Posted: 2/8/2023 | February eighth, 2023
Dubrovnik is the most well-liked metropolis in Croatia. Famed for its historic and well-preserved Outdated City (and as a filming location for Sport of Thrones), this picturesque metropolis of 40,000 inhabitants swells with vacationers from Might to early October, due to a rising variety of cruise ships that dock right here.
The overwhelming majority of tourists, nonetheless, have a tendency to stay to some areas. That implies that choosing the proper neighborhood is extra essential right here than in lots of different locations, as it’ll drastically affect your expertise.
That will help you determine the place to remain in Dubrovnik, I’ll spotlight the perfect neighborhoods, so you possibly can select the world that the majority fits your journey model and price range.
However, earlier than I get to the specifics, listed here are some widespread questions I get requested about Dubrovnik neighborhoods:
What’s the perfect neighborhood for foodies?
In case you arrive in Dubrovnik by bus or boat, your first step might be in Gruž (pronounced “Groozh”), which these days has acquired quite a lot of nice consuming choices.
What’s the perfect neighborhood for households?
Lapad is just a 10-minute bus journey to Outdated City and has a beautiful family-friendly seaside.
What’s the perfect neighborhood for partying?
Pile (pronounced “Pee-lay”) is a warren of slim streets that’s completely positioned to make the most of the numerous bars in and round Outdated City, which is simply to the east.
What’s the perfect neighborhood for feeling like a neighborhood?
You received’t see this neighborhood on many different lists. A couple of 15-minute stroll from Outdated City, Montovjerna is a quiet space with quite a lot of bars and eating places frequented by locals.
What’s the perfect neighborhood general?
Whereas bustling and crowded, Stari Grad (Outdated City) is the place all of the motion is.
With these questions now answered, here’s a extra particular breakdown of every neighborhood — with recommended lodging, so that you’ll know the place to remain in Dubrovnik:
The place to Keep in Dubrovnik for Foodies: Gruž
There as soon as was a time when there was nothing significantly spectacular about Gruž. However within the final 5 or so years, the neighborhood has developed into an excellent place to eat. Along with being house to the principle outside meals market, there are a handful of terrific eating places that make Gruž the vacation spot for these of you who let your abdomen and style buds dictate your itinerary.
The town’s solely brewery, the Dubrovnik Beer Firm, is in Gruž, and it has a beautiful faucet room for sampling the beers. Whenever you get hungry, cease into Glorijet, Amfora, and Kiosk. (The newish Purple Historical past Museum, about life within the former Yugoslavia, can also be in Gruž.)
Finest Locations to Keep in Gruž:
- BUDGET: Free Hen – One of many metropolis’s latest hostels, Free Hen has a chill widespread space with a big TV and a kitchenette (no range although). Total, it’s a fairly fundamental hostel, however it’s very fashionable and clear, the employees are nice, and the views from the terrace are implausible. There are female-only rooms as nicely.
- MID-RANGE: Resort Adria – Most rooms at this comfy resort have balconies that look out over the marina. All rooms have large, comfortable mattresses and air con. When you’ve got a automotive, use of the resort’s parking storage is complimentary.
- LUXURY: Berkeley Resort & Spa – Smack within the coronary heart of Gruž, Berkeley is the one luxurious resort within the neighborhood. It has spacious visitor rooms, a few of which have balconies overlooking the marina, in addition to an outside pool, a bar, and a totally outfitted spa.
The place to Keep in Dubrovnik for Households: Lapad
About 10 or so minutes on the bus from/to Outdated City, Lapad presents a mixture of locals and vacationers. Positioned on a peninsula, residents love to hang around on the lengthy pedestrian promenade, the place a nonstop line of eating places and cafés line the best way to the seaside. Guests, significantly households, benefit from the tranquil seaside on the cove, the place the minimal waves make for a really perfect spot for youths to swim. You’ll discover far fewer crowds right here too.
Finest Locations to Keep in Lapad:
- BUDGET: Dubrovnik Backpackers Membership – Positioned simply over the Lapad border in Babin Kuk, Dubrovnik Backpackers Membership is probably the most reasonably priced choice within the space. The rooms embrace just a few four-person combined dorms and a few two-person personal rooms with en suite loos and showers. The massive kitchen is ideal for cooking your personal meals, and there’s additionally a terrace with a beautiful view over the neighborhood.
- MID-RANGE: Artwork Resort – Only a two-minute stroll to the principle seaside in Lapad, Artwork Resort is a properly priced lodging with quite a lot of consolation and elegance. The rooms have balconies, a few of them with good views, and likewise air con, giant flat-screen TVs, and minibars.
- LUXURY: Royal Palm Resort – This is among the extra reasonably priced luxurious choices on the town. The resort has giant visitor rooms with ocean vistas and an excellent terrace restaurant for much more views of the Adriatic Sea. There’s a soothing spa on-site as nicely.
The place to remain in Dubrovnik for Partying: Pile
Pile, simply exterior of Pile Gate (certainly one of 3 ways out and in of Outdated City), is a neighborhood of slim winding streets between the historic heart and the medieval Fort Lovrijenac and Gradac Park. It isn’t essentially rife with celebration spots, however it’s not within the Airbnb-centric Outdated City and it’s inside strolling (learn: stumbling) distance of the walled Stari Grad do you have to be inclined to spend the nights imbibing.
Finest Locations to Keep in Pile:
- BUDGET: Villa Backyard Hostel – Positioned close to Gradac Park, Villa Backyard Hostel is made up of a group of personal rooms, every of which has both one or two single beds. The property has a enjoyable, lively widespread room and a beautiful terrace to soak up the Adriatic breezes.
- MID-RANGE: B&B Villa Dubrovnik Backyard – This B&B is positioned up on the hill overlooking Outdated City and the Adriatic Sea. The six rooms are properly appointed, with big beds and beautiful views. The employees are glorious and can assist you propose your journey and guide excursions too.
- LUXURY: Hilton Imperial Dubrovnik – A part of one of many few large worldwide resort chains (run by Hilton) in Dubrovnik, the Imperial is definitely a historic property. It’s completely positioned simply exterior of Outdated City’s Pile Gate and has a beautiful foyer bar and plus-sized rooms with extra-large, comfy beds.
The place to Keep in Dubrovnik to Really feel Like a Native: Montovjerna
The principle drag of this neighborhood is ulica bana Josipa Jelacica, which implies nothing to vacationers, however to locals, it’s — or a minimum of, was — a celebration avenue, lined with bars. It even gained the moniker “Bourbon Avenue” (after the notorious celebration avenue in New Orleans). At the moment it’s a lot tamer, however it’s nonetheless a great place to seize espresso or a night drink on the handful of pubs on the road if you wish to hang around the place residents go.
The road can also be house to top-of-the-line consuming choices on the town: Marija’s Home, the place chef Marija Papak cooks unbelievable native fare on the lined terrace of her house.
Finest Locations to Keep in Montovjerna:
- BUDGET: Vila Marija – Only a 15-minute stroll from/to Outdated City, this guesthouse presents personal rooms in addition to total studio residences with their very own kitchens. There’s a beautiful terrace exterior and the host is extraordinarily form and welcoming.
- MID-RANGE: Resort Lero – This can be a lengthy, rectangular, multifloor property with an inviting courtyard pool and rooms that overlook the Adriatic Sea. The rooms have air con, plush robes, coffeemakers, satellite tv for pc televisions, and huge wardrobes.
- LUXURY: Resort Extra – This cliffside resort is correct on the water. The 72 rooms and eight suites all have balconies that face the shimmering Adriatic. As a bonus, the resort boasts probably the most distinctive bar within the metropolis, if not all of Croatia: the Cave Bar Extra, which, because the title suggests, is ready in an precise cave proper on the water.
The Finest Total Neighborhood in Dubrovnik: Stari Grad
Stari Grad, or Outdated City, is the principle attract Dubrovnik and the chief cause why hundreds of thousands of individuals go to. In case you come throughout peak season, count on the limestone-blanketed streets to really feel like a sidewalk in Instances Sq., because the foot visitors causes critical congestion. That mentioned, that is the rationale you got here right here and possibly the place the place you is likely to be spending a lot of your time.
There are some respectable eating places in Outdated City. However regardless of the quite a few pizzerias right here, avoid pizza in any respect prices; you’ll be disillusioned.
Additionally, keep away from the restaurant-lined avenue Prijeko ulica, which locals have nicknamed “Banditenstrasse,” as a result of it’s the road the place vacationers go to get ripped off by dangerous meals and dangerous eating places (which have a historical past of scamming vacationers).
As an alternative, simply take pleasure in staying in Outdated City, taking within the medieval ambiance of the place as you wander the slim streets.
Finest Locations to Keep in Stari Grad:
- BUDGET: Metropolis Partitions Hostel – This three-floor, award-winning property has a spacious widespread room and a small however absolutely outfitted kitchen and a fundamental free breakfast each morning. There’s additionally espresso and tea accessible within the kitchen all through the day.
- MID-RANGE: La Vita e Bella II – This assortment of stylish rooms is positioned in a Thirteenth-century house within the coronary heart of the Outdated City. All items have air con, flat display TVs, and glorious facilities, together with small touches like Bose audio system and robes/slippers.
- LUXURY: St. Joseph’s Resort – Housed in a Sixteenth-century constructing, St. Joseph’s is one of some motels positioned throughout the partitions. And it’s a pleasant one! The six rooms have small kitchens, rain showers (some even have huge bathtubs), and sufficient area to make you need to keep awhile. The employees is especially pleasant too.
Dubrovnik is finest skilled for those who unfold your self out, not completely counting on the overcrowded Outdated City for all of your enjoyable and exploring. There are many cool, quiet, and exquisite neighborhoods in Dubrovnik that can help you beat the crowds whereas nonetheless taking in all the things town has to supply.
And, because the metropolis is comparatively small, you’re at all times inside a brief bus journey to all the things, guaranteeing that you just received’t miss out on something this gorgeous medieval city has to supply.
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