Best Hotels in Dubrovnik: Where to Stay for Every Budget

Dubrovnik is not a city where you can book any hotel and hope for the best. Where you stay will shape your entire trip. Staying inside the Old Town walls feels completely different from waking up on a clifftop in Ploce or by the beach in Lapad.

If you are wondering where to stay in Dubrovnik, the right answer depends on what kind of trip you want. Walk-everywhere Old Town atmosphere. Five-star Adriatic views. Or a beach-focused stay with more space and better value.

This guide breaks down the best hotels in Dubrovnik by area and budget so you can choose quickly and book with confidence. This is what we would book now and what we recommend when friends ask where to stay.

Best areas to stay in Dubrovnik:
Old Town (inside the walls). The most atmospheric option. Breakfast on stone terraces, walk to everything, no buses needed. Very limited hotel options and the highest prices.
Pile. Just outside the western Pile Gate. Walking distance to Old Town, quieter at night, good mix of hotels from luxury to mid-range.
Ploce. East of the Old Town near Ploce Gate. Luxury hotel zone with clifftop properties, stunning views of the Old Town and access to Banje Beach.
Lapad. Beach peninsula west of the city. Resort-style hotels, promenades, swimming and a 15-minute bus ride to Old Town. Best for families or longer stays.
Gruz. Port and transport hub. Most affordable area, good transit connections but less charm. Best for budget travelers or ferry-hoppers.

Planning your trip? Start with our Dubrovnik Travel Guide, then come back here to book your stay.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. We may earn a small commission if you book through our links, at no extra cost to you. We only recommend hotels we’d stay at ourselves.

Luxury Hotels in Dubrovnik

For travelers looking for world-class service, extraordinary locations and hotels that match the setting.

1. Hotel Excelsior

On our list for our next Dubrovnik trip – the views are unbeatable

2. Pucic Palace

3. Villa Dubrovnik

On our splurge list – that cliffside setting is extraordinary

4. Hotel Bellevue

5. Rixos Premium Dubrovnik


Boutique and Character Hotels in Dubrovnik

For travelers who want personality, history and smaller proFor travelers who want smaller properties, historic settings and hotels with personality.

1. Boutique Hotel Stari Grad

If we were booking inside the walls, this would be our choice

2. St. Joseph’s

3. Hotel Kazbek

4. Hilton Imperial Dubrovnik

We would stay here next time for the location

5. Villa Orsula


Great Locations and Good Value in Dubrovnik

For travelers who want to be well placed without paying luxury prices.

1. Hotel Lapad

Where we would book for a longer Dubrovnik stay – great value and that waterfront locationvery dog friendly

2. Hotel Lero

3. Scalini Palace

4. Bota Palace

5. Hotel Kompas


Dubrovnik rewards careful planning more than most European cities. The difference between staying inside the walls and staying in Lapad is not just a location trade-off. It changes your entire experience. Pick your neighborhood first based on whether you want to be in the middle of the action or near the beach. Then find the hotel that fits your budget within that zone. Any of these options will give you a strong Dubrovnik trip if the location matches what you came for. If you are visiting Dubrovnik for the first time, we recommend staying either just outside Pile Gate for easy access or in Ploce for views. If this is a return trip or you want beach time, Lapad makes more sense.

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