Where To Stay In Dubrovnik

In recent years, Dubrovnik has become a popular holiday destination in southern Croatia with many travellers choosing where to stay in Dubrovnik independently without joining a package tour. This is because the Adriatic Coast benefitted from charter flights that have opened up its lovely coastlines to visitors. Dubrovnik was once part of the former Yugoslavia, which was later split into independent states but is now part of Croatia.

Dubrovnik is a regular port of call for cruise ships touring the Adriatic. Passengers with a day in this city inevitably head to the UNESCO World Heritage Old Town where the cobbled streets and the city walls are impressive. 

The popular TV programme “Game of Thrones” increased the city’s popularity even more and fans will recognise a few places used in the filming. GOT guided tours are extremely popular and a fun way to explore. 

Over 40,000 people call Dubrovnik home. Its origins were in the 7th century and both the Byzantines and the Venetians ruled there until the city became a free state. Years later, firstly, the French and then the Austrians were in charge until the formation of Yugoslavia after the First World War. It was shelled relentlessly during the break up of Yugoslavia, so much regeneration had to be done to achieve what you see today.

If you decide to stay in the Old Town, you will pay a premium price within a few minutes of everything. There are other neighbourhoods to consider, including near the beach. The good news is it doesn’t matter where you stay in Dubrovnik, you will be within reach of a lovely city with plenty to see and do. With a good transport infrastructure, getting from one place to another is easy, even if there is plenty of traffic in the high season.

Where To Stay In Dubrovnik

Old Town

Despite the lure of the Adriatic, the main reason to visit Dubrovnik is to walk the Old Town’s narrow streets.

Building has been forbidden, so the bars, cafes, restaurants and accommodation are housed in historic buildings completed long before Dubrovnik became a popular tourist destination.

To preserve the historic look, any renovations have strict limits on materials, colours and design. 

The Old Town is completely pedestrianised and is contained with extremely sturdy walls on a peninsula below the hills and jutting out into the Adriatic.

The narrow lanes, squares, churches, monasteries, palaces and stone palazzi date back centuries.

Dubrovnik was a serious trading rival to the city-state of Venice.

Its origins stretch back to the 11th century, although what you see today is mostly from the 17th century because of the damaging earthquake that struck in 1667.

Much of the city has been extensively reconstructed and the well-preserved walls provide great views down into the old town and out to sea.

Several locations have become even more famous and popular due to the “Game of Thrones” series that attracted huge audiences.

Dubrovnik was King’s Landing!

There are tours specialising in these locations, although serious GOT fans will be able to recognise them while wandering around easily.

The Minceta Tower, finished in the 15th century when the Turks threatened the city, Fort Lovrijenac outside the walls and the Jesuit Staircase, used in the “walk of shame” that Cercei had to do, are easy to recognise.

Dubrovnik’s Old Town is crowded throughout the main weeks of summer and accommodation needs to be booked well in advance.

Guesthouses and apartments are conversions and extremely comfortable but prices may be beyond those on a budget, although, there is nothing to stop anyone from enjoying the Old Town while staying in cheaper accommodation elsewhere.

Bus services to the entrance of the Old Town make it very accessible.

Where To Stay In Dubrovnik Old Town

Pucic Palace

Pucic Palace is a hotel that was formerly a baroque palace that was built in the 18th century.

Its location and 5-star amenities make it a popular choice for visitors to Dubrovnik.

Elegant rooms are air-conditioned with TV, minibar and safes and beautifully furnished.

The private bathrooms all have showers and bathtubs. There is free Wi-Fi throughout.

Boutique Hotel Stari Grad

Boutique Hotel Stari Grad haseight8 spacious rooms with air-conditioning, TV, safes and private bathrooms, with free Wi-Fi throughout.

Breakfast is served on a rooftop terrace that offers incredible panoramas of the Old Town, the Adriatic and nearby islands.

Festa Apartments

Festa Apartments make the best use of the stone walls that are a feature of Old Town buildings.

You can expect air-conditioning, free Wi-Fi, LCD TV and a well-equipped kitchenette if you don’t want to take advantage of the numerous cafes and restaurants just a few steps away.

Pile

The Pile Gate is the northern entrance to the Old Town, where buses drop passengers from all parts of Dubrovnik.

The suburb of Pile is fairly tiny but inevitably busy because of its entry gate to the Old Town.

You may need to be patient if you are travelling through Pile by car or bus as there are frequent traffic jams but if you decide to stay locally with the Old Town as the main reason for your visit, you can walk.

You will find plenty of cafes, restaurants and shopping within the district.

In addition, there are two small beaches to enjoy, the closest Sulic/Kolorina with Brsalje a little further north.

Where To Stay In Pile

Hilton Imperial

Hilton Imperial is within comfortable walking distance of Pile Gate and is in a historic building from the late 19th century but its facilities are very much 21st century.

There is an indoor pool and fitness centre with a sauna, hammam and massages are available.

With air-conditioned throughout, all rooms have ensuites, while the terrace and lounge areas are a great place to relax after a busy day.

B&B Sesame Inn

B&B Sesame Inn is a guesthouse in another 19th-century building with lovely gardens and just a three-minute walk to the Old Town.

Each comfortable room has a private bathroom, TV, Wi-Fi and desk. Facilities include a bar and restaurant serving a la carte dishes.

Apartments Luna

Apartments Luna is also within walking distance of the Old Town.

Each apartment has tiled floors, a private bathroom, a TV, Wi-Fi, a lounge and a well-equipped kitchen.

An airport shuttle service is also available on request.

Ploce

Ploce is another district close to Old Town, with a gate that dates back to the 14th century. 

The Old Town’s entrance from the east is through the Ploce Gate.

Ploce has inner and outer sections, incorporating a stone bridge. At one time, a wooden drawbridge was pulled up at night to exclude unwanted visitors.

If you approach the gate and look up, you will see a statue of the patron saint of Dubrovnik, Svet Vlaho.

You should also visit St. Dominic’s Tower, a mediaeval tower on three floors filled with locally created paintings and ceramics.

Ploce runs along the coastline eastwards and you will find several viewpoints back down the coast to Old Town.

Once a residential neighbourhood for Dubrovnik’s wealthy merchants, there are some impressive villas on this stretch of coast with beautiful beaches and plunging cliffs.

The terrain limited how much building could take place, which remains the case even today, resulting in the area retaining its original elegance.

Ploce is an excellent place to do your souvenir shopping because you will likely find something a little out of the ordinary, even if there is a higher price.

Where To Stay In Ploce

Apartment Fabry Rive Ploce

Apartment Fabry Rive Ploce is air-conditioned accommodation with lovely views over the Adriatic and the mountains.

Each apartment has two bedrooms, a lounge with a dining table, satellite TV, Wi-Fi, a kitchen and a bathroom.

You can see over the city from your balcony.

Guesthouse San Antonio

Guesthouse San Antonio is two minutes from the beach with private bathrooms, air-conditioning and Wi-Fi throughout.

Good transport connections make moving around Dubrovnik and beyond easy. Trips and tours can be organised.

Apartman Astra

Apartman Astra, close to Ploce Beach, has a shared lounge, terrace and restaurant.

Each unit has a bedroom, living room, kitchenette, fridge, and bathroom.

There is free Wi-Fi and a balcony with city views. A playground for children and a casino are among the facilities at hand.

Lapad

If you head north from Old Town, you will arrive in a neighbourhood that is largely residential, Lapad, although there are plenty of bars, restaurants and the beach is an obvious attraction for both visitors as well as tourists.

While roads are often busy, especially in the height of summer, this neighbourhood should never be more than 20 minutes from the Old Town.

The main bus station and the ferry terminal are in nearby Gruz, so the transport infrastructure is good if you decide to make your base here while you are in Dubrovnik.

This is a relatively new part of the city.

The houses and apartments you will see are around half a century old, built in the 1960s and 1970s.

The hotels here were built around the same time.

Before that, there were just some small hotels and villas, but then the boom of mass tourism began and Dubrovnik responded.

There are three main beaches, Copacabana, Cava and Uvala Bay, shared with Babin Kuk.

Most parts are ideal for youngsters and each has good facilities, but in high season, you will find them very busy, especially at weekends and school holidays when the locals join in the fun.

Some beaches are sandy but you will also find rocky and pebbly stretches less suitable for children.

Where To Stay In Lapad

Hotel Lapad

Hotel Lapad is in a quiet location looking down over Gruz Harbour.

This historic building is set within palm trees and has a lovely outdoor pool.

Rooms are ultra-modern, all air-conditioned with satellite TV, Wi-Fi, minibar and tea and coffee-making facilities.

The beach and Old Town are easily accessible.

Lunch is served on a lovely terrace while live music plays throughout the summer around the pool.

Hotel Perla

Hotel Perla is on the promenade with bars, cafes, and a pebble beach close by.

The restaurant has a pleasant terrace with a menu of local cuisine.

Spacious rooms are air-conditioned and include a balcony.

Royal Neptun Hotel

Royal Neptun Hotel is a beachfront property renovated in 2015 where you can enjoy panoramic sea views while taking in the fragrances from the nearby palms.

Most rooms have balconies and are en-suite with TV, while Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel.

There are two outdoor pools, one specifically for children.

You can enjoy a spa, sauna and massage on-site with the terrace a great place to dine in the hotel restaurant.

Gruz

Gruz, west of the Old Town, is the hub of Dubrovnik’s transport infrastructure.

Airport buses and those from other parts of the country arrive here at the bus terminal, and ferries and cruise ships dock here.

Some travellers like to make their bases close to their means of leaving after their holiday and Gruz is their answer.

The choice of accommodation is varied, and budget travellers will certainly find something to suit them, from private rooms to apartments and hostels.

Locally, you will find stores selling everything you need if you want to do some self-catering.

Tourist information and currency exchanges are here as well. The big open-air market sells both souvenirs and local produce.

Gruz is great for people watching; sit back and watch the arrival and departure of yachts and ferries, the daily activity of locals and new arrivals.

Outdoor dining around the harbour is fun as the district attracts plenty of people by night.

Where To Stay In Gruz

Berkeley Hotel & Spa

Berkeley Hotel & Spa is family-owned and located in Gruz Harbour.

Modern rooms and apartments are available, many with sea views, while spa and massage facilities will help you relax after a busy day.

If you want help booking tours, including the chance to cruise on the Adriatic for the day, you have only to ask.

There is free Wi-Fi, a bar and a swimming pool.

Alto Rooms & Apartments

Alto Rooms & Apartments offer free parking and Wi-Fi.

Each unit has a patio, air-conditioning and a flat-screen TV. Private bathrooms have free toiletries and showers, with the apartments having well-equipped kitchenettes with fridges, microwaves and dishwashers.

Šulić and Bellevue Beaches are nearby.

Budget – Hostel EuroAdria

Hostel EuroAdria is air-conditioned accommodation with a shared lounge, free Wi-Fi, concierge and 24-hour reception. 

If you are looking for accommodation on a budget, take a look!

Each room has a TV, fridge and shared bathrooms with showers.

There is a nearby restaurant for breakfast.

Babin Kuk

Babin Kukis is at the end of Lapad Peninsula and an ideal location for anyone wanting a quiet beach holiday yet close enough for day trips to places like Old Town.

It is a region with forests, helping to provide a secluded holiday by the sea.

Water sports are available, but that does not dent its tranquillity as sailing is popular, and few activities are as quiet as sailing. Kayaks and rowing boats are also available for hire.

It is a tourist area, though not in the sense of many busy places full of crowds that you might commonly associate with “tourist.”

You can expect to find showers and changing rooms close to the beaches, and the water is shallow, with only a slight slope as you head further into the water.

Where To Stay In Babin Kukis

Valamar Lacroma Resort

Valamar Lacroma Resort offers all the facilities you would expect of a luxury resort, including swimming pools, spa, sauna and gym.

All rooms are en-suite and have air-conditioning, Wi-Fi, minibars, satellite TV, safes and coffeemakers.

With two restaurants, a lobby and a lounge bar, you have plenty of choice in the evening.

Royal Ariston Hotel

Royal Ariston Hotel has a private beach and an outdoor pool with great views.

Air-conditioning and Wi-Fi are found throughout, with rooms having satellite TV, tea and coffee-making facilities and a balcony.

Enjoy food on the terrace or drinks in the outside bars. The a la carte restaurant specialises in the best the Mediterranean has to offer.

Club Dubrovnik Sunny Hotel

Club Dubrovnik Sunny Hotel is family-friendly, with modern amenities, including Wi-Fi, air-conditioning, and private bathrooms.

Facilities include a large swimming pool, several sports courts, and water sports at the beach nearby.

There are organised programmes for children, all of which are supervised.