Our Favorite Hotels in Dubrovnik
star accommodation located in the Old Town area of Dubrovnik: St Joseph’s.
4-star: Excelsior • Hilton
3-star hotel option: Apartments Franka.
For couples: Stari Grad
Table of Contents
The Best Areas to Stay in Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik is a rather spread-out city, with the diverse neighborhoods possessing their own identifying personalities, so the choice of where to lodge depends on the encounter one searches. There is no sole finest district for tourists; the primary attractions are concentrated in the historical Old Town, which is a pleasure to wander around, but there are beaches, islands, and additional attractions more distant that render it worthwhile to take the bus and boat, and public transportation connections are good as well.
The Old Town is where you’ll find the biggest concentration of the most distinctive boutique hotels and guesthouses that mostly fall into the mid-range category, while more luxurious options are spread along the coast in Ploče and Pile and scattered around Lapad and the Babin Kuk peninsula. Look out for good mid-range and budget options in the port area of Gruž.
The walled Old Town area of Dubrovnik is a picture-perfect historic center surrounded by mighty medieval stone walls situated on a peninsula sandwiched between the sea and hills. With its narrow lanes, charming little squares, baroque churches, and centuries-old stone buildings, it is the most characterful part of Dubrovnik. It is packed with attractions, bars, and restaurants, and throngs with crowds between April and October. There are good bus connections to other parts of the city just outside Pile Gate.
Stretching between central Dubrovnik’s most accessible strip of sand, Banje beach, and the Sveti Jakob pebble cove, Ploče lies just outside the Old Town’s southern entrance, Ploče Gate. The street Frano Supilo runs alongside the coastline, lined with some of Dubrovnik’s oldest and grandest hotels as well as luxury estates, and attractions include the Museum of Modern Art in addition to the cable car ascending to the peak of Mount Srđ, with magnificent perspectives of the coast from above.
Located just outside the northern entrance to Old Town`s Pile Gate, Pile offers magnificent perspectives of the medieval walls along with a few attractions itself, like an eleventh-century fortification and three beaches. There is a nice blend of lodgings to fit all budgets here, plus an acceptable assortment of seaside eateries, whether on or just off ul. Branitelja Dubrovnika, the main thoroughfare. Transit departs from in front of Pile Gate to every part of town.
Lapad, as part of the Lapad Peninsula approximately one mile north of Old Town, is a leafy residential area with a good blend of restaurants and bars frequented by locals and visitors alike. Aside from the longest beach in Dubrovnik, Lapad holds some excellent, family-friendly seaside hotels, giving you effortless access to both beach life and Old Town’s cultural offerings. Buses 4, 5, and 6 connect you to Old Town.
Just north of Lapad and around 2 miles north of Old Town, Babin Kuk can be the tranquil, forested end of the Lapad Peninsula, ideal for an exclusive escape or a beach holiday. Some of the city’s most luxurious and secluded hotels are located here, with decent water sports facilities. Buses 5, 6, and 7 run here from Old Town.
Some 2 miles north of Old Town (and to the east of Lapad and Babin Kuk), the neighborhood of Gruž centers on the busy port. Large ocean vessels pull in here to discharge and pick up passengers for short trips to nearby islands; exploring them is a popular activity among visitors. Its offer of reasonably priced lodging, good public transportation connecting it to other areas of the city, and a calm pier for yachts entices budget travelers as well as those keen on sailing alike. Buses 1A and 1B will take you to Old Town.
The Best Places to Stay in Dubrovnik
- Best Luxury Hotels in Dubrovnik
Villa Orsula • St Joseph’s • Dubrovnik Palace • Hilton Imperial - Best Boutique Hotels in Dubrovnik
Stari Grad • Pucic Palace - Best Cheap & Midrange Hotels in Dubrovnik
Fresh* Sheets Kathedral • Guesthouse Vicelic • Apartments Franka Old Town - Best Hotels for Families near Dubrovnik
Royal Palm • Hotel Lero - Top TripAdvisor Hotels (Best Value)
Poros Town does not offer many attractions. Mostly it is quite laid-back and lovely, drawing a crowd of people who have experienced wind and sailing on boats experts and those with expensive boats who park themselves along its scenic port promenade to enjoy beautiful sunsets and great restaurants. The town rises steeply from the coast, topped by a notable blue and white clock tower landmark. There is a small but interesting archaeological museum to explore here, as well as one dedicated to island culture and tradition. On summer nights, the Cine Diana open-air rooftop cinema screens English-language movies with Greek subtitles, and is popular with locals and visitors alike.
Best Areas in Dubrovnik for…
- The best area in Dubrovnik for sightseeing is the Old Town.
- Best Areas in Dubrovnik for Nightlife Scenes: Old Town, Gruž, Lapad
Some of the best places to spend evenings are largely concentrated in the Old Town, where you’ll find anything from wine bars focusing on Croatian beverages to craft beer bars, Irish pubs and cocktail joints. There are also a couple bars below the medieval wall, better known for their sunset panoramas than the drinks. Several lively bars can be found in Gruž, near the cruise ship port and along Stjepana Radica street, while in Lapad, there is an atmospheric cave bar, More, close to Uvala Lapad beach. - Best Area in Dubrovnik for Victuals and Eateries: Old Town
Dubrovnik takes pride in its cuisine offerings and rightfully so. The Old Town contains the highest concentration of dining establishments, many featuring excellent Dalmatian meals that heavily incorporate fresh seafood, though there are also casual burger joints, sushi spots, Asian-fusion, Indian and Bosnian restaurants, and more. Options exist to suit all budget levels, and fine dining locations are certainly worth reserving ahead of time, including Nautika, just outside the Old Town walls in Pile. Several excellent wine bars found winding through the network of tiny lanes in Old Town provide an immersive introduction to Croatian wine and craft beer. - Some of the best family-friendly areas in Dubrovnik include Lapad, Ploče, and Pile
Lapad, Ploče, and Pile are equally good, family-friendly options. The leafy and peaceful Lapad has multiple hotels with swimming facilities and other amenities, as well as access to a beach with gentle, shallow waters. Staying in either Ploče or Pile means being within easy walking distance of all attractions in Old Town but away from the largest crowds. In both neighborhoods, there is convenient access to pebbled beaches with calm waters suitable for families and family-friendly lodgings. A boat trip to Lokrum island from the Old Town marina makes for a fun half-day excursion. - Best Area in Dubrovnik to Lodge for First Timers: Old Town
You cannot go wrong if you establish yourself in Old Town – it`s as central as possible, highlights stunning architecture, is filled with sights, and elicits a sensation of being transported back in time (or to King`s Landing, if you happen to be a fan of Game of Thrones – you’ll recognize many locations around Old Town). The dining and nightlife scenes are second to none and there are convenient means of transportation links to the rest of the city from outside Pile Gate. Also, you can find accommodations here to suit any budget. - Most Romantic Areas in Dubrovnik: Old Town, Babin Kuk, Ploče
The historical center offers much to adore, with its magnificent structures, narrow medieval streets that are atmospherically lit after dark, and elegant dining too. There are also remarkable perspectives from the top of the medieval wall and several intimate hotels for cherishing your companion. Babin Kuk represents a diverse sort of cherishing – tranquility, seclusion, ocean views, and 5-star convenience. The latter two can also be found in graceful villas along the coast in Ploče. - Best Area in Dubrovnik for Local Atmosphere: Gruž
Defined by its harbor, Gruž is much more geared towards locals than tourists, has its share of independent cafes and restaurants, and hosts a lively farmers’ market (7 am-noon Mon-Sat). The presence of the yachting marina has led to a specific amount of gentrification, with numerous wine bars opening up. - Best Area in Dubrovnik for Walking: Old Town
Much of Dubrovnik provides pleasure walking around, though the fully pedestrian Old Town, with its narrow, stone-paved lanes nearly forcing you to get lost in them, is hard to top. If you’re up for it, you can climb up to the summit of Mt Srd along the Way of the Cross in Ploče instead of using the aerial tramway. The primary seafront roads in Pile and Ploče are also quite walkable. Residing in the Old Town is best if you’re visiting Dubrovnik without use of a vehicle. - Safest Areas of Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik is a very safe city and most neighborhoods are fine for walking around at any time of day. - Unsafe Areas of Dubrovnik
The area around the port in Gruž can be questionable at night. It’s a good idea to apply sensible precautions in Old Town during the height of tourist season since pickpocketing can be a problem. If hiking in the hills above Dubrovnik, watch out for the horned viper, a shy yet highly venomous snake.
Sightseeing in Dubrovnik involves casually wandering the pedestrian-focused streets and rounding a corner to admire more of the medieval and Gothic architecture that earns it designation as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In addition to the beautiful monasteries and palace, there is also an sobering museum committed to the wars of former Yugoslavia and a wonderfully photogenic walk along the city walls.
The 6 Best Neighborhoods in Dubrovnik for Tourists
1. Old Town
Surrounded by formidable medieval walls and divided by the main pedestrian walkway, the UNESCO-protected heart of Dubrovnik sits attractively on a peninsula hemmed in between the hills and the Adriatic Sea. Its wonderfully picturesque streets are entirely closed to vehicles and dotted with historic stately homes, Baroque churches, monasteries, restaurants, and bars, and its maze of narrow lanes is a delight to explore. The vast majority of historical attractions are located here, like the cathedral, Sponza Palace, Rector’s Palace, and the Dominican and Franciscan monasteries, with the War Photo Ltd museum providing a sobering perspective on the wars of former Yugoslavia. The most popular attraction is the walk along the mighty walls, with wonderful 360-degree views from the top. After dark, the candlelit restaurants and plazas have a captivating, romantic atmosphere to them, and while Old Town attracts crowds in the warmer months, you can still lose yourself in the quiet back streets. Accommodations largely fall into the mid-range, boutique category.
- Best Budget and Mid-Range Hotels: Fresh* Sheets Kathedral – Guesthouse Vicelic – Apartments Franka Old Town
As visitors hurry to renowned tropical escapes like Bali and Phuket or explore newer locations such as Vietnam and Cambodia, many disregard one of the best-value and most thrilling – yet under-visited – areas in Southeast Asia. Only 740km long and less than half as wide, the peninsula where most Malays live and visitors go is pleasingly compact and boasts public transportation to rival Europe. And often forgotten are the two segregated provinces with surprisingly established towns, as well as untouched forests carved by raging rivers and inhabited by indigenous tribes and special wildlife.
2. Ploče
Situated just outside its namesake south gate to Old Town, this neighborhood extends south for approximately one mile along the waterfront to the pebbly Sveti Jakov cove and Park Orsula on a promontory, offering wonderful views of Lokrum Island and Old Town’s fortifications which are illuminated at night. There are only a couple of parallel streets here, as well as Highway 8 that runs south along the coast to the airport. The waterfront is lined with some of the city’s most prestigious (and expensive) hotels, luxury villas, and apartments, with some more moderate options higher up from the beach. In terms of attractions, Ploče features Dubrovnik’s most accessible beach, Banje, as well as the Museum of Modern Art, a cluster of cafes and restaurants near the city gate, and access to Mount Srđ that looms above Old Town. You can either take the cable car or hike up the Way of the Cross trail.
- Top Hotels: Villa Orsula – Hotel Excelsior – Villa Dubrovnik
- Affordable/Mid-Priced Hotels Nearby:87 Stairs Apartments • Saint James Apartments
3. Pile
Stretching approximately one mile north from Old Town`s Pile Gate, this elongated neighborhood leads to the Lapad Peninsula and blends into the Gruž district at its northern end. The prominent seaside roadway – ul. Branitelja Dubrovnika – bustles with cafes and eateries, including some of the city`s finest dining establishments. In addition to a couple of popular pebble beaches situated near Old Town`s defensive walls, called Dance and Sulic, Pile`s focal point is the imposing 11th-century Lovrjenacfortress (Fort Lawrence, known as the Red Keep to Game of Thrones fans) perched prominently overlooking Dubrovnik`s west harbor. Lodging to satisfy all budget levels can be found in this area of town.
- Top Hotels: Hilton Imperial – Apartments Benussi
- Best inexpensive/cost-effective Hotel: Apartments Villa Falkoni
4. Lapad
Sharing a border with Lapad Bay, this neighborhood is part of the leafy and verdant Lapad Peninsula situated approximately one mile north of Old Town, offering excellent public transportation links to other parts of Dubrovnik. There are no historic attractions here; the appeal lies in the tranquil residential community itself, its proximity to Old Town without enduring summer crowds, and the expansive beachfront along Uvala Lapad Beach with its calm waters frequented by families and water sports enthusiasts alike. The seaside hotels located here – some dating back to the initial tourism boom of the 1970s while others are entirely contemporary – tend to cater to families and are priced very reasonably compared to the upscale hotels in Ploče and Old Town. Lapad is dominated by the vast expanse of greenery that is Petka Hill, and its restaurants and cafes are popular gathering places for locals and visitors, imbuing them with a sense of community rather than solely catering to tourists as offerings in Old Town do.
- Top Accommodations: Dubrovnik Palace — Hotel More — Hotel Bellevue
The following hotels are good, affordable options: Perla • Aquarius
5. Babin Kuk
At the farther (north) end of the Lapad Peninsula, Babin Kuk is the quietest part of the city – tranquil and green, with several sandy-and-pebbly beaches and coves, and ample opportunities for watersports. Of the Lapad Peninsula’s hotels, the best (and priciest) are situated here, with some oriented towards romantic getaways and others towards welcoming families. The Old Town is easily reachable by public transport.
- Top-Rated Hotels: Royal Blue – Royal Palm
- Best Cheap/Midrange Hotel: Tirena Sunny Hotel
6. Gruž
A radical change from the historic center, Gruž is a lively neighborhood encompassing Dubrovnik’s harbor and port. While it may lack the picturesque quality of Dubrovnik’s other neighborhoods, it`s extremely affordable for accommodations, cafés, and local eateries, and has excellent local transport links to other parts of the city. Gruž is known for its vibrant farmers’ market, while the port serves as the jumping-off point for nearby islands like Mljet, Korčula, and Elaphiti. It`s also home to the Orsan yachting marina, making it an ideal base for sailing enthusiasts as yachts are banned from the small marina in Old Town. Dubrovnik’s main bus terminal is also located in Gruž, enabling convenient day trips to places like Split in Croatia, Kotor in Montenegro, and Mostar in Bosnia & Herzegovina.
