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Whether you’re looking to discover its history or get to know the beaches, these are the best places to stay in this coastal city
Thinking about what sort of experience you want in Dubrovnik will help you decide where to stay. If discovering the walled city’s history and architecture is your priority, then you’ll almost certainly want to be in the Old Town. If you’re after old-fashioned romance with no expenses spared, then Ploče is your neighbourhood. Sun-bathing by the pool in modern surroundings with wellness facilities and good buffet meals? Lapad. If you’re planning trips to the nearby islands, you’d do well to sleep in Gruž, near the port.
And if you simply want to enjoy quieter beaches and maybe make a day trip into Dubrovnik, you’d be best placed in Mlini or Srebreno Bay. This is a neighbourhood guide to where to stay in Dubrovnik, including boutique hideaways in the Old Town, opulent waterside residences in Ploče, big modern resorts on Lapad peninsula, reasonably priced options in edgy Gruž and mid-range out-of-town beach escapes in Mlini and Srebreno Bay.
Every hotel in this curated list has been visited by one of our expert reviewers, who are usually hosted on a complimentary basis. They stay for a minimum of one night, test at least one meal and trial other experiences that the hotel might have to offer.
Romantic and otherworldly, Dubrovnik’s pedestrian-only Old Town lies within medieval fortifications. You might recognise it – Game of Thrones and Robin Hood: Origins were both filmed here. Its paved streets are lined by aristocratic stone palazzi, secretive monasteries and grand Baroque churches. It’s magical after dark, with restaurants and cafés serving glamorous clientele at candlelit tables. But it does get overcrowded in summer, when music and banter fill the air beyond midnight.
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Named after the Old Town’s southern entrance, Ploče Gate, this neighbourhood lies on the coast, immediately south of the city walls. Here, on Frano Supilo street, you’ll find Dubrovnik’s oldest and most prestigious hotels, looking over the deep blue Adriatic towards Lokrum islet, and also capturing magnificent views of Dubrovnik’s fortifications, floodlit at night. Backed by the steep and rocky Mt Srdj, Ploče lies between trendy Banje beach and Sveti Jakov pebble cove.
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The rise of commercial tourism in the 1970s saw the construction of several big modern concrete waterside hotels, with decent sports facilities, on Lapad Peninsula. The best ones are in the Babin Kuk area, or overlook Lapad Bay, a sheltered west-facing inlet, with a pebble beach, 3.5km (two miles) northwest of Dubrovnik’s Old Town. Lapad is a good choice for those who want to combine cultural sightseeing and total relaxation.
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Gruž lies three kilometres (1.8 miles) northwest of Dubrovnik’s Old Town. The port for ferries to the nearby Elaphiti islets, Mljet and Korčula, as well as the docking area for cruise ships can be found here. The sheltered bay, located between Gruž and Lapad peninsula, can be a bit chaotic, with a mix of excursion vessels, fishing boats and flashy yachts, but it has an up-and-coming vibe with some reasonably-priced informal eateries and a couple of good new hotels. Other than the port, the main attraction is the Red History Museum, highlighting design from the Yugoslav-era.
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A sheltered turquoise cove, rimmed by pebble beaches and pine trees, and backed by rugged mountains, Srebreno Bay offers an escape from touristy Dubrovnik. Mlini, the village above Srebreno, is 10km (six miles) southeast of the Old Town (served by local buses and excursion boats). It’s ideal for visitors who want to swim and sunbathe, away from the crowds, and make occasional sightseeing trips.
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The old town is the main attraction in Dubrovnik. Here, a fortified wall encloses a cluster of car-free streets, which are lined with palaces, monasteries and Baroque churches. A walk along the top of the wall reveals terracotta rooftops on one side and the dreamy blue sea on the other.
Three days in Dubrovnik gives you time to explore the old town on day one, including a circuit of the city walls and a visit to the cathedral and Cultural History Museum. On day two, you could visit Fort Lovrijenac and the Maritime Museum. A third day gives you a chance to visit the nearby town of Cavtat, with its pebble beach and Art Nouveaux Racic Mausoleum.
Dubrovnik is 150 miles south-east of Split. The journey time is three hours by car; four and a half hours by bus; or five hours by ferry.
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