By air
Dubrovnik (DBV), ~2.5 h by road and ferry
Europe · Croatia
Korčula, Croatia
Marco Polo's walled island town
Getting there
Best time to visit
May to September — warm
Don't miss
Korčula Town
St Mark's Cathedral
Lumbarda
Vela Luka
Things to do
Old-town walks
Cycling
The island's wines
Where to eat
Sources: Photo: Εὐθυμένης · CC BY-SA 3.0
What to pack
Swimwear
A quieter corner
The Moreška sword dance on summer evenings
Questions travellers ask
How long does it take to reach Korčula?
Fly into Dubrovnik (DBV); from there it is about 2.5 h by road and ferry.
When should I plan a trip to Korčula?
Between May and September, when it is warm — swimwear is a must.
What is there to do on Korčula?
Walk the old town of Korčula Town and see St Mark's Cathedral, explore Lumbarda and Vela Luka, go cycling, and taste the island's wines.
What should I catch on a summer evening in Korčula?
The Moreška sword dance. Pair it with a glass of Pošip wine.
About Korčula
- Island
Where it is
Korčula is an island in the southern Adriatic off the Dalmatian coast of Croatia, separated from the Pelješac peninsula by a narrow strait, with its walled main town on the east coast facing Pelješac.
History
Greek settlers named the island Korkyra Melaina, Black Corfu, after its dense pine woods. Venice ruled it for most of the time from the early 15th century until 1797, and Korčula Town, whose streets are laid out in a herringbone pattern to let air circulate while sheltering from strong winds, took its present form in this era. In 1298 Venice and Genoa fought a great naval battle off the island, in which, by a later tradition, Marco Polo was taken prisoner.
People
Islanders speak Croatian and live from olive groves, vineyards, fishing and tourism, and the island has a long tradition of stonemasonry. Sword dances such as the Moreška, which dates back centuries, are performed on feast days.
Known for
- Korčula Town's walls and herringbone streets
- St Mark's Cathedral
- The Moreška sword dance
- White wines such as Pošip and Grk
- The house associated with Marco Polo
Did you know?
The Moreška, a centuries-old sword dance still performed in Korčula Town, re-enacts a battle between a White King and a Black King over a captured princess.
We haven't written a guide for this place yet — you can still plan a trip here.