Dubrovnik-Neretva County · Croatia
Korčula
Korčula has three ferry ports and the two that matter sit at opposite ends of a 47 km island. Korčula Town puts you a few minutes from the walled Old Town; Vela Luka is 35 km west. Which one your sailing uses — and whether you have a car, because no vehicle ferry reaches Korčula Town at all — decides more about the day than the crossing time does.
Getting to Korčula by ferry
Direct crossings serving Korčula — open one for its full timetable.
Three ports on one island, 35 km apart
Korčula is long and thin, and the ferries do not all land in the same place:
- Korčula Town — the eastern end and the main passenger port. The berth is a few minutes' walk from the walled Old Town, with ticket offices, cafés and ATMs at the quay.
- Vela Luka — the western tip, roughly 35 km away by road. A real town with supermarkets, car hire and island bus connections, but not where you want to arrive if your hotel is in Korčula Town.
- Prigradica — a smaller call on the north coast, used by selected sailings.
The distinction matters more here than on most Croatian islands, because the two main ports sit at opposite ends of a 47 km island.
From Split: two ports, two different journeys
Our timetable lists both, and they are not interchangeable:
- Split to Korčula Town — 3 sailings, about 2 hours, run by Krilo, departures between 08:00 and 17:00.
- Split to Vela Luka — 3 sailings, about 2 h 45 m, Jadrolinija and TP Line, 09:00 to 17:00.
Elsewhere the Split crossings are quoted between 2 h 20 m and 3 h 40 m depending on vessel and stops, with fares starting around €8. Up to nine daily crossings run in peak season across all operators and ports.
⚠ With a car, you cannot reach Korčula Town directly
This is the trap. The only car ferry from Split goes to Vela Luka — there is no vehicle service into Korčula Town. To bring a car to the Old Town end you drive down the Pelješac peninsula to Orebić and take the short crossing to Domince, just outside Korčula Town.
That is a long drive but a short ferry, and it is usually faster than landing at Vela Luka and driving the length of the island.
From Dubrovnik: two hours, but seasonal
Dubrovnik to Korčula shows 3 sailings at about 2 hours, departing Gruž between 08:00 and 15:30, worked by Krilo and TP Line. These run in the warmer months — broadly April to October — and land directly at Korčula Town.
Some routings call at Mljet on the way, which lengthens the crossing; check the stop pattern for your date rather than assuming a direct run.
Buying TP Line tickets is harder than it should be
Standard advice is to book online in peak season. That works for Krilo and Jadrolinija. It is worth knowing that TP Line's own website is not currently reachable — the domain resolves and the server accepts a connection, then returns nothing.
Since TP Line covers the Vela Luka sailings and part of the Dubrovnik service, that leaves agencies, resellers or the kiosk at the pier. In July and August, plan for it rather than discovering it at the quay.
The island link most guides miss: Mljet in 35 minutes
Korčula to Pomena runs twice a day at about 35 minutes with Krilo — landing at the western end of Mljet, beside the national park lakes.
Almost every Korčula guide sends you back to Dubrovnik or Split to reach Mljet. This crossing turns the two islands into a pair you can do in sequence, and Pomena is the park end rather than the Sobra ferry port an hour's drive away.
Korčula as a link in the coastal chain
Put the sailings together and Korčula stops being a detour:
- Hvar to Korčula — 70 minutes, 3 sailings, Jadrolinija and Krilo.
- Korčula to Mljet (Pomena) — 35 minutes.
- Korčula to Dubrovnik or Split — about 2 hours either way.
Dubrovnik → Korčula → Hvar → Split works as a one-way route with no backtracking, and Korčula is the natural middle night.
Season, wind and getting around
The catamaran network runs roughly April to October and thins sharply outside it; in winter the island falls back to the Jadrolinija services, including the Orebić car ferry, which run year-round on a reduced timetable.
Fast craft suspend in the bura before the conventional ferries do — if a flight depends on your crossing, the car ferry via Orebić is the more dependable link.
On the island, buses connect Vela Luka, Blato and Korčula Town but not frequently. If you land at Vela Luka without a car, check the bus times before the boat rather than after.
Korčulaferry & travel FAQ
Which port should I arrive at on Korčula?
Korčula Town if you are staying in or near the Old Town — the berth is a few minutes' walk from the walls. Vela Luka is at the opposite, western end of the island, roughly 35 km away by road, so only choose it if your sailing requires it or you are heading west.
How long is the ferry from Split to Korčula?
About 2 hours to Korčula Town with Krilo, and around 2 h 45 m to Vela Luka with Jadrolinija or TP Line. Across all operators the quoted range is 2 h 20 m to 3 h 40 m depending on vessel and stops, with fares from roughly €8.
Can I take a car to Korčula Town?
Not directly from Split — the only car ferry from Split goes to Vela Luka. For Korčula Town you drive down the Pelješac peninsula to Orebić and take the short car ferry to Domince, just outside the town.
How long is the ferry from Dubrovnik to Korčula?
About 2 hours, with three sailings departing Gruž between 08:00 and 15:30, run by Krilo and TP Line. Some routings call at Mljet on the way and take longer, so check the stop pattern for your date.
Is there a ferry from Korčula to Mljet?
Yes — Korčula to Pomena runs twice a day at about 35 minutes with Krilo, landing at the national park end of Mljet. Most guides route you back via Dubrovnik or Split, but this direct link makes the two islands workable in sequence.
Can I get from Korčula to Hvar?
Yes, about 70 minutes with three sailings a day in season, operated by Jadrolinija and Krilo. Korčula sits neatly in the middle of a Dubrovnik–Korčula–Hvar–Split chain that avoids backtracking.
Where do I buy tickets?
Krilo and Jadrolinija sell online, and booking ahead is sensible in July and August. TP Line's own website is currently unreachable, so for those sailings — including Vela Luka and part of the Dubrovnik service — use an agency, a reseller or the kiosk at the pier.
Do the ferries run in winter?
The fast catamarans are broadly April to October. Outside that the island relies on the year-round Jadrolinija services, including the Orebić–Domince car ferry, on a reduced timetable.
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Reviewed by Serhat Özçelik, Founder & Editor of Ferry Schedule Hub · Last updated August 8, 2026.