Hotel Dubrovnik Palace

We recommend the Dubrovnik Palace to couples in their forties and affluent families who want to combine private beach and cultural visits without staying inside the walls. It is the address for those who prefer to swim in the morning facing the Adriatic, lunch on the terrace, then take the shuttle to the walls in the afternoon. Travellers seeking immersion in the medieval old town will choose a boutique hotel inside the walls instead, but will lose the pool, spa and panoramic view.

The building dates from 1972, typical Yugoslav modernist architecture from the Tito era: horizontal volumes in white concrete, large bay windows, terraced terraces following the slope of the cliff. Complete renovation in 2019: halls in Brač marble, contemporary furniture signed by Croatian designers, Murano blown-glass light fixtures. The 308 rooms are spread over eight levels, all with balcony or terrace, sea or park view. The scale remains that of a large congress hotel, but the landscaping (maritime pines, century-old olive trees, bougainvillea) softens the built mass.

Two main tables: the Argola, main restaurant open all year, Dalmatian and Mediterranean cuisine, generous breakfast buffet (Ston oysters, Pag charcuterie, local pastries). The Vista, gastronomic table open in season (May-October), panoramic terrace, short menu focused on Adriatic fish and Croatian wines (Plavac Mali, Pošip). Sunset Lounge cocktail bar by the pool, open until midnight in summer, DJ sets at weekends. 24-hour room service, simplified menu after 23h.

The palace stands on the Lapad peninsula, a green residential district 4 km west of the fortified old town. Lapad beach (public, pebbles) ten minutes on foot, ACI Marina yacht harbour 500 metres away. Free hotel shuttle to Pile Gate (west entrance of the walls) every hour, fifteen-minute journey. Dubrovnik airport 25 km (30 minutes by car), paid shuttle on request. The district is quiet, family-oriented, popular with affluent Croatians in summer, with a few fish restaurants by the sea (Orsan, Dubravka) and mini-markets. For gastronomic dinners, head to the old town (taxis plentiful, 10-15 € per ride).