If you're looking for a hotel in Dubrovnik and want to know the best area to stay in Dubrovnik, then you've come to the right place! In this post we share with you the best neighbourhoods to enjoy the city as well as a selection of hotels to make your search for accommodation as easy and quick as possible.
It is very important to know that the historic centre of Dubrovnik is pedestrianised and there are no car parks in this area. That is why if you are doing an itinerary around Croatia by rental car you will have to leave the vehicle outside the most touristy area, paying in most cases an average of 6 euros per hour in the areas closest to the walls; look for a car park a little further away or opt for accommodation with parking included, as we did.
Based on the time we spent in the city during our trip to Croatia and Bosnia, after which we wrote this post about the places to see in Dubrovnik, we leave you a selection of places to stay in Dubrovnik and the best areas and hotels. Let's get started!
Places to stay in Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik is a relatively small city and this is especially true if we focus on accommodation as most travellers spend 1 or 2 days in the city and are looking to stay in a central area to be close to all the tourist attractions.
That is why in this case we are going to focus only on 7 areas or neighbourhoods, which are the most suitable if you are looking for a place to stay in Dubrovnik that is well located and perfect to make the most of the city without having to travel far.
Historic centre (walled city)
Surrounding walled area
Ploce
Pile
Lapad
Babin Kuk
Gruz
1. Walled City: the historic centre and the best place to sleep in Dubrovnik
Without a doubt, this is our favourite area to stay in Dubrovnik. Known for being one of the most beautiful historic centres in the country, this is where most of the city's tourist attractions are located.
However, it's important to know that, although you'll be close to everything and can get around on foot, if you have a car you'll have to pay an extra (sometimes very high) fee to leave your car in a car park outside the city walls and, depending on the location of the hotel, you may have to carry your luggage up some slopes or stairs.
If you don't mind that, we can assure you that you will be in one of the most charming places in the world, especially early in the morning, when the organised groups have not yet arrived, and in the evening, after sunset, when most tourists have already left and the streets are only for those who have decided to dine and stay in this area of the city.
The price of accommodation in the historic centre is usually 150 euros, although sometimes you can find a bargain for less than 120 euros, especially if you book well in advance.
Recommended hotels in the walled city
We share with you a selection of great value for money accommodation in the historic city centre.
Old town centre
2. Surrounding the walled city, the best area to stay in Dubrovnik if you have a car
On many occasions, whether due to a tight budget, lack of availability or wanting to find a hotel in Dubrovnik with parking, we start by discarding options near the historic centre and opt to start our search directly in Dubrovnik's more distant neighbourhoods.
We recommend not doing this because, if you search a little, you only have to go a little further away from the walls, sometimes just a few streets, to find accommodation, some of them with parking included, which are perfect for enjoying the city without having to make long transfers and even, many of them, with great views of the historic centre.
It is also important to know that in these cases there are buses that run routes around the areas surrounding the historic centre and that walking, in general, will not take more than 10-15 minutes, although in this case, you will usually have to climb quite a few stairs the further you get away from the walls as some of these accommodations are in the upper area.
Accommodation on the outskirts of the historic centre usually costs around 100-120 euros and some even include parking and unique views of the walled city.
Recommended hotels on the outskirts of the walled city
Here is a selection of the perfect accommodation to stay in this area of the city.
Accommodation on the outskirts of the walled area.
3. Ploce, another one of the best alternatives to stay in Dubrovnik with car
Fancy going to the beach in Dubrovnik? Then probably the best option to stay in this case is Ploce, a neighbourhood located in the eastern part of the walled city where you will be just a few minutes walk from the historic centre and Banje, one of the most famous beaches in the area.
Being outside the walled area, it is much easier to find hotels with parking, so you don't have to worry too much about parking.
The price of accommodation in Ploce tends to be around 100 euros in high season, although in low season you can find offers for 50 euros.
Recommended hotels in Ploce
Here is a selection of hotels in Ploce, all offering unbeatable value for money.
Banje beach in Ploce
4. Pile, one of the most recommended neighbourhoods to stay in Dubrovnik
Located in the eastern part of the walled city, this is another of the best neighbourhoods to stay in Dubrovnik. This is also where the Pile Gate, one of the main entrances to the historic centre, is located, so you'll be just a short walk from most tourist attractions.
It is important to note that, as in the previous areas, if you are staying in a hotel in the upper part of the neighbourhood, you will have to climb quite a few stairs on your way back from sightseeing in the centre. However, it is often worth the effort, both in terms of price and the possibility of finding parking.
The price of accommodation in Pile tends to be around 120 euros in high season, although in low season you can find offers for 80-100 euros.
Recommended hotels in Pile
We share with you a selection of hotels in Pile that offer excellent value for money.
Pile Gate area
5. Lapad, the best area if you are looking for peace and quiet.
Although not one of our favourite areas to stay in Dubrovnik, as we prefer more central locations, if you are not interested in staying near the historic centre and are looking for a quiet place to stay, Lapad is an excellent choice.
Known for being a residential neighbourhood, it is located in a beach area and is also very well connected to the historical area by bus, so you won't have any problems getting around.
You will also be able to find much cheaper accommodation here and you will be able to park your car without any problems.
The price of accommodation in Lapad is usually around 75 euros in high season, although in low season you can find offers for less than 50 euros.
Recommended hotels in Lapad
Here is a selection of accommodation in Lapad, all offering great value for money.
Lapad
6. Gruz, a cheap area to sleep in Dubrovnik, very well connected to the historic centre.
If your budget is tight, our recommendation is to stay in Gruz. This neighbourhood, well known for being the location of the port where cruise ships dock, the ferries that go to the islands of this part of the coast and the bus terminal, is perfect as it is very quiet and has a wide range of hotels at much lower prices than the historic centre and the surrounding neighbourhoods.
Remember that these more distant areas are perfectly connected to the centre thanks to the buses that connect the whole city.
The price of accommodation in Gruz is usually around 70 euros in high season, although in low season you can find offers for less than 50 euros.
Recommended hotels in Gruz
Here is a selection of hotels in Gruz harbour, all offering great value for money.
7. Babin Kuk, the perfect place to stay if you are looking for beach and relaxation.
In the northern part of Lapad, Babin Kuk is the perfect place to stay in Dubrovnik if you are looking for a good resort, beach and the occasional trip to the historic city.
In our experience, if you're only in town for 1-2 days and your plans don't involve lying in the sun, this is the last area we'd choose as, although there are some good hotels, there aren't many flat options here and it's not practical for commuting back and forth to the centre.
However, remember that buses connect the whole city in a relatively short time.
The price of accommodation in Babin Kuk tends to be around 120-150 euros in high season although in low season you can find deals for 50-80 euros.
Recommended hotels in Babin Kuk
These are some of the recommended hotels in Babin Kuk.
Babin Kuk
Our recommended accommodation where to stay in Dubrovnik
During our self-drive trip to Croatia we spent several days in the city and, as we were doing the route by car, we decided it was best to stay outside the historic centre but close enough so that we didn't have to take public transport.
We also looked for an option with parking so that we wouldn't have to worry about the car.
After considering several options we ended up choosing Villa Dard, only 5 minutes away from the historical area and the best thing, with free private parking included in the price of the room.
After our experience we believe that this area, together with the historic centre, are the best places to stay in Dubrovnik if we take into account the quality-price ratio of the hotels and the location.
Views of Dubrovnik
Best Hotels in Dubrovnik
Although we have already provided you with a selection of the best value for money places to stay in Dubrovnik, if you want to enjoy an unforgettable stay in a special hotel, we share with you some options that we believe you will love.
Tips for cheap accommodation in Dubrovnik
If your idea is to stay in the city for 1 or 2 days and you want to spend the time getting to know the historic area, we recommend you book as far in advance as possible as you can find deals for less than 80 euros even in high season.
If you choose a hotel in Dubrovnik that is outside the historic centre, remember that there is public transport that covers most neighbourhoods. Also, if you buy a ticket to the city walls at the Tourist Office, it includes free transport for 24 hours.
Remember that parking near the ramparts is very expensive, about 6 euros per hour, so you will save a lot if you book a hotel with parking.
Remember that to avoid paying commissions and to always have the current exchange rate, we recommend you use the Revolut card and the N26 card, which are the ones we used, are free and will save you a lot of money.
Once you have found the ideal place to stay in Dubrovnik you can organise your routes around the city with the following guides and posts:
18 must-see places to see in Croatia
20 places to see in Dubrovnik
How to get from Dubrovnik airport to the centre of Dubrovnik
Where to eat in Dubrovnik: recommended restaurants
Croatia 7- and 10-day itinerary (itinerary + map)
Croatia by car in 15 days (map + tips)
10 essential travel tips for Croatia
