I arrived with friends for 2 nights and ended up staying for a total of 8 nights. It’s a place that you can go with friends for a short trip or take your time and fully relax and embrace “vacation mode”.

The island has a lot to offer, from wineries, beaches, coves, kayaking, and somehow it doesn’t get old. Every space feels a little different, clear water, quiet corners, no sense that you're fighting for space. The island isn’t a party place and attracts a lot of older tourist groups. There are only a few hostels on the island and many Airbnbs.

I came with friends and based ourselves near the Old Town, stone streets, boats bobbing in the harbor, dinner outside every night. Then, once they left, I stuck around on my own for a while to work. Turns out Korcula is just as good solo as it is with company — maybe better, once you've got the rhythm of the place down.

If you're looking for an island that doesn't try too hard, this is it.

I ended up staying by myself, extending my hostel booking every single day. I'd wake up and still feel like there was more to see, more to do, more to relax into. The island was gravitating in a way that made it hard to leave. I wasn't the only one too, I met others at the hostel who felt the same pull and kept extending right alongside me.

One morning I motor scootered to one of the popular beaches early to beat the crowds. I went looking for coffee at a nearby cafe, but they weren't open yet. When I asked anyway, the woman working there told me I had to look elsewhere. After some time she saw me walking along the beach she waved me to come back over. She told me at first she was going to stick to the rules, they weren't open, so no coffee, but then she saw me walking around and realized she had her own coffee to offer me. She has been in my position before, just someone looking for coffee in the early morning and that we are all just humans.

She told me she'd noticed me on the beach that morning, alone, and could see how content and at peace I looked. Being present in beauty like that, she said, is beautiful in itself, the flow state I've always been chasing. She reminded me that compassion doesn't need a playbook, that you don't always have to follow the rules of what you're "supposed" to do.

Riding my scooter back afterward, I felt completely in the moment and still in my energy from the beach. Kids along the road waved at me as I passed, like they could sense whatever energy I was carrying.

This is the energy Korcula offers.

MINI GUIDE/FAQs

How many days should I stay? Most people stay 2 nights to hit the highlights, but stay longer to enjoy everything Korcula has to offer

What is the weather like? It was hot but didn’t feel as bad as Dubrovnik because of the wind and water

How do I get around? I used almost every form on transportation - rented a bike (20 euros/day), a motor scooter (45 euros/day), the Arriva bus (8 euros), the taxi boats (20 euros/day pass) and also we hired a driver for the wineries. There isn’t uber available on the island and therefore if you used taxis you will need to WhatsApp message them

How safe are the roads? Very safe but with a 50cc scooter it took me alot longer to get back from the south side of the island to Korcula town

What currency do they use? Euros

Do I need to plan in advance? No, you can easily hop on a ferry over and bus and or rent a car/motorscooter/bike

How’s the wifi? Good! Not much of a digital nomad presence but everywhere had service and wifi

WHAT I WISH I KNEW BEFOREHAND OR SURPRISED ME

Watershoes in Croatia is kinda a must, my friend cut her foot and almost all the beaches are rocky with sea urchins
Get cash! Alot of places are cash only!
The food isn’t the best, it’s not bad but it’s not mind-blowing unfortunately
It was overall more expensive than I remember it being in 2021 when I went to Croatia

**Hostel Korcula**

If you want to be in the heart of Old Town Korčula and don't mind a simple, slightly warm dorm setup, this is a great value pick.

A Solid, No-Frills Base in the Old Town

If location is your top priority, Hostel Korčula is hard to beat. It's right inside the Old Town, while there is one other hostel but it’s further away. Honestly, the location makes up for most of what the hostel lacks elsewhere.

Tip: Pay in cash directly with the hostel (10% off)

The space: Pretty bare bones, but clean. There's two-6 bedroom dorms and one-8 bedroom dorm with a small kitchen and two bathrooms (one with a shower and toilet and the other female bathroom with 2 showers and a toilet). I stayed in a 6-bed dorm, and it ran hot despite having A/C. The beds also don't have privacy curtains.

Wifi: Worked well throughout my stay, no complaints there.

Vibe: Not a party hostel, but social enough if you want to meet people. It's a small property with a limited number of rooms, so it stays pretty low-key.

Getting Here & Transportation

Ferry from Hvar, Split, or Dubrovnik to Korcula

Bike: 20 Euros/Day

50 cc motorscooter: 45 Euros/Day

Taxi Boat: 20 Euros/Day for hop on and off ticket

There aren’t Ubers on the island and the taxis are quite expensive, I paid 15 euros to go maybe a mile from the port when getting off the ferry

THINGS TO DO

Beach day on nearby Islands

Spend one day doing…

Proizd was my favorite but requires taking a bus to Vela Luka and then a 30 minute ferry to the island of Proizd. Vela Luka isn’t that interesting of a town so I wouldn’t prioritize spending time there before going to Proizd. Note I would plan on bringing your own food as there is only one restaurant and it’s not the best. The best blog that describes Proizd is this one.

Badija and Vrnik - there is a taxi boat that runs every thirty minutes and connects Badija, Vrnik, Lumbarda, and Port 9. Note I would plan on bringing your own food as there is only one restaurant and it’s not the best.

Zitna, Pupnatska Luka Beach, Bacva Beach - these are the most popular beaches in the south and you should arrive early to avoid the crowds

Vela Przina Beach - go the left side where Lucica restaurant is and the water is much nicer, there is also a restaurant Amore_Lumbarda and I spent the day here working and jumping in the water, there isn’t wifi so I had to hotspot from my phone. We also went to Winery Sabulum and then walked down to the beach, but I preferred the other winery we went to. It’s easy to reach this beach from the old town and therefore it’s more crowded.

Vaja Bay and Racisce area - If you prefer more remote beaches then Vaja Bay is for you! You do have to walk down a bit but there aren’t many people who go to this beach and on your way you can explore Racisce and make sure to eat at Konoba Vala

Beaches Near Old Town

Beach Bar Peyton and Aminess Port 9 Hotel
- The hotel has a pool that overlooks the water and it’s free to enter
- Beach Bar Peyton is low-key and lovely, there aren’t many beach chairs available to rent but the food is cheap and the scenery lovely
Beach Isopod Divan and Plaza Medvinjak - walk down on this side of the Old Town, it’s easy to miss and there is another cove area that is just gorgeous if you keep going down west (near Beach Bar Samica)

If you are short on time, I would skip these beaches but you could combine going to this area when you go to Lumbarda and Vela Przina Beach:

Beach Prvi Zal, there’s a nice cafe in front
Tatinja Sandy Beach
Bilin Zal Beach

I would personally skip

La Banya, it’s touristy and the beach there isn’t that pretty, it is a popular day club because it has beach chairs but there are better areas for swimming

Walk around the Old Town

There are many restaurants, cafes, ice cream shops, the Marco Polo museum, etc. to see around the old town.

There is alot to walk around outside of the Old Town as well such as Korcula Viewpoint, down the street near Modro Coffee Shop, and down near beach ispod

Visit the wineries

I recommend just going to one winery as they give you so much for the tasting going to multiple of them was too much.

Take a bike ride

I recommend taking a bike ride along the coast. There is something unique about passing by all the wineries with fields of grapes and the ocean at the same time. If I were to do it again, I wish I had just biked to one of the wineries and tried the famous local wine Grk.

Other activities

Boat ride (do this if you have a group but I wouldn’t do one of the group tours), kayaking, etc.

What Town Should I Stay In?

I would stay in near the Old Town. It is easy to get to the other towns and the Old Town is right near the Port

RECOMMENDED HOTELS

Coming Soon

WHAT I WOULD SKIP

La Banya Beach Club is popular but there are so many other better areas to go to. If you really want beach chairs though, this may be the only place.

Recommended Cafes & Restaurants

Cakulona

There are only 4 tables on the alleyway outside and it’s a family restaurant with a very small menu. This was the best meal that I’ve had in Korcula! It was extremely fresh and note that it is cash only!