Where to Stay in Dubrovnik:
From baroque palaces inside the walls to clifftop villas in Ploce and beachfront resorts in Lapad, these are our Dubrovnik hotel picks.
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. We have been to Dubrovnik and we know firsthand how much the neighborhood choice matters: it changes everything from your morning routine to how much you spend getting around. Get the area right first, then find the hotel within it.
These are the hotels we would book and the ones we recommend when friends ask where to stay. Whether you want the most atmospheric Old Town address, the best clifftop views on the Adriatic or a comfortable base on the Lapad Peninsula, here are our picks.
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 and a good mix of hotels including some historic properties. Ploce. East of the Old Town near Ploce Gate. The clifftop hotel zone with stunning views of the Old Town and access to Banje Beach. Lapad. Beach peninsula west of the city. Resort-style hotels, promenades and swimming, with a 15-minute bus ride to Old Town. Best for families or longer stays. Gruz. Port and transport hub. The most affordable area with good transit connections. Best for ferry-hoppers or travelers on a tight budget. |
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.
Inside the Old Town Walls
The most atmospheric addresses in Dubrovnik: baroque palaces, noblemen's houses and intimate boutique hotels on cobblestone streets within the medieval walls.
Pucic Palace
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Location: Inside the Old Town walls, steps from the harbor
Why Stay Here: An 18th-century baroque palace converted into a boutique hotel with only a handful of suites. This is as central as it gets in Dubrovnik. You are sleeping inside a palace that has been part of the Old Town since before tourism existed. The service is personal, the interiors are elegant and the location puts you in the middle of everything without feeling touristy. If you want to stay inside the walls at the highest level, this is the property that does it right.
Price Range: $$$$
St. Joseph's
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Location: Inside the Old Town walls, steps from Stradun
Why Stay Here: The most exclusive small hotel in Dubrovnik. Only four rooms, each designed individually with exposed stone walls, original beams and Carrara marble bathrooms. This is boutique hospitality at the highest level. Breakfast is delivered to your room, the service is personal without being intrusive and you are sleeping in a 16th-century residence that has been converted with extraordinary care. If intimacy and exclusivity matter more than amenities, St. Joseph's is the answer.
Price Range: $$$$
Boutique Hotel Stari Grad
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Location: Inside the Old Town walls on a quiet street
Why Stay Here: One of only two actual hotels inside the Old Town walls. Stari Grad was a 16th-century nobleman's house converted into a sleek boutique property with just nine rooms and two suites. The rooftop restaurant Above 5 is Michelin-recommended and serves breakfast with views over the terracotta rooftops. If we were booking inside the walls, this would be our choice.
Price Range: $$$
Scalini Palace
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Location: Inside the Old Town walls with a stone staircase
Why Stay Here: A boutique hotel inside the Old Town with just eight self-catering suites. The stone staircase is a signature feature and the location is central without being on the main tourist corridors. The suites have kitchenettes which is rare inside the walls and genuinely useful for a longer stay. Good value for an Old Town boutique at this quality level.
Price Range: $$-$$$
Bota Palace
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Location: Inside the Old Town walls with charming rooftop views
Why Stay Here: A small property offering stylish suites at surprisingly good prices for an Old Town location. The rooms are well-designed, the views are genuine and the service is attentive without being formal. One of the better plays inside the walls if you want boutique quality without the full luxury price tag.
Price Range: $$
Ploce and Pile: Clifftop Hotels and Sea Views
Just outside the Old Town gates, the clifftop hotels of Ploce and the historic Hilton Imperial at Pile Gate offer some of the most dramatic views on the Adriatic.
Hotel Excelsior
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Location: Ploce, just outside the Old Town on the Adriatic waterfront
Why Stay Here: One of the most iconic hotels in Dubrovnik. Built in 1913 as a royal villa, the Excelsior sits directly on the Adriatic with unobstructed views of Lokrum Island and the Old Town walls. You are a short walk from the gates but removed enough to feel calm. Private beach access, spa facilities and terrace dining make this a genuine five-star stay. This is on our list for the next trip and the views are unbeatable. Summer dates sell out early, especially June through September.
Price Range: $$$$$
Villa Dubrovnik
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Location: Ploce, built into a cliff overlooking the Dalmatian Coast
Why Stay Here: A strikingly modern property carved into the cliffside with floor-to-ceiling windows, minimalist white interiors and private beach access. This is the hotel for travelers who want contemporary design, total privacy and views that look like they were made for your balcony. The contrast between the ancient Old Town across the water and the sleek lines of Villa Dubrovnik is part of the appeal. This one is firmly on our splurge list and the cliffside setting is extraordinary.
Price Range: $$$$
Hotel Bellevue
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Location: Miramare Bay, clifftop above a pebble beach near Old Town
Why Stay Here: A clifftop hotel with direct beach access and a reputation as one of the best family-friendly options in Dubrovnik at this level. The views over the bay are spectacular, the beach below is yours to use and you are still within walking distance of the Old Town. Bellevue strikes the balance between resort amenities and proximity to the sights. A strong choice if you are traveling with children or want the full hotel experience without sacrificing beach access.
Price Range: $$$$
Villa Orsula
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Location: Ploce, five-minute walk from Old Town with private beach
Why Stay Here: A Mediterranean villa that was once the home of a local noble family. The interiors feature art by Victor Vasarely and Roberto Matta alongside contemporary design. The private beach, the gardens with lavender and wild orange trees, the live jazz in the bar and the restaurant Victoria make this a destination property. You are close enough to walk to the Old Town but far enough to feel like you are in your own private Adriatic retreat.
Price Range: $$$$
Hilton Imperial Dubrovnik
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Location: Pile, steps from Pile Gate at the entrance to the Old Town
Why Stay Here: An 1897 landmark building with serious history. This is where the Game of Thrones cast stayed during filming. The location is extraordinary: you step outside and Pile Gate is right there. The building survived bombardment during the 1990s war and has been beautifully restored. The interiors blend 19th-century elegance with modern five-star service. We would stay here for the location alone. If you want a historic property with name recognition and a position right at the threshold of the Old Town, the Imperial delivers.
Price Range: $$$$
Lapad Peninsula
A 15-minute bus ride from the Old Town, Lapad trades medieval atmosphere for beach access, open space and a more relaxed pace. The right choice for families or a longer stay.
Hotel Lapad
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Location: Lapad Peninsula, waterfront location by the harbor
Why Stay Here: A family-run hotel in a Victorian building from 1912. The location on the Lapad waterfront is beautiful, the restaurant serves excellent food and the property has maintained its charm through multiple generations. You are a bus ride from the Old Town but you are on the water with good restaurants nearby and a sense of residential Dubrovnik rather than tourist Dubrovnik. This is where we would book for a longer Dubrovnik stay: great value, a beautiful waterfront location and very dog friendly.
Price Range: $$-$$$
Hotel Lero
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Location: Between Old Town and Lapad, walkable to both
Why Stay Here: A reliable four-star that sits in the sweet spot between the Old Town and Lapad. You can walk to both, the rooms are comfortable, the service is professional and the price is reasonable for what you get. This is not a boutique experience but it is an honest, well-run hotel in a practical location. A solid choice for travelers who prioritize location and value over design.
Price Range: $$
Hotel Kazbek
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Location: Lapad Bay, inside a 16th-century noble villa
Why Stay Here: A 13-room boutique property inside a monumental building from 1573. Each room is furnished individually with historical details including coats of arms from old Dubrovnik families. The property emphasizes sustainability with eco-friendly amenities and furniture from sustainable materials. You are in Lapad rather than the Old Town but the setting is beautiful, the bay views are excellent and the intimacy of a true boutique hotel is intact. A strong pick for travelers who want character without the Old Town crowds.
Price Range: $$$
Hotel Kompas
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Location: Lapad Peninsula, beachfront with pools
Why Stay Here: A large hotel on the Lapad waterfront with an infinity pool overlooking the beach, good restaurant options and a family-friendly setup. You are not in the Old Town but you are on the water with easy bus access and amenities that make longer stays comfortable. A practical choice for families or travelers who want beach access and resort-style facilities without the clifftop price tag.
Price Range: $$-$$$
Rixos Premium Dubrovnik
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Location: Lapad Peninsula, beachfront resort
Why Stay Here: A full resort experience on the Lapad Peninsula with pools, spa, private beach, multiple restaurants and the kind of amenities you expect from a five-star beach property. You are not in the Old Town but you are on the water with space to breathe and a setup that works for families or anyone doing a longer Dubrovnik stay. The trade-off is transit time to the sights but the gain is a proper resort with Dubrovnik as the backdrop.
Price Range: $$$$$
Dubrovnik rewards careful planning more than most 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 within that zone. Use the links above to check current rates and availability on every hotel in this guide.
FAQ About Staying in Dubrovnik
Yes, if atmosphere and walking everywhere matters to you. Staying inside the walls is a completely different experience from anywhere else in Dubrovnik. You wake up on cobblestone streets, everything is within a few minutes walk and the city feels like yours in the early morning before the day visitors arrive. The trade-off is noise, higher prices and very limited hotel options. Even a night or two inside the walls is worth it if you can manage it.
It depends on what kind of trip you want. Inside the walls gives you the most atmospheric stay but the fewest options and highest prices. Ploce puts you just outside the Old Town with some of the best clifftop hotels and views on the Adriatic. Pile is right at the western gate, ideal for easy access to the walls. Lapad is a 15-minute bus ride away but gives you beach access, more space and better value. For a first visit we recommend Pile or Ploce. For a beach-focused stay or longer trip, Lapad makes more sense.
Lapad is about 4 kilometers west of the Old Town, roughly a 15-minute bus ride on the number 4 or 6 bus. Taxis take about 10 minutes. There is no direct walkable route along the water so you will need to use public transport or a taxi. The buses run frequently and cost very little. For most travelers the journey is not a problem, especially if you are spending beach time in Lapad anyway.
May, June and early September offer the best combination of good weather and manageable crowds. July and August are peak season with very high prices, full hotels and cruise ship crowds on the walls and streets by mid-morning. October is increasingly popular for good reason: the weather is still warm enough to swim, the light is excellent and the city is noticeably quieter. If you can avoid July and August, do. If not, book well in advance and plan to be out early to beat the worst of the crowds.
No, and in most cases a car is a disadvantage. The Old Town is entirely pedestrianized, parking is expensive and difficult and the bus network covers the main areas efficiently. If you are doing day trips to the Elafiti Islands, the Peljesac Peninsula or Mostar you can rent a car for a day or join a tour. For the city itself, buses, taxis and walking will cover everything you need.
Read More About Dubrovnik
Looking for more ideas? Read our Dubrovnik Travel Guide for Game of Thrones filming locations, island day trips, walking the walls and planning tips.
Planning More Croatia Travel?
Explore more places to stay and visit in Croatia.
Where to Stay in Split: Old Town apartments, the Riva and places near Diocletian's Palace
Where to Stay in Zagreb: Boutique hotels, the Upper Town and quieter neighborhoods