Last Updated on October 4, 2026 by A Teaspoon of Travel
Where to Stay in Dubrovnik to Avoid Crowds: Best Neighborhoods
If you’re wondering where to stay in Dubrovnik and want easy access to the city’s biggest sights without being surrounded by crowds all day, choosing the right location makes a big difference. Dubrovnik is packed with history, beautiful views, and amazing places to explore. But the Old Town can get extremely busy during the day, especially when cruise ships arrive. When we visited, we chose to stay in Pile so we could easily walk into the Old Town while still having a quieter place to come back to at the end of the day. In this guide, I’ll break down the best areas to stay in Dubrovnik for easy access to Old Town, what makes each one different, and the accommodations I’d consider based on location, comfort, and how easy they make sightseeing.
One thing to know when booking accommodation in Dubrovnik is that apartments are often a better option than traditional hotels, especially if you want more space, a kitchen, or separate sleeping areas. Many of the most conveniently located apartments have a limited number of rooms, and accommodations can book up quickly during the summer. I recommend reserving a refundable stay a couple of months in advance if you have a specific location or property in mind.
Where to Stay in Dubrovnik: Old Town vs Pile vs Ploče
When deciding where to stay in Dubrovnik, the three best neighborhoods for easy access to the Old Town to beat the crowds while sightseeing are:
- Inside the city walls
- The Ploče district outside the Ploče gate
- The Pile district outside Pile gate
Inside the City Walls
Staying inside the City Walls gives you the best access to sightseeing and beating the crowds because you have the luxury of seeing the sights first thing in the morning before cruise ship crowds arrive and late in the evening after they have left. However, you will definitely pay a higher price for that privilege. Another thing to keep in mind is that there are a lot of stairs in within the City Walls. And it can be loud given the crowds.
Choose Old Town if:
- You want the atmosphere to be part of your accommodation experience
- You want to step outside directly into the historic center
- You’re okay with stairs and higher accommodation prices
Skip Old Town if:
- You want to save money on accommodations
- You want a quieter location at night
Ploče
The Ploče district is located just east of the Old Town, perched on a hill overlooking the city. Because of this, the views from Ploče are magnificent. Some accommodations even have balconies that give a truly stunning view of the Adriatic Sea, the Old Town, and the surrounding coastline. However, those stunning views come at a price – there are some steep climbs to get up there! We did not consider Ploče for this very reason. If you also don’t fancy walking up and down steep hills and steps multiple times a day, then consider accommodations inside the city walls or in Pile.
Choose Ploče if:
- Your priority is the view
- You’re willing to trade some convenience for it
- You don’t mind hills and stairs
Skip Ploče if:
- You don’t want an uphill walk back to your accommodations at the end of the day
- You plan on taking breaks at your accommodations in the middle of the day
Pile
Accommodations in the City Walls are usually more expensive and can get booked up quickly. The Pile area is a good compromise because it is easily accessible to the city center, but away from the hustle and bustle. During our visit to Dubrovnik, we stayed in Pile and loved the location. It is close enough to the Old Town to walk there in less than 10 minutes, but far enough to provide a peaceful escape at the end of the day. The walk back was hilly, but not as steep or as long as the walk to Ploče. If traveling with a larger group or family, you will be able to find larger accommodations in Pile than within the city walls.
Choose Pile if:
- You want to walk into Old Town easily
- You want to escape the busiest streets at night
- You want larger apartment options
Skip Pile if:
- You want the shortest walk from sightseeing
- You want restaurants right outside your accommodations
Seeing more of Croatia? Check out our picks for where to stay in Hvar, Split, and Zagreb!
Why We Chose Pile for Our Visit to Dubrovnik
We chose Pile for our stay in Dubrovnik because we wanted to stay close to the Old Town, but not right in the middle of all the crowds. We were also traveling with a large group of friends, so there were more options for larger apartments where we could all stay together but still have our own rooms. And the accommodations were more cost effective for a large group. Since we were young and energetic when we traveled to Dubrovnik, we stayed out sightseeing for most of the day and did not need frequent trips back to our accommodations.
Benefits of Staying in Pile for Our Group:
- Easy morning walk into Old Town
- You can leave the crowds behind at the end of the day
- More accommodation space
- Still close enough that you don’t have to plan transportation every time
Where to Stay in Pile
Agape Suite Old Town Luxury Two Bedroom Apartment ($$$)
Best for: families/groups who want separate bedrooms and easy Old Town access
If traveling in a group, the Agape Suite Old Town Luxury Two Bedroom Apartment is a great choice located a 5 minute from the Pile gate. The apartment has 2 bedrooms and 2 baths so everyone will have some space to relax after spending all day together. And it’s beautifully renovated. It’s located a little uphill from the Pile gate, so there are some stairs to reach the apartment. While there is a climb to get back to the apartment, you’ll have more peace and quiet at night.
This apartment was just down the street from the larger apartment that we actually stayed at (we needed 4 bedrooms). We loved the location of the apartment. The walk to the Pile gate is downhill and we didn’t mind it since we had great views of the city walls along the way. And being slightly uphill gives great views of the Old Town from the windows.
Maybe skip it if:
- You have difficulty climbing many stairs
- You’re traveling with very heavy luggage
- You want to be completely flat/close to the gate
Dubrovnik Finest Apartments ($$)
Best for: couples who want to stay right next to Pile gate
To be closer to the water with amazing views of the fort, stay at Dubrovnik Finest Apartments. It is located just outside Pile gate, so there is easy access to the Old Town with a less than 5 minute walk. But it is on a quieter side street so it is away from the noise. There are 3 different studio apartments with a queen bed, so it is best for couples. If we had not been traveling with a group of friends, this would probably have been my choice based on location and decor. I love the exposed beams on the ceiling and the exposed brick in the decor – it reminds you that you’re staying in an old town with history! There are some steps to reach the apartment, but stairs are difficult to avoid in Dubrovnik.
Maybe skip it if:
- You have mobility concerns
- You’re traveling with very heavy luggage
- You want to be in the middle of the action inside the Old Town
Those apartments already snatched up? Check out more highly rated apartments and suites in Pile.
Where to Stay Inside the City Walls
We did not stay within the City Walls because we ended up needing larger accommodations, which are harder to find within the City Walls. However, these are the options that we researched and considered before our travel group expanded.
San Pietro Apartment ($$)
Best for: a couple or small family that want to stay within the Old Town walls but a bit further from the crowds
The San Pietro Apartment is located within the city walls in the northern part of the Old Town. It will be a climb to get up to this apartment, but you will be rewarded with amazing views. Besides the views, another benefit of staying in the northern part of the Old Town is that it will be a bit quieter. The apartment is in a beautiful stone house that has been recently renovated, but retains its rustic charm.
The apartment is a split level apartment, with a bedroom and an upstairs living area. There is a queen bed in the bedroom and a sofa bed in the living room, so it would work for a small family.
Maybe skip it if:
- You have mobility concerns and stairs would be difficult
- You want more privacy and an enclosed second bedroom
- You are traveling with a lot of heavy luggage
La Vita e Bella VI ($$)
Best for: couples that want to be right in the center of Old Town
To be a little closer to the center of the Old Town (read: less stairs), check out La Vita e Bella VI. These renovated studio suites are in the center of the Old Town but tucked away on a quiet side street. Each suite has one queen bed, so it’s best for couples. The decor is definitely modern, and there are some interesting design choices when it comes to the bathroom. (Make sure you are traveling with someone close because there is a standalone tub in the middle of the room and the shower is right next to the bed.) These suites are run by a management company. The management company La Vita e Bella has 5 other properties in the center of old town if this one isn’t just right.
Maybe skip it if:
- You want a conventional hotel room
- You want more privacy with the bathroom layout
Those apartments already booked? Check out more highly rated apartments and suites within the city walls in the old town!
How to Avoid the Crowds in Dubrovnik
Try to Avoid Cruise Ship Arrivals
Dubrovnik can get extremely crowded during the day because of the day trippers from cruise ships. You can check the schedule of cruise arrivals to Dubrovnik here. There aren’t many days when there are no cruise arrivals at all, but you can try to plan your time in Dubrovnik for a day when there are fewer cruise ships.
Visit Old Town Early and Late
One of the best ways to avoid the crowds is to stay near the Old Town so that you can beat the cruise ship crowds, or stay later in the Old Town after the day trippers leave. We arrived at night, and spent our first night wandering the near-empty streets of Old Town, soaking in the fairytale charm of the city at night. When we returned the next morning, we were one of the first people atop the city walls because we stayed close to Pile gate. We definitely noticed the uptick in the crowds within the Old Town when we finished walking the city walls.
What to Check Before Booking Accommodations in Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik is built on a hill, so there are a lot of stairs in the city. The most common complaint I read in reviews when researching where to stay in Dubrovnik was that people did not realize how many stairs it would take to get to their accommodations. These were the amenities we looked for when choosing where to stay:
- How many stairs are involved to enter the accommodations?
- How far uphill is it from the Old Town gates?
- How will you get your luggage there?
- Is there AC?
- Is there parking?
- How far is the bus stop to the airport/pier/etc?
- How far are the Old Town gates?
- Is there a kitchenette?
- Is the rate refundable?
