houses covered with stone slabs.
5. Lumbarda
Before getting to know the city of Korcula, you can drive to Lumbarda, a fishing village located at the eastern end that has the only sandy beach on the island. It is worth walking along its promenade until you reach the small beach of Blin Zal or the larger Vela Prezina, to end up watching a sunset from its iconic lighthouse.
What to see and do in Korcula Town
To put the cherry on top of this list of places to see in Korkula, there is nothing better than spending a few hours in its capital, known as little Dubrovnik for its beauty and its imposing walls. This coastal city, surrounded by green landscapes and the blue sea, surprises with its narrow streets lined with stone houses and red roofs that will delight all travelers who visit it. To learn more about the history of the city and not miss anything interesting, you can book this guided tour in Spanish or this kayak tour.
6. Walls of Korkula
Before arriving in Korcula, we recommend you stop at a viewpoint located in the Spot supermarket car park, from where you will get a fantastic view of the city and the Adriatic Sea in the background. After leaving the car in one of the car parks located next to the port, you can enter the old town by crossing the Puerta de la Tierra, the main access to this old walled medieval town. The 13th century walls that surround the city were reinforced by the Venetians with bastions and towers to defend the city from possible attacks and control the Peljesac canal, important for commercial shipping. Among the towers, the Veliki Revelin tower stands out, which houses a museum with an exhibition of traditional dance costumes and offers fantastic views from its highest part.
7. St. Mark’s Cathedral
After crossing the walls and going up the main street you will arrive in a few minutes at the Cathedral of Saint Mark, located at the highest point of the old town and the main building to visit in Korcula. Built by local masters between the 15th and 16th centuries, this temple with Venetian influences stands out for its porticoes, the interior with two paintings by Tintoretto and a 30-meter bell tower from where you will have the best views of the city and the surroundings.
8. House of Marco Polo
Although it is not proven that the famous traveler Marco Polo was born in Korcula and not in Venice, both belonging to the Republic of Venice, the locals rushed to turn his house into a museum and make it another great attraction to visit this island. This medieval stone building preserves a turret where you can see some elements of the life of this great explorer and adventurer until you reach the terrace, from where you will have a beautiful perspective of the red roofs of the city. In the city there is also the Marco Polo Museum and several souvenir shops where you can buy beautiful compasses and other objects dedicated to this character.
9. Palaces of Korcula
In the same square of San Marcos there are two of the most beautiful buildings to see on the island of Korcula: the Gabrielis palace and the Abbey palace. The 14th-century Abbey Palace houses a museum with the city’s treasure, made up of a valuable collection of Dalmatian objects, furniture, jewelery and paintings, while the 15th-century Palazzo Gabrielis, located just opposite, houses the Museum of the City with a collection of Roman and Greek objects.
10. Korcula Old Town
After visiting the main attractions of the city of Korcula, you can take an aimless walk through the narrow, marble-floored alleys of the old town. During the walk you can buy in one of its craft shops, have a drink in its taverns and eat in one of the best restaurants to eat in Korcula such as Konoba Aterina and LoLe Wine And Tapas Bar. After eating we recommend you take a walk along the promenade from where you get fantastic views of the walled city and if you have more time you can take a boat trip to Badija Island, famous for its beaches with crystal clear waters.
If you have more days, we recommend you complete this list of places to see in Brac and this list of places to see in Hvar, two of the most beautiful islands to see in Croatia.
The only way to get to the island of Korcula is by taking one of the boats of the Jadrolinija or Krilo companies that leave daily from the port of Split or if you come from Dubrovnik, taking a ferry from Jadrolinija in the port of Oberic. If you bring a car or motorbike from Split, you must take a ferry from Jadrolinija that will leave you in the town of Vela Luka in about 3 hours. If you do not bring a car or motorcycle you can take a catamaran from Jadrolinka or Krilo (Kapetan Luka) that will take you directly to the capital Korcula. It must be taken into account that some of these boats only operate in summer or are less frequent outside of the high season. By the way, if you arrive by sea to the city of Korcula, prepare your camera as the views are unique.
Where to sleep in Korcula
If you are going to spend the night on the island of Korcula, we recommend you book in advance, especially in high season, in the city of Korcula, which has an extensive hotel and gastronomic offer. Among the best hotels located in the historic center and with excellent value for money are the Španić palace, the Aminess Korcula Heritage Hotel and the Old Town Sea Front M and M Apartment Korčula.
