The best accommodations Dubrovnik

Budget & Tips

Even if the cost of living remains lower than in France, the resounding success of Dubrovnik as a destination and the prospect of the changeover to the euro are changing the situation, with a clear tendency to inflate the cost of living. Prices soar in July and August. You can't really negotiate with the owner inside the city (although you may be offered accommodation when the bus or ferry arrives).

For low-budget accommodation in Dubrovnik, allow €40 per person per night.

For a medium budget, allow €60 for accommodation. This is the minimum price in the old town during the high season.

Fora high budget, allow €150 (and more) for accommodation.

Campsites and youth hostels. There is only one campsite in Dubrovnik itself (in Lapad). Others can be found in neighboring towns on the southern riviera, such as Molunat, but also to the west, on the other side of the new town, in the towns of Orašac, Trsteno, Zaton or Slano. Youth hostels are in short supply.

Homestays offer the best value for money. In the Old Town alone, there are tens of thousands of beds in rooms ( soba) and apartments(apartman).

We strongly advise you to book in advance (and check the seriousness of the address). If you haven't booked anything, try your luck early in the morning, as there are many tourists wishing to stay in the medieval town, especially at the height of the season. All accommodation providers are required to register your presence in Croatia. If you are not asked for your passport, it's because you're staying "under the table". In this case, it's up to you to register at the police station within 48 hours. The Dubrovnik Tourist Office website has also set up a "quality-guarantee pact" system: the accommodation listed online has been carefully checked. Don't hesitate to contact travel agencies, which have their own catalogs. Private accommodations are moderately comfortable but practical (furnished rooms, small fully-equipped kitchen, bathroom), often air-conditioned (appreciated in summer) and with Internet access. Breakfast is the exception rather than the rule. Hosts may be able to arrange parking (often) and suggest excursions in the area. It is sometimes possible to pay in euros, but rarely by card.

As everywhere else in the region, a surcharge (of around 20%) applies almost systematically to stays of less than three days, including - in some cases - homestays.

To be booked

July and August are high season in Dubrovnik. During these months, and particularly from July 15 to August 15, the city is swamped with visitors: prices soar and available accommodation becomes scarcer. Book well in advance if you need to travel during this period.

What's very local

Here, as elsewhere in the Dubrovnik region, most hotels close out of season between November and April. Private accommodations are often the only ones to remain open out of season (by prior arrangement).

Hotels can be found along the coastline of the new town (Lapad, Gruž) and on the coast extending from Ploče towards the riviera. There are many in Boninovo. Prices rarely include tourist tax (€2.65 per person per night in high season), and hotels often charge an additional €1 for personal insurance. Higher-category establishments generally have a swimming pool and/or private beach.

Whateveryour choice of accommodation, we strongly advise you to book at least one month in advance - if not two - for July and August, as well as for June and September.

Don't be surprised if you're approached by private individuals offering you accommodation when theairport buses arrive, at the bus station or in the port of Gruž. It's common practice. The accommodation in question is often located a little way from the old town, in the hills above Gruž in particular. It's up to you to decide how much time you'll spend in transit. But it's worth it: you'll save a few bucks and (often) benefit from a cordial contact with your host (communication is often limited in languages other than Croatian), while being accommodated legally and very well.

Please note: unauthorized camping is still forbidden in Croatia. You risk a fine of up to €1,300!

Smokers

Although it's still possible to smoke in bars and cafés in Croatia, smoking accommodations are still rare. To avoid any surprises at check-out, it's best to smoke outside your hotel room or apartment. Often, an ashtray on a table in the garden or on the balcony indicates the smoking area.