Posted: 2/8/2023 | February eighth, 2023
Dubrovnik is the preferred metropolis in Croatia. Famed for its historic and well-preserved Outdated City (and as a filming location for Recreation of Thrones), this picturesque metropolis of 40,000 inhabitants swells with vacationers from Could to early October, due to a rising variety of cruise ships that dock right here.
The overwhelming majority of tourists, nevertheless, 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’s going to drastically impression your expertise.
That will help you resolve the place to remain in Dubrovnik, I’ll spotlight the most effective neighborhoods, so you possibly can select the world that the majority fits your journey type and finances.
However, earlier than I get to the specifics, listed here are some frequent questions I get requested about Dubrovnik neighborhoods:
What’s the most effective neighborhood for foodies?
If you happen to arrive in Dubrovnik by bus or boat, your first step will probably be in Gruž (pronounced “Groozh”), which these days has acquired a whole lot of nice consuming choices.
What’s the most effective neighborhood for households?
Lapad is just a 10-minute bus journey to Outdated City and has a beautiful family-friendly seashore.
What’s the most effective neighborhood for partying?
Pile (pronounced “Pee-lay”) is a warren of slim streets that’s completely positioned to reap the benefits of the numerous bars in and round Outdated City, which is simply to the east.
What’s the most effective neighborhood for feeling like a neighborhood?
You gained’t see this neighborhood on many different lists. A couple of 15-minute stroll from Outdated City, Montovjerna is a quiet space with a whole lot of bars and eating places frequented by locals.
What’s the most effective neighborhood total?
Whereas bustling and crowded, Stari Grad (Outdated City) is the place all of the motion is.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 instructed 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 advanced into an incredible place to eat. Along with being house to the primary 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.
Town’s solely brewery, the Dubrovnik Beer Firm, is in Gruž, and it has a beautiful faucet room for sampling the beers. While you get hungry, cease into Glorijet, Amfora, and Kiosk. (The newish Pink Historical past Museum, about life within the former Yugoslavia, can be in Gruž.)
Finest Locations to Keep in Gruž:
- BUDGET: Free Fowl – One of many metropolis’s latest hostels, Free Fowl has a chill frequent space with a big TV and a kitchenette (no range although). Total, it’s a fairly primary hostel, nevertheless it’s very trendy and clear, the employees are nice, and the views from the terrace are unbelievable. There are female-only rooms as effectively.
- MID-RANGE: Resort Adria – Most rooms at this snug resort have balconies that look out over the marina. All rooms have massive, cozy mattresses and air con. If in case you have 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 completely outfitted spa.
The place to Keep in Dubrovnik for Households: Lapad
About 10 or so minutes on the bus from/to Outdated City, Lapad affords a mixture of locals and vacationers. Situated 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 seashore. Guests, significantly households, benefit from the tranquil seashore on the cove, the place the minimal waves make for a perfect spot for teenagers to swim. You’ll discover far fewer crowds right here too.
Finest Locations to Keep in Lapad:
- BUDGET: Dubrovnik Backpackers Membership – Situated simply over the Lapad border in Babin Kuk, Dubrovnik Backpackers Membership is essentially the most inexpensive possibility within the space. The rooms embrace just a few four-person blended dorms and a few two-person non-public rooms with en suite loos and showers. The big kitchen is ideal for cooking your individual 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 primary seashore in Lapad, Artwork Resort is a properly priced lodging with a whole lot of consolation and magnificence. The rooms have balconies, a few of them with good views, and in addition air con, massive flat-screen TVs, and minibars.
- LUXURY: Royal Palm Resort – This is without doubt one of the extra inexpensive luxurious choices on the town. The resort has massive visitor rooms with ocean vistas and an incredible terrace restaurant for much more views of the Adriatic Sea. There’s a calming spa on-site as effectively.
The place to remain in Dubrovnik for Partying: Pile
Pile, simply outdoors of Pile Gate (considered 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 social gathering spots, nevertheless it’s not within the Airbnb-centric Outdated City and it’s inside strolling (learn: stumbling) distance of the walled Stari Grad must you be inclined to spend the nights imbibing.
Finest Locations to Keep in Pile:
- BUDGET: Villa Backyard Hostel – Situated 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, energetic frequent room and a beautiful terrace to absorb the Adriatic breezes.
- MID-RANGE: B&B Villa Dubrovnik Backyard – This B&B is situated up on the hill overlooking Outdated City and the Adriatic Sea. The six rooms are properly appointed, with enormous beds and wonderful views. The employees are glorious and might help you intend your journey and e-book excursions too.
- LUXURY: Hilton Imperial Dubrovnik – A part of one of many few massive worldwide resort chains (run by Hilton) in Dubrovnik, the Imperial is definitely a historic property. It’s completely positioned simply outdoors of Outdated City’s Pile Gate and has a beautiful foyer bar and plus-sized rooms with extra-large, snug 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 suggests nothing to vacationers, however to locals, it’s — or no less than, was — a celebration road, lined with bars. It even gained the moniker “Bourbon Road” (after the notorious social gathering road in New Orleans). At the moment it’s a lot tamer, nevertheless it’s nonetheless an excellent 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 be house to top-of-the-line consuming choices on the town: Marija’s Home, the place chef Marija Papak cooks unimaginable native fare on the coated terrace of her house.
Finest Locations to Keep in Montovjerna:
- BUDGET: Vila Marija – Only a 15-minute stroll from/to Outdated City, this guesthouse affords non-public rooms in addition to whole studio flats with their very own kitchens. There’s a beautiful terrace outdoors and the host is extraordinarily sort 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 true on the water. The 72 rooms and eight suites all have balconies that face the shimmering Adriatic. As a bonus, the resort boasts essentially the most distinctive bar within the metropolis, if not all of Croatia: the Cave Bar Extra, which, because the identify 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 primary attract Dubrovnik and the chief motive why hundreds of thousands of individuals go to. If you happen to come throughout peak season, count on the limestone-blanketed streets to really feel like a sidewalk in Occasions Sq., because the foot site visitors causes critical congestion. That mentioned, that is the rationale you got here right here and doubtless the place the place you may be spending a lot of your time.
There are some first rate eating places in Outdated City. However regardless of the quite a few pizzerias right here, keep away from pizza in any respect prices; you’ll be upset.
Additionally, keep away from the restaurant-lined road Prijeko ulica, which locals have nicknamed “Banditenstrasse,” as a result of it’s the road the place vacationers go to get ripped off by unhealthy meals and unhealthy eating places (which have a historical past of scamming vacationers).
As an alternative, simply get pleasure from 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 frequent room and a small however absolutely outfitted kitchen and a primary 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 chic rooms is situated in a Thirteenth-century house within the coronary heart of the Outdated City. All models have air con, flat display screen 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 lodges situated inside the partitions. And it’s a pleasant one! The six rooms have small kitchens, rain showers (some even have large bathtubs), and sufficient area to make you need to keep awhile. The employees is especially pleasant too.
Dubrovnik is greatest skilled when you 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 delightful neighborhoods in Dubrovnik that can can help you beat the crowds whereas nonetheless taking in every part the town has to supply.
And, for the reason that metropolis is comparatively small, you’re all the time inside a brief bus journey to every part, making certain that you simply gained’t miss out on something this gorgeous medieval city has to supply.
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