hilton imperial dubrovnik
A historic landmark stay just steps from Dubrovnik’s Old Town and Adriatic coastline
Hilton Imperial Dubrovnik feels like part of the city’s story rather than simply somewhere to stay within it. Dating back to 1897, the hotel sits in a grand historic building just outside Dubrovnik’s famous city walls, with its pale façade, traditional architecture and palm-lined entrance immediately setting it apart from the more contemporary hotels dotted along the coast.
There’s a real sense of old-world European grandeur here, but without feeling overly formal. Inside, high ceilings, elegant details and quieter corners give the hotel a slower pace than the streets of the Old Town just a few minutes away. That contrast became one of my favourite things about staying here. You can spend the day amongst Dubrovnik’s stone streets, busy squares and coastline, then retreat somewhere that feels calm and removed from it all.
THE ROOMS
The rooms continue the hotel’s more classic approach to luxury, with soft neutral tones, traditional detailing and plenty of natural light. Rather than competing with the character of Dubrovnik outside, everything feels intentionally calm and comfortable, somewhere designed to come back to after long days exploring the city.
What stood out most was how peaceful the room felt considering how central the hotel is. Dubrovnik is a city that naturally encourages you to spend most of the day outside, whether you’re walking the walls, swimming in the Adriatic or disappearing down another tiny Old Town street, so having somewhere spacious and quiet to retreat to makes a real difference.
There’s something particularly lovely about the mornings here. Opening the curtains to that unmistakable Dubrovnik skyline before heading downstairs for breakfast became one of those small rituals that made the stay feel less like simply visiting the city and more like temporarily settling into it.
FOOD & DRINK
Breakfast is served downstairs at Imperial Terrace, with a generous selection of pastries, fruit, hot dishes and made-to-order options. On warmer mornings, you can sit outside on the terrace surrounded by greenery, which feels surprisingly peaceful considering Dubrovnik’s Old Town is only a few minutes away.
Its location also means you’re never restricted to eating within the hotel. Walk through Pile Gate and you’re immediately surrounded by the restaurants, cafés and tucked-away terraces of the Old Town, making it incredibly easy to head out for dinner and wander back afterwards without worrying about transport.
THINGS TO DO
Dubrovnik was one of those places where there always seemed to be another view, street or piece of history waiting around the corner. Walking the city walls is an absolute must! The views from up there are incredible no matter what the weather, looking across the terracotta rooftops of the Old Town on one side and the Adriatic stretching out on the other.
We also took one of the mini city tour buses, which ended up being such a lovely way to see more of Dubrovnik beyond the Old Town. It takes you around several viewpoints and sights while giving you a little history lesson along the way, and it helped put everything we’d been walking past into context.
And, of course, you can’t come to Dubrovnik without making time for the beaches. The water here is almost impossibly clear, framed by rocky coastline and some of the most beautiful views back towards the city. Whether you spend an afternoon swimming or simply find a quieter spot by the water, seeing Dubrovnik from the coastline gives you a completely different perspective of the city.
One of the biggest advantages of staying at Hilton Imperial is how easy all of this is to reach. Pile Gate and the entrance to the Old Town are only a short walk away, meaning you can head out early before the streets get busy, come back to the hotel during the hottest part of the afternoon, and wander back into the city again as the evening light starts to soften.
LOCATION
Ul. Marijana Blažića 2, 20000, Dubrovnik, Croatia
explore more hotels here