Croatia’s Adriatic coast is one of Europe’s most beautiful: walled cities, pine-fringed islands and impossibly clear water. But it is long, and each region has a different feel. Dubrovnik is the showstopper, Split and the Dalmatian islands are the heart of island-hopping, and Istria in the north is green, foodie and relaxed.
Here is our guide to choosing, with our best-rated hotels in each area.
You’ll find on this page
- Quick verdicts and a comparison table of every hotel
- Dubrovnik, Split and the islands and Istria compared
- Our best-rated hotels in each region
- Answers to the questions we’re asked most
- Live prices with flights and transfers in the search box at the end of the page
At a glance: compare the hotels
| Hotel | Where | Stars | Board | TripAdvisor | Adults only |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hotel Supetar | Cavtat, Dubrovnik | 5★ | Bed and Breakfast | 5/5 | No |
| Kalamota Beach House | Kolocep Island, Dubrovnik | 4★ | Bed and Breakfast, Half Board | 4.9/5 | No |
| Hotel Bozica | Sipan Island, Dubrovnik | 4★ | Bed and Breakfast, Half Board | 4.8/5 | No |
| Villas Srebreno | Srebreno, Dubrovnik | 4★ | Bed and Breakfast, Half Board, Self Catering | 4.9/5 | No |
| Palace Elisabeth Hvar | Hvar Island (Hvar Town), Split & the Dalmatian Coast | 5★ | Bed and Breakfast | 4.8/5 | No |
| Hotel Plaza Duce | Omis, Split & the Dalmatian Coast | 4★ | Bed and Breakfast, Full Board, Half Board | 4.9/5 | No |
| Valamar Amicor Resort | Hvar Island (Stari Grad), Split & the Dalmatian Coast | 4★ | Half Board | 4.9/5 | No |
| DResort | Sibenik (Split Area of), Split & the Dalmatian Coast | 5★ | Bed and Breakfast | 4.7/5 | No |
| Hotel Monte Mulini | Rovinj, Istria | 5★ | Bed and Breakfast | 4.8/5 | No |
| Isabella Island Villas Valamar Collection | Porec, Istria | 4★ | All Inclusive | 4.7/5 | No |
| Grand Hotel Brioni Pula – A Radisson Collection Hotel | Pula (Resort of), Istria | 4★ | Bed and Breakfast, Half Board | 4.6/5 | No |
| Girandella Valamar Collection Family Hotel | Rabac, Istria | 4★ | All Inclusive | 4.5/5 | No |
Star ratings are official; TripAdvisor scores were correct when we last checked and can change. Board options vary by room and date.
Quick verdicts
Dubrovnik and the south
The walled Old Town, nearby islands and the pretty fishing town of Cavtat.
Hotel Supetar
- Cavtat, Dubrovnik
- 5-star
- Bed and Breakfast
- TripAdvisor 5/5
Hotel Supetar in Cavtat is a stylish, luxury boutique hotel in an excellent central location, with a garden terrace.
Best for: Boutique Cavtat
Kalamota Beach House
- Kolocep Island, Dubrovnik
- 4-star
- Half Board
- TripAdvisor 4.9/5
Kalamota Beach House on Koločep island has a stunning island setting, gorgeous sea views, a rooftop pool and modern suites.
Best for: A car-free island escape
Hotel Bozica
- Sipan Island, Dubrovnik
- 4-star
- Half Board
- TripAdvisor 4.8/5
Hotel Božica on Šipan island has a peaceful atmosphere, sea views and an outdoor pool.
Best for: Peace and quiet
Villas Srebreno
- Srebreno, Dubrovnik
- 4-star
- Half Board
- TripAdvisor 4.9/5
Villas Srebreno has bright, modern apartments with gorgeous sea views, just south of Dubrovnik.
Best for: Families wanting space
Split and the Dalmatian islands
Diocletian’s Palace, Hvar’s glamour and easy island-hopping.
Palace Elisabeth Hvar
- Hvar Island (Hvar Town), Split & the Dalmatian Coast
- 5-star
- Bed and Breakfast
- TripAdvisor 4.8/5
Palace Elisabeth is a regal, harbour-front hotel in Hvar Town with excellent cuisine, perfect for honeymoons.
Best for: Hvar glamour
Hotel Plaza Duce
- Omis, Split & the Dalmatian Coast
- 4-star
- Full Board
- TripAdvisor 4.9/5
Hotel Plaza Duće in Omiš has breathtaking views, an ultra-modern design and the beach close by.
Best for: Relaxing near Split
Valamar Amicor Resort
- Hvar Island (Stari Grad), Split & the Dalmatian Coast
- 4-star
- Half Board
- TripAdvisor 4.9/5
Valamar Amicor Resort in Stari Grad on Hvar has a pool with waterslides and an excellent children’s club.
Best for: Families on Hvar
DResort
- Sibenik (Split Area of), Split & the Dalmatian Coast
- 5-star
- Bed and Breakfast
- TripAdvisor 4.7/5
D-Resort in Šibenik, a member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World, overlooks the marina, with sea views from every room.
Best for: Design and sea views
Istria
Venetian-style towns, truffles, olive oil and family resorts.
Hotel Monte Mulini
- Rovinj, Istria
- 5-star
- Bed and Breakfast
- TripAdvisor 4.8/5
Five-star Hotel Monte Mulini in Rovinj is beachfront and perfect for adults, with unique dining experiences.
Best for: Rovinj luxury
Isabella Island Villas Valamar Collection
- Porec, Istria
- 4-star
- All Inclusive
- TripAdvisor 4.7/5
Isabella Island Villas in Poreč is on a traffic-free island with panoramic views and all-inclusive.
Best for: A peaceful island
Grand Hotel Brioni Pula – A Radisson Collection Hotel
- Pula (Resort of), Istria
- 4-star
- Half Board
- TripAdvisor 4.6/5
Grand Hotel Brioni Pula has a stunning seafront location, a luxury spa and a fantastic pool area.
Best for: Pula
Girandella Valamar Collection Family Hotel
- Rabac, Istria
- 4-star
- All Inclusive
- TripAdvisor 4.5/5
Girandella Valamar Collection Family Hotel in Rabac has a seafront location, a fantastic splash park and a family entertainment programme.
Best for: Families
How to choose
Dubrovnik: history, walls and day trips, but busy in peak summer. Split and the islands: island-hopping, beaches and nightlife on Hvar. Istria: food, wine, cycling and family resorts, with a short flight to Pula. Read more on our Dubrovnik, Split and Istria pages.
How we chose these hotels
We sell 121 hotels in Croatia. To build this list we started with the best-rated hotels in each region, then read what our guests say: every hotel here is well rated on TripAdvisor. We spread our picks across different resorts so you can compare areas, and we only include hotels you can book with us today as an ATOL-protected package with flights and transfers. Prices change daily, so use the search box at the end of this page for live availability, or ask a Travel Designer for a tailored shortlist.
When to go
May to October; June and September are perfect. Flights take two to two and three-quarter hours from the UK.
Twin-centre ideas
Croatia is perfect for combining two areas. Popular pairings include Dubrovnik’s Old Town with a peaceful island such as Koločep or Šipan, Split with a few nights on Hvar, or a city stay followed by a beach resort. Ferries and catamarans connect the coast and islands throughout the summer. A Travel Designer can plan the route and transfers for you.
Eating and drinking
Croatian cooking is Mediterranean with a regional twist. On the Dalmatian coast, try black risotto made with cuttlefish ink, grilled fish with blitva (chard and potatoes), and peka, meat or octopus slow-cooked under an iron bell. Istria is famous for truffles, olive oil and Malvazija white wine, while the Pelješac peninsula near Dubrovnik is known for its oysters and Plavac Mali red wine.
Frequently asked questions
Is Dubrovnik or Split better?
Dubrovnik for history and a showpiece city; Split for island-hopping and a lively, lived-in feel.
Which part of Croatia is best for families?
Istria, with family resorts such as Girandella in Rabac, and Hvar’s Stari Grad.
Can you island-hop in Croatia?
Yes. Ferries from Split reach Hvar, Brač and more. Ask a Travel Designer to plan it.
Does Croatia have sandy beaches?
Mostly pebble, with crystal-clear water; sandy beaches are rarer.
Find your Croatia holiday
Search live prices with flights and transfers, all ATOL protected, or ask a Travel Designer to plan a twin-centre trip.
Keep planning
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- Split & Dalmatian Coast holidays
- Istria holidays
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- Best hotels in Montenegro
- Best hotels in Venice
- Best hotels in Dubrovnik
- Best hotels in Split, Hvar and Makarska
- Best hotels in Istria
Updated October 2026. Hotels can be booked as ATOL-protected packages with flights and transfers through Travelisto.
