The largest of the islets off Korčula, covered in pine and cypress and ringed by a footpath that circles the whole island in under an hour. At its heart stands a 14th-century Franciscan monastery with a Gothic cloister, still the island's landmark. Deer roam freely through the woods and often wander down to the paths to meet visitors. There are no cars and no village — just shaded trails, smooth rocky beaches with exceptionally clear water, and a small restaurant by the jetty.

Vrnik — a car-free stone village of a few dozen houses, an ancient limestone quarry whose stone built cathedrals across the Adriatic, and clear water off the rocks. Peaceful, authentic, and unhurried.

Lumbarda A village at the eastern tip of Korčula island, set among vineyards that produce Grk, a white wine grown almost nowhere else in the world. It's the one place on the island with real sandy beaches — Pržina and Bilin Žal — both shallow, warm and easy for children. Around them you'll find beach bars, konobas serving fresh fish, and small family wineries where you can taste Grk straight from the cellar. Livelier than the surrounding islets, but still a quiet, low-key place to spend an afternoon.