Dubrovnik Location Descriptions, Part 1

The next few blog entries will focus on where to stay in and around Dubrovnik. There will be detailed descriptions of each location as well as the positives and drawbacks of staying there. I hope this is useful for first time visitors to Dubrovnik or for those returning to Dubrovnik but looking for an off-the-beaten-path place to stay. (View the entire list now)

Old Town (MAP) This beautiful and traditional walled town is the historical center of Dubrovnik and the place most visitors head to first. It offers many sights including churches, a Franciscan monastery, civic palaces, and the Old Port. It also has a high concentration of restaurants, café bars, and shops. Daily ferry boats depart from the Old Port to Lokrum Island, Cavtat, and the Elaphites.

Positives: central location, no need for a car, pedestrian-only streets (great for families with children), easy walking distance to Banje Beach, several nightlife options.

Drawbacks: no cars allowed within city walls and in the summer finding parking outside city walls is difficult; streets get very crowded in the summer and noise may be a problem at night; few apartments have balconies/terraces; no sea views.


Walking Distance to Old Town By this we mean anywhere between 3 and 25 minutes walking distance. The main reasons for staying outside of Old Town are views, more space, less noise, and in some cases, parking. Accommodations in Ploce are close to Banje and Sv Jacob beaches and many of them have spectacular views…but keep in mind that views often come at a price—namely long flights of stairs or steep uphill climbs when walking back from Old Town. Pile is the area just outside Old Town’s Pile Gate, while Ilina Glavica is a residential neighborhood about 15-20 minutes away. Gorica is a residential sea-side neighborhood which is home to the new 5-star Rixos hotel. It is well positioned midway between Lapad and the Old Town, about a 20 – 25 minute walk from either.

Positives: sea views, more space for your money, parking spaces (in some cases), quieter surroundings, proximity to beaches.

Drawbacks: some apartments require strenuous uphill or upstairs climbs, the walk to Old Town may be too far for those who wish to visit the center several times per day.

Up next: Lapad, Zupa Dubrovacka, and beyond...