The Best Luxury Resorts in Croatia

Carved into a rugged cliffside, just outside Dubrovnik Old Town, Hotel Bellevue offers some of the best views of the Dalmatian Coast. Rooms are expansive, clad in neutral hues, and many of them have a private balcony where you breathe in lungfuls of fresh sea air. Eat lunch at the hotel’s achingly romantic beachfront restaurant, Vapor, where the menu is peppered with local fish and meat dishes.

Overlooking the Elaphiti Islands on the Lapad peninsula, Valamar Collection Dubrovnik President Hotel sits elegantly above the clear Adriatic Sea. Days are best spent at the private, palm-lined pebble beach or learning to scuba dive at the Abyss Diving Centre. If you’d like to take it easy, opt for a massage and a dip in the whirlpool at the spa before heading up to one of the large, light-filled rooms.

The Valamar Argosy, the sister property of the Valamar Collection Dubrovnik President Hotel, sits next door, amid lush gardens. It was built in the 1970s, but the interiors have been modernised and the 308 rooms offer sea or park views, each with a pillow menu (including aromatherapeutic lavender). Sunset over the Elaphiti Islands from the elevated outdoor pool is a must.

Overlooking Lapad Bay and surrounded by unspoilt beaches, Hotel Kompas is a design-led gem. Minimalists will love the sleek interiors, complete with floor-to-ceiling windows and a palette of ivory, cream and soft greys. As soon as you’ve dropped your bags, make a beeline for the spa. With indoor and outdoor pools, a Finnish sauna, a steam room and an in-house bar, where healthy shakes and power drinks are the order of the day, you’ll likely do little else.

Set just south of Dubrovnik and minutes from the historic centre of Cavtat, Hotel Croatia rises above a pine forest overlooking a peninsula. Behind its brutalist façade, rooms are light and airy, with views to Dubrovnik just across the bay. The hotel boasts two beaches, a luxury spa and indoor and outdoor pools. Come nightfall, dress up for a drink and live music overlooking the bay at the Piano Bar.

A private hideaway, wedged between the Adriatic Sea and the Forest Park Velika and Mala Petka, Hotel Dubrovnik Palace is secluded from the usual tourist hubbub. Sea views are king here – seen from each of its 308 rooms and suites. When you’re not marvelling at the slick decor or lounging on your private balcony, head to the on-site scuba diving centre, one of the outdoor pools or the luxury spa for a full-body treatment.

A short drive from central Dubrovnik, Hotel Mlini, flanked by the Adriatic Sea, is set in Mlini village, dotted with old stone houses. This hotel is a modern addition with interiors by London design firm Scott Brownrigg and access to a pebble beach. Spend your days lounging on one of the sunbeds, book in hand.

Sitting pretty just north of Dubrovnik in the charming village of Orašac, the Sun Gardens is a sprawling luxury resort with 201 rooms and 207 residences; the on-site spa is regarded as one of Croatia’s best. There are 16 restaurants and bars, to choose from, so you can dine at a different spot each night of the week; for something romantic, try Cilantro for its fresh seafood.