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One Day in a City > Destinations > Europe > Croatia > One Day in Korcula

One Day in Korcula

November 2, 2020 By Gina
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One Day in a City Itinerary: Korcula, Croatia

One Day in Korcula: What to see and do when short on time visiting the beautiful island of Korcula, Croatia, including what to see, do, eat, and drink

Korcula is a lovely Croatian island that seems tiny since most of its activity is packed into the walled little peninsula of Korcula Town, commonly referred to as Old Town. The rest of the island spreads out over green, hilly landscape with a perimeter of beaches and resorts that cater to sea-seeking tourists. While the non-Old Town part of Korcula is lovely, if you’re short on time visiting the island, spend your time in Korcula Town – with one jaunt to a beach — and save the rest of the island for another day.

What to Know About the Ferries to Korcula

Make sure you arrive on the right side of Korcula Island.
Make sure you arrive on the right side of Korcula Island.

If you’re short on time in Korcula, the best thing you can do for yourself is to make sure you get a ferry that delivers you straight to Korcula Town, and not to Vela Luka, which is on the other side of the island. There are several more ferries that run to Vela Luka during the day and the ones to Korcula Town sell out quickly during high season. A taxi from Vela Luka to Korcula Town takes about 45 minutes (there are also buses, but those take even longer) which is an hour and a half you’re missing out on exploring  on your own terms.

What to Do in Korcula

The walls of Korcula Town.
The walls of Korcula Town.

As I mentioned earlier, most of the sights you’ll want to see are in Korcula Town. This makes it really easy to explore Korcula when short on time since the fortified Old Town is located on a small nub of a peninsula and is easy to walk around.

It’s also easy to navigate Korcula Town since its streets were created to reflect the bones of a fish with a couple pretty squares found along the main “backbone” road going down the center with tiny side streets jutting out from it, most which lead to the tall wall circling Old Town. While you explore Korcula Town, make time to visit these top sites.

Marco Polo Museum

Excellent displays and attention to detail at the Marco Polo Museum in Korcula.
Excellent displays and attention to detail at the Marco Polo Museum.

The Marco Polo Museum is a surprisingly engaging museum that is interesting for both kids and adults. The museum takes you through a series of rooms with life-like displays of Marco Polo’s life with informational boards so you can learn the history of Marco Polo’s life. At the end of each room, there is a stamp to mark off each stop on your exploration journey.

Stamping my Marco Polo Museum ticket.
Stamping my Marco Polo Museum ticket.

This fun aspect makes sense because Marco Polo spent most of his life adventuring around the globe in search of riches and knowledge. However, his heart, according the museum, belonged to Korcula, where he was born and where he always longed to return.

Get Lost and Found Again in St. Mark’s Square

Korcula: A gorgeous glimpse of St. Mark's Cathedral in St. Mark's Square.
A gorgeous glimpse of St. Mark’s Cathedral in St. Mark’s Square.

Spend some time walking aimlessly around the side streets of Korcula Town before ending up near the center of town at St. Mark’s Square, where you’ll want to spend time checking out St. Mark’s Cathedral and the Town Museum.

St. Mark’s Cathedral

This tiny church is stonily impressive from the outside thanks to the limestone façade that includes a bell tower and an arched doorway bordered by squatting Adam and Eve statues plus a statue of Saint Mark in the center. The interior is mostly simple yet powerful with its large crucifix in the center of the altar and Gothic-Renaissance details of the architecture. The altar is also home to a couple paintings by the Renaissance Italian artist Tintoretto.

Town Museum

If you want to find out more about the history of Korcula head to the Town Museum in Gabrielis Palace (a stately old mansion). You’ll learn about the prehistoric era of Korcula through to the present day culture through old artifacts and informative exhibits.

Great Land Gate

Revelin Tower, signifying the entrance to Korcula Town.
Revelin Tower

You’ll want to leave Korcula Town just to be able to walk back in so you can do so through Great Land Gate, which is the historic entrance to walled Korcula Town and is characterized by the boxy Revelin Tower. (If you’re accessing Korcula Port while in town, this is a good time to walk through it.)

St Michaels Church

The stone facade of St. Michael's Church
The stone facade of St. Michael’s Church

Near the Great Land Gate is Stjepan Radic Square. While walking through it keep your eyes open for St. Michael’s Church. This Baroque style church dates back to the 15th century and features a striking sunburst design above the door.

Town Hall

Also in Stjepan Radic Square is Korcula’s Town Hall and Rector Palace. Built in the 16th century, this building features the seal of Korcula on it.

Boat Ride to Badija

Beach Time in Badija, a tiny island located by Korcula, Croatia
Beach Time in Badija

Badija is a tiny island near Korcula that is a short 15 minute boat ride. Korcula has exquisite water surrounding it so one day in Korcula should include at least a little beach time and Badija is a great place for it. Along with beaches, you can visit the 15th century Franciscan Monastery located on Badija.

Franciscan Monastery on Badija
Franciscan Monastery on Badija

What to Eat in Korcula

Seafood! The fresher the better and in Korcula, it shouldn’t be hard to find some fresh, quality fish. As for where to eat it, you can’t beat the seaside ambiance of most of the restaurants along the seawall in the Old Town (tip: try the seafood or — if you need a break from seafood — the delicious eggplant pizza at Pizzeria Tedeschi).

Pizzeria Tedeschi
Pizzeria Tedeschi
Delicious eggplant pizza at Pizzeria Tedeschi
Delicious eggplant pizza at Pizzeria Tedeschi

However, to really have a memorable seafood gastro experience, head away from the sea and up the tiny side street of Jakova Baničevića to Konoba Marco Polo. I know, I know, it has SUCH a touristy sounding name, but the quality of the cuisine is excellent. Request one of the tables in the street, where you’ll be sitting cozily sandwiched between two of the magnificent old walls of Korcula Town.

Fresh, yummy fish at Konoba Marco Polo Restaurant in Korcula's Old Town.
Fresh, yummy fish at Konoba Marco Polo.

My family and I dined on seafood ordered off of a plate of fresh catches that was brought to us, and the restaurant’s namesake dish, the “Marco Polo” which was a stuffed steak filled with ham and cheese. The wine list also carried many local Croatia wines, including my favorite varietal: the Plavac Mali.

It was a hot night so we also enjoyed the sparkling rose with orange slices in it.
It was a hot night so we also enjoyed the sparkling rose with orange slices in it while dining at Konoba Marco Polo.

What (and Where) to Drink in Korcula

Korcula is known for its fruit distilled liquor called Rakija. You’ll see market booths throughout town selling various flavors of bottles and it makes for a great souvenir (or to drink later that night).

Massimo Cocktail Bar in Korcula
Massimo Cocktail Bar in Korcula

For where to drink, you can’t miss having a cocktail atop Massimo Bar, which is located in Zakerjan Tower and which requires a ladder climb to access. For more information on this unique bar and why it’s such a fun experience, read my Massmio Bar in Korcula review.

Where to Sleep in Korcula

I stayed in the Apartments Lenni and loved it. There are four apartments and ours had a lot of charming character and was comfortable. Best of all, it was located right in the heart of Old Town along Jakova Banicevica street and was a quick jaunt to pretty much everything Korcula Town has to offer. There are a lot of stairs, though, and no elevator, so plan accordingly if you or people you are traveling with have any mobility issues and ask to book the ground floor apartment.

Bonus Korcula Activity

If you happen to be in Korcula when a Moreska Dance performance is going on, put all your other sightseeing plans on hold and watch it. Moreska is a local medieval folk dance put on by the locals a couple times a week during the summer. Check with your hotel or a local Korcula travel agency if a performance will be happening while you’re in town.

 

About Gina

I'm a former travel agency marketing director turned freelance travel writer. My editorial and copywriting work has been published on and in USA TODAY, Travel + Leisure, the Travel Channel Cities app, TripSavvy, and many more online and print publications. I especially love sharing my knowledge of traveling with limited vacation time, making the most of cruise ports of call, and vacationing with kids. I also enjoy sharing my favorite travel gear and products to make traveling easier!

Comments

  1. Gina says

    August 17, 2017 at

    Hi Bernardo, you may want to see if you can arrange for the taxi boat driver to pick you up at a designated time.

  2. Bernardo Baldissera says

    August 16, 2017 at

    Hello!

    How the schedule of taxi boats works? There are boats waiting to return to Korcula too? I’m afraid to get stuck in the island or having to spend more time that necessary.

    You think that will be taxi boats on May?

    Thank you!

  3. Gina says

    April 22, 2017 at

    Glad you found the post helpful, Frank! Korcula is an amazing island and definitely worth a visit during your time in Dalmatia.

  4. Frank says

    April 2, 2017 at

    Useful post. After visiting central Dalmatia a few times we’ve made Split our base in the area for the next year and plan on visiting places we’ve missed the first few times around. Korcula is a place we haven’t been and you’ve given me ideas of what to see in a day (or two).

    Frank (bbqboy)

  5. Paul and Carole says

    September 4, 2016 at

    We visited Korcula for a day on our recent cruise on the Thomson Celebration. It certainly is a beautiful part of the world, and we plan to go back. Thanks for the tip regarding the ferries, didn’t know that.
    Carole

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