Korčula island: beaches, towns and places to stay

Korčula is about 47 km long and 5 to 8 km wide, the sixth largest island in the Adriatic, with Klupca (568 m) as its highest point. It lies just off the Pelješac peninsula, separated from it by a strait little more than a kilometre wide at its narrowest. Nearly 15,000 people live on the island (14,594 in the 2021 census), in the town of Korčula, in Vela Luka and Blato in the west, and in villages such as Lumbarda, Smokvica, Čara, Pupnat and Račišće. The Greeks called it Black Korčula, Korkyra Melaina, for the dark pine and holm oak forests that still cover much of it.

Korčula town, on the north-east tip, is one of the best-preserved medieval towns on the Adriatic. Its streets branch off a single main street like the bones of a fish, laid out so that the breeze from the sea runs through the town. You enter through the Land Gate under the Veliki Revelin tower and climb to St Mark's Cathedral on the highest point. The town's statute dates from 1214, and local tradition makes Korčula the home of Marco Polo, a claim historians still argue about. On summer evenings the Moreška, a sword dance between a white and a black king fighting over a girl, is performed for visitors.

Lumbarda, 6 km east of town, is where the sand is. Its vineyards grow Grk, a white wine made almost only here, and a Greek stone inscription from the 4th or 3rd century BC, the Psephisma of Lumbarda, was found in its fields; the original is in the Archaeological Museum in Zagreb and a copy in the town museum in Korčula. Opposite Korčula town lie the small islands of Badija, with a 14th-century Franciscan monastery, and Vrnik, an old stonemasons' island whose quarries supplied stone for buildings around the Adriatic.

The middle of the island is wine country. Čara and Smokvica are the home of Pošip, the island's best-known white, and below them Zavalatica and Brna are quiet bays on the south coast. Pupnat sits about 360 m above sea level, above Pupnatska Luka, often named the most beautiful beach on Korčula. Žrnovo, just inland from the town, is known for its hand-made pasta, žrnovski makaruni.

In the west, Blato is a large village built around a long avenue of lime trees, and Vela Luka is a harbour town at the end of a deep bay, with the ferry to Split, the Vela Spila cave and boats to the islet of Proizd. Stay in Korčula town for history and connections, in Lumbarda for sandy beaches and wine, along the south coast for quiet coves, and in Vela Luka if you come by ferry from Split or want Proizd on your doorstep.

Beaches

Vela Pržina (Lumbarda)

The largest sandy beach on Korčula, south of Lumbarda village: a crescent of sand in a bay with shallow water, a beach bar and restaurant in season, and sunbeds and umbrellas to rent. Very good with small children. There is little natural shade, and in July and August the small car park fills by mid-morning.

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Bilin Žal (Lumbarda)

A smaller beach on the eastern side of Lumbarda, a strip of sand between pebbles and flat rocks, looking across the channel to Pelješac. Quieter than Vela Pržina, with a café and grill restaurant by the beach. The rocky Ražnjić peninsula nearby is good for snorkelling under the pines.

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Badija

The largest of the small islands off Korčula town, reached by taxi boat from the town's eastern harbour in about 15 minutes in summer. A path runs around the island past pebble and rock coves, and the 14th-century Franciscan monastery stands by the landing. Bring water and food if you plan to stay all day.

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Banje and the town beaches

Banje is the town beach of Korčula, a few minutes' walk east of the old town, with pebbles, a café and a view back towards the old town. It is convenient but busy. If you are staying in town without a car, the hotel beaches along the coast and the taxi boats to Badija are the easy alternatives.

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Žrnovska Banja

A pebble bay on the north coast about 4.5 km west of Korčula town, with a campsite and a café. The water is calm and the entry gentle, which makes it a good family choice close to town. Medvinjak, about 1 km from town, and Tri Žala are similar small pebble coves along the same coast.

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Pupnatska Luka

Often called the most beautiful beach on the island: a wide bay of fine white pebbles and very clear water on the south coast below the village of Pupnat. A narrow, winding road leads down to it and parking is limited, so come early in high season. Two or three café bars and sunbed rental at the back of the beach.

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Bačva

A small, deep cove of pebbles and shingle on the south coast below Žrnovo and Pupnat, with a konoba serving grilled fish. The access road is steep and narrow and many people arrive by boat. Natural, with very few facilities.

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Rasohatica, Pavja Luka and Orlanduša

A string of pebble coves on the south coast below Žrnovo, roughly 8 to 10 km from Korčula town, reached by car or on foot over gravel roads. Quiet even in August, with pine shade and almost no facilities, apart from a restaurant at Pavja Luka. A small car copes better with the tracks.

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Vaja and Samograd (Račišće)

Two white pebble beaches on the north coast just west of the fishing village of Račišće, about 12 km from Korčula town. The road to them is partly unpaved. Clear, often calm water and a view across the channel to Pelješac; bring your own shade and drinks.

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Žitna and Zavalatica

Zavalatica, below Čara, was once the island's wine port and is now a small resort with private rooms. Žitna is a narrow bay a few hundred metres away on foot, with fine pebbles, pine forest around it and a gently sloping seabed, a good choice for families. Čavića Luka nearby is another pebble cove.

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Brna, Istruga and Prižba

On the south coast below Smokvica, Brna is a deep, sheltered bay with pebble beaches under the pines, and the neighbouring bay of Istruga is known for its healing mud and shallow water. Further west, below Blato, Prižba has pebble beaches, a scatter of small islets and two little peninsulas, with cafés and space for children.

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Proizd (Vela Luka)

An islet at the entrance to the bay of Vela Luka, reached by taxi boat from the Vela Luka waterfront in about 30 minutes in summer. It has several beaches of white pebbles and smooth sloping stone slabs over turquoise water, footpaths between them and one restaurant by the jetty, so bring supplies. Part of the island is used by naturists.

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Our photos: Korčula town and its bays

Taken by our team on the coast. Tap a photo to open it larger.

Getting there and around

Most visitors arrive from the Pelješac peninsula: Jadrolinija's car ferry from Orebić crosses to Dominče, about 3 km outside Korčula town, in about 20 minutes, many times a day, and a passenger boat for foot passengers runs from Orebić straight to the old town in about 15 minutes. Orebić is roughly two hours by road from Dubrovnik, and from the north you reach Pelješac over the Pelješac Bridge. From Split, a Jadrolinija car ferry sails to Vela Luka in roughly three hours, and passenger catamarans link Split, Hvar and Korčula town. In season a daily catamaran also runs from Dubrovnik via Mljet to Korčula in about two hours. The nearest airports are Dubrovnik and Split. Vela Luka is about 45 km from Korčula town; local buses cross the island.

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