Korčula's old town is compact enough to cover in a morning — Marco Polo's supposed birthplace, the Cathedral of St Mark, and the ring of Venetian walls and towers are all within a few hundred metres of each other. The Moreška sword dance, performed in the old town on summer evenings, is the island's best-known cultural event and worth catching if your dates align.
For a beach day, head across to Badija island or south to Pupnatska Luka. The Pelješac peninsula across the water offers excellent wines at village cellars and a short hop back to the mainland. Keen divers should make the trip to Vela Luka on the western tip, where the underwater landscape includes caves and wall dives.