Dubrovnik Airport: where to stay, areas and recommended hotels

Čilipi airport is 20 km south of the city, with a transfer of 25-35 minutes that in high summer, with several flights landing the same afternoon, can run past 45 minutes on the coastal road. Since there are no hotels next to the terminal, the real choice is between the walled Old Town, convenient for travellers who want the Walls and the Stradun on foot from their room, and Lapad or Babin Kuk, the coastal stretch to the north-west with beaches and larger hotels, useful for those after sea and relaxation without giving up a direct bus to the centre.

Old Town

City centre · 20 km from the airport, 25-35 minutes by car along the coastal road D8; in July and August traffic can stretch the journey to 45-50 minutes. The airport shuttles, timed with arrivals, take about 40-50 minutes to the bus terminal next to Pile Gate.

Best for: Travellers who want the Walls, the Stradun and the evening life among restaurants and alleyways a few steps from their room.

Pros

The Walls, the Stradun and most evening restaurants and bars are within walking distance of the room
No other part of the city is as central for experiencing Dubrovnik's evenings without a taxi

Cons

The old centre is pedestrian and cobbled: luggage and trolleys have to be carried by hand over steps and alleys, with no car access right up to the door
It's the part of the city furthest from the airport, and the summer coastal traffic weighs most heavily here

Recommended hotels in this area

Hilton Imperial Dubrovnik: The only chain hotel right at the gates of the Old Town, about 350 metres from Pile Gate and the Stradun; indoor pool and wellness centre with hammam, useful after a day walking the Walls.
22 The Stradun: Apartment right on the high street, the Old Town's main artery: an unbeatable position for those who want to stay among the alleyways after dinner without thinking about the next day's transfer.
87 Stairs Apartments: In the Ploče district, just outside the eastern Walls: 2 minutes' walk from Banje Beach and 5 from the Walls, with a balcony overlooking the Old Town.

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Lapad and Babin Kuk

Neighbourhood · 23 km from the airport, about 30 minutes by car on the same coastal road D8 used for the Old Town, with no stops in between; the urban bus line 6 then connects Lapad to the centre in 15-20 minutes.

Best for: Travellers after a beach, a seafront stroll and a bit of calm in the evening, with a direct bus to the Old Town.

Pros

Lapad Bay beaches (Sunset Beach) and the pedestrian seafront are a short walk from the apartments
A more relaxed, less touristy area in the evening, with local restaurants outside the old-town price range

Cons

The Walls and the old centre still need a bus or a taxi, about 15-20 minutes
Lapad's main beach gets crowded in the middle of the day during high season

Recommended hotels in this area

4M studios Above Sunset Beach: Studio a short walk from Lapad beach (Sunset Beach), the busiest in the bay for sunsets and the seafront evening spots.
ABC Lapad Apartments: Small family-run property in residential Lapad, 3 km from the Old Town and a short walk from the seafront and the bay's beaches.

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