Choosing where to stay in Dubrovnik is really a choice between three worlds: the glamorous cliff hotels of Ploče, whose pools and terraces gaze back at the floodlit walls; the atmospheric boutiques and apartments inside the car-free Old Town itself; and the better-value, beach-friendly stays out in leafy Lapad and Gruž. This guide covers the best options across every budget, from a €500-a-night cliff villa to a €30 dorm bed within the walls, with areas, prices and honest trade-offs.
€€€€Hotel Excelsior
Area
Ploče
Type
Luxury (5★)
“Five-star classic just east of the Old Town — the pool and many rooms look straight back at the walls and Lokrum.”
€€€€Villa Dubrovnik
Area
Ploče
Type
Cliff-Villa Luxury (5★)
“A serene, tiered five-star cut into the cliff with its own beach and boat shuttle to the Old Town — the most tranquil luxury in the city.”
€€€€Grand Villa Argentina
Area
Ploče
Type
Cliff Resort (5★)
“A cluster of grand villas and pools tumbling down the cliff right outside the walls — the closest big five-star to the Old Town.”
€€€Hilton Imperial Dubrovnik
Area
Pile
Type
Historic Luxury (5★)
“A grand 19th-century five-star literally steps from Pile Gate — the most convenient upmarket base for exploring on foot.”
€€€€The Pučić Palace
Area
Old Town
Type
Palace Boutique (5★)
“A 17th-century aristocratic palace with just 19 rooms right on the Gundulić market square — the ultimate stay inside the walls.”
€€€Hotel Bellevue
Area
Above Miramare Bay
Type
Cliffside (5★)
“Dramatically built into the cliff above its own pebble cove, with a lift down to the beach and a spa — great for a swim-focused stay.”
€€€Hotel Kazbek
Area
Gruž (Lapad)
Type
16th-Century Villa Boutique (4★)
“A tiny 13-room boutique in a restored 16th-century summer villa with a courtyard and pool — a peaceful, characterful alternative to the Old Town.”
€€Hotel Lero
Area
Lapad
Type
Midrange (4★)
“A solid, well-priced four-star between Lapad and the Old Town — a 15-minute walk in, with a pool and reliable comfort.”
€Apartments Placa
Area
Old Town
Type
Apartments
“Self-catering apartments right in the Old Town — a budget-friendlier way for families to stay inside the walls with a kitchen.”
€Hostel Angelina
Area
Old Town
Type
Hostel
“About the best budget bed inside the walls — dorms from around €30, with a little terrace and unbeatable Old Town position.”
Dubrovnik hotels in detail
1.Hotel Excelsior
The Hotel Excelsior is one of Dubrovnik's grand five-star institutions, set on the Ploče shore just a short walk east of the Old Town, and long a favourite of visiting celebrities and dignitaries. Its great asset is the outlook: the seawater pool, terraces and many of the rooms and suites gaze straight back across the water at the floodlit Old Town walls and Lokrum island, one of the most iconic views in the city, spectacular by day and magical after dark. Behind a historic façade the interiors are contemporary and polished, with a spa, several restaurants and bars (including fine dining with that same wall-and-sea panorama), a private beach area and the slick service you'd expect at this level. The location is ideal — close enough to stroll into the Old Town in ten minutes, yet set apart enough to feel like a calm retreat by the sea. Rates are firmly luxury, typically from several hundred dollars a night and much higher in peak summer. For travellers who want a special-occasion, view-led five-star stay within easy reach of the Old Town, the Excelsior is one of Dubrovnik's benchmark addresses.
Hours
Check-in from 15:00
Price
From ~$400/night (much higher in peak summer)
Getting there
In Ploče, a 10-minute walk east of the Old Town along the coast
Insider tip: Five-star classic just east of the Old Town — the pool and many rooms look straight back at the walls and Lokrum.
2.Villa Dubrovnik
Villa Dubrovnik is arguably the city's most serene luxury hotel — a sleek, contemporary property cascading down the cliffs just outside the Old Town in the Ploče area, all clean lines, natural stone and glass, with tier upon tier of rooms and terraces stepping down to the water. Every room faces the sea, most with a private balcony looking towards the Old Town and Lokrum, and the whole design is built around light, calm and the Adriatic view. Facilities are top-tier and beautifully understated: a spa, an infinity-edge pool, an acclaimed rooftop restaurant, a private pebble beach terrace and, charmingly, the hotel's own boat that shuttles guests around the headland into the Old Town, so you can arrive by sea. It's intimate and adults-oriented in feel, prized by honeymooners and anyone seeking a quiet, design-led retreat rather than a big resort. The setting means a short walk or boat ride to the sights, but the hotel is very much a destination in itself. Rates are at the very top of the market. For understated, tranquil, view-obsessed five-star luxury, Villa Dubrovnik is the city's most romantic choice.
Hours
Check-in from 15:00
Price
From ~$500/night (higher in peak season)
Getting there
On the cliff below Ploče; boat shuttle and coastal path to the Old Town
Insider tip: A serene, tiered five-star cut into the cliff with its own beach and boat shuttle to the Old Town — the most tranquil luxury in the city.
3.Grand Villa Argentina
The Grand Villa Argentina is a handsome five-star cliffside resort immediately east of the Old Town in Ploče — arguably the closest large luxury hotel to the walls, just a five-minute walk from Ploče Gate. It's really a small cluster of buildings, including grand historic villas, tumbling down the cliff to the sea, with a series of swimming pools (indoor and outdoor), sun terraces and a rocky bathing area all enjoying that classic view back towards the Old Town and Lokrum. The rooms and suites blend classic comfort with sea-facing balconies, and facilities include a spa, restaurants and bars, and direct access to the water. Its size and range of pools and services make it a bit more family- and group-friendly than the more boutique cliff hotels nearby, while still delivering full five-star polish and one of the best locations in the city for combining a resort feel with quick access to the sights. Rates are luxury-level, especially in high summer. For travellers who want a proper resort with multiple pools and sea views, yet want to be able to walk into the Old Town in minutes, the Grand Villa Argentina is an excellent choice.
Hours
Check-in from 15:00
Price
From ~$380/night (higher in peak season)
Getting there
In Ploče, a 5-minute walk from Ploče Gate along the coast
Insider tip: A cluster of grand villas and pools tumbling down the cliff right outside the walls — the closest big five-star to the Old Town.
4.Hilton Imperial Dubrovnik
The Hilton Imperial Dubrovnik combines a grand 19th-century building with reliable five-star Hilton comforts and, above all, an unbeatable location — literally steps from Pile Gate, the western entrance to the Old Town, making it the most convenient upmarket base in the city for exploring on foot. Originally opened in 1897 and beautifully restored, it retains a stately, historic feel while offering thoroughly modern rooms and suites, an indoor pool and spa, a restaurant and a smart bar, and the consistency and loyalty perks that come with a major international brand. From the door you can be on Stradun in a couple of minutes, with the cable-car station, Fort Lovrijenac and the main bus stops all close by, so it's ideal for travellers who want to maximise sightseeing time and minimise transfers. Because it's just outside the walls rather than perched on the coast, sea views are limited compared with the cliff hotels, but the trade-off is that peerless central position and dependable service. Rates are high-end but often a touch more accessible than the top cliffside five-stars. For a polished, historic and supremely well-located luxury stay, the Hilton Imperial is a strong choice.
Hours
Check-in from 15:00
Price
From ~$300/night (higher in peak season)
Getting there
Beside Pile Gate at the western entrance to the Old Town
Insider tip: A grand 19th-century five-star literally steps from Pile Gate — the most convenient upmarket base for exploring on foot.
5.The Pučić Palace
The Pučić Palace is the definitive way to sleep inside Dubrovnik's walls in style — an intimate five-star boutique hotel occupying a restored 17th-century Baroque palace, once the home of a Ragusan noble family, right on the atmospheric Gundulić Square where the morning market sets up its stalls. With just 19 individually styled rooms and suites, it feels exclusive and personal, blending original features (stone, antiques, period detailing) with plush contemporary comfort, and putting you at the very centre of the Old Town, with Stradun, the cathedral and the main sights all on the doorstep. Facilities befit the setting: an elegant café-restaurant on the square, a rooftop terrace bar and refined, attentive service. The trade-off of a true Old Town address is that there's no pool or beach and the pedestrianised location means arriving with luggage on foot, but for many that's a small price for waking up in the middle of a living medieval city, market chatter drifting up from the square below. Rates are firmly luxury. For a romantic, characterful and utterly central boutique stay steeped in Dubrovnik's history, the Pučić Palace is unmatched.
Hours
Check-in from 15:00
Price
From ~$400/night (higher in peak season)
Getting there
On Gundulić Square in the heart of the Old Town
Insider tip: A 17th-century aristocratic palace with just 19 rooms right on the Gundulić market square — the ultimate stay inside the walls.
6.Hotel Bellevue
The Hotel Bellevue is one of Dubrovnik's most dramatically situated five-stars, built into the cliff face above the sheltered pebble cove of Miramare Bay, a short distance west of the Old Town. The clever design means you enter at the top and the hotel descends the cliff below you, so rooms look out over the sea and the west-facing bay catches spectacular sunsets, while a lift takes guests straight down to the hotel's own private beach — a genuine rarity that makes it especially appealing for a swim- and sun-focused stay. Facilities include a well-regarded spa, indoor and outdoor pools, a restaurant and bars with those sunset views, and the beach cove below with loungers and water access. It's close enough to reach the Old Town on foot in around 15 minutes (or a quick bus/taxi) yet set in a calmer residential stretch of coast, balancing beach-resort relaxation with sightseeing convenience. The combination of private beach, spa and sunset outlook makes it a strong choice for couples and families who want plenty of time by the water. Rates are luxury but often a little below the Old Town cliff hotels. For a beach-and-view-led five-star, the Bellevue is excellent.
Hours
Check-in from 15:00
Price
From ~$320/night (higher in peak season)
Getting there
Above Miramare Bay, a 15-minute walk or short bus ride to the Old Town
Insider tip: Dramatically built into the cliff above its own pebble cove, with a lift down to the beach and a spa — great for a swim-focused stay.
7.Hotel Kazbek
Hotel Kazbek is a jewel-box boutique hotel with just 13 rooms, set in a beautifully restored 16th-century Renaissance summer villa on the Gruž waterfront, a short ride from the Old Town. Once the aristocratic retreat of a Ragusan noble family, the building has been sensitively converted to blend original stone arches, beams and period character with refined contemporary comfort, arranged around a tranquil courtyard and a small pool. The intimate scale means a personal, quiet and romantic atmosphere quite different from the big cliff resorts, with attentive service, a good restaurant and a genuine sense of history. Its Gruž location puts it by the harbour where ferries and boat trips to the islands depart, with restaurants and everyday life close by, and the Old Town is a quick bus or taxi ride (or a longer waterfront walk) away. This is a stay for travellers who value character, calm and authenticity over resort facilities or an Old Town address, and who appreciate sleeping somewhere with real heritage. Rates are upper-mid-range, gentler than the top five-stars. For a small, historic and peaceful boutique base, Hotel Kazbek is a lovely find.
Hours
Check-in from 15:00
Price
From ~$250/night (higher in peak season)
Getting there
On the Gruž waterfront; ~10 minutes by bus or taxi to the Old Town
Insider tip: A tiny 13-room boutique in a restored 16th-century summer villa with a courtyard and pool — a peaceful, characterful alternative to the Old Town.
8.Hotel Lero
Hotel Lero is a dependable, sensibly priced four-star that makes an excellent-value base for exploring Dubrovnik, positioned conveniently between the leafy Lapad district and the Old Town — around a 15-minute walk or a short bus ride from the walls. It's a straightforward, comfortable modern hotel rather than a design statement, and that's its strength: well-kept rooms (many with balconies), an outdoor pool and terrace, a restaurant and bar, a fitness area and helpful service, all at prices that undercut the luxury cliff hotels considerably — a real consideration in an expensive city. The location strikes a practical balance, close enough to walk into the Old Town when you fancy it yet near Lapad's more affordable restaurants, shops and the beaches of the peninsula, with good bus links to the rest of the city and the airport bus passing nearby. It suits families, couples and travellers who want reliable comfort and easy access to the sights without paying five-star rates, and who don't mind being just outside the historic core. For solid, wallet-friendlier accommodation within walking distance of the Old Town, Hotel Lero is a smart, no-nonsense choice.
Hours
Check-in from 14:00
Price
From ~$150/night (higher in peak season)
Getting there
Between Lapad and the Old Town; ~15-minute walk or short bus ride in
Insider tip: A solid, well-priced four-star between Lapad and the Old Town — a 15-minute walk in, with a pool and reliable comfort.
9.Apartments Placa
Apartments Placa offers a practical and more affordable way to stay right inside Dubrovnik's Old Town: self-catering apartments in the heart of the walled city, putting you steps from Stradun, the cathedral and the main sights, but with the space, kitchen and flexibility that suit families, groups and longer stays. Having a kitchen is a genuine money-saver in a city where eating out is expensive — you can shop at the Gundulić Square market or a local store and prepare some meals yourself — while the central location means you can come and go from the sights easily and experience the Old Town after the day-trippers have left. As with any Old Town accommodation, the pedestrianised setting means arriving on foot with your luggage over the cobbles, and there's no hotel-style reception, pool or daily service; you're trading those for space, independence and a prime location at a gentler price. The apartments are comfortable and well-reviewed for cleanliness and position. For budget-conscious families and groups who want the magic of sleeping within the walls without five-star rates, and value a kitchen and extra room, Apartments Placa is a sensible, good-value pick.
Hours
Flexible check-in (arrange with host)
Price
From ~$120/night (higher in peak season)
Getting there
In the Old Town, a short walk from Stradun (on foot with luggage)
Insider tip: Self-catering apartments right in the Old Town — a budget-friendlier way for families to stay inside the walls with a kitchen.
10.Hostel Angelina
Hostel Angelina is a firm favourite with budget travellers for one simple reason: it offers about the best-value beds you'll find inside Dubrovnik's famously expensive Old Town. Tucked up the atmospheric stepped lanes above Stradun, this small, friendly, family-run hostel provides clean dormitory beds from around €30 a night, along with some private rooms, plus the kind of location that guests paying ten times as much are also enjoying — right in the heart of the walled city, moments from the sights, and gloriously quiet and local once the day-trippers have gone. There's a little terrace with Old Town views for socialising, and the welcoming hosts are known for good tips and a homely atmosphere. As with all Old Town stays, you'll be climbing steps with your bag and there's no lift or hotel-style luxury, but for solo travellers, backpackers and anyone prioritising budget and location over frills, that's a fair trade. It books up fast in high season given the price and position, so reserve well ahead. For affordable, sociable and superbly located accommodation inside the walls, Hostel Angelina is Dubrovnik's standout budget choice.
Hours
Reception hours vary; arrange arrival with the host
Price
Dorm beds from ~€30; private rooms higher
Getting there
In the upper Old Town, up the stepped lanes off Stradun
Insider tip: About the best budget bed inside the walls — dorms from around €30, with a little terrace and unbeatable Old Town position.