Žitna Beach, Korcula – Narrow Pine Bay with Freshwater Spring on the South Coast

Žitna is a small pebble bay on the south coast of Korcula, about 400 metres east of Zavalatica and 3 kilometres from Cara in the hills above. It sits in a long, narrow inlet – more like a channel than an open bay – flanked by pine forest on both sides and almost completely enclosed by the surrounding coast. The water here is an extraordinary blue-green colour, fed in part by a freshwater spring beneath the seabed that keeps the bay slightly cooler and cleaner than the surrounding sea. There is one house in the bay – no restaurant, no facilities, almost no development of any kind. Even in peak summer, Žitna remains one of the quieter places on the south coast, which is precisely why people who know it return to it.

What Žitna is Like

The bay’s narrow channel shape is its defining characteristic – the entrance is relatively wide but the inner part of the inlet narrows and deepens, concentrating the water colour into an intense blue-green that several visitors have compared to the calas of Mallorca or the calangues of the French Mediterranean coast. The comparison is not entirely fanciful. The combination of the enclosed shape, the pine forest to the water’s edge, the freshwater spring and the south-facing exposure produces a light and colour effect that feels different from the open south coast beaches nearby.

The beach itself is pebble – white, smooth and sun-warmed in summer. The pebbles give way to fine sand as you enter the water, which slopes gently and makes entry easy for all ages. The combination of pebble shore and sandy seabed is relatively unusual on the south coast. The freshwater spring beneath the seabed means the water is slightly cooler than nearby beaches – noticeably so on a hot August afternoon, which most swimmers find refreshing rather than unwelcome.

The rocky sections along the sides of the bay are good for snorkelling – the enclosed shape means less water movement and consistently good visibility. Sea urchins are present on the rocky edges, so water shoes are worth wearing.

Facilities – or the Lack of Them

There is one house in Žitna Bay – a cottage directly on the beach, available as holiday accommodation under the name House Gita. Beyond that, nothing. No restaurant, no beach bar, no toilet, no sun lounger hire. The nearest food and drink is in Zavalatica, about a ten-minute walk around the headland. This is part of what keeps Žitna quiet – visitors who want facilities go to Zavalatica or further afield. Visitors who come to Žitna specifically come because they want the bay without the infrastructure.

Bring everything you need for the day – water, food, sun protection. The walk to Zavalatica for lunch and back is pleasant and gives you a change of scene if you want it.

Žitna and Zavalatica Together

Žitna and Zavalatica work naturally as a combined day. The two bays are ten minutes apart on foot – a short coastal path connects them. Spend the morning at Žitna for the water colour, the quiet and the snorkelling, walk to Zavalatica for lunch at one of the waterfront restaurants with a glass of Pošip from the vineyards above, then return to Žitna for the afternoon. The Čarsko Polje cooperative wine cellar is on the road between Cara and Zavalatica – stopping for a tasting on the way down combines the wine and beach day into one coherent outing.

Best Time to Visit

June and September are the best months – the bay is quieter, the water is warm enough for comfortable swimming and the light in the early morning and late afternoon is at its best in the enclosed channel. July and August bring more visitors and parking fills up quickly – arriving before 9 am or after 4 pm avoids the busiest period. The bay is south-facing and gets sun all day, which means it can get hot in the enclosed channel at midday in midsummer. The freshwater spring keeps the water cooler than you might expect.

Popular Routes: Split to Korcula, Korcula to Split, Dubrovnik to Korcula, Korcula to Dubrovnik

The bay is calm in most conditions – sheltered from the north and north-east winds by the surrounding hills. The Siloko south-easterly can reach it directly, but the enclosed shape provides some protection even in moderate south-easterly conditions. Do not swim in strong Siloko.

Getting to Žitna

By car from Korcula Town, the drive takes about 35-40 minutes – follow the main island road through Žrnovo and Pupnat, turn south through Cara and down through the vineyards, then continue past Zavalatica along the coast road for about 400 metres to the Žitna car park. The car park is limited – arrive early in July and August. From the car park it is about a five-minute walk down steps and a short road to the beach.

From Zavalatica on foot takes about ten minutes along a coastal path. From Cara it takes about 30 minutes on foot downhill through the vineyards – a pleasant walk with sea views opening as you descend. The cross-island bus stops in Cara six times daily – from the bus stop the walk to Žitna takes about 30 minutes, or you can walk to Zavalatica in 20 minutes and take the coastal path from there.

Location Map

Related Pages

• Zavalatica – the village 400 metres west, with restaurants, supermarket and accommodation
• Cara village – the inland wine village 3 km above Žitna
• Pošip wine – the wine from the vineyards above the bay
• All Korcula beaches – complete beach guide including south coast bays
• Pupnat village – the next village east, gateway to Pupnatska Luka beach