Port of Korčula cruise port guide

Port of Korčula — Korčula, Croatia.

Korčula is a walled medieval town on a small peninsula on the island of Korčula in southern Dalmatia, built on a herringbone street plan that looks from above like a fish skeleton. The old town is compact and almost entirely pedestrian, with St Mark's Cathedral at its highest point, stone towers around the edge and sea on three sides. Visitors come for the old-town walk, the Marco Polo associations, and the local white wines from Lumbarda, Čara and Smokvica. P&O's Arcadia calls on a Sunday in October 2027, which affects what is open.

Getting ashore

Where do cruise ships dock in Korčula?

Larger ships anchor off Korčula and bring passengers in by tender, while smaller ships can dock in the town port, so expect Arcadia to tender and follow P&O's instructions on the day. Tenders land in the town harbour, within easy walking distance of the old town and its sights. The Visitors Information Centre is on the seafront on Obala Dr. Franje Tuđmana. The harbour is small and can be busy with ferries and tour boats.

Getting around

Everything in the old town is on foot, and it is a pedestrian-only area. Its alleys are stone and stepped almost everywhere, so wear flat, comfortable shoes. To go further, Korculainfo points to local taxis, which also offer trips around the island; Lumbarda, with its vineyards and sandy beaches, is about 4 to 6 km east of the old town. Tender time and the all-aboard time make longer trips tight, so keep any excursion short.

Don't miss

• Old Town walk — The old town was laid out in a herringbone pattern, most likely in the 13th or early 14th century, with one spine street and side streets angled off it. Walk up the spine to St Mark's Square at the top and loop back through the side streets and along the walls. Allow 1 to 2 hours.
• St Mark's Cathedral — The Gothic-Renaissance cathedral on St Mark's Square, at the highest point of the old town. It is a working church, and outside high summer opening can be limited to around Mass times; Sunday Mass is listed at 10:00 and 18:30 outside summer, so on a Sunday in October the interior may only be open around those times. The bell tower climb is by narrow stone steps and a ladder, so check at the door whether it is open. Allow 30 to 45 minutes.
• Korčula Town Museum and Marco Polo Center — The Town Museum in the Gabrielis Palace (Trg sv. Marka 1) covers the island's history, and its Marco Polo Center and Land Gate Tower belong to the same museum. Its website lists Monday to Friday 10:00 to 19:00, Saturday 10:00 to 15:00 and Sunday closed except for groups by appointment, so it is not open on a Sunday call.
• Lumbarda and its wineries — A village about 4 to 6 km east of the old town, known for sandy beaches and Grk, a white wine grown almost only in its sandy vineyards. Wineries here and in Čara and Smokvica, home of Pošip, offer tastings, but check before you go whether one is open on a Sunday in October. Allow 2 to 3 hours with a taxi.
• The seafront promenade — Šetalište Petra Kanavelića runs along the eastern edge of the old town beside the sea, under pine trees, with views across the Pelješac Channel. It is an easy walk and a good way to see the walls from outside. Allow 20 to 30 minutes.

Planning your day

On a Sunday call, start with the old-town walk up to St Mark's Square, and look into the cathedral if it is open around Mass time. Walk the promenade for views across the channel, then have lunch at Amfora or another old-town spot open at midday. For a longer outing, take a taxi to Lumbarda for the village and a tasting if a winery is open, and return to the harbour in good time for the tender.

Food & drink

Korčula's table is Dalmatian, built on fish, handmade pasta and local wines. The island's tourist board names Žrnovski makaruni (handmade pasta), pašticada (slow-cooked marinated beef) and brodet (fish stew) among its signature dishes, and Pošip and Grk are the local white wines. On a Sunday in October some old-town restaurants open only in the evening, so check hours before you settle on lunch.

Where to eat

• Amfora Buffet-Pizzeria — A casual spot near the old town's main land gate with pasta and pizza. Google lists it open daily from 10:00 to midnight, which makes it a reliable option for a Sunday lunch, though Time Out describes it as seasonal (April to October), so check it is still open in mid-October. It is a simple place and has no website.
• Konoba Adio Mare — A family-run konoba open since 1974, built around a wood-charcoal grill. Dinner only at weekends (Saturday and Sunday from 17:00; Monday to Friday from 12:00), so it suits a call with an evening departure; reservations advised.
• Restaurant Filippi — A seafront restaurant on the promenade under the pines, listed in the Michelin Guide, with tasting and à la carte menus of Mediterranean and regional dishes. Open from 17:00 on Sundays (from 12:00 on other days), so it suits a late departure only.

Must try

• Žrnovski makaruni — Handmade pasta from the village of Žrnovo, served with a rich meat or fish sauce, per the Korčula tourist board.
• Pašticada — A slow-cooked marinated meat dish in an aromatic sauce, often served with homemade gnocchi.
• Brodet — A Dalmatian fish stew; the tourist board also lists octopus prepared in various ways and fresh oysters.
• Pošip and Grk wines — Pošip is the white wine of the island's central villages, such as Čara and Smokvica, and Grk is the white grown almost only in Lumbarda's sandy vineyards. The tourist board recommends both with fish and seafood.

Know before you go

• 🗣️Language — Croatian is the local language. English is widely used in the old town's restaurants and shops.
• 📋Documents — Carry your passport or photo ID as P&O instructs; entry rules depend on nationality. Croatia is in the Schengen area and the EU and uses the euro.
• 🛍️Shopping & hours — Sunday is the quietest day: the Town Museum is closed, and some shops and restaurants keep shorter hours. Local wines from Lumbarda, Smokvica and Čara and traditional sweets such as cukarini and hrustule make easy gifts. Croatia uses the euro.
• 🌤️Weather — October averages about 20°C (68°F) by day and 12°C (54°F) at night, with around 104 mm of rain over 11 days in the month and a sea temperature of about 21°C (70°F) (weather2travel long-term averages). Bring a light waterproof.
• 📶Connectivity — Mobile coverage is generally good in the town. Croatia is in the EU, so UK and other non-EU travellers should check their roaming plan before they travel.
• ♿Accessibility — Ships usually tender here, which can be difficult for wheelchair users, so ask P&O about tender access. The old town's alleys are stepped almost everywhere; the seafront promenades around the walls are the easiest routes.
• ⏱️Getting back — Allow extra time for the tender queue and be back at the tender pier well before the last tender. If you leave town for Lumbarda or a vineyard, leave at least an hour spare.

Sources: https://www.korculainfo.com/port/; https://www.cruisetimetables.com/cruises-to-korcula-croatia.html; https://korcula.net/korcula-port/; https://korcula.net/korcula-old-town/; https://korcula.net/lumbarda/; https://gradskimuzej-korcula.hr/en; https://visitkorcula.eu/en/gastronomy/; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Po%C5%A1ip; https://sveta-misa.org/crkve/katedrala-svetog-marka/408; https://www.timeout.com/croatia/attractions/st-marks-cathedral; https://www.weather2travel.com/october/croatia/korcula.php; https://www.konobaadiomare.hr/; https://www.restaurantfilippi.com/; https://guide.michelin.com/en/dubrovnik-neretva/korcula/restaurant/filippi; https://www.timeout.com/croatia/restaurants/buffet-pizzeria-amfora