If you’re after true glitz and glamour when on holiday in Croatia, you’ll be sure to seek out five-star splendour in one of the country’s (now) many top hotels. Here, we present you with the best luxury hotels in Croatia, in towns and cities and on the islands up and down the coast and in the interior too.
Luxury Hotels in Croatia – Dubrovnik
There are many five star hotels in Dubrovnik, as well as other luxury options if you’d prefer something other than a hotel.
One of the most famous luxury hotels in Dubrovnik is the Hotel Excelsior. Built in 1913, this hotel has been visited by a number of dignitaries and the rich and famous over the years – including Queen Elizabeth II, Princess Margaret, Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton and Sir Roger Moore. The hotel’s location – just outside the Old Town -means it sits with a near-perfect view of this part of Dubrovnik. The sumptuously decorated hotel has 158 rooms, three restaurants, a private beach area, lush gardens, and an indoor pool and wellness spa.
The boutique Villa Orsula is adjacent to the Hotel Excelsior – it enjoys the same wonderful location and view just outside Dubrovnik’s Old Town. Housed in a villa from the 1930s, this hotel has just 13 rooms – perfect for those travellers who are looking for a tranquil setting. Choose from one of the suites or rooms, and then enjoy your time in the pretty gardens or the private beach area. The Villa Orsula is also home to the Victoria Restaurant which is the first Peruvian restaurant on the Adriatic.
The Dubrovnik President Valamar Collection Hotel is located the on the Babin Kuk peninsula in the western part of Dubrovnik, and is ideal for those looking for typical holiday activities (plenty of beach and pool time!) as well as being a short distance away from the main sights of the city. There are two swimming pools here (indoor and outdoor), and wellness centre, and a wide, pebble beach. The beach has great facilities – sunbeds and parasols – and there are also plenty of water sports activities on offer. Every room at this hotel has a sea view, as do all of the public spaces. The hotel also has its own Miramare Restaurant for top quality a la carte fare with a gorgeous view.
Other luxury hotels in Dubrovnik
- The Pucic Palace is one of the few hotels actually in the Old Town, and the only five-star option if you want to stay right in the heart of the action. The Pucic Palace is housed in an amazing 18th-century former palace close to Stradun.
- The Grand Villa Argentina is another of the hotels located just east of the Old Town, with equally gorgeous views
- Hilton Imperial Dubrovnik is sited in a beautiful 19th-century building just by Pile Gate by the Old Town
- Sun Gardens Dubrovnik is located 11 miles from Dubrovnik in Orasac, and has a wonderful range of facilities in the sprawling grounds – as well as rooms, suites, residences and villas for accommodation, there are three outdoor pools, a fitness centre and a spa centre, a tennis court, a rock-climbing wall, a private beach and nine restaurants and nine bars!
Luxury Hotels in Croatia – Zagreb
Zagreb also has a good collection of luxury five-star hotels – take your pick from one of the below!
The Esplanade Zagreb is one of the grandest hotels in Croatia, built in 1925 for passengers travelling on the Orient Express (as stopover accommodation, of course). The beautiful Art Deco building houses 208 rooms and suites, a health club offering a wide range of wellness and beauty treatments, and the highly-acclaimed restaurant Zinfandel’s. (There’s also Le Bistro restaurant and the Esplanade 1925 lounge and cocktail bar.) The hotel even has a VIP dog service if you’re travelling with your furry friend! Numerous dignitaries and the rich and famous have stayed here over the years, including Elizabeth Taylor, Orson Welles, Tina Turner, Princess Anne and assorted world leaders.
The Sheraton Zagreb Hotel is set in an imposing building close to the train station, and within easy walking distance to the main sights of the city. There’s a wide range of facilities at this hotel, including an indoor pool, and numerous conference rooms for business travellers. There are two restaurants, as well as a cafe and bar.
Luxury Hotels in Croatia – Istria
Kempinski Hotel Adriatic Istria Croatia (Savudrija, at the top of Istria) is certainly the place to come to if you are a big golf fan. The 186-room hotel is just by an 18-hole championship golf course, the first of its kind in Istria. There’s also a private beach, indoor and outdoor pools, a 3,000 sq. m. spa, two restaurant and three bars, including poolside and beach ones.
The Hotel Lone (Rovinj) is Croatia’s first member of the exclusive Design Hotels brand, and is set on the edge of a lush green nature park. Built in 2011, the hotel’s 248 modern rooms are all stylishly designed, and sixteen of these rooms have a private outdoor plunge pool. There are outdoor and indoor pools and a beach is a few minutes walk away; the main part of Rovinj is about 15 minutes away from the Hotel Lone. The hotel also features two restaurants and the Hotel Bar Lone with its glorious views; there’s even a nightclub here for special events!
The Meneghetti Wine Hotel and Winery (Bale) is exactly as it sounds – the place for all wine-lovers to come and stay. A Relais & Chateaux property, this luxury, boutique hotel is located outside the small town of Bale in the beautiful countryside of inland Istria, around 30 minutes away from Rovinj. The hotel and winery are set on an estate covering 120,000 square yards, which includes vineyards and olive groves, and part of the hotel itself is housed in 19-century stone house once owned by a Mr Meneghetti. For accommodation, there is a private villa for 9 people; one or two bedroom residences for 3 or 5 people; or one of the ten luxury rooms and suites. The Meneghetti Hotel also features a gorgeous spa and an on-site restaurant serving exquisite food, as well as a daytime restaurant and lounge bar. As to be expected, you can conduct wine (and olive oil) tastings at the winery.
Luxury Hotels in Croatia – The Kvarner Riviera
As something of an upmarket resort for many a decade now (in fact, as far back as the late 19th century), Opatija on the Kvarner Riviera is home to many a five-star hotel. These include:
- The Hotel Mozart is set in a candy pink building in a great location, close to the beach and the town’s main promenade.
- The Hotel Ambassador is also located close to Opatija’s main promenade. There are two swimming pools, three restaurants – including the Hortenzija Restaurant set in the summer garden – and a cocktail bar, a private beach area, and a spa area.
- The Hotel Bevanda is a Relais & Chateaux property with stylish rooms, a pool, an on-site restaurant – plus a cigar and cognac lounge bar
- The Amadrija Park Hotel Milenj is another of Opatija’s luxury hotels housed in a grand building by the main promenade. The hotel has indoor and outdoor pools, two restaurants, a bar and a spa centre.
- Design Hotel Navis is located about 2.5km outside of Opatija, in a very modern building. There’s an outdoor pool, a spa centre, a private beach and an on-site restaurant
Luxury Hotels in Croatia – Split
The Hotel Park Split is in a prime central location close to the famous Bacvice Beach and close to many of the main delights of the city. One of the oldest hotels in Split, the hotel was built in 1921 and was completely restructured a few years ago. There’s a pretty pool in the central courtyard, plus a luxury spa offering a variety of treatments – from facials to massages to waxing and body treatments. The fine-dining Restaurant Split has been in operation since the start of the hotel, and you can also enjoy a cocktail at the Imperial Bar.
The Radisson Blu Resort & Spa is located just on the outskirts of Split, on a large site that offers a wonderful outdoor pool and private beach area. Most of the comfortable and stylish rooms have simply gorgeous sea views over to the islands of Brac and Solta. There’s also a hotel spa with sauna and a steam bath, as well as opportunity to have wellness treatments, and a gym. Enjoy a tasty breakfast at The Fig Leaf restaurant in the mornings, and dine at the Caper Grill in the evening; enjoy tasty daytime dishes and drinks at the Pool Bar, the Door Bar or Mistral Beach Club.
Le Meridien Lav Split is located in Podstrana, around 8km from Split. This is a large, luxury hotel resort (there are 380 rooms) with numerous amenities – from the private beach area to the three restaurants and the hotel’s beach bar to the outdoor and indoor pool, plus the Recupera Spa and Wellness area. There are also plenty of sports activities on offer, including tennis, water sports, biking, boating and more.
Luxury Hotels in Croatia – The Islands
The Heritage Hotel Martinis Marchi (Maslinica, Solta) is housed in a 300-year-old former castle. All of the wonderful suites have bay views. There’s an outdoor pool set in the central courtyard, and you can also relax in the beautiful gardens (the whole hotel is set on an acre of grounds) or in one of the two saunas of the special relaxation room. The hotel’s Le Château Restaurant is the place to come to to try Dalmatian fish specialities and wine.
The Hotel Bellevue (Mali Losinj, Losinj) places a special emphasis on a wide variety of wellness and spa treatments – no surprise, as the island of Losinj is known for its healing nature. There are also indoor and outdoor saltwater swimming pools, a private beach area, two restaurants and a bar.
The Palace Elizabeth, Hvar Heritage Hotel (Hvar Town, Hvar) sits in a wonderful location right in the heart of Hvar Town, overlooking the pretty harbour and the Pakleni islands beyond, and just steps away from many of the main sights. The building was originally built in the late 19th century, commissioned by an Austrian Empress. The hotel is home to an indoor pool, a restaurant and bar (make sure you indulge in drinks on the beautiful outdoor terrace) and a spa with a variety of treatments.
The Maslina Resort (Stari Grad, Hvar) is another of Croatia’s Relais & Chateaux properties; the 53 modern rooms, suites and villas are set in the hotel’s large and lush garden, rich with plant-life that will grow and develop over time. There’s a restaurant (for breakfast and dinner, plus a poolside menu) and bar, a private sandy beach, two pools (an expansive family pool and an infinity pool; suites and villas also have their own private pools) and even a playroom for younger guests.
The boutique Lesic Dimitri Palace (Korcula Town, Korcula) is housed in a building the originates in the 17th century, close to the centre of Korcula Town. The hotel is also close to a beach, and has its own restaurant and spa centre.