18 of the best hotels in Dubrovnik
But if it's a bit of beach action you're looking for, that's easy to find. Beyond the Ploče Gate at the southern end of the Old Town are elegant hotels lining the waterfront, all with fabulous views of the Old Town but without the crowds. Head north of the Old Town and you reach Lapad and Babin Kuk peninsulas, home of classic Croatian seaside resort hotels, with plenty of space for large outdoor pools and spas — and all just a bus ride away from the Old Town. Here's our pick of the best hotels in Dubrovnik.
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£ | SPA | POOL | Best for spa time
You're offered a glass of sparkling wine when you check in, setting the welcoming tone for this sprawling resort that resembles an ocean liner cut into the cliffs. It's big, yes — 310 rooms — but it's certainly not lacking in warmth. Maybe it's all that sunlight flooding in through full-length windows and the huge atrium. Or maybe it's the bubbling waters of the spa and indoor pool, offering a cocoon from the bustle of Dubrovnik's old town, a 20-minute walk. Book a room on the Adriatic side and you'll have big balconies and terraces tumbling down towards the large outdoor pool, lounge bar and, just beyond, a rocky beach. Dining options including superlative fish and a Japanese restaurant. Although it's just steps from Dubrovnik's only casino, it's very family-friendly, with a kids' playroom and pool.
• Read our full guide to Croatia££ | POOL | Best for hilltop views
The 16th-century summer home of the aristocratic Natali family makes an appealing hilltop bolt hole that comes with stupendous views of the Adriatic. Soak up those vistas from the outdoor pool, hot tub, restaurant and Renaissance-style gardens. There are only around 20 rooms, all in contemporary style — book one with a sea-view balcony. Relax in the library after a workout in the gym and, if you're a keen trail runner or hiker, you're only a moments away from the steep, zigzagging path up to the top of Mount Srd. ££ | Best for friendly service
This boutique B&B is in a beautifully restored 17th-century townhouse near the cathedral, originally with four elegant and cosy rooms with more than a hint of French country cottage about them. They've since created another three exquisite rooms, all with the same handcrafted kitchenettes you'll find in most of the others (only the attic room can't quite squeeze in a kitchen under the eaves). You'll be tempted to play the piano in the elegant communal room. Managed by the couple who used to run the much-missed Fresh Sheets Kathedral B&B, it has the same unstinting and helpful service.££ | SPA | POOL | Best for sea views
You get two hotels in one at the five-star Hotel Excelsior — one half is an imposing building of Dalmatian stone from 1913; the other is a sleek 1970s addition. Both halves have smart contemporary rooms, many with balconies giving you some of the best views of the old town and the Adriatic from an excellent spot ten minutes' walk from the city walls. Three restaurants, a piano bar and a large spa with an indoor pool complete the picture.££ | SPA | POOL | Best for old town convenience
Only seconds away from the northern gate to the old town — yet away from the crowds — the palatial Hilton Imperial Dubrovnik certainly suits its name. This stately 19th-century hotel has a large garden terrace and fabulous sea views from its upper floors, as well as a spa and an indoor pool. It's worth booking a room with a balcony to soak up those Adriatic vistas.££ | POOL | Best for boat trips
Set in a 16th-century stone villa facing Gruz harbour, Hotel Kazbek has laid-back luxury behind its high stone walls. There's an intimate atmosphere to go with its large outdoor pool and its 13 19th-century-style rooms surrounding the terrace. Catch the sea breeze from the terrace bar and enjoy Croatian cuisine in the vaulted Kazbek restaurant. For days out, hire the hotel's speedboat for tours of nearby islands.££ | Best for sightseeing
Tucked in among the terracotta rooftops of Dubrovnik old town, this hotel is at the centre of city life. It occupies a former baroque palace on Gundulic Square and has seen a few things in its lifetime; it has its very own chapel, commissioned by the Venetian baron who lived here, and each of the 19 bedrooms is named after a local figure. Exposed stone walls and wooden beams come as standard, as do Victorian-style porcelain tubs and Italian mosaic tiles, and the corridors are lined with glass-cased antiques and artworks. This is a classic hotel that feels like a museum piece (in a good way), with a terrace restaurant for people-watching and a wine bar for a crash course in Croatian vintages. It's an atmospheric address from where you can beat the crowds to all the sights. ££ | Best for boutique elegance
Two beautifully restored 16th-century stone houses make up St Joseph's, a sumptuous boutique B&B with only nine rooms, suites and apartments. Decked out in a reined-in French country style with exposed beams and pale stone walls, the rooms all come with kitchenettes where you can enjoy the lavish breakfast that's delivered daily.£ | SPA | POOL | Best for spa lovers
Sometimes it's good to get a little distance from the old town, especially in the height of summer. This is an unashamedly big-hitting resort — almost a village in itself — with no claim to history but flaunting an enviable position amid landscaped grounds on the beachfront. Bedrooms come in every size, all with a terrace or balcony, and there are self-catering apartments for families — topped by the five-bedroom pool villa. Activities might involve a cycling tour while the children let off steam at the summer sports camp (everything from badminton to water polo), as well as mixology lessons and an outstanding spa. Of the many restaurants, Cilantro is recommended for its seafood. A world to itself, best for a beach holiday with an occasional foray into the medieval city.
• Best Croatia tours: from Dubrovnik to Zagreb• Best places to visit in Croatia£££ | SPA | POOL | Best for modern chic
Built into the cliff about a 15-minute walk from the old town, Villa Dubrovnik makes certain all of its guests can enjoy those superlative views. All 56 contemporary rooms and suites have sea-facing terraces, and the deluxe suites have outdoor hot tubs too. When you're not in the spa or in the indoor pool, you can flop on the bathing platform and dive into that glorious sea. There's a complimentary bus to the old town, as well as a motorboat shuttle. ££ | SPA | POOL | Best for Babin Kuk beaches
Covering a fair chunk of the Babin Kuk peninsula, the Dubrovnik President Valamar Collection features its own large secluded beach — as close to a private beach you can get in a country that officially doesn't have any. All 292 of its spacious, modern rooms and suites have sea views and furnished terraces. As the hotel faces west, that means spectacular sunsets from the rooms and the Miramare and Momenti restaurants. There's a large outdoor pool to go with the enormous spa.££ | Best for arty atmosphere
Throughout Prijeko Palace, artists have been given free rein to decorate the nine stylish rooms set in this 15th-century stone palace that runs parallel to the old town's main Stradun thoroughfare. Part of the fun is checking out the various roof terraces that are part of the Stara Loza restaurant, all offering wonderful views of terracotta rooftops and the Adriatic beyond. ££ | SPA | POOL | Best for waterside luxury
Hugging the cliffs on the southern part of Lapad peninsula, Hotel Dubrovnik Palace makes the most of its splendid seaside location. Along with two outdoor pools, a rocky beach, a diving centre and a rooftop spa, it has 308 contemporary rooms all with sea views and a balcony. Backed by the fragrant pinewoods of Petka park — an appealing place for a jog through the woods — the hotel is in a tranquil location, yet it's easy to reach the old town by bus.££ | Best for old town charm
This boutique hotel is set within a 500-year-old townhouse just off Stradun. Rooms have modern comforts and great flair for design, while keeping an eye on the heritage of the place. Some have little balconies (which make a lovely place for breakfast overlooking the lanes of the old town), and kitchens if you want to make use of Dubrovnik's fabulous local produce.££ | SPA | POOL | Best for Lapad beach breaks
Just a few feet from Lapad's beach, Hotel Kompas has stirring views to go with its chic minimalist rooms and huge waterfront terrace. All of its 173 rooms and suites have terraces, and most have sea views. If you want a change from the outdoor pool, use one of the hotel's sun loungers on the pebbly beach at Lapad Bay. There's also an extensive spa with a huge sun terrace and bar, and the rooftop Zenith Bar is a must for sundowners in full view of the sunset.£££ | SPA | POOL | Best for couples on a beach retreat
Overlooking the sheltered beach at Miramare Bay, Hotel Bellevue is a sophisticated, peaceful spot on the cliffs about a 20-minute walk north of the old town. While all of its 91 breezy, contemporary rooms and suites come with sea views, it's worth paying extra for one with a balcony. The indoor freshwater pool has wonderful views of the sea, but if you prefer the sea, there's a lift that takes you down to the serviced beach.£££ | Best for art lovers
A thrilling speedboat ride from Dubrovnik old town harbour, this is the result of two decades of painstaking restoration that took a Franciscan monastery and turned it into a living space whose five suites can be rented in their entirety. There are cloisters and ruins to explore, a rooftop terrace for watching boats sail past, and a bee-buzzed garden planted with medicinal herbs. But it's also a very special gallery, curated by the woman who steered the restoration — Francesca Thyssen-Bornemisza, a major force in contemporary art. Paintings, photographs and fabrics line the corridors and bedrooms, while antique pieces from her family's collection are assembled in the dining room. With a housekeeper and chef, feasts and excursions can be arranged, along with massages and yoga classes on the lawn — although one of the greatest pleasures here is simply walking down to the rocks and swimming in the sea past the fortress walls. lopud1483.com
£ | POOL | Best for foodies and ferry rides
This friendly, family-run guesthouse set in a 400-year-old stone farmhouse is only a few minutes' walk from both the ferry port and the large food market at Gruz, which is turning into Dubrovnik's trendiest district. Within high stone walls are a lush garden, swimming pool and vine-shaded breakfast terrace and barbecue to go with the eight rooms and three apartments.
bokun-guesthouse.com
Additional reporting by Rick Jordan
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