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Dubrovnik is such a stunning place to visit. If you’re looking at where to stay in Dubrovnik, these are the best hotels & neighbourhoods for you!
Travel to Croatia has skyrocketed in recent years. It is a country that is absolutely booming at the moment. With dreamy cities such as Dubrovnik, that’s really not a surprise.
I was first drawn there by images of the inviting Adriatic sea, charming old stone buildings, and those iconic red roof tiles. And of course, Game of Thrones. This is where they filmed a lot of the series and it’s like stepping onto the TV set when walking around here.
The first time I visited Dubrovnik was in 2013. I found it was just as enchanting as any of the pictures. With the whole city promising Instagram-worthy views and delicious restaurants everywhere in the Old Town, choosing where to stay can make or break your trip.
To start with, you’ll need to whittle down which area you want to be based in. Old Town, which is UNESCO World Heritage Site and is one of the world’s best-preserved medieval cities, is where a lot of the cultural and heritage sights are. But further out of the centre, you can wake up to the tranquil beaches fringing suburbs like Babin Kuk and Ploce.
Then it’s onto picking between the myriad stunning hotels. There’s boutique-style Hotel Villa Orsula, the chic and luxurious Hotel Bellevue Dubrovnik, stylish B&B Fresh Sheets Kathedral in the Old Town and many more.
My guide on where to stay in Dubrovnik runs you through some of the best accommodation options spread across the city. I guarantee you’ll find at least one hotel you want to book by the end of this post!
Planning a trip to Croatia? Then make sure you read my guides on the best adventures in Croatia, the best day trips from Dubrovnik and the best day trips from Split.
Contents:
Neighbourhoods in Dubrovnik
It goes without saying, but finding the best area to stay in Dubrovnik is so important to your holiday. Too far out from the centre of it all and you’ll miss the bars and restaurants. Saying that though, the city centre can get super busy during the peak of summer, so maybe you’re looking for a quieter place away from it all.
When it comes to the best neighbourhoods in Dubrovnik, I’d recommend one of the below.
| Area | Best for | To the Old Town | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Old Town | First-timers, short trips | You’re in it | Busiest, priciest, lots of steps |
| Ploče | Couples, sea views | 5–10 min walk | Where the big five-stars are |
| Pile | Convenience without the crowds | 5 min walk | Right by Lovrijenac Fortress |
| Lapad | Families, beaches | 15 min bus | Flat, easy, great promenade |
| Babin Kuk | Families wanting a resort | 15–20 min bus | Quiet, sea on three sides |
| Gruž | Budget, island-hopping | 10 min bus | Ferry port and local life |
- Dubrovnik Old Town: Packed with landmarks, Old Town is the best area for first-time visitors and for the best restaurants in the city. Be warned: it is busy.
- Pile: A convenient place to stay in Dubrovnik thanks to its central location just to the west of Old Town. Plus, it’s near the awesome Lovrijenac Fortress which is great to explore.
- Ploce: This trendy, beachside district is the place to stay if you’re looking for higher-end restaurants, bars and shops.
- Gruž: A good choice of hostels and guesthouses for those with a smaller budget. It’s in a more residential area but has got a lively spirit and gives you a feel of local life in Dubrovnik.
- Lapad: There’s a family-friendly vibe on this stunning bay. Enjoy the beautiful beaches and being just a ten-minute drive from Old Town.
- Babin Kuk: Luxury hotels are the main accommodation offering in Babin Kuk, which is a pretty and peaceful secluded suburb.
If it’s your first time and you’re only here for two or three nights, stay in or right beside the Old Town. Yes it’s busier and more expensive, but you’ll spend your evenings in the best part of the city instead of waiting for a bus.
If you’re travelling with kids, or you’re here for a week, base yourself in Lapad. It’s flatter, it’s cheaper, there’s a proper beach, and the bus into town takes about fifteen minutes.
Best Boutique Hotels in Dubrovnik
Luxury Hotels
Hotel Villa Orsula
Just along from Hotel Excelsior in Ploče, this is one of the smallest hotels in Dubrovnik, just 13 rooms and suites in total, and it’s all the better for it. From here you can walk down into the Old Town in about five minutes. When I stayed I had a room looking straight out at the Old Town. Others face the gardens or the water. Whichever you end up in, you’re getting one of the best views in the city.
The hotel reopened in summer 2026 after a full transformation by Croatian architecture studio 3LHD, and it now shares a huge spa and a shoreline beach club with Villa Argentina next door. There’s a new restaurant and lounge bar, Marea, sitting right above the sea.
That beach is still the bit I’d come back for. Sitting out there with a drink as the sun drops behind the walls is about as good as Dubrovnik gets.
Villa Argentina
This one’s a proper Dubrovnik institution. Villa Argentina opened as a hotel back in the 1920s and it’s been the address in Ploče ever since, hosting more or less everyone who came through the city with money to spend.
It reopened in August 2026 after a few years shut for a rebuild, and the job that’s been done on it is something else. Croatian studio 3LHD have joined the original villa to a newer wing with a run of garden terraces, so the whole thing now steps down towards the sea rather than sitting above it.
There are 96 rooms and you want one facing west. From that side you’re looking straight across at Lokrum, the old harbour and the rooftops of the Old Town, which is the view everyone comes to Dubrovnik for and very few people get from their balcony.
Food-wise there’s Liz for a proper sit-down dinner built around whatever’s come out of the Adriatic that morning, and Cala Beach Club down on the water for long lunches. There’s a big spa too, plus indoor and outdoor pools.
Hotel Excelsior
You can’t get much better than this when it comes to choosing where to stay in Dubrovnik. Based in Ploce, you can reach the Old Town’s awesome medieval fortress walls by foot in only five minutes.
Everything about the hotel screams elegance, from the romantic terrace to the decor and furnishings in the rooms. You’re in good company if you stay here too. Since it opened in 1913, past guests at Hotel Excelsior have included Elizabeth Taylor, Morgan Freeman and even Queen Elizabeth II!
Hotel Bellevue Dubrovnik
Recently refurbished and looking super chic, Hotel Bellevue is a contender for the best place to stay in Dubrovnik. That’s mainly thanks to its incredible location – it’s built into the side of a cliff! – but the first-class facilities and sleek interiors help too.
Not far from the Old Town, the hotel is found above Miramare Bay. Walking to the city centre takes about 10 minutes or the bus passes nearby, keeping getting around nice and simple. All the rooms have sea views and even better, the indoor pool does too. I couldn’t resist sampling a few wines at the bar, which boasts a huge selection. No less than 180 different varieties!
Hotel Dubrovnik Palace
Looking out over the Elaphiti Islands, Hotel Dubrovnik Palace is in Lapad and is only half a mile from the main bay. It’s easy to reach the Old Town from here – just a 20-minute ride on the local bus line or even quicker by car.
My favourite thing about this hotel is that every room has its own balcony, so gorgeous views are a given on your stay. I’m also a big fan of the choice of restaurants and bars. Who doesn’t love a poolside bar or dining on the beach?
As well as relaxing in total luxury, the hotel gives you the option of getting active. There are outdoor and indoor swimming pools, tennis courts, a gym with ocean views to inspire your workout, and even a PADI scuba diving centre.
Mid-range Hotels
Hotel Lero
If you want a proper four-star in Dubrovnik without paying five-star money, this is where I’d point you. Lero sits on Iva Vojnovića on the edge of Lapad, about halfway between Gruž harbour and the Old Town.
Let’s be honest about the building: it’s a big modern block on a main road, and it isn’t going to win any beauty contests from the outside. What it does have is 155 rooms that are consistently clean and comfortable, staff that people rave about, and a breakfast buffet that gets mentioned in just about every review I’ve read.
There’s an outdoor pool, and the wellness area – jacuzzi, Finnish sauna, steam room – is included rather than charged as an extra, which is rarer than it should be.
Getting into town is easy. The number 4 bus stops about a hundred metres from the door and takes five minutes. You can walk it in 20 to 25, and I’d say do that on the way down and get the bus back – it’s a decent hill at the end of a long day.
One more thing in its favour: it’s open all year, which rules out a lot of Dubrovnik hotels if you’re coming outside the summer.
Boutique Hotel Stari Grad
Got your heart set on hotels in Dubrovnik Old Town? There are only two actually inside the historic city walls and Boutique Hotel Stari Grad is one of them. This boutique hotel is in an alley off of Stradun, Dubrovnik’s main street. It’s amazing to be directly at the heart of the city and in a building that’s steeped in history itself, as a former nobleman’s house.
The rooftop terrace is one of the nicest spots I’ve sat down for breakfast – not just in Dubrovnik but anywhere! From there you can admire the Old Town and the Adriatic coastline, and as a bonus, the food is great too. When it comes to the best accommodation in Dubrovnik, this one is right up there with them.
Sheraton Dubrovnik Riviera
The Sheraton Dubrovnik Riviera has got style. I absolutely love the contemporary colours and patterns found across the whole hotel. More than just looking the part though, the location and five-star facilities also make this one of the best places to stay in Dubrovnik. Based between the airport and the city, in an enticing little village called Mlini, the Sheraton Dubrovnik Riviera sits just beyond a beautiful beach. It gets full marks for closeness to the sea and coastal views.
With a luxurious spa, wellness centre, restaurant and bar all on-site, it’s a great space to unwind after a day of sightseeing in the Croatian heat.
Hotel Lapad
I think Hotel Lapad is the best place to stay in Dubrovnik if you want a proper grand hotel feel. It’s in a great spot over from Gruz Harbour in its namesake, Lapad. You can hop on the hotel’s boat shuttle if you want to explore the harbour.
Away from the buzz of central Dubrovnik, I’d also say it’s a top pick for seekers of seclusion. Laze on the nearby beach or by the outdoor swimming pool, heading into town when, and if, you feel like it.
Budget Hotels
Hotel Ivka
Dubrovnik has a habit of making budget travellers feel unwelcome, so it’s nice to be able to point at somewhere that isn’t a compromise.
Ivka is a small family-run place up on the Lapad peninsula, and it’s been done up recently – the rooms are simple but genuinely smart, and most of them come with a balcony or terrace. Guests rate it higher than half the five-stars in this guide, which tells you something.
The location works harder than it looks on a map. The promenade and the beach are ten minutes downhill, Gruž market and the ferry terminal are about twenty minutes on foot, and the bus into the Old Town takes a quarter of an hour from the stop nearby.
There’s free parking on site too, which is worth real money in Dubrovnik and makes this a sensible base if you’re picking up a hire car for a run to Montenegro or up the Pelješac peninsula.
Two things to know. Breakfast is charged as an extra rather than bundled in, so factor that in when you’re comparing prices. And you are up a hill, away from the water – if you want to fall out of bed onto a beach, this isn’t it. For everyone else, it’s the best value in the city.
Fresh Sheets Kathedral
Another fantastic option if you’re after hotels in Dubrovnik Old Town is Fresh Sheets Kathedral, which gets its name because it overlooks the cathedral. It’s actually a stylish bed and breakfast, occupying a floor in a building which was once a palace. A pretty cool back story!
As well as being right in the bustling centre of Old Town, Fresh Sheets Kathedral is great for throwing yourself into things to do in Dubrovnik. They can set you up on cooking classes, tours, kayak hire, arrange picnic baskets and more. It’s definitely one of the best places to stay in Dubrovnik Old Town.
Hotel Zagreb
Despite being more friendly on your wallet, Hotel Zagreb still packs the wow-factor. Located in Lapad, the charm of its promenade setting impresses and so do the verdant gardens. If you like Art Deco style, this might be the best place to stay in Dubrovnik, as chances are you’ll warm to the building. Inside the pink-hued villa there remains a 1930s vibe, which was when it was originally built.
The pedestrian-only promenade that Hotel Zagreb is situated on leads you down to Lapad Bay. Ideal if you’re in Dubrovnik for beach bumming as much as a culture trip.
Sunny Dubrovnik by Valamar
The last hotel I’m shouting about in my Dubrovnik accommodation guide is out on Babin Kuk, north of the Lapad peninsula. You might know it as Valamar Club Dubrovnik, same hotel, new name. It’s built for families, and the thing that stands out is just how much there is to do. If you’ve got kids in tow, there’s a proper programme of activities to keep them busy, plus Maro World just up the road, which is the biggest family entertainment centre on this stretch of coast.
Because the hotel is surrounded by sea on three sides, you’re never far from the water or the pebble beaches. Just as good is sitting on the terrace with a drink and letting someone else entertain the kids for an hour. When you fancy heading into town there’s a bus stop right outside, or it’s about 15 minutes in a taxi.
One thing to know: it’s a seasonal hotel, so it’s generally open April to November.
A few things worth knowing before you book
Dubrovnik is a lot steeper than it looks in photos. A “five-minute walk to the Old Town” often means five minutes and 80 steps, and there’s no way around that in the older parts of the city. If anyone in your group struggles with stairs, book somewhere on the flat. Lapad and Babin Kuk are the easiest bases, and the seafront hotels in Ploče have lifts and level access from the road.
Same goes for luggage. The Old Town is limestone and cobbles, and the city asks you to carry your case rather than drag it – you’ll understand why after about 10 metres. You’ll see plenty of scare stories online about fines for wheelie cases, but the tourist board has confirmed there’s no ban and no fine. It’s a request, not a rule. Pack light anyway.
One rule that is enforced: no swimwear in the Old Town. Banje beach is right next to the walls and it’s tempting to wander straight in for lunch in your trunks. Don’t – there are fines for it. Throw a t-shirt in your beach bag.
Hopefully you’ve found the perfect Dubrovnik hotel for your holiday! Let me know in the comments if you’re planning a trip to the city soon and which hotel you’ve got your eye on.
Thinking of going to Montenegro? Then check out my detailed guide on travelling from Dubrovnik to Montenegro to help plan your trip!
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