Vela Luka travel guide

Background

Built around a west-facing bay and backed by gently sloping hills, Vela Luka is often referred to as the ‘oldest and youngest town on Korčula’: the oldest because of prehistoric finds discovered in a nearby cave; the youngest because it only really developed from the 19th century onwards. And while Korčula Town has a somewhat aristocratic past, Dalmatians consider Vela Luka a ‘town of fishermen and peasants’. During the 20th century, a couple of small factories opened up here: Jadranka sardine canning factory and Greben shipyard, both of which are still functioning. The people of Vela Luka are renowned for their fine voices, and the town has a number of klapa singing groups. In the 1960s, the Kalos health resort opened in Kale cove, on the north side of the bay, promoting the use of marine mud (called liman) for the treatment of rheumatic diseases. Vela Luka’s final oddity is its system of marking streets. They are not named, but numbered: Ulica 1, Ulica 2, just like in New York, as locals point out wryly.

Bus

Buses from Vela Luka to Korčula Town coincide with boat services. In addition, Mon-Fri, there are 5 buses daily to Korčula Town, passing through Blato, Cara and Smokvice en route (1½ hrs).

Ferry

Jadrolinija, T020-812015, operates a once- daily catamaran service, running from Split to Ubli on the island of Lastovo, stopping at Vela Luka en route. It departs from Split for Lastovo in the early afternoon, then passes Vela Luka again on the return journey early the following morning (1¾ hrs). The same company also runs a daily ferry service covering the same route, departing Split mid-afternoon (2 hrs 40 mins).