Korcula island is one of the biggest islands of Croatia. It is the greenest island in the Adriatic, called by Greeks Korkyra Melaina (Black Island) during the colonization of the island or (Korkyra Negra) by Romans.
Korcula is the sixth largest island along the Croatian Adriatic coast. It is nearly 30 miles (47 kilometers) long and from 3 to 5 miles (5 to 8 km) wide. Looking on the map bellow, the island is separated from the Peljesac peninsula by a narrow channel, Korcula channel. The island belongs to Southern Dalmatia region and makes part of Dubrovnik county.
The island has a large number of bays and coves. Its northern coast is rather low and easily accessible with several natural ports protected from the south and east wind like, Korcula, Banja, Racisce, Vrbovica, Babina, Prigradica.
The south shore is more indented but very steep, where in some places there are cliffs rising up to 30 m above the sea. There are plenty of anchorages and bays in the southern coast, sheltered from the north wind, like Zavalatica, Rasohatica, Orlandusa, Pavja Luka, Pupnatska Luka, Prizba, Grscica.
The most important settlements on the island from east to west, are Korcula (the capital), Lumbarda and Vela Luka on the western side. In the middle of the island, Blato is the oldest settlement on the island. One of the attractions of Blato, is one km long lime trees avenue in the very center of the town, the second longest avenue of lime in Europe.
How to get to Korcula Island, Croatia?
y seaplane from Split
Taking into account that this is an island, the most common way to reach it is by boat. But this time I prefer to suggest more faster way to get to the island by seaplane from Split.
Hydroplanes have returned to the southern Dalmatian city of Dubrovnik and Korcula after more than 80 years, after German company European Coastal Airlines (ECA) has opened new flying connections from Split to Vela Luka and Lumbarda (Korcula), including Dubrovnik.
How to travel between Split and Korcula?
There are several ways to travel between Split and Korcula, either you are driving or using public transportation. The most common way is by sea, either car and passengers ferry or catamaran (only foot passengers).
- Jadrolinija Car&passengers ferry line N°604 Split – Vele Luka (Korcula) – Ubli (Lastovo island) runs throughout the year with different timetables, depending of the season. You can notice that Jadrolinija keeps this line only to Vela Luka port and not to Korcula town.
There are three Jadrolinija catamarans to the island of Korcula. Two run throughout the year:
- Line N° 9604 Split – Hvar – Vela Luka (Korcula) – Ubli (Lastovo)
- Line N° 9608 Split – Hvar- Prigradica (Korcula) – Korcula town
- Line N° 9608S Split – Hvar – Korcula (Only from June 2nd to October 2nd)
Another private company Krilo runs between Split to Korcula, only during the high season. Sailing schedules can change, especially during holiday periods, so it is advisable to check before departure.
- This line runs in high season, starting from May to October. there is a new tourist high speed line Split-Brac (Milna)-Hvar-Korcula-Mljet-Dubrovnik.
Ferry from Peljesac peninsula to Korcula island
If you are driving ( read more how to travel between Split to Dubrovnik) the best way to reach the island is to take two ferries:
- From Ploce to Trpanj Peljesac peninsula line N°633. It takes one hour to Trpanj. From there you’ll have to drive to Orebic. From Trpanj to Orebic is only 20 km.(see the map below)
- From Orebic take a 15 minutes ferry line N° 634 to Domince (Korcula) – It’s only 3 km from Korcula town
Getting to Korcula by bus
Traveling by bus to island of Korcula is the cheapest way but certainly time-consuming. It isn’t a distance that makes traveling rather long, but much time is lost, crossing so called ‘Neum Corridor’ and ferry crossing from Orebic to Korcula.
- From Split: every day at 01 AM (one o’clock after midnight) and arrives in Korcula 6.30 am. Bus leaves from the main bus station, right next to city harbor and railway station. The same bus also proceeds to Vela Luka town.
- From Dubrovnik: It leaves daily from Dubrovnik’s main bus station at 03 PM and arrives in Korcula town at 06,30 PM. The bus ticket from Dubrovnik to Korcula Town costs 100 Kuna. Main bus station is located in Gruz Port in Dubrovnik, about 3 km from the Old Dubrovnik town.
- From Zagreb: at 7.30 PM (every day – via Zadar, Knin, Split, Makarska, Ston, Orebic) and arrivals in Korcula town next morning at 6.30 AM. The ticket costs about 240 Kuna. This bus also continues to Vela Luka.
Best Korcula island beaches
You’ll really find this island charming, without the crowds, quiet and delightful. It is definitely more convenient for families with children and seniors, more quite, with beautiful beaches and far from excessive trendiness of Hvar or Dubrovnik.
Korcula town beaches
Beach Banje is an old Korcula Town beach right in the center of Korcula Town, close to Hotel Marco Polo and Hotel Park. This popular pebble beach is very busy in the summer time, crowded with tourists from town and nearby hotels as well as locals. The beach is on the walking distance from all areas of the town.
If you are based in Korcula Town, this beach is very good for small children and families. It is also good for tourist interested in summer activities like sailing or windsurfing.
Beach Zakerjan is located in on the eastern edge of the Old Town and it is one of the oldest swimming spots in Korcula Town, very popular among locals. The beach have lot of large rocks and jetties for sunbathing as well as a few ladders for climbing in and out of the sea.
The water is very clean and transparent with great colors. Jumping into the sea is safe here as water is deep enough. Above the beach, along the Zakerjan promenade, a numerous local cafes offer all sorts of food and drinks. The entrance to the beach is by several steep and narrow steps leading down bellow Town Walls and Towers.
Korcula island sandy beaches
The island of Korcula is also famous for its sandy beaches. Two the most beautiful sandy beaches, Bilin Zal and Przina, are located near the seaside town of Lumbarda, 6 kilometers east of Korcula town.
Bilin Zal sand beach
Przna sandy beach
Przina is a longer beach and in the summer it gets early filled with tourists and locals. In whole area you can find few good quality hotels, luxury apartments and private rooms.
Korcula island naturist beaches guide
Korcula Island has several naturist islands that are a real haven for your naturist vacations and relaxation. Between Korcula town and small village Lumbarda there are 19 small islands that form a small archipelago.
Their names are : Badija, Kamenjak, Gojak, Planjak, Vrnik, Majsan, Majsanic, Gubavac, Knezic, Bisace, Sutvara, Stupe, Baretica, Lucnjak, Sestrice (Vela and Mala Sestrica), Gubavac and Skrpinjak.
Islands are popular destination for day trips from Korcula.Only some of them are populated and only two of them are visited by naturist lovers (Badija and Stupe). All islands are reachable by frequent taxi-boat services from Korcula Town harbor (Punta Jurana). Many hotels in Korcula organize trips to the islands.
Island Badija is the most popular island usually visited by locals. To get to the island you have to take a taxi boat all lined up in Korcula Town at the town’s eastern pier. The most important sight of the island is Franciscan Monastery built in 14th century.
I suggest to visit also the Vrnik island, just few minutes boat drive from Badija , where you can visit its impressive quarries which date from Roman times. From these quarries, white stone blocks were used in construction of some important buildings like Duke’s Palace in Dubrovnik and Aja Sofia in Istanbul.
Stupe islands are two small islands, one much larger than another, that are located at the further east of Korcula archipelago. On the largest one, named ‘Vela Stupa‘ there is a small konoba restaurant. Both islands are popular naturist destination.