Lešić Dimitri Palace is the most romantic place to stay in Korčula and one of the most distinctive small hotels in Croatia. It is not a hotel in the usual sense. It is a cluster of five private residences carved out of a restored palace inside the walls of Korčula's old town, a short walk from the waterfront and close to the house the town claims as Marco Polo's birthplace.
Each residence is named after a place on Marco Polo's travels: Arabia, China, Venice, India and Ceylon. They range from one to three bedrooms. All but one are over 100 square meters. Every one has a full kitchen. You get the space and privacy of an apartment with a concierge, a spa and LD Restaurant, a highly regarded dining room recognized by the Michelin Guide, on the doorstep.
For a honeymoon, Arabia is the residence designed for two. The palace suits couples who want old-town atmosphere, stone walls and long dinners rather than a pool and beach club. There is no pool, so swimming means taxi-boats to pebble coves or a walk to the sandy bay nearby.
Highlights at a glance
- Five private residences inside the old town walls
- Arabia residence designed for two
- LD Restaurant, recognized by the Michelin Guide
- Silk Road inspired LD Spa
- Private motorboat and vintage sailing boat
Why Couples Love Lešić Dimitri Palace
It puts you inside one of the prettiest old towns on the Adriatic. Korčula's fishbone lanes are only a few minutes across, so you are always close to the walls, the cathedral and the waterfront. Once the day-trippers leave in the late afternoon, the old town belongs to the people staying in it.
The residences give you privacy that most hotels cannot. You have your own front door, your own kitchen and plenty of space. Breakfast can come to you, or you can wander out for coffee on the square. Each residence has its own personality drawn from the Silk Road theme.
The service makes it feel like more than an apartment. The concierge can arrange boats, vineyard visits and tables. A guided tour of the old town with the owner is one of the experiences guests recommend.
Residences to Book
Arabia is the residence for two and the natural honeymoon pick. It gives you the palace setting in a size that feels cozy rather than rambling.
China sleeps four and has a large balcony, which some couples book for the extra outdoor space. Venice sleeps six and has a small carved wooden balcony; it is better for a group or a family celebration. India and Ceylon are on the ground floor, convenient if you want to avoid stairs.
All residences come with fully equipped kitchens, including a dishwasher and espresso machine, so you can shop at the market and cook a simple lunch. Every residence is different, so ask the team to describe light, views and layout before you book. Parking is outside the old town, about 100 meters away, so pack in bags you can carry or ask for help with luggage.
LD Restaurant, Wine Bar and Spa
LD Restaurant is the reason many food lovers come to Korčula. It has been recognized by the Michelin Guide and serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, with a long tasting menu or a shorter three-course option at night. Book your tasting dinner early in the stay, since it fills up in summer.
LD Terrace, in the oldest part of the property, serves regional dishes in a more relaxed setting. The LD Wine Bar offers tastings of Croatian wines. Korčula's own whites, Grk and Pošip, are the ones to try.
The LD Spa offers treatments inspired by the Silk Road, Thailand and the Mediterranean, using products made with Dalmatian herbs and flowers. Ayurveda treatments and yoga classes are also available. A massage after a day of swimming and walking the lanes is easy to arrange.
Why guests fall for it
Things to Do
Walk the old town walls in the evening and watch the sun set over the Pelješac channel. In summer, the Moreška sword dance, a centuries-old performance, is staged for visitors in town. It is worth an evening.
The palace has its own boats: a modern motorboat and a vintage sailing boat. A private skippered sail around the islets of the Korčula archipelago is the honeymoon highlight. Taxi-boats also run to Badija and the nearby islets for swimming.
On land, head to Lumbarda, about six kilometers east, for Grk wine and the sandy cove of Pržina. Kayaking around the islets is popular in the morning, before the wind picks up. A vineyard visit with a tasting is easy for the concierge to arrange. Luka Korčulanska bay, about a 15-minute walk from the old town, has a sandy beach.
Getting There
Korčula takes some effort to reach, which is part of the charm. From Dubrovnik Airport (DBV), drive up the Pelješac peninsula to Orebić and take the short car ferry across to Korčula. Allow about 2.5 to 3 hours.
From Split (SPU), take a taxi to the harbor and a catamaran to Korčula Town, which runs in season and docks close to the old town. Catamarans also link Korčula with Hvar and Dubrovnik, so it fits well into an island-hopping trip.
The old town is pedestrian. Parking is outside the walls about 100 meters from the residences. You do not need a car once you arrive. Taxi-boats and the hotel's boats handle the beaches. Bring comfortable shoes for stone steps and slightly uneven lanes.
Is It Worth It?
For couples who want privacy, old-town atmosphere and some of the best food on the Croatian coast, yes. Arabia, the residence for two, starts at roughly $500 a night, with larger residences and summer dates higher. These prices are approximate and vary by season.
It is not for everyone. There is no pool and no beach at the door, so swimming involves a boat or a walk. The old town is lively in high summer and the residences are set within it, so you will hear some life outside. Couples who want a resort with a beach and sun loungers should look at hotels along the bay just outside the walls or in Lumbarda.
The palace is open all year. Spring and autumn are calmer and cheaper, though many tourist facilities on the island close in winter.
Insider tips
- Book Arabia for two and reserve LD Restaurant before you arrive
- Ask for help with luggage, since parking is about 100 meters outside the walls
- Schedule a skippered sail for late afternoon, when the light is softer
- Visit in May, June or September for warm water and quieter lanes
