A 3-Day Itinerary for Korčula Town

Day 1: Old Town and Revelin Tower

Start at the Land Gate, the 14th-century western entrance to Korčula's old town, and walk the marble streets of the rectangular peninsula. The town is small enough to cover on foot in a morning. Visit the Abbey of St. Mark and climb its bell tower for views over the Pelješac Channel. Entry to the tower is a few euros. Then head to the Revelin Tower at the eastern tip, which houses a collection of stone reliefs and offers a breezy terrace. For lunch, try a konoba inside the walls; expect to pay around 15 to 25 euros for a main dish of fresh fish or pašticada. Afternoon: swim at Banje Beach, a five-minute walk east of the old town, or take a taxi boat to Badija Island, a 10-minute ride for about 5 euros. The island's Franciscan monastery and pebble coves are worth the trip. Return to town for sunset at the riva, then dinner at a restaurant like Adio Mare or Konoba Komin, where a meal for two with wine runs 60 to 80 euros. Book your hotel inside the old town for convenience, though expect higher prices (from 100 euros per night in summer) and some noise.

Day 2: Lumbarda Wine and Beaches

Take a 10-minute taxi (about 10 euros) or the local bus to Lumbarda, a seaside village known for sandy beaches and Grk wine. The bus runs several times a day from Korčula's bus station, but taxis are more flexible. In Lumbarda, rent a bike (15 euros per day) or simply walk to Pržina Beach, a sandy cove with shallow water ideal for families. The beach has a couple of beach bars; a sunbed and umbrella set costs around 15 euros. For wine tasting, visit a family-run winery like Bire or Popić; a tasting of three wines is typically 10 to 15 euros. Grk is a dry white unique to the area, and the sandy soil gives it a distinct minerality. Have lunch at a konoba in the village; fresh seafood and local vegetables for two with wine come to 50 to 70 euros. In the afternoon, hike or drive to the nearby Vela Luka? No, that's further west. Instead, explore the Vela Przina beach and the surrounding vineyards. Return to Korčula Town in the late afternoon. If you're staying in Lumbarda, hotels are limited; most visitors base themselves in Korčula Town and visit as a day trip.

Day 3: Pelješac Peninsula and Oyster Tasting

Rent a car for the day (from 40 euros) and drive across the Pelješac Bridge to the Pelješac peninsula, a 45-minute drive to the town of Ston. Ston is famous for its 14th-century walls, the longest fortified wall system in Europe, and for oyster farming. Walk a section of the walls (entry 10 euros) for views over the salt pans. Then head to Mali Ston for an oyster and mussel tasting at a restaurant like Kapetanova Kuća or Bota Šare; a dozen oysters cost around 15 euros, and a full seafood lunch for two with wine is 70 to 90 euros. After lunch, drive to the vineyards of Dingač and Postup, where you can taste Plavac Mali red wines at wineries like Matuško or Skaramuča (tastings 10 to 20 euros). If you prefer not to drive, join a guided tour from Korčula (from 80 euros per person, including transport and tastings). Return to Korčula by evening. For dinner, try a pizza or pasta at a casual spot like Pizzeria Tedeschi, where a meal for two is 30 to 40 euros. If you have an early ferry the next day, consider staying near the port; otherwise, the old town is charming at night.

Where to Stay and When to Go

Korčula Town has hotels, guesthouses, and private apartments. For a hotel with sea views and easy access to the old town, consider Hotel Korsal or Hotel Liburna; doubles in high season (July-August) range from 150 to 250 euros per night. Budget options like guesthouses start at 70 euros. Book at least three months ahead for summer, as the town fills up. The best months to visit are May, June, and September, when the weather is warm but crowds are thinner and prices lower. July and August are hot (30-35°C) and busy, with many day-trippers from cruise ships. Ferries from Split (2.5 hours) and Dubrovnik (2 hours) run daily; check Krilo or Jadrolinija schedules. If you're arriving by car, note that the Pelješac Bridge has reduced travel time from Dubrovnik to 90 minutes. For a central stay, book a hotel inside the old town, but be aware that parking is limited and expensive (up to 20 euros per day).