During the seventies sunny, romantic, beautiful Dubrovnik was a favourite of Elizabeth Taylor, and it’s no wonder: the sea manages to be an incredible shade of emerald and the sheltered harbour is lined by the white marble and incredible bright orange roofs of the 13th century Old Town. Its main street, the Stradun, is probably one of the loveliest in the world, built by the wealth brought to this city by the artists, authors, poets, scientists and other scholars who have also flocked to Dubrovnik for her beauty. There is a wide range of accommodation options here, but our favourites tend to be close to or in the centre of the Old Town. However we've also tracked down a couple of hotels just outside town for those wanting a more resort style stay.

If you’ve never been here before you’re in for a real treat, even after that gushy introduction we still think you’ll be surprised by just how beautiful Dubrovnik is. If you’ve been here before then you know how much of a treat you’re in for! And we hope to be able to recommend the perfect hotel for this particular trip, whether it’s an all-singing-all-dancing romantic palace worthy of Ms. Taylor that you’re looking for, or a good value apartment hotel that will allow you to stay here for weeks on end, just soaking up the beauty.

Where to Stay in Dubrovnik - Which Part of Town?

• Dubrovnik’s Heritage Listed Old Town is crammed with gorgeous architecture; it is strewn with churches, monasteries, museums and galleries worth visiting, and The Stradun, with its Baroque houses and shops is a definite highlight. As are the city walls, which are famous the world over. It's also known for its boutique shopping and diamonds. One of the downsides of the Old Town is that it’s small, so hotels here do tend to be a bit more expensive. The same can be said for the Old Town’s cafes, bars and restaurants, but in many cases it will be well worth it.
• Pile is one of the two gates by which you enter the Old Town, it’s the one on the western approach, close to the magnificent 11th century Lovrijenac Fortress. This is a great part of town to stay in if you want to be close to Dubrovnik’s main attractions but pay slightly less for your accommodation than you would in the Old Town. There are plenty of bars and restaurants, a green and shady city park, and a fantastic little beach called Dance, pronounced Dan-che, close to the Monastery of Mary in Dance. Pile is also super convenient for the buses, most of the lines end here.
• Ploče is the other gate, on the eastern approach close to the port, with a waterfront known for its luxury hotels. Ploče is also home to the city's main public beach, Banje, you’re right by the cable car to the Srd Mountain, and staying here you’ll have great views of the Old Town.
• Gruž is the part of town surrounding Dubrovnik’s modern harbour, from where ferries leave for trips out to the islands of Dubrovnik’s archipelago. So this is a good choice if you’re planning to get out on the water quite a bit. Gruž hosts the local farmer’s market, and is where you’ll find Trsteno, a huge park and arboretum which dates back to the 15th century. Gruž is also a great place for seafood restaurants, and it’s probably one of the most affordable parts of town to stay in.
• Lapad and the Lapad Peninsula is ideal if you prefer a quieter spot with magnificent sea views. It’s leafy and residential, located about 3km west of the Old Town, and has a string of gorgeous beaches overlooking the open water. Lapad is known for its gorgeous waterfront hotels and cafes and restaurants frequented by locals. And if you walk around the headland you'll see all the tiny beaches — the ones only a few people can fit on and that you can only reach by ladder.
• Babin Kuk is our other very beach-y recommendation, but this time it’s not residential at all, it’s all exclusive hotels and villas up here, surrounded by lush green views. This is a great option for families, or couples looking for an intimate escape.

Don't forget that this city is extremely busy during the peak summer months. So if you want to guarantee a room in one of the best places to stay in Dubrovnik in July or August, you'll need to get organised and book well ahead.

The Best Places To Stay In Dubrovnik

In the Old Town

• St. Joseph’s is a stunning 16th century guesthouse set on a tiny side street in the very centre of the Old Town — very central, but also tucked away and intimate-feeling. It has just six rooms and suites, all of them full of original features, and decorated in a sort of French country chic style. The concierge is extremely helpful, and this is the sort of place where nothing is too much trouble.
• The Pucic Palace is probably more along Elizabeth Taylor's style. This historic townhouse has been converted into a traditional looking hotel with plenty of charming, luxurious feeling features. There's art on the walls, parquet underfoot, tiny, mosaic-style tiles in the bathrooms, and a beautifully frescoed bar and restaurant with wonderful outdoor seating in a central Old Town square. There are just 19 rooms and suites, including several family suites.
• The Hotel Stari Grad is a boutique hotel hidden behind the elegant facade of a converted 16th century residence. It has just eight rooms and suites, all individually decorated in a contemporary style. There’s a charming spa, and a rooftop terrace with a restaurant and spectacular Old Town views.
• The Byron is an elegant, bijou guesthouse within a beautiful 17th century building close to the cathedral and the waterfront. There are just four rooms, all carefully decorated with an up-cycled, white-favouring style that features parquet flooring, exposed beams, small chandeliers and furniture with those elegant bendy legs. And kitchenettes!
• The Stradun Apartments are a collection of light, airy, boutique-style apartments in the Old Town. They’ve been converted from a 17th century townhouse, but they’re very contemporary inside, beyond the beamed ceilings and the exposed stone walls. Each apartment sleeps up to four, and has everything you’d need to make a family comfortable. They’re also a good choice if you want to stay in town for a while.

For a romantic stay

• There are plenty of romantic hotels in Dubrovnik, but for something really special and intimate consider the Villa Orsula, a traditional Mediterranean villa with incredible views of the water, and of the Old Town. It has just 11 stylish suites, and access to impeccable amenities, which include a private beach, a fantastic restaurant and luscious gardens to stroll and dine in.
• The Boutique Hotel Kazbek was once a luxurious private villa on the bay of Lapad, and while it’s now a hotel it still has just 13 rooms, and so retains a feeling of intimacy and luxury. The rooms and suites are traditional in style, but with plenty of original features and incredible bay views. There’s also a pool and sauna, which are in the villa’s original garden, and a wonderful courtyard and restaurant. Boat watching is the thing to do here over sundowners on the terrace, and if you’re into that sort of thing you can hire the hotel's private speedboat too.

For a stunning view

• The Hotel Excelsior is modern five-star hotel in a great location right on the Adriatic, but also close to the Old Town — just a ten minute stroll. Dining al fresco in a spot where you can see the Old Town lit up across a small stretch of water is quite something. And some of the 158 rooms and suites boast the same views from their private balconies and terraces. The decor is contemporary and quite palatial, enough for Elizabeth Taylor and the Queen, who have both stayed here. There’s also a private beach, and an impressive spa with a huge indoor pool.
• The Villa Dubrovnik is an elegant contemporary hotel built into a rock face just along the coastline from the Old Town and overlooking the Adriatic and the Old Town. As well as being cleverly perched on the rock, this five star hotel has other smart design features, including windows for walls in many rooms, private balconies — some with their own private jacuzzi, and a choice of rooms that includes several suite sizes and two villas, each sleeping six. There are two restaurants, a sweeping terrace, a pool and spa, and below, on the waterfront, the hotel has a private beach.

For a waterfront hotel

• The Grand Villa Argentina is a stunning Dalmatian villa turned 127-room hotel, positioned right on the waterfront, up against its own private beach. The rooms and suites have a traditional feel, with large windows letting in lots of light and allowing you to take advantage of the incredible views of the water and the Old Town. The Grand Villa has three restaurants, two spas, an extensive spa menu and picturesque gardens.
• The Hotel Kompas is a stylish, ultra-modern hotel in a spectacular spot right by the sea. This is a big hotel, with 173 rooms and suites and all the facilities associated with a large hotel, including a deluxe spa, a choice of atmospheric bars, an excellent restaurant and a large pool. Of course you’re right on the water too, so the views are one of the reasons we love this hotel so much.
• The Hotel Bellevue is a glass-fronted, state-of-the-art hotel, with fresh and neutral interiors, and plus spectacular views and an excellent spa. It has 77 rooms and suites, complete with all the mod. cons. and private balconies. The Bellevue also has two restaurants plus a private beach with great watersports facilities. And you’re within easy walking distance of the Old Town and nightlife.

In Ploče

• The Villa Allure of Dubrovnik is a stunning little guesthouse-hotel with just nine contemporary-classic rooms. The decor is elegant, and features four-poster beds, beamed ceilings, exposed stone walls, and wonderful sea views from sprawling terraces. There is a pool and you’re also just a short walk from the beach and the Old Town.

For great value

• The Amoret Apartments are a collection of traditional apartments in a central Old Town spot, just five minutes walk from Buza Beach. All the apartments have kitchenettes, and an eclectic mix of antique furniture, and the best have wonderful Old Town views too.
• Roko House is another great value Old Town choice, it’s a simple, yet stylish, collection of just three rooms and three apartments with kitchenettes. All are decorated in pale colours with wooden floors and minimal furnishings. Some of them would work well for groups or families too, and the location is very central.
• Bright and centrally located, the five rooms of the Fresh* Sheets Katedral hotel are housed in a Heritage Listed building in the heart of the Old Town, which is in a great spot for admiring the other elegant buildings surrounding it. The decor is contemporary and unfussy.

Prefer an Apartment or Villa?

• If you’d prefer to stay in an apartment or private villa we recommend you visit our online partner, booking.com.

Travel Information

• Dubrovnik Airport is 20 kilometres outside the city centre, and buses from the airport drop passengers at the Pile Gate, just outside the pedestrianised Old Town, or at Dubrovnik Bus Station, which is next to the ferry port. Of course there are taxis too. The cruise ships disembark passengers at Gruž port, which is about three kilometres - or ten minutes - from the Old Town.
• If you want to hire a car — which we don’t recommend if you’re intending to stay in Dubrovnik, because there’s not a lot of parking, but we do advise if you want to see more of the Dalmatian Coast — check out what our online partners, Rentalcars have to offer.
• Right on the Adriatic Coast, Dubrovnik’s climate is Mediterranean, meaning cool, wet winters and warm, dry, sunny summers. But it doesn’t quite stop there because Dubrovnik’s position makes it a bit of a target for high winds and thunderstorms, but this city is spectacular even under these weather conditions. Summer’s warm weather brings in the visitors, and it can be pretty busy. There’s a cap of 8000 cruise ship visitors a day but that’s still a large number. So, if you’re not tied to any particular dates we recommend you visit between May and June, or September and October when the days are long and sunny, the sea is still warm enough for swimming, and the attractions and restaurants are all open — but you don’t have to queue for them.

Still not sure which to book?

• Expand your search to include all the best places to stay on the Dalmatian Coast.
• Or just the 10 Best Hotels on the Dalmatian Islands.
• Alternatively you might want to contact one of our friendly Gurus for personalised advice.