Last Updated: October 7, 2022
Korcula to Dubrovnik: Car, Bus, Ferry & Private Transfer
Traveling from Korčula to Dubrovnik and not sure what you’re options are? Then you’ve found just the right guide!
We’ve covered all the different ways you can travel from Korčula Island to the city of Dubrovnik. It’s possible by car, boat, bus, and private transfer, and we’ve got details about each option!
So, read on to see what the best and quickest ways of traveling between the island and Dubrovnik are, and figure out what’s the best option for you!
Korčula to Dubrovnik by Car Ferry
Traveling from Korčula Island to Dubrovnik by car ferry is easy and cheap. There’s a car ferry at Dominče, which is about 5 minutes away from Korčula town on the eastern side of the island. There are also car ferries from Vela Luka, but they travel only to Split, so this isn’t a viable option for getting to Dubrovnik.
The ferry operates between the Dominče and Orebić ports, and the journey lasts for just some 15 minutes. Ferry tickets are also very inexpensive, at around 76 Kuna for cars up to 5 meters, and some 16 Kunas for foot passengers. Also, those are the prices for travel during peak season and they are even cheaper in the off-season.
This is one of the more popular routes for accessing Korčula Island, so it’s a good idea to arrive at the port at least 30-45 minutes earlier. It’s common for there to be long queues on the road and if you don’t arrive there early enough, you might not be able to buy a ticket for the ferry.
Tickets can be purchased at the Jadrolinija kiosks, which are right next to the port. You can’t miss the kiosk – just follow the other people who are getting out of their cars and heading towards the port, if you’re having trouble locating the kiosk.
Orebić is a port town on the southwest of the Pelješac peninsula. After you get off the ferry, you need to drive from Orebić to Dubrovnik. This takes approximately two hours, depending on traffic conditions. It’s worth noting that heavy traffic, roadworks, and traffic congestions are pretty common on this route, so don’t be surprised if the journey takes even longer than that.
Another thing to note is that the journey through the Pelješac peninsula is incredibly scenic. You will get a glimpse of some of the peninsula’s prettiest towns, such as Orebić and Trstenik, and you can always take a quick detour to explore the popular towns on the peninsula.
It is worth noting that Pelješac roads are narrow and winding, and there are only two places on the island where the road is straight and there’s enough visibility to overtake slower cars. It takes a little under an hour to drive through the peninsula, and after that, you just head south to Dubrovnik.
I have to mention that it is also possible to travel by ferry from Trpanj to Ploče, but I would not recommend this to anyone. Although it means you don’t have to drive on the curvy roads of the peninsula, it’s just going to make your journey to Dubrovnik a lot longer and more expensive.
Also, the Korčula to Dubrovnik route via the Trpanj ferry includes a border crossing through Bosnia and Herzegovina, which can take forever in the peak season due to long queues. So, if you’re trying to travel quickly and efficiently, the best option by far is to just drive through the peninsula.
Korčula to Dubrovnik by Ferry
Traveling from Korčula Island to Dubrovnik by passenger ferry is quick, easy, and affordable. There are multiple fast ferries and catamarans that service this route both during peak season and in the off-season, and the ticket prices range between 90 to 150 Kunas.
The thing to keep in mind is that all the boat transfers to Dubrovnik depart from Korčula town. So, if you’re staying somewhere else on the island, you will need to get on a bus to reach Korčula town.
Passenger ferries are the fastest way of traveling between Korčula and Dubrovnik. The fastest ferry takes an hour and 45 minutes, which is much faster than even travel by car. This is also the cheapest way of traveling since fast ferry tickets can be cheaper than both car ferry tickets and the bus.
Ferries between Korčula and Dubrovnik operate year-round, but there are more departures per day in the high season. Peak tourist season sees six boat transfers per day, while the off-season sees just one ferry transfer per day.
It’s not specified where in Dubrovnik the boats dock, but it’s safe to assume that they arrive at the main ferry port, which is near the bus station. It’s in the northern part of the city, and it’s at least 30-40 minutes away from Dubrovnik’s old town on foot. You can get a cab ride into town though, so it should be pretty easy to reach your accommodation.
In case you are trying to reach the Dubrovnik airport, it’s worth noting that there is a shuttle service from the town’s main bus station, which is just minutes away from the ferry port.
Korčula to Dubrovnik by Bus
It is possible to travel from Korčula Island to Dubrovnik by bus. The bus takes pretty much the same route as you would if you were to drive, meaning that it travels to Dominče, takes the ferry to Orebić, and then just travels through the Pelješac peninsula and all the way to Dubrovnik.
Bus ticket prices are around 100-120 Kunas, depending on where exactly on the island you board the bus. It departs from Vela Luka and picks up passengers throughout the island, so you should be able to catch the bus no matter which town on Korčula Island you’re staying in.
The bus arrives at the main Dubrovnik bus station in about 3 hours, so it is a bit slower than driving on your own, but not too much slower. The bus station is not really within walking distance of Dubrovnik Old Town – it’s about 45 minutes away on foot and there’s no public transport into town, so your best bet is to get a cab ride to your accommodation in Dubrovnik.
In the off-season, there’s one bus in the morning and one in the afternoon. The departure time for the earlier bus is 6:45 AM, while the later bus departs Korčula at 2:45 PM. It’s important to mention that this is the timetable for the winter season, and there’s currently no available information for bus frequency and timetables in the high season.
This is a bit of a downside since you can’t really plan the trip too much in advance. However, you shouldn’t have any issues finding a seat on the bus. If anything, they are more frequent during peak tourist season.
Additionally, you should know that this bus station offers a shuttle service to the Dubrovnik airport. In case you’re trying to reach the airport, bus travel is the most convenient way to go.
Also, it’s worth noting that the bus ride is quite scenic as well. While you’re riding through the Pelješac peninsula, you’ll experience quite a few panoramic views of the Adriatic Sea and some of the peninsula’s prettiest towns.
You’ll also pass near the Ston Walls, which are one of the oldest constructions in this part of Croatia.
Korčula to Dubrovnik by Private Transfer
It is possible to arrange private transfer by sea and land from Korčula to Dubrovnik. However, there’s a lack of readily available information about these private transfers.
Most companies will offer information about prices and transfer time upon request, so if you want to travel privately, you will need to contact one of the agencies to get all the info you need.
AdriaticGlobal is one of the best agencies to contact since they offer land, sea, and air transfers to and from Dubrovnik. You can also check out TaxiServiceDubrovnik and Supertransfers-Austria since they’re the most popular options for private transfers between these two Croatian towns.
There’s no information about the cost of these private transfers and I can only assume that they are not at all cheap. Boat transfers will be more expensive than car transfers since they’re usually done with bigger boats that can accommodate larger groups.
Choose a land transfer if you’re looking for the cheaper option, and go for a boat transfer if you’re traveling with a large group of people and you just need the transfer to be very quick.
I have to point out that private transfers are an option if you’re looking to spend as much money as you can. There are many other ways of traveling from Korčula to Dubrovnik, and they start at 90 Kunas per passenger, which is very affordable.
Unless you’re specifically looking for luxury transport and you’ve got money to waste, traveling by ferry, bus, or rental car is the cheaper and more efficient option.
Another thing worth noting here is that you can rent a boat and travel from Korčula to Dubrovnik on your own.
It’s possible to rent boats with and without experienced skippers, so in case you or someone in your group already has skipper experience, you could do the trip entirely on your own.
Boats available for rent range from small speedboats to spacious sailboats and yachts – the options are endless and what you can rent depends only on your budget.
About the Author Anna Timbrook
Anna is the co-owner of expert world travel and can't wait to share her travel experience with the world. With over 54 countries under her belt she has a lot to write about! Including those insane encounters with black bears in Canada.
