10 Reasons You Need to Visit Korçula, Croatia.

Reflecting on all of our adventures in Croatia, this is the post I feel the most excited to tell you about. We whole heartedly fell in love with Korçula. If we could do it all again (I'm certain Jamey would agree), we would extend our stay on the island as it was (hands down) our favourite part of the trip.

We were initially a tad regretful of our travel decision when our catamaran docked in the small walled town of Korcula and a DJ blasting house music proceeded to serenade us down the gang plank. With our heads down, and our eyes on the prize, we quickly hopped in a local taxi, and headed for Lumbarda. As our driver welcomed us to the island, and gave us a quick run down of the sights, we began to feel more confident in our decision. Lumbarda had the sleepy fishing village feel we were looking for, and we knew we'd achieved our goal and escaped the overly beaten path. I hope this post helps you understand a few of the reasons we fell in love with this spot.

Without further adieu, here are the Top 10 reasons you must put the island of Korçula on your travel list:

1) LUMBARDA: As mentioned above, this sleepy little fishing village of about 1200 inhabitants had our hearts from the second we set eyes on it. It is only about 5km from the town of Korcula, an easy taxi from the catamaran.

2) WINERIES: Unlike the rest of Dalmatia, the island of Korçula is known for it's white wine production, in particular Grk (a grape indigenous to Lumbarda that you won't find anywhere else in the world) and Posip varieties which have been grown on the island for centuries. There were two wineries that offered tastings within a five minute stroll from our airbnb. If you'd like more information on the wineries follow this link: WINES FROM KORCULA ISLAND

Twisting and turning along residential side streets, we stumbled on the vista below.

3) The Lumbarda Fish Market: Every Friday evening in the town center, at 7pm. Locals gather to sell the latest catch, and delicious home cooked delicacies. 

4) Lumbarda's Beaches: Two great sandy beaches within walking distance (most of Croatia's beaches have small stones). Vela Pržina and Lumbarda Beach

5) The small village appeal: You will not find cruise ship passengers, or stands offering tourist activities in this small harbour. Lumbarda felt like we'd finally found a small piece of a more authentic Croatia. The people in the village were warm and welcoming, and the town felt more like a little piece of paradise. Lumbarda still fuels off tourism in it's summer months, but we got the sense that there were a lot of Croatian families on holiday, and fewer foreigners.  Locals greeted us with welcome smiles, a far constrast from the tone in Dubrovnik.

6) Biking: The entire island is accessible by bike. We intended to rent some bikes and go exploring, but simply ran out of time. After speaking with a number of people, we were told it's an excellent way to see the island. The hotel in the harbour has bikes available for rental.

7) Our airbnb:  There. The real secret is out. This was our airbnb, and it was absolutely wonderful. Sanja and her daughter Marijeta run the bookings. They have two apartments on the top floor of their house, each with their own entrance. Both apartments sleep three and are mirror images of each other. They have a lovely balcony overlooking Lumbarda and the harbour. We had our breakfast on the balcony each morning, and wine overlooking the town in the evenings. Sanja brought us freshly caught fish, homemade wine, and baked goods. The apartment is an easy walk into the center of town, and close to the beaches, wineries, and restaurants. We will be back, as this was a very special part of our stay on Korçula.

8) Farm to Table: We had two fabulous dining experiences, that both highlighted the wonderful local ingredients the island has to offer. One (Zure) was in walking distance of our airbnb, and the other was located in the nearby farming town of Pupnat (Konoba Mate). Both were family owned and operated with menus changing regularly. 

 9) Marco Polo: The Croatians believe that Marco Polo was born on the island of Korçula, in the town of Korçula. When visiting Korçula, you can walk through the Marco Polo museum, and his family home, and read about the naval battle that took place off the coast of Korçula when Marco Polo was taken prisoner.

10) Korçula (the town): If you're staying in Lumbarda, the town of Korçula makes for an excellent half day excursion. There are many restaurants and shops to poke around in, and the town itself is full of narrow streets and excellent photo opportunities.

Hopefully this little post was enough to convince you, but if you won't take my word for it, have a little read HERE.