Croatia's greatest hotels provide an unrivalled combination of luxury, history, and magnificent scenery, making them must-stays for discerning travellers. Nestled along the magnificent Adriatic coastline and in the heart of historic cities, these hotels provide world-class amenities, superb service, and one-of-a-kind experiences that reflect the region’s rich cultural legacy.
Croatia's finest accommodations, which range from lavish beachfront resorts with private beaches to boutique hotels housed in centuries-old palaces, cater to every taste and desire, providing an exceptional stay in one of Europe's most intriguing places. Whether you're looking for a romantic holiday, a family adventure, or a relaxing retreat, Croatia's top hotels promise an unforgettable experience.
Villa Dubrovnik
This hotel, located on the shore with a view of Lokrum islet, is a 15-minute walk east of PloÄŤe Gate. It also provides complimentary minivan and motorboat services. Every accommodation has spectacular sea views, while the restaurant terrace and rooftop bar offer beautiful views of the mediaeval town walls across the ocean.
The hotel exudes effortless elegance, providing a hidden sea-view refuge that prioritises enjoyment in life's better things with minimal fuss. The contemporary design combines clean lines and high-quality materials, as well as plenty of glass to let in natural light and expand the views outward. Around the building, stone slopes softened by Aleppo pines and cypresses descend to the sparkling blue Adriatic.
The service is impeccable, from the receptionist to the bartenders and maids. Guests can book private excursions, such as a four-hour guided walking tour of Dubrovnik and a nine-hour motorboat cruise to KorÄŤula island. The Villa Spa includes an indoor pool with sliding glass doors that lead to a sea-view patio, beauty treatments with Sodashi products, a sauna, massages, and a gym. Stone steps go down to the coast, where rock-and-concrete bathing platforms with sunbeds and parasols allow for easy access to the water.
The hotel has 50 rooms and six suites, all with sea-view terraces. The rooms have floor-to-ceiling sliding windows, teak wood floors, modern teak furniture, and neutral textiles in mushroom-grey and cream. En suite bathrooms have glass walls, under-floor heating, and customised Villa toiletries from La Bottega of Italy. Suites have in-room whirlpool spas, while Deluxe suites have spacious terraces with outdoor whirlpool tubs and views of the old town. All rooms include Franck espresso coffee machines.
Every meal comes with a view of the sea. The Restaurant Pjerin patio beneath the trees serves a sumptuous cooked-to-order breakfast with treats such as Norwegian omelette and oven-warm pain au chocolat. The evening menu features inventive Mediterranean gastronomy, including the signature dish, red prawn carpaccio with avocado. For lunch, the Al Fresco Giardino provides light Mediterranean dishes cooked outside in a wok. The beautiful rooftop Prosciutto & Wine Bar is ideal for sampling superb local wines.
Villa Nai 3.3
Tucked in exquisite rural isolation, surrounded by silvery-green olive orchards and Aleppo pines, our hotel overlooks the deep blue Adriatic Sea. Situated in the south of Dugi Otok island, near Telešćica Nature Park and the rocky islets of Kornati National Park, it is a popular destination for yachters. Dugi Otok is accessible by boat from Zadar on the mainland, with Zaglav being the closest port.
Designed by Croatian architect Nikola Bašić and commissioned by the Morović family, known for their organic olive oil, this hotel fits effortlessly with its natural surroundings. The hideaway rooms, which are built into the hillside with native stone, have floor-to-ceiling windows that provide stunning sea views.
The interiors feature polished limestone from Istria and contemporary furnishings by Giorgetti, resulting in a sophisticated agrotourism experience that highlights the best of Dalmatian produce and Croatian design. It also makes an excellent winter getaway, thanks to fireplaces and under-floor heating.
The multicultural crew offers competent and confidential service. Guests can recline on sun beds sheltered by white awnings around the turquoise mosaic-tile infinity pool, which has stunning sea views. Footpaths wind through olive orchards and past the tennis court to a little pebble beach. The spa offers Balinese massages, a sauna, a hot tub, and a tiny outdoor gym carved into the rocks. Private skippered sailing adventures and big game fishing can be arranged.
The hotel has five rooms and three suites, each distinctive. The rooms are cool and expansive, with limestone-tiled flooring and Giorgetti furniture in natural creams, beiges, greens, and blues. Bathrooms include glass-sided showers, free-standing bathtubs, twin black handbasins, and Hermes toiletries, as well as skylights that provide natural light during the day and starry views at night. Suites have contemporary four-poster beds, sitting spaces with fireplaces, and isolated stone patios with outdoor seats ideal for stargazing.
Denis Galić, Head Chef with experience in Michelin-starred restaurants, prioritises fresh local products, foraging delicacies, and Dalmatian wines. Breakfast at Restoran 3.3, served on a stone patio overlooking olive groves, consists of home-grown fruit, local goat cheese, honey, freshly baked pastries, homemade jams, and eggs Benedict.
Dinner is excellent dining, with a seven-course degustation menu that includes fish carpaccio with caviar, handcrafted goat ravioli, and pumpkin risotto. The rustic Grotta 11000 serves freshly caught fish, San Sebastian steaks, crusty bread, and the owners' exceptional olive oil in an intimate courtyard setting. The lobby bar serves amazing cocktails and good coffee.
Maslina
Maslina is tucked in its own cove on Hvar's west coast, giving breathtaking sunsets and a tranquil atmosphere. The ferry port is a 10-minute walk away, as is Stari Grad, a historic harbour town known for its seafood eateries. The Unesco-listed Stari Grad Plain features ancient Greek field divisions that are still in use. The resort is a two-hour ferry ride from Split, or a 60-minute speedboat ride from Split Airport.
Maslina, designed by Split-based Aalto architects, merges into the scenery while maintaining and incorporating existing olive trees into the gardens. The resort consists of multiple distributed pavilions with flexible public spaces.
The lobby features a 12-ton rock from BraÄŤ as its greeting. Interiors feature native stone, wood, brass, and terracotta tiles, as well as custom-made wooden furniture from Internova in Istria. Maslina also includes an organic garden that feeds its restaurant, bar and spa.
Maslina provides outstanding service, with a friendly and professional staff. The bay features pebble coves covered by pines and wooden decks constructed into the rocks. The restaurant and bar overlook two pools, which are encircled by wooden decking and olive trees. The Pharomatique Spa offers garden-to-skin treatments, a sound therapy area, a gym, a sauna, and a hammam.
Early morning yoga is free, and guests can read books, ride wooden bicycles around the island, or go wine tasting through The Club's concierge service. There is also a children's club.
The rooms are spacious and have private sea-view patios, comfortable beds with Coco-Mat mattresses, oak floors, and one-of-a-kind glass pendant lighting. The bathrooms have stone wash basins, handcrafted olive-oil soaps from Hvar, custom-built wooden baths, and walk-in showers. Some suites feature heated plunge pools.
The Restaurant, managed by French Michelin-starred chef Serge Gouloumès, serves delectable dishes made with locally sourced ingredients, including some from Maslina's garden. Breakfast by the pools consists of eggs Florentine and oven-warm croissants.
There is a tasting menu of fresh Adriatic seafood for dinner that includes langoustines with cauliflower taboule and sea bass with clams. The sommelier offers wine pairings. The Bar serves coffee and cocktails all day, while the Bay Beach Bar serves raw fish dishes such as ceviche, tartare and carpaccio with champagne.
Little Green Bay
Nestled in Lozna Bay, a peaceful blue inlet surrounded by pine-wooded slopes on the island of Hvar, this boutique resort offers isolated luxury three miles from Hvar Town. The hotel offers private speedboat transportation to Hvar Town, which is accessible via a 65-minute catamaran sail from Split.
This barefoot-chic resort, inspired by the mantra "less is more," was developed by a French brother and sister with backgrounds in hospitality and design. Located in a pine-scented bay, it provides leisure in a "non-hotel" atmosphere.
Built on the site of an old farmhouse, the stone facades conceal sleek interiors of polished concrete, earthy tones, wickerwork lampshades, and linen linens with exquisite attention to detail. Staff give discreet, competent, and personalised service, resulting in a Zen-like atmosphere without pretence. Sunbeds, black parasols, and floating beanbags may be found on the pebble and rock beach, which is shaded by pine trees.
The hillside mini-spa provides massages, face and body treatments using Thalgo products, and an outdoor hot tub. A small boutique sells Little Green Bay linens, and a hotel speedboat is available for special excursions.
The 15 rooms and suites, most of which have sea views, are built around the bay and include a balcony or terrace. Expect raw concrete walls in earthy tones, comfortable beds with 100% linen bedding, huge wickerwork lampshades, concrete tables, espresso machines, wall-mounted TVs, and Bose Bluetooth speakers.
Bathrooms have raw concrete, stone washbasins, abundant towels, dual bathrobes, and About Rose Imperial toiletries. The suites have bamboo-covered sea-view terraces with rattan loungers and outdoor bathtubs or showers.
The bistro has two levels, including a dining area and terraces facing the bay. It is furnished with walnut-wood tables and chairs handmade by Bosnian artisans and lighted by exquisite hanging lamps.
Breakfast consists of fresh orange juice, diced fruit, homemade bread, cooked-to-order eggs, and coffee or tea. The bistro serves contemporary French cuisine made with local ingredients and fresh herbs. Dishes include Niçoise salad with roast potatoes and fresh fish and black ravioli loaded with lobster. The wine list includes Croatian, French, and Italian alternatives, and the waiter service is exceptional.
Overall, this boutique retreat on Lozna Bay provides the ideal balance of isolated luxury, natural beauty, and sophisticated comfort.
Ikador Luxury Boutique Hotel & Spa
The sea-facing Hotel Ikador is located in coastal Ika, near the Kvarner Gulf. The eight-mile-long tree-lined beachfront promenade winds down the coast, passing Italian-style houses and rocky beaches. Lovran and Opatija, both resort towns with restaurants, cafés, and stores, are only a short drive apart.
The hotel has a modern exterior with Venetian window shutters and Art Deco balconies inspired by nearby historic residences. The interiors include travertine stone, chevron flooring, breccia medicea marble tabletops and custom-made design furnishings. With only eight guest rooms and six suites, including a Presidential Suite, Ikador is ideal for those looking for a quiet and exclusive escape. It is open all year and is an excellent winter getaway due to its magnificent spa and seafront setting.
The Ikalia Spa on the third level has a sauna, steam room, solarium, salt crystal relaxation lounge, zero gravity float table, whirlpool, vibroacoustic loungers, and workout area.
The treatment menu includes premium organic plant oils, olive crush, Croatian spring water, and immortelle essential oils. Outdoor amenities include a heated seawater pool, whirlpool, Riva Lounge, sunbathing platform, and a luxury Riva Aquariva Super speedboat for rent. Service is professional and attentive, with an experience manager present to take requests.
The rooms and suites are decorated with sea blue, mustard yellow, and soft grey. Marble-topped tables, raw silk drapes, rich velour furniture, hardwood chevron-patterned floors, and glass art by Croatian artist Mirko Zubak are some of the sophisticated details. Marble bathrooms have satin brass faucets, large walk-in showers, and Hermès toiletries.
Other amenities include Illy coffee machines, electric kettles, and a complimentary minibar. Smart room lighting controls, smart LCD TVs, iPads, and wireless charging stations are among the advanced features. The most popular rooms have sea-facing balconies.
The à la carte breakfast buffet includes high-quality options such Istrian sausage, cured ham, goat milk kefir, green pepper hummus, olive tapenade, truffle cheese, smoked salmon, trout caviar, fresh oysters and a variety of egg dishes. Chef Željko Jovanović's cuisine at the fine-dining Nobilion Restaurant features locally produced delicacies like as Istrian truffles, fresh pasta, and Kvarner Bay seafood.
The dishes are masterfully complemented with high-quality Croatian wines and Istrian extra virgin olive oil. The Riva Privée private dining room and the Edgar cigar and whisky lounge are unique additions to the hotel's services.
Meneghetti Wine Hotel
The hotel is located in a picturesque rural environment, surrounded by vineyards and olive trees and just under a mile from the beach. It is part of a vast estate in a remote setting, approximately five miles from the nearest town, Bale. Guests staying here will need a car because public transport is not available.
Pula and the airport are 35 minutes away, while Rovinj, a historic city, is only 30 minutes away. The hotel's original structure is a 19th-century stone home that began as a country estate owned by Mr Meneghetti, who established the property's first vineyards and olive trees.
The abandoned stone home was carefully renovated in 2000, and it now serves as a tiny four-room boutique hotel. In 2016, the structure was expanded with eight new rooms and suites, additional services, and a new building with 15 new homes, all while retaining the property's rustic flair.
Furniture such as comfortable sofas and gentle lighting, paired with exposed rafters and stone fireplaces, provide public areas an exquisite yet welcome and calm atmosphere. This is an ideal location for a romantic weekend retreat and intimate weddings.
Much care has been given to the guest experience, with workers displaying numerous examples of anticipatory service, such as curbside greets and tailored welcome notes. Two outdoor pools reduce potential crowding, and there is an additional indoor pool. A sauna, sports area, and 'energy clinic' with massages and beauty treatments are among the on-site wellness facilities. A shuttle takes tourists to a neighbouring beach area with sun loungers, towels and a bar.
Hardwood floors, antique-style furniture and ochre-colored walls in the original main building provide a warm, rustic atmosphere. In contrast, the newer homes have a more contemporary feel, with a grey, white, and blue colour scheme and elements like industrial-style lights, worn rugs, and abstract artworks. All bathrooms are modern and amply proportioned, with make-up mirrors, scales, robes, and slippers.
The more spacious one- and two-bedroom units provide additional seclusion, with opulent bathrooms featuring large walk-in showers, separate tubs, and bidets. The private terraces overlooking the vineyards, furnished with beautiful cane armchairs and loungers, are particularly noteworthy.
The fine dining restaurant has a menu dominated by seafood, including sea bass, prawns, scallops and oysters, as well as a seasonal chef's tasting menu. Guests can expect fast and polite service, as well as professional wine matching suggestions based on the estate's award-winning vintages. The ingredients are of great quality, including fresh bread and superb olive oil created on-site.
The enormous breakfast buffet, prepared in a country-style kitchen, does not disappoint. There are options for freshly baked bread and croissants, freshly squeezed orange juice, tea and coffee, and made-to-order eggs. The meal experience is supplemented by an on-site tasting room where guests can sample the estate's high-quality wine and olive oil.
St. Joseph's
The hotel is located on a quiet stone side street off Stradun, the major thoroughfare through the old town, so there is no traffic noise, only the hourly church bells and occasional passers-by. All of the main attractions and restaurants are within a 10-minute walk, and Banje beach is right outside the town walls.
It's 14 miles (22 kilometres) from Dubrovnik Airport. Someone from the hotel will meet you at Pile Gate, the main entry to the pedestrian-only old town, to assist you with your luggage.
The building underwent a two-year restoration process to bring out its historic charm while preserving the current structure and original stone and wood features. From the informal greeting room, stone steps lead to the upper levels, where large vases of magnificent fresh flowers give colour and panache.
The family that owns and operates St Joseph's extends an extremely warm welcome.
They are from the region, but have spent many years working in finance in London, so they understand what British guests want while also providing firsthand insights into Croatian heritage and customs.
They also provide excellent local suggestions and can arrange everything from restaurant reservations and private guided tours to one-day sailing cruises to Montenegro or Bosnia Herzegovina.
There are just six majestic suites, which have wooden flooring, beamed ceilings, and exposed stones. The decor is largely white, with fabrics in earthy cream and beige, and the furnishings are upmarket, with bold Baroque references such as crystal chandeliers, silver candlesticks, and opulent sofas.
Expect incredibly comfy beds (with wonderful linens and squishy pillows), a sleek white marble bathroom with a glass-sided rainshower and Elemis amenities, and a discreet kitchenette. The White Company's super-soft, lightweight beige cotton-modal waffle bathrobes are really delightful.
The two top-floor rooms beneath the roof have sloping ceilings and skylights; they're little smaller but quite comfortable, with beige carpets instead of oak floors.
A maid brings an exceptionally lavish breakfast to each guest's room at their preferred time.
It starts with an invigorating green organic smoothie, then moves on to a buffet of seasonal fruit (peeled and sliced), freshly baked croissants, homemade cakes, and wonderful bite-sized sweet and savoury filo-pastry pies, as well as tea or outstanding Arabic coffee.
Guests can prepare their own (basic) meals because each room includes a fully equipped kitchenette with two hot plates, a microwave and a sink.
Hotel Bellevue Dubrovnik
Bellevue, a calm refuge from Dubrovnik's tourist crowds, is constructed into a cliff overlooking the sheltered Miramare Bay and its beach, about a 15-minute walk above the coast from Pile Gate, the major entry to the Old Town, where the main attractions are located. The road there is a little congested, with just a narrow sidewalk, however it is also served by buses.
Following a stunning refurbishment by Portuguese interior designer Tereza Prego, the vibe is effortlessly cool contemporary Mediterranean chic. The sensation of openness begins in reception, with floor-to-ceiling windows providing stunning views down onto the bay, and continues throughout the rooms, bars, and restaurants.
Glass, wood, and marble prevail, offset with grainy-textured fabrics in earthy tones of cream and beige, while black-and-white images of Dubrovnik from the 1960s hang on the walls.
Staff are polite, helpful, and efficient, with a concierge at the front desk and valet parking. The Energy Clinic health and spa features a small free-form indoor pool with an adjoining whirlpool tub, as well as a steam bath, a Finnish sauna, and themed showers. It also provides massage and skincare treatments. There is a sand and pebble beach in front of the hotel (accessible by lift), with direct sunlight till mid-afternoon.
There are 77 rooms and 14 suites, and the décor is cool, sophisticated, and sunny. The most basic category (Classic) includes sea views, oak wood flooring, elegant modern furniture, and fabrics with contemporary geometric designs in chalky white, grey, stone, and beige, but there is no balcony.Bathrooms feature wood, grey marble, and lush L'Occitane products.
Pay extra for a Superior Room, which has French windows that open onto a furnished balcony with glass balustrades and unrestricted sea views. Deluxe rooms are slightly larger and come with comfortable sofas. All rooms feature tea and coffee making amenities.
Start the day with breathtaking views of the blue bay while enjoying a hearty buffet breakfast on the Vapour Restaurant patio, shaded by white awnings, featuring plenty of fresh fruit and yoghurts, as well as cooked-to-order omelettes and good espresso coffee.
À la carte dinner is also served here - inventive Mediterranean cuisine with an emphasis on fresh Adriatic seafood and fragrant herbs and spices, such as baked lobster with black pasta, cherry tomatoes and fresh wide beans, or roast octopus with black beans and sautéed beetroot.
A tasting menu (four or eight courses) allows you to sample a variety of cuisine. The adjoining Wine Bar showcases Croatian regional wines, and a sommelier will lead you through wine sampling flights (three whites or three reds).
The Spice Lounge, located next to Vapour, serves all-day drinks, light nibbles, and cocktails, as well as having its own patio that overlooks the bay. Only for lunch, the Nevera restaurant serves Ston oysters and barbecued fresh fish on a bright stone terrace down by the shore.
Conclusion
Croatia still feels like a undiscovered gem but you should not overlook it. Witth amazing beaches, fresh sea food and great prices you will have a great experience for a lot less than if you were to visit other European countries. The quality of the service is fantastic and everyone is friendly and happy to help out when needed.
With hotels catered for all different budgets and needs, Croatia should be on your bucket-list for the summer.
