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Where to Stay in Dubrovnik: Best Areas and Hotels

Updated: October 28, 2026 • By Santorini Dave

Pile is my favorite area to stay in Dubrovnik for first-time visitors. It’s just outside the Old Town walls, with easy access to sightseeing, restaurants, buses, taxis, and airport transfers. The Hilton Imperial Dubrovnik is my favorite hotel here.

Stay inside the Old Town for atmosphere and sightseeing. You’ll be surrounded by historic streets, restaurants, and Dubrovnik’s main attractions. The downside is pedestrian-only access, crowds, and stairs. The streets south of Stradun are generally flatter and easier with luggage. My favorite Old Town hotel is 7oaks Noble House.

Ploče is best for luxury hotels and Old Town views. It’s immediately east of the historic center, with Banje Beach and several of Dubrovnik’s finest hotels. Hotel Excelsior Dubrovnik is my top choice.

Lapad is best for families, beaches, and longer stays. The area around Sunset Beach has restaurants, cafés, hotels, and regular buses to the Old Town. Hotel Kompas is my favorite hotel near the beach. For a full-service resort, I prefer Hotel Dubrovnik Palace, farther along the peninsula.

Babin Kuk is best for large resorts. It has pools, beaches, family facilities, and plenty of outdoor space, but it’s less convenient for sightseeing and independent dining.

Montovjerna and Gruž offer better value. Montovjerna is closer to the Old Town, while Gruž is best for ferries, long-distance buses, and budget accommodation.

My favorite hotel in Old Town Dubrovnik.

The entrance to 7oaks Noble House, one of my favorite hotels inside Dubrovnik’s Old Town.

Quick Picks: The Best Hotels in Dubrovnik

  • Best Hotel Overall: Hilton Imperial Dubrovnik
    A few minutes from Pile Gate, with an indoor pool, parking, and excellent access to the Old Town. Expensive, but the location is worth the premium for a short sightseeing stay.
  • Best for Old Town Views: Hotel Excelsior Dubrovnik
    A luxury hotel in Ploče with superb views of the city walls, an indoor pool, and direct sea access. Book a room or suite with an Old Town view. Not all sea-view rooms face the historic center.
  • Best Hotel Inside the Old Town: 7oaks Noble House
    A small, beautifully finished boutique hotel in the historic center. Excellent for couples and short sightseeing stays.
  • Best Romantic Hotel: Stari Grad Boutique Hotel
    An intimate Old Town hotel with stylish rooms and a rooftop restaurant. A great choice for couples who want to stay inside the walls.
  • Best for Families: Hotel Dubrovnik Palace
    A full-service resort on the Lapad Peninsula with indoor and outdoor pools, sea access, and spacious grounds. The setting is relatively isolated, so plan on using the bus or taxis for sightseeing and dining elsewhere.
  • Best Beach Hotel: Hotel Kompas Dubrovnik
    An excellent modern hotel overlooking Sunset Beach, with restaurants, cafés, and buses nearby. My favorite choice for combining swimming with Old Town sightseeing.
  • Best Resort Near the Center: Rixos Premium Dubrovnik
    A large waterfront resort with indoor and outdoor pools, restaurants, and excellent sea views. Closer to the Old Town than the major Babin Kuk resorts.
  • Best Value Near the Beach: Hotel Splendid
    A simpler hotel on the Lapad Peninsula with sea access and a good coastal setting. Rooms and facilities are basic, but rates are often much lower than at nearby luxury hotels.
Dubrovnik Old Town and Port.

Dubrovnik’s Old Port and historic city walls. The Old Town is pedestrian-only, and most scheduled island ferries depart from Gruž Port rather than here.

Dubrovnik Neighborhoods: My Advice

  • Best for first-time visitors: Pile
  • Best for atmosphere and sightseeing: Old Town, especially south of Stradun
  • Best for luxury hotels and Old Town views: Ploče
  • Best for beaches, restaurants, and families: Lapad
  • Best for full-service resorts: Babin Kuk
  • Best value near the Old Town: Montovjerna
  • Best for ferries, buses, and budget accommodation: Gruž

Pay attention to hills and stairs when booking accommodation. Dubrovnik is difficult for travelers with limited mobility. The Old Town is pedestrian-only, many accommodations have no elevator, and large sections north of Stradun are reached by steep stone stairways. Ploče, upper Gruž, and parts of Montovjerna are also hilly.

Do not judge an apartment by its straight-line distance from the Old Town. A place that looks five minutes away on a map may require a steep climb or dozens of steps. Check the walking route from the nearest road or taxi drop-off point, especially if you’re traveling with luggage, a stroller, or mobility limitations.

The easiest terrain is along Stradun, much of the Old Town immediately south of it, the Gruž waterfront, and the Lapad promenade near Sunset Beach.

Stay near the Old Town if sightseeing is your priority. Cruise passengers and tour groups make the historic center especially crowded from late morning through mid-afternoon. Staying nearby lets you explore early in the morning and again in the evening, when the streets are much quieter.

You don’t need a car in Dubrovnik. The Old Town is pedestrian-only, parking near the walls is expensive, and local buses connect the main hotel areas. Rent a car only for excursions outside the city, such as Ston, the Pelješac Peninsula, or Konavle.

Dubrovnik Cathedral.

Dubrovnik Cathedral in the flatter southern half of the Old Town, near Rector’s Palace, Gundulić Square, and the Old Port.

The Best Hotels in Dubrovnik

A couple sit next to daybeds and watch the sea crash into an ancient stone wall.

The waterfront terraces at Rixos Premium Dubrovnik in Montovjerna.

The 7 Best Areas to Stay in Dubrovnik

1. Pile – Best for First-Time Visitors

Pile area of Dubrovnik.

Pile is the most convenient place to stay in Dubrovnik. It’s directly outside the main western entrance to the Old Town, with Stradun, the City Walls, restaurants, and major sights just a short walk away.

Local buses for Lapad, Babin Kuk, Gruž, and other parts of Dubrovnik stop around Pile. Walking tours also commonly meet here. The area is particularly good for short visits and travelers who want easy Old Town access without staying inside the pedestrian center.

The drawback is daytime congestion around Pile Gate, where tour groups, buses, and taxis converge. Hotel choice is also limited, and the best properties are expensive.

The Hilton Imperial Dubrovnik is the clear top choice. It’s one of Dubrovnik’s best luxury hotels, with an indoor pool, parking, and a location less than five minutes from Pile Gate.

Not every accommodation advertised as being in Pile is beside the gate. Some villas and apartments are uphill, so check the exact location before booking.

A multi-story hotel with red walls and gold ornate railings.

The Hilton Imperial Dubrovnik, my favorite luxury hotel for sightseeing.

My Advice: Choose Hilton Imperial for the easiest access. Palace Natali is a beautiful boutique property, but it’s uphill from Pile Gate and is not nearly as convenient for walking into the Old Town.

2. Old Town – Best for Atmosphere and Sightseeing

Old Town Dubrovnik.

Staying inside Dubrovnik’s Old Town puts historic streets, restaurants, bars, and major sights immediately outside your door. It’s particularly good for a short visit when you want to explore early in the morning and again after the day-trippers leave.

South of Stradun is the better choice for most visitors. The streets around Rector’s Palace, the Cathedral, Gundulić Square, and the Old Port are generally flatter and easier to navigate. This is my preferred part of the Old Town for first-time visitors and anyone arriving with luggage.

North of Stradun is steeper and more residential away from the main restaurant streets. Narrow lanes climb toward the city walls, often by long stone staircases. It’s a good area for small boutique hotels and apartments, but a poor choice with large suitcases, strollers, or limited mobility.

The entire Old Town is pedestrian-only. Taxis cannot take you to your hotel door, rooms tend to be smaller than in modern hotels, and elevators are uncommon. Noise is another consideration. Prijeko Street, Stradun, Gundulić Square, and streets with late-night bars can be busy well into the evening.

For nightlife, the Old Town has Dubrovnik’s largest concentration of bars, wine bars, and pubs. Culture Club Revelin, inside Revelin Fortress near Ploče Gate, is the city’s best-known nightclub.

My favorite Old Town hotel is 7oaks Noble House. For a romantic stay, I also love Stari Grad Boutique Hotel and St Joseph’s.

A lantern hangs over a green door.

7oaks Noble House in Dubrovnik’s Old Town.

A lantern hangs above a door and reads, St Joseph’s.

The entrance to St Joseph’s boutique hotel.

My Advice: If you’re booking an apartment inside the walls, ask how many stairs there are between the nearest gate and the entrance. Two properties only a few streets apart can have very different access.

3. Ploče – Best for Luxury Hotels and Old Town Views

People walk through a large rounded entrance to a walled city.

Ploče is immediately east of the Old Town, with Banje Beach, luxury hotels, and some of Dubrovnik’s best views back toward the city walls. Hotels near Ploče Gate are only a few minutes from the historic center, while those farther east are quieter and more private.

Hotel Excelsior Dubrovnik is my favorite hotel in Ploče. It has an excellent combination of Old Town views, swimming facilities, restaurants, and walkability.

Villa Dubrovnik is more private and romantic, with a beautiful waterfront setting farther from the walls. It’s one of Dubrovnik’s finest boutique luxury hotels.

The main drawback is the terrain. Frana Supila runs above the waterfront, and accommodations on the hillside can involve steep roads or long staircases. Choose a hotel along the main road with good elevator access if you want to avoid climbing.

Banje Beach is just outside Ploče Gate. It has excellent Old Town views, but access involves a long flight of steps and it gets crowded in summer. Farther east, Sveti Jakov Beach is quieter and has similarly impressive views, though it also requires a substantial walk down stairs.

A view looking down at a beach, blue water, and an island in the distance.

Views of the Adriatic Sea and Lokrum Island from Hotel Excelsior Dubrovnik.

4. Lapad – Best for Beaches and Families

Stairs down to beach in Lapad.

Lapad is my favorite area for combining beach time with Old Town sightseeing. The main tourist area centers on Uvala Lapad and Sunset Beach, with a pedestrian promenade, restaurants, cafés, shops, and hotels.

Sunset Beach is one of Dubrovnik’s most convenient beaches for spending several hours swimming and relaxing. It’s pebbly rather than sandy, with loungers and beach facilities in season. The promenade makes it particularly easy for families to spend the day without needing a car.

People swim in clear blue water on a rocky beach.

Sunset Beach in Lapad.

Hotel Kompas Dubrovnik is my favorite hotel near Sunset Beach. It has excellent sea views, pools, and easy access to the promenade.

For a quieter luxury stay, Hotel Dubrovnik Palace sits at the far western end of the Lapad Peninsula. It’s a full-service resort with excellent swimming facilities, but it’s not within the main Sunset Beach restaurant district. Choose it for the hotel and coastal setting rather than neighborhood walkability.

Local buses connect Lapad with Pile, usually taking about 15 to 25 minutes depending on the stop and traffic.

A beach with several people and clear blue water.

Sunset Beach and the bay viewed from Hotel Kompas.

5. Babin Kuk – Best for Resorts

Babin Kuk occupies the outer part of the Lapad Peninsula and is Dubrovnik’s main resort district. It has large Valamar and Royal hotels, landscaped grounds, swimming pools, family facilities, and access to pebbly beaches and rocky swimming areas.

Choose Babin Kuk if you want to spend plenty of time at the hotel. It’s quieter than central Lapad, but restaurants and shops are more spread out, and sightseeing requires a bus or taxi.

The main beaches include Copacabana, a developed pebbly beach with seasonal facilities, and smaller rocky swimming spots along the coast. Several resorts have their own swimming platforms or beach areas.

The larger family resorts offer children’s activities, pools, and sports facilities. For couples, the Royal hotels are particularly good for sea views and sunsets.

People sit at tables and lounge chairs beside a resort pool facing the sea.

The pool and waterfront terraces at President Hotel in Babin Kuk.

A building reflecting the blue sky sits back from a tan stone path.

Royal Blue in Babin Kuk.

6. Montovjerna – Best Value Near the Old Town

A small red boat sits tied to a dock.

Montovjerna is a practical residential area between the Old Town, Gruž, and Lapad. It has supermarkets, everyday restaurants, good bus connections, and generally better hotel value than Pile or Ploče.

Hotels along Iva Vojnovića are well served by buses, while properties nearer Bellevue Beach sit above a steep coastal cove. Some streets climb sharply inland. Depending on the exact location, allow roughly 15 to 30 minutes to walk to Pile Gate.

A view from high up looking down on a beach with clear blue ocean water.

Bellevue Beach below Hotel Bellevue.

Hotel Bellevue is the best luxury choice here, with excellent sea views and access to the small beach below the hotel. The beach is reached by a long staircase from the surrounding streets, though hotel guests have internal access.

Rixos Premium Dubrovnik is larger, with more extensive resort facilities.

For better value, Hotel Lero and Hotel Ivka are good alternatives.

A hotel with sections of blue glass sits atop a cliff above a beach.

Hotel Bellevue Dubrovnik overlooking its sheltered beach.

7. Gruž – Best for Ferries, Buses, and Budget Accommodation

Gruz area of Dubrovnik.

Gruž is Dubrovnik’s main transport district and one of its best-value neighborhoods. The passenger ferry port and long-distance bus station are here, making it the easiest base before an early ferry or onward bus journey.

The waterfront has a market, supermarkets, cafés, restaurants, and local bus connections. It’s less attractive for sightseeing than the Old Town, but prices are lower and everyday services are easier to find.

Stay close to the waterfront if you’re traveling with luggage. Upper Gruž rises steeply behind the port, and some guesthouses that look close on a map require a strenuous climb. Hotel Adria, for example, has excellent harbor views but sits high above the waterfront. It’s better for travelers using taxis or buses than those planning to walk to the ferry terminal with suitcases.

Local buses connect Gruž with Pile in roughly 10 to 20 minutes, depending on traffic.

Most scheduled island ferries depart from Gruž, not the Old Port. Passenger services connect Dubrovnik with Korčula, Mljet, Hvar, and Split. Routes and frequencies vary by season.

The main operators are TP Line, Krilo, and Jadrolinija. Check the departure port when booking.

Boats to Lokrum and short sightseeing cruises generally leave from the Old Port beside the Old Town.

The outside of a tall hotel.

Hotel Adria sits above Gruž Harbor, with views toward the Lapad Peninsula.

A narrow sidewalk between stone walls leads to a guesthouse.

A narrow lane leading to guesthouses in Gruž, including Guesthouse Matusic.

Getting Around Dubrovnik

  • Walking: The Old Town is entirely pedestrian-only. Pile and Ploče are the most convenient areas for sightseeing on foot. Expect steep streets and stairs outside the main pedestrian routes.
  • Local Buses: Dubrovnik’s buses connect Pile with Lapad, Babin Kuk, Gruž, and other neighborhoods. Most visitors staying outside the Old Town will use the bus at least occasionally. Allow extra time during summer traffic.
  • Airport Transfers: The airport shuttle connects Dubrovnik Airport with the Old Town area and Gruž Bus Station. Airport arrivals stop near Ploče Gate before continuing to Gruž. Departures for the airport use the published stops near the cable car, Grawe, and Gruž Bus Station. Check the current timetable and pickup location before traveling. Taxis and private transfers are more convenient with luggage, particularly for hotels away from the shuttle stops.
  • Taxis and Uber: Useful for reaching hotels in Lapad, Babin Kuk, Montovjerna, and Gruž. Vehicles cannot enter the Old Town. Confirm the nearest vehicle-accessible point when booking accommodation inside the walls.
  • Ferries: Most scheduled ferries to the Croatian islands depart from Gruž Port. Boats to Lokrum and many short sightseeing cruises leave from the Old Port.
  • Driving: I don’t recommend renting a car for sightseeing in Dubrovnik. Parking is expensive, traffic can be slow, and the Old Town is closed to vehicles.

About Santorini Dave

Santorini Dave in Athens, Greece Santorini Dave was started in 2011 when I posted a short guide to visiting Santorini with kids. Now, my site publishes regularly updated guides to Santorini, Naxos, Paros, Mykonos, Crete, Athens, and all of Greece.

Questions? Email me at dave@santorinidave.com.