Your honeymoon shouldn’t just be a great holiday. It should be an epic trip of a lifetime. After the craziness of planning a wedding, you want the honeymoon to be stress-free and full of awesome memories.
There are lots to consider: how long to go for, the budget and most importantly, where to go. Recently included in Conde-Nast Traveler’s Most Romantic Small Towns in Europe, make sure Korcula is on your honeymoon destination list.
Here’s our checklist for planning the most amazing honeymoon to Korcula.
Why choose to honeymoon on Korcula?
Korcula is a beautiful island that oozes romance. Surrounded by stunning scenery and views, it is conveniently located halfway between Dubrovnik and Split. You can easily fly into the airport in either location and connect to the island. It is not as busy as places such as Dubrovnik & Hvar, retaining an authentic charm. It also offers a great balance of relaxation and fun activities, which makes it a perfect honeymoon destination.
Advance Planning
This isn’t an occasion to “wing it”. Reserving accommodation, booking flights and making transport arrangements in advance will mean you can get the best value, your first choices and avoid any disappointments. It’s a time for some thoughtful planning to ensure everything runs smoothly and to avoid any stressful moments. But also allow room for some “planned” spontaneity. If you have all the big parts of the trip in place, spontaneous moments will likely present themselves.
It’s also important that you both have an input in honeymoon arrangements. You both need to be happy and have a fun time. There may be some compromises to be made, especially if one of you is a beach lover and the other burns within 5 seconds of sun exposure! Compromise though is a key element to any marriage, so best to start yours off right!
Practical Stuff First
Budget
Think about your budget and keep within your means. This will shape your choice in accommodation, the number of paid activities you can do and perhaps at what time of the year you will travel. There are options for every budget on Korcula and many romantic things you can do for free, such as watching the sunset with a bottle of bubbly.
Flights
Booking your flights in advance will save you money. From European destinations, there are many routes and airlines arriving at Split and Dubrovnik. From the UK it is just a 2.5-3 hour direct flight. If you are travelling from outside of Europe you will have to take multiple flights, so choose a good layover option. Also if you’re travelling long-haul, be realistic with how much time you will have to spend on the relaxing part of your honeymoon (i.e. not on a plane). You need plenty of chill-out time.
Passport & Visas
Be sure to check that your passport is still in date and confirm if you need to obtain any Visa to visit Croatia. People travelling from the UK, EU countries, the US, Canada, Australia or New Zealand do not require a visa. You may be in a rush to legally change or use your married surname, but make sure the same surname appears on all your travel documents.
Travel Insurance
Buying travel insurance before you set off is strongly recommended. If you plan to take part in more extreme sports such as scuba diving, make sure you buy the right insurance cover. Also, check if there are any health reciprocates between your home country and Croatia. People travelling from EU countries should apply for an EHIC which will provide them with free or reduced healthcare if required.
It might sound like a good idea when you’re planning your honeymoon to jet off the day after you get married. However it’s probably advisable to give yourself a few days to relax and recover first. It also ensures you aren’t travelling hungover…just in case you drink one too many glasses of champagne!
Accommodation
You have a choice of hotels or private accommodation on Korcula. The perks of staying in a hotel include room service, daily made beds, prepared breakfast and additional amenities such as a spa. There are also benefits of private accommodation such as being less expensive, having extra privacy and flexibility to just chill out at the apartment and many places having terraces with amazing views.
There has been a lot of investment in hotels over the last couple of years so there are some great honeymoon options. At the top, top end is the beautifully renovated Lesic Dimitri Palace with themed suites following the Silk Road. There is also the recently renovated Hotel Fabris situated in a great location, which we’ve only heard positive things about. If you prefer to be out of town, Tara’s Lodge located on the waterfront in the bay of Zrnovska Banja is just 2km from the centre. Travelling even further away from the town, the Aminess Lume in Brna will guarantee you tranquillity and relaxation.
There are plentiful private accommodation possibilities on the island. You just need to decide first in which location to stay. Korcula Town, Lumbarda and Vela Luka are the more popular choices as they are well located, have plenty of restaurants and bars and are coastal. If you have a car or don’t mind travelling, the inland villages such as Smokvica offer unique experiences. The majority of apartments have all the mod-cons including WiFi and Air-Con, have some sort of outdoor space, and have cooking facilities.
Transportation
It is best to fly into Dubrovnik Airport or Split Airport. From both, there are a number of public transport connections to Korcula Island including buses, shuttle services, foot passenger catamarans and car ferries. You can also arrange a private transfer if you would prefer some additional comfort. This works particularly well if travelling from Dubrovnik as you could incorporate a stop at the historical fort town of Ston, taste fresh oysters from Mali Ston or pop into one of the many wineries that line the route to the island.
When to go on your honeymoon on Korcula?
Most people visit Korcula between April and October, mainly because of the weather and what’s available. In April/May & October it can be warm, but there’s a chance of rain. It’s an ideal time for outdoor activities but maybe too cold to swim. These are also the quietest months if you want to avoid crowds and accommodation is cheaper, however, do not expect everything to be open and available.
June are September are our favourite months. The temperature is lovely; not too hot but you can swim. There’s still less people around in the shoulder seasons and most things such as restaurants should be open at this time of year.
July and August are the hottest months and you are guaranteed sunshine, ideal if you’re beach people. It is also the busiest time so expect a few crowds and busy restaurants, but everything is open. Also keep in mind public transport options are fewer outside of the peak season.
Read more about the best times to visit Korcula Island.
Activities
You don’t need to plan every moment for your honeymoon on Korcula. Leave some free time just to see how you feel and go with the flow. You might want to spend a few days just chilling and then schedule a few activities.
Korcula certainly has plenty of relaxing opportunities. Pack up a picnic and take a romantic walk along one of the island’s heavenly secluded beaches such as Bacva Bay. Indulge in a massage at the serene Lesic Dimitri Spa. Climb the Massimo cocktail tower and watch the sunset with your favourite mix in hand. Enjoy a delicious fresh fish dinner right on the water’s edge at More in Lumbarda. Are you feeling chilled out enough yet?
Then, when you’re feeling more energetic to do something, there are lots of ways to keep you entertained on Korcula. Hire a bike and visit Lumbarda village, or join us on a wine tasting tour and scenic cycle ride to the village past vineyards and olive groves. Experience Korcula from the sea and take a self-guided kayaking trip around the Korcula Archipelago, stopping at Badija islet for a bite to eat. Book a scuba diving lesson or a wind-surfing lesson and marvel at the unbelievably clear blue Adriatic Sea.
Eating Out
Korcula Island is well known for its gastronomy. You’ll find many restaurants across the island, both traditional and modern. For a more luxurious setting Filippi and the Michelin Star LD Terrace restaurant serve authentic food with a modern twist. For a more rustic feel, the food at Belin and Maslina cannot be beaten. The idyllically located Aterina in the Old Town is also a superb choice. These are all popular restaurants so if you are visiting in the summer, we would suggest you make a reservation in advance.
Remember, this is also the time to treat yourself. You probably spent several months before the wedding getting into photo-ready shape, so you can afford to indulge a little. That extra ice-cream scoop or afternoon cocktail is encouraged!
Island hopping options
As much as we love Korcula, we do appreciate that travellers often want to experience more of Croatia. Island hopping in south Dalmatia is very popular. Either through an organised boat trip or charted yacht or a DIY option using public transport. Just make sure if you’re planning on island hopping that you make enough time to relax and don’t spend the whole time travelling. The last thing you want is to go home more exhausted!
Read more of our Croatian Island hopping tips.
Korcula Island Guide
Would you like more insider tips and recommendations about Korcula Island? We’ve put together a comprehensive guide packed full of information so that you can plan and enjoy a truly memorable holiday on Korcula. Click here to download your copy.
Are you getting married soon? Are you planning your honeymoon to Korcula?
Further Information
Where to Stay in Korcula Town
Ultimate List of Things to do on Korcula
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