Where to stay in Korčula
The old town keeps the walls, the harbour and the Moreška stage a few steps away; Lumbarda keeps the beach, at the cost of a longer trip back in the evening.
- For a first visit
- The old town
- For the beach
- Lumbarda
- Hostel
- €20–30 for a dorm bed
Korčula doesn't offer a dozen areas to weigh up — the choice is between the old town and Lumbarda, fifteen minutes away by bus. The old town keeps the walls, the harbour and the Moreška stage a few steps away; Lumbarda keeps a sand beach and quiet, at the cost of a ride back whenever something starts in town in the evening.
The old town — the walls and harbour at the door
Sleeping inside or right by the walls means everything is a few minutes' walk away: the cathedral, the harbour, the Moreška stage. The town is small, so the daytime crowd doesn't carry into the evening the way it does in bigger ports — the last catamaran from Split docks before dark, and the streets empty quickly after dinner.
Lumbarda — the beach, at the cost of a longer trip back
Lumbarda sits on the eastern tip of the island, 15 min by Arriva bus from the old town. Vela Pržina beach is sandy and free (free), with the grk vineyards in the same plain. The cost is the ride back if something starts in town in the evening — the last bus doesn't wait on the Moreška.
The price of a bed and the tax
A hostel dorm bed is €20–30. The tourist tax is €1.90 (Apr–Sep), €1.40 otherwise per person per night, and it doesn't show in the price a booking site quotes upfront; it's asked for at the desk. Listings under 'three star' on Korčula are mostly apartments; proper hotels with a front desk are few.
What to check before booking
- Distance is measured from the harbour. A Lumbarda address can sit closer to the beach than to the bus stop, and the 'island centre' means nothing here.
- A booking site's total leaves it out. With so few proper hotels here, it's usually the apartment host who asks for €1.90 (Apr–Sep), €1.40 otherwise per person per night, in cash at check-in.
- Stars mean less here than elsewhere. Check the type of place, apartment or hotel, and only then the rating.
Before you go
Short answers to what people ask most before setting out.
Which is the better choice for a first visit to Korčula?
The old town — the walls, the harbour and the Moreška stage are a few steps away.
Is a three-star hotel on Korčula a proper hotel?
Rarely. Listings under that label are mostly apartments.
How much is the tourist tax on Korčula?
€1.90 (Apr–Sep), €1.40 otherwise per person per night, paid on the spot, not upfront.
Ready for Korčula?
Where to next
What to eat in Korčula
→Octopus peka is ordered a day ahead, žrnovski makaruni are rolled by hand, and black risotto stains…
Hvar · 61 km
→Nightlife at one end, a field divided twenty-four centuries ago at the other
How well does Korčula suit you?
→Six questions: a score for this place and others like it.
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