Where to stay in Dubrovnik: Best neighborhoods and hotels (and our experience staying inside the city walls)

Choosing where to stay in Dubrovnik is one of the most important decisions of your visit to this city, since most of the attractions are concentrated in a small area, and the city’s terrain and regulations can significantly impact your experience: hills, stairs, pedestrian zones, nearby beaches, access to parking lots… Depending on what you’re looking for, the amenities you need, and, especially, your budget, you can choose one area over another.

In this article, we make it very easy for you: we explain the different areas where you can stay in Dubrovnik, detail the pros and cons of each, suggest specific accommodations for all budgets, explain which area is best depending on what you’re looking for, and share our experience staying in the historic center.

Best areas to stay in Dubrovnik

At Randomtrip, we’ve divided the areas where you can stay in Dubrovnik into four:

1. The historic center (inside the city walls)
2. Pile (near the Pile Gate, which leads into the historic center)
3. Ploče (near the Ploče Gate, which leads to the historic center)
4. Lapad, Babin Kuk, and Gruž (the western area, beyond the Pile neighborhood)

Below is a map showing the four areas to help you get your bearings, along with an explanation of the pros and cons of each one.

Map of areas to stay in Dubrovnik

On this map, you can clearly see the four distinct areas where you can stay in Dubrovnik:

Here’s an interactive map as well:

1. Inside the city walls (historic center)

Staying inside the city walls is the best option for being close to everything, although it’s becoming increasingly difficult due to rising tourism and higher prices. Also, keep in mind that the area inside the city walls is entirely pedestrian-only, and most of the buildings are old and lack elevators, so you’ll have to walk – and likely climb stairs – to reach your accommodation. If that’s a problem for you, we recommend staying outside the city walls. If you do want to stay here, we recommend booking your accommodation as far in advance as possible.

Here’s a summary of the pros and cons of staying in Dubrovnik’s Historic Center:

Some tips if you decide to stay in the historic center:

• Book as far in advance as possible to find more options and better prices
• Avoid the main street (Stradun) if you’re looking for a quiet place that lets you rest better at night
• If you have trouble going up and down stairs, avoid the northern part of downtown (north of Stradun), where there are more hills and stairs. Check with your accommodation to see which floor you’ll be staying on and if there’s an elevator.

At Randomtrip, we decided we wanted to stay in this area, but since our trip was planned on short notice, we had a hard time finding an option we liked and ended up paying significantly more than we wanted to (which is why we stress that it’s best to book as early as possible). We ended up staying in a studio apartment, Apartment Ira (starting at 150€/night), which was in a great location right next to the cathedral (on a very quiet street with no noise at all), and had a small kitchen where we could make our own breakfast.

Here are several hotels and apartments in the city center that we rated highly or were recommended to us:

• Apartment Ira (starting at 150€/night): where we stayed on Randomtrip – centrally located, quiet, and with a kitchen
• Guesthouse Rustico (from 55€/night): a guesthouse with various room types, quiet, and reasonably priced.
• Festa Apartments and Rooms (from 70€/night): rooms and apartments (some with a terrace)
• Nono’s House II (from 110€/night): a modern apartment with a kitchen right in the heart of the city
• Dubrovnik Rupe Apartment (from 150€/night): a simple apartment but with a balcony and an incredible view of the city and the city walls.
• Andante con nobile (from 190€/night): apartment with an incredible view of Dubrovnik’s Old Harbor, featuring a kitchen and fully renovated
• King Richards Royal Residence (from 200€/night): a hotel with various room types and breakfast included.
• Breathtaking View Apartment Ragusea (from 400€/night): a very modern apartment with a large window offering incredible views of the city and the sea.
• Boutique Hotel Stari Grad (from 500€/night): a boutique hotel right in the heart of the city; some rooms have terraces with beautiful views.

Here are more options for staying in Dubrovnik’s historic center:

2. Pile (near Pile Gate)

The next most common option if you can’t or don’t want to stay inside the city walls is the Pile neighborhood, right next to Pile Gate. This area has the advantage of offering a few attractions to visit, being very close to one of the main entrances to the historic center, and offering better prices. That said, the upper part of the neighborhood is quite steep, so you may have to climb a few stairs or hills.

Here are the pros and cons of staying in the Pile area

Some tips if you decide to stay in Pile

• If you’d like to stay near the center, locate the Pile Gate on the map and try to choose accommodations closer to that entrance
• The northern part of Pile is on a slope, so you may have to climb stairs or walk up hills to reach your accommodation. If that’s a problem, prioritize the lower part, near the main road
• You can even find accommodations with ocean views, but be mindful of the area and the slope.
• If you’re driving, filter for options that include parking.

If we hadn’t been able to find accommodations inside the city walls, Pile would have been our second choice (in fact, we were about to book here instead of inside when we couldn’t find anything).

Here are some suggestions for hotels and apartments in Pile:

• Studio Apartment Casita (from 100€/night): an apartment with a kitchen and a lovely outdoor terrace. It’s in the upper part of the town, so you’ll have to walk up and down hills.
• Guesthouse Manda (from 120€/night): a modern studio with a terrace and beautiful views of the sea, the city walls, and the Fortress of San Lorenzo. It’s in the lower part of Pile.
• Studio Apartment Sunny Dream (from 150€/night): a studio located next to Sulic Beach and the Fortress of San Lorenzo (an unbeatable location right next to the historic center), with sea views.
• Rixos Premium Dubrovnik (from 170€/night): a 5-star hotel a 20-minute walk from Pile Gate, with beach/sea access and swimming pools.
• Dubrovnik Seaview Apartment 10 min to the Old Town (from 300€/night): a two-bedroom apartment with a terrace overlooking the sea, 10 minutes from the city walls
• Hotel Bellevue Dubrovnik (from 500€/night): a 5-star hotel with ocean views and direct access to Bellevue Beach. It’s about a 20-minute walk from Pile Gate.
• Villa Mediteran Old Town (from 1,300€/night): a 1930s villa with 5 bedrooms (sleeps 10), featuring a hot tub, terrace, and ocean views – a great option if you’re traveling with a large group.

You can see more accommodations in Pile here:

3. Ploče (near Ploče Gate)

The Ploče area is more upscale and expensive, located near Dubrovnik’s main beach, so we recommend staying here if you’re looking for something special but still close to the city center.

Here are the pros and cons of staying in the Ploče area

Some tips if you decide to stay in Ploče

• If you prefer to stay near the center, locate the Ploče Gate on the map and try to choose accommodations closer to that entrance
• This area is on a slope, so many accommodations require climbing stairs or steep hills. Choose accommodations near the main street that leads to the Ploče Gate
• You can even find accommodations with ocean views, but be mindful of the area and the slope.
• If you’re driving, filter for options that include parking.

Here are some suggestions for hotels and apartments in Ploče:

• Villa Gloria and Villa Gloria 2 (from 110€/night): studios and apartments with a shared pool and a terrace overlooking the sea, just a few minutes from Ploče Gate.
• Guesthouse Nada (from 115€/night): right next to Ploče Gate (you’ll see it from the apartment’s balcony).
• Apartments Dubrovnik Center (from 150€/night): studio with a terrace and sea views next to Banje Beach (just a few minutes from Ploče Gate)
• The Beachfront Dubrovnik Old Town (from 215€/night): apartment right across from Banje Beach, with ocean views, and just a few minutes from Ploče Gate.
• Apartment Flora (from 250€/night): apartment with sea views, near Banje Beach and Ploče Gate
• Hotel Excelsior (from 600€/night): 5-star hotel located next to Banje Beach, with direct access to the sea and some rooms offering sea views. Just a few minutes from Ploče Gate
• Villa Revelin Dubrovnik Old Town (from 700€/night): Entire villa with 4 bedrooms (sleeps 8) and a private pool
• Villa Beba Dubrovnik (from 2,400€/night): Entire villa with 5 bedrooms (sleeps 10) featuring a private pool and incredible views

Search here for more accommodations in Ploče:

4. Lapad, Babin Kuk, and Gruž

If the previous areas don’t appeal to you or are outside your budget, your next option would be to stay in the areas of Gruž (home to Dubrovnik’s current port, where you’ll find the most affordable prices and have direct bus access to the city center) or Lapad (further from the city center but close to some beaches; prices aren’t as cheap as in Gruž, but in exchange you’ll have the beach nearby and a bus connection to the city center as well) or in Babin Kuk (resort areas and beaches). In our opinion, if you’re visiting Dubrovnik for just a few days and it fits your budget, we think it’s best to stay closer to the city center, but if you don’t mind taking the bus or an Uber/Bolt, want to save money, and/or prefer to stay near the beach, you’ll find plenty of options here.

Here are the pros and cons of staying in these areas a bit further from the city center

Some tips if you decide to stay in this area farther from the city center:

• This area has 3 sub-areas:
  • Lapad: a residential area with a boardwalk, beaches, restaurants, supermarkets, and a great local atmosphere. Good value for money and a wide range of options
  • Babin Kuk: a resort and beach area geared toward leisure tourism, with very few local residents.
  • Gruž: the area around Dubrovnik’s new port, with a wide range of accommodations and very affordable prices, as well as good public transportation connections to the city center.
• Take a good look at the map to prioritize what you’re looking for: beaches, access to the city center, restaurants and cafes, etc.
• If you’re traveling by car, filter for options that include parking.

Here are some suggestions for hotels and apartments in these areas:

• Apartments Gabrieri (from 58€/night): studios with a pool (some with ocean views) in Gruž
• Studio A (from 58€/night): studio with ocean views in Gruž
• Apartments Karla (from 69€/night): studios and apartments with ocean views and close to the beach in Lapad
• Apartment Porat (from 90€/night): apartment in Gruž with a terrace
• Hotel Uvala (from 90€/night): hotel in Lapad with a pool and oceanfront location
• Apartment One (from 100€/night): apartment in Gruž with ocean views and private parking included (an excellent option if you’re renting a car)
• Grand Hotel Park (from 130€/night): 4-star hotel with over 200 rooms.
• Royal Neptun Hotel (from 130€/night): 4-star hotel in Babin Kuk with sea and sunset views.
• Apartments Silva (from 150€/night): offers a studio and an apartment, both with sea views, in Lapad, located right across from the beach.
• Valamar Argosy Hotel (from 150€/night): a hotel in Babin Kuk with sea views and a pool.
• Hotel Aquarius Dubrovnik (from 190€/night): a 4-star hotel completely renovated in 2025, with a pool and right by the sea

More accommodation options in Lapad, Gruž, and Babin Kuk here:

Tips for choosing an area to stay in Dubrovnik

As you can see, each area has its pros and cons. Here are some tips and recommendations that can help you decide which area is best for you:

• Length of stay:
  • If you’re staying in Dubrovnik for less than 3 days, prioritize location (Old Town, Pile, or Ploče)
  • If you’re staying longer, you can consider any of the areas and take advantage of the benefits of staying a little farther from the city center
• Budget:
  • Prices are higher in the historic center and Ploče
  • If you want to save money, Gruž is usually the most affordable option, and Pile offers the best value for money (good location but cheaper than the historic center)
• Luggage and Getting Around:
  • The historic center is pedestrian-only, and most accommodations have stairs and no elevator, so you’ll have to carry your suitcases or backpacks.
  • If you prioritize comfort and being able to arrive by car, choose any area except the historic center
• Car and Parking:
  • If you’re on a road trip and driving, look for accommodations with parking in any area except the historic center
  • The parking lots closest to the historic center are very expensive
• Travel priorities:
  • If your main goal is to learn about the city’s history and visit its monuments, prioritize the Historic Center, Pile, or Ploče
  • If you’re looking for more relaxation and beach time – or a mix of both – look for accommodations in Lapad, Babin Kuk, and Gruž

Summary and comparison of the areas to stay in Dubrovnik

Below is a summary and comparison table of the four areas where you can stay in Dubrovnik:

Area	Price	Access to downtown	Pros	Cons
1. Historic Center	High	On foot	Location, atmosphere, variety	Pedestrian-only, expensive, old buildings with lots of stairs
2. Pile	Medium/High	On foot (5 to 10 min)	Good location with better prices, variety, and parking	Sloped areas to access, less unique
3. Ploče	High	On foot (5 to 10 min)	Good location, beach nearby, ocean views	Expensive area, very steep (slopes/stairs)
4. Lapad	Medium	Bus/Uber/Bolt (10–15 min)	Peaceful, access to beaches, good prices	Far from downtown, less culturally distinctive
4. Gruž	Low	Bus/Uber/Bolt (10–15 min)	Affordable prices, well-connected to downtown	Not a particularly special area
4. Babin Kuk	Medium/High	Bus/Uber/Bolt (15–20 min)	Resorts for relaxation, beaches	Far from downtown, tourist-oriented
Area	Price	Access to downtown	Pros	Cons

Our experience staying in dubrovnik’s old town

At Randomtrip, we decided to spend 5 days exploring Dubrovnik and its surroundings, and after researching the different areas, we knew we wanted to stay in the old town. Since we planned our trip on short notice, availability was already very limited, and the few options left were quite expensive, so we ended up considering places outside the historic center, especially in the Pile area.

In the end, we decided to spend a little more money and stay in the historic center, and we think it was an excellent choice: we chose an apartment (Apartment Ira, starting at 150€/night) that was in a fantastic location – right next to Dubrovnik Cathedral but on a completely quiet, peaceful street where we slept wonderfully every night – and it had a small kitchen where we made our breakfast every day.

Staying here allowed us to explore all the sights in the historic center on foot, without having to give up the beach (Banje was a 10-minute walk away, and we also went to the beaches in Lapad by bus, which was included in our Dubrovnik Pass), with plenty of options for lunch and dinner, and the ability to rest in peace thanks to our choice of a very quiet street. In addition, the hostess of the Apartment Ira was incredible and charming – she sent us lots of recommendations, offered us a bottle of her family’s wine as well as some homemade liqueur, and even did our laundry when we asked about a nearby laundromat. Without a doubt, her service was top-notch. We definitely highly recommend it!

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We hope this guide helps you and makes it easier to choose your accommodations in Dubrovnik, and that you thoroughly enjoy your visit to the city.

Don’t miss our complete guide to Dubrovnik to help you plan your trip, where you’ll find everything there is to see and do, the best restaurants, suggested itineraries, and much more:

Things to see and do in Dubrovnik in 1, 2, 3, or 4 days: a complete travel guide to the Pearl of the Adriatic