Best Hotels in Dubrovnik: Old City Walls, Lapad & the Adriatic Islands (2026)
The Rixos Premium Dubrovnik's Adriatic cliff pool, Villa Dubrovnik's 5-star Old City panorama, and Sponza Palace for the extraordinary character of sleeping inside Dubrovnik's 14th-century walls.
Dubrovnik: Beauty Under Pressure
Dubrovnik is simultaneously one of the most beautiful cities in Europe and one of the most over-touristed — the extraordinary 2km medieval city walls (the most complete and most beautiful city fortifications in Europe, the most extraordinary walk in Croatia — the 1h30 circuit of the walls above the Adriatic Sea, the extraordinary views of the Old City’s terracotta rooftops, the extraordinary Lokrum Island, and the extraordinary crystal-clear Adriatic below), the extraordinary Game of Thrones effect (Dubrovnik served as King’s Landing in Seasons 1–7 — the most significant tourism impact of any TV production on a single destination, approximately 20% of visitors cite it as the primary motivation), and the extraordinary Croatian Riviera character.
The overtourism reality: 10,000 cruise ship passengers and 30,000 additional day-trippers can arrive on a single July or August day — a city with a permanent population of 18,000. The solution: arrive before 08:00 or after 17:00 for the Wall walk and the Old City experience, stay inside the walls or within 5 minutes, and visit Lokrum Island or take the ferry to the Elafiti Islands when the Old City is crowded.
Inside the Old City Walls
Grand Villa Argentina — Cliff Edge
Price: €300–2,000/night | Location: Frana Supila 14, Old City (just outside the Ploče Gate)
Grand Villa Argentina is the most celebrated historic hotel in Dubrovnik — the extraordinary Belle Époque main villa (the 1922 villa, the original luxury hotel of the Adriatic, the extraordinary cliff-edge position east of the Ploče Gate), the extraordinary sea-view pools (the most extraordinary pool terrace in Dubrovnik — the extraordinary three pools cascading down the cliff face to the Adriatic platform, the most photographed hotel amenity in Croatia), and the extraordinary history (King Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson, Princess Margaret, and Elizabeth Taylor are among the most celebrated guests). The extraordinary Esplanade restaurant (the finest hotel restaurant in Dubrovnik — the extraordinary Adriatic terrace, the extraordinary seafood menu).
Villa Dubrovnik — City Panorama
Price: €400–2,500/night | Location: Vlaha Bukovca 6, Old City East
Villa Dubrovnik is the most design-forward luxury hotel in Dubrovnik — the extraordinary position (the extraordinary cliff-face position east of the Old City, the most extraordinary direct Old City panorama available from any Dubrovnik hotel — the extraordinary view of the Walls, the extraordinary Old Harbour, and the extraordinary island of Lokrum from the extraordinary infinity pool), the excellent Banje Bistro restaurant (the most celebrated hotel restaurant view in Dubrovnik), and the extraordinary design (the most sophisticated hotel interior in Croatia — the extraordinary clean-lined contemporary design in dialogue with the extraordinary historic panorama).
Lapad — Resort Character
Rixos Premium Dubrovnik — Adriatic Cliff Pool
Price: €300–1,500/night | Location: Liechtensteinov put 3, Lapad
Rixos Premium Dubrovnik (the extraordinary Lapad peninsula property — the Rixos brand’s finest Croatian property) is the finest resort hotel in the Dubrovnik area — the extraordinary cliff pool (the most extraordinary pool position of any Dubrovnik resort hotel — the extraordinary multi-level pool terrace dropping down to the Adriatic Sea, the extraordinary cliff-edge infinity pool), the extraordinary beach club (the extraordinary Adriatic platform at the base of the cliff — the most extraordinary Dubrovnik resort beach), and the extraordinary Rixos all-inclusive food and beverage program (the finest all-inclusive offering in Croatia).
Sun Gardens Dubrovnik — Orašac
Price: €200–1,000/night | Location: Orašac, 15km northwest of Dubrovnik
Sun Gardens Dubrovnik (the most comprehensive resort complex in the Dubrovnik area — the extraordinary 207 rooms and 207 residences, the extraordinary 5 pools, the extraordinary private marina, and the extraordinary Café del Mar franchise) is the finest family resort option in the Dubrovnik area — the extraordinary scale (the most facilities of any single resort in Croatia), the extraordinary value relative to the Old City properties, and the extraordinary private beach.
The Elafiti Islands Day Trips
The extraordinary Elafiti Islands (the island chain northwest of Dubrovnik accessible by ferry from the Old Harbour — the most beautiful island day trip from any Adriatic city):
Koločep (15 minutes by ferry): The extraordinary small island (the most intimate of the Elafiti — the extraordinary pine forest, the extraordinary sandy beach on the northern coast (the finest sandy beach in the Dubrovnik area — most Dubrovnik beaches are pebble), and the extraordinary village character.
Lopud (50 minutes): The extraordinary car-free island (no motor vehicles — the most extraordinary car-free island in the Adriatic), the extraordinary Šunj Beach (the finest sandy beach accessible from Dubrovnik — 3km around the island by foot or donkey from the ferry dock), and the extraordinary abandoned Franciscan monastery.
Šipan (90 minutes): The largest Elafiti island — the extraordinary wine production (the extraordinary white wine made from the extraordinary endemic Šipanjski grk grape variety), the extraordinary Renaissance palaces (the most extraordinary Renaissance rural architecture of any Croatian island — the extraordinary nobility summer palaces of the Dubrovnik aristocracy).
Game of Thrones Sites
Dubrovnik’s main Game of Thrones sites for fans:
Minčeta Tower (King’s Landing: the House of the Undying): The most impressive of the Old City towers — the extraordinary circular fortress at the highest point of the walls.
Fort Lovrijenac (“The Red Keep”): The extraordinary free-standing fortress on the western cliff face — accessible separately from the main Old City (small additional entrance fee), the extraordinary Game of Thrones filming location for the throne room scenes.
Pile Gate area: The extraordinary main gate of the Old City — the Braavos filming location for multiple Arya Stark scenes.
Stradun (the main Old City street): The King’s Landing main street — the extraordinary 300m limestone-paved main street, the most photographed street in Croatia.
FAQ
When should you visit Dubrovnik? May and September–October are the finest months — the extraordinary May (the sea is warming but the cruise ships have not yet reached peak frequency), the extraordinary September (the sea at its warmest — 26–27°C, the extraordinary lower tourist numbers as European school holidays end) and the extraordinary October (the extraordinary quiet, the extraordinary autumn light, the extraordinary dramatic Adriatic storms beginning to add atmosphere).
Is Dubrovnik worth the price? Yes — the extraordinary Old City (the UNESCO World Heritage Site designation is richly deserved: the 2km walls, the extraordinary Baroque architecture of the Stradun and the side streets, and the extraordinary maritime history) is among the most beautiful urban environments in Europe. The high prices ($200–500/night for mid-range hotels, €20–30 for a restaurant dinner) reflect the extraordinary supply constraints of a medieval city that cannot expand.
What is the best Dubrovnik day trip? The Kotor Bay Montenegro day trip (2h30 by ferry from Dubrovnik Old Harbour — the extraordinary walled city of Kotor, the most beautiful medieval town in Montenegro, the extraordinary Bay of Kotor (the only fjord in the Mediterranean — the extraordinary inland sea surrounded by the extraordinary Dinaric Alps), and the extraordinary Perast (the most atmospheric village in Montenegro — the extraordinary islands in the bay)) is the finest day trip from Dubrovnik, providing a genuinely different cultural experience in a UNESCO World Heritage setting.