Where to stay in Dubrovnik
Five distinct neighbourhoods, prices ranging from $55 to $900 a night — here's who each one is actually for.
Quiet lane in the Ploče neighbourhood of Dubrovnik
Old Town: atmosphere at a premium
Inside the walls is the most atmospheric base — church bells at 7am, cats on the steps, dinner 40 seconds from your door. But: no lifts, dozens of steps to most apartments, and cruise-ship crowds pouring in from 10am-4pm. Rooms start around $180 and climb past $500 in July. Best for couples on 2-3 night visits who prioritise mornings and evenings over pool time. Not for families with young kids or anyone with mobility issues.
Ploče and Pile: just outside the gates
Ploče (east) and Pile (west) sit immediately outside the two Old Town gates. Ploče has the grand hotels — Excelsior, Grand Villa Argentina, Villa Dubrovnik — all with sea-facing pools and 5-minute walks to Stradun. Pile is more modest but faster to airport buses. Expect $250-700 a night. This is the sweet spot for a first visit: walls at your door, but a pool to escape to when the 33°C afternoon hits.
Lapad and Babin Kuk: family territory
The peninsula 2 miles west of the Old Town is where local families actually holiday. Pine-shaded promenade, sandy-ish Sunset Beach, apartments with kitchens from $110 a night. Bus 6 runs to Pile every 15 minutes and takes 20 minutes. This is where I send anyone with children or anyone staying more than 3 nights — you get real Croatian evenings on the seafront path rather than the cruise-ship reheat inside the walls.
Gruž: budget and authenticity
The working port with the Saturday market. Rooms from $55, no beach but easy ferry access to the Elaphiti and Mljet. Best for backpackers, solo travellers, and anyone using Dubrovnik as an islands base. Cavtat, 10 miles south by boat or bus, is a fifth option — a whitewashed fishing town near the airport, less touristy than Dubrovnik proper and 20% cheaper. Good for a final night before an early flight.
Frequently asked questions
What people ask before they set off on this one.
For 2-3 nights, absolutely — the atmosphere is unique. Longer than that, the crowds and stairs wear thin.
Lapad or Babin Kuk. Kitchen-equipped apartments, beaches, and no steep alleys with kids in tow.
Ploče. Pile has the main gate and bus terminal on its doorstep. Ploče faces the Old Port and is more residential.
12 miles, about 25 minutes by taxi ($35) or the airport shuttle bus ($15) which drops at Pile gate.
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