Orebic is located towards the northern tip of the Peljesac Peninsula, opposite the island of Korcula. Once upon a time, the town was very well known for its maritime industry, which reached a peak in the mid-19th century under the Austro-Hungarian Empire. These days, it is probably the best-known resort on the Peljesac Peninsula. It is home to some lovely beaches, including that rarity in Croatia – sandy beaches! (Check out Trstenica Beach in particular.) The area is also a suitable location for a range of activities, including surfing and diving.
Getting to Orebic
Orebic can be reached by bus from Dubrovnik, and there are a few buses a day with a journey time of around 2 hours 30 or 45 minutes. You can look up schedules on either the Dubrovnik Bus Terminal website or on the Arriva website, where you can buy tickets online.
If you’ve got your own set of wheels and are travelling to Orebic from the north, it would make most sense to catch the Ploce – Trpanj Jadrolinija ferry to get onto the Peninsula, and then drive down to Orebic. Alternatively, you could drive further down the coastline to the Peljesac Bridge and then drive up the Peninsula.
There is a Korcula Town – Orebic car ferry that sails multiple times a day, year-round. Run by Jadrolinija, the journey time is only 20 minutes.
Sightseeing in Orebic
The Maritime Museum contains objects that tell the history of the maritime industry, once so important to the area.
The Franciscan Monastery of Our Lady of Angels, from the 15th century, sits on a hill outside the town. Sailors of times gone by would sound their sirens on returning to the area and viewing the monastery as a sign of gratitude. The Monastery still houses the icon Our Lady of Angels, which was claimed to protect sea captains.
Sveti Ilija (St Elijah) Mountain (961m high) above the town can be climbed for fantastic views over the Peljesac Peninsula and the Adriatic Sea. It’s a relatively demanding hike, however, so do only undertake it with necessary precautions and provisions. (Not to mention, good footwear!)
Beaches
One of the best and most popular beaches in town is the aforementioned Trstenica Beach. On the eastern side, this is a reasonably sized beach with some great facilities…and yes, it’s a sandy beach! You can find showers and changing cubicles here, adventure boats for rent (paddle boats, banana boats), and there’s an inflatable aqua park for kids, young and old.
Mokalo Beach is slightly further east outside of the main part of town. A pebble beach, this is another popular location for families and sunseekers, with the beach is surrounded by pine trees offering shade from the hot sun. There are showers here, a cafe and a restaurant for refreshments.
Activities
This part of the Peljesac Peninsula offers plenty of opportunities for watersports, including windsurfing! A few windsurfing schools are located nearby, through which you can learn this sport, or hire equipment if you’re something of a pro.
The Peljesac Outdoor website offers detailed trails for walking, hiking or cycling on this part of the Peninsula and beyond. (Depending on how adventurous and active you are.)
Wineries
Peljesac is certainly “wine country” in Croatia, so visiting a local winery or two must be part of your holiday – if you’re a wine drinker, that is. There are several wineries all over the peninsula – you could enquire locally for an organised tour – but the two that are closest to Orebic are Winery Mikulic and the Korta Katarina Winery.
Eating and Drinking in Orebic
Restaurant Stari Kapetan – which translates to old captain – is one of the best places here, offering excellent quality and inventive dishes, heavy on the fish and seafood. There’s very atmospheric seating overlooking the sea.
With a name like Konoba Panorama, there’d better be a good view, and luckily, there is! Located adjacent to the monastery (mentioned above), there’s a simple but tasty menu. The ispod peke dishes (meat or octopus slow-cooked under a “bell”) are top-rated, although you do need to book ahead for these.
Konoba Andiamo is a lively place located in the centre of Orebic with a brief but hearty menu offering typical local classics – many dishes are accompanied with makaruni (rolled pasta). Fish lovers will delight in the “seafood fantasy” dish!
Events
The Peljesac Captains’ Festival takes place in May here (and moves to other locations on Peljesac), celebrating local maritime history with workshops and tours, folklore performances and interesting activities for children.
Every Wednesday in summer, Orebic takes part in the Flavours of Peljesac event, during which you can sample local delicacies and wine accompanied by live music.
Accommodation in Orebic
Because of its popularity, there are a number of accommodation options available in Orebic offering something for all budgets and tastes – from a luxury five-star Relais & Chateaux property to four-star boutique hotels to villas, campsites and private apartments. Check out our Accommodation in Orebic page for full details, or search for somewhere to stay using the map below:
More info
Find out more about the town at the Orebic Tourist Office website.