Hotel Bellevue Dubrovnik is the city's best option for couples who want a real beach of their own and a sea view without paying Ploče prices. The hotel is built into a cliff about 30 meters above Miramare Bay, west of the Old Town. Rooms face the open Adriatic. An elevator runs down to a small pebble cove where you swim in clear water beneath the rock.
The Old Town is about 1.4 km away, roughly a 10-minute walk to the Pile Gate along the road. That is close enough for a morning on the walls and dinner in the lanes, far enough that evenings on your balcony are quiet.
The Bellevue is part of the same group as the Excelsior. It shares some of that polish. Vapor, its main restaurant, is recommended by the Michelin Guide. Nevera, a lunch spot in a sea cave beside the beach, is one of the more memorable places to eat in Dubrovnik. It suits couples who care about swimming and sunsets more than an Old Town panorama. If you want the walls framed in your window, stay in Ploče instead.
Highlights at a glance
- Pebble cove at the foot of the cliff
- Nevera restaurant in a sea cave
- Vapor, recommended by the Michelin Guide
- Every room faces the sea
- Ten-minute walk to the Old Town
Why Couples Love the Bellevue
The cove is the reason to choose it. Most hotels close to the Old Town give you rock platforms or a shared public beach. The Bellevue has a pebble beach tucked at the base of its own cliffs, reached by elevator. You can go from breakfast to the water in a few minutes. Beach services are available to all hotel guests.
The position also gives you the open sea rather than a city view. Rooms look out over Miramare Bay and the Adriatic beyond, so the evening light is the main event. Spice Lounge, the open-air terrace on the seafront, is where many guests end up for a sunset cocktail.
And you are still within walking distance of the Old Town. That balance of a quiet cove and an easy walk to the Stradun is hard to find in Dubrovnik.
Rooms and Suites to Book
All rooms look toward the sea, so the choice comes down to space, balconies and budget. The Classic and Superior rooms are the entry categories. Classic Miramare rooms sit in the original white stone wing of the hotel, which has more character.
For a honeymoon, the Deluxe rooms are the best balance of size and view. If you want a separate living area for long mornings, look at the Junior Suite or one of the three one-bedroom Deluxe Suites. The Executive Suite adds more space.
The Lovor Presidential Suite on the fifth floor is the hotel's showpiece and the room to book for a splurge. Whichever category you choose, ask for a high floor with a balcony. The higher you are, the more of the bay and the open sea you see.
Vapor, Nevera and the Wine Bar
Vapor is the fine-dining restaurant, recommended by the Michelin Guide, with contemporary cooking based on Adriatic fish and local produce. It serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, though it shines in the evening.
Nevera is the one couples talk about later. It is set in a cave near the beach. You reach it by elevator. It serves a mix of local and Mediterranean dishes at lunch. It usually opens from May to September and depends on the weather, so do not count on it outside summer.
Spice Lounge on the seafront handles breakfast, coffee and sunset drinks. The Wine Bar opens in the late afternoon with more than 180 wines and Champagnes, plus tastings. It is a good place to discover Croatian grapes such as Pošip and Plavac before you head to the islands.
Why guests fall for it
Things to Do
Start with the beach and the cave restaurant, which will take up at least one full lazy day. From the hotel, walk to the Pile Gate for the city walls. The best time is opening time, before the heat and the cruise groups.
The Lapad peninsula is a short walk the other way, with a pine-shaded promenade that is lovely in the evening. From Gruž harbor, nearby, ferries and excursion boats run to the Elaphiti Islands, where Lopud has one of the few sandy beaches in the area.
For a classic Dubrovnik afternoon, ride the cable car up Mount Srđ at sunset, or kayak around Lokrum Island. Food lovers should plan a half day in Ston for oysters and a walk along its long medieval walls. Cavtat, south of the city, is an easy boat trip for lunch.
Getting There
Dubrovnik Airport (DBV) is about 21 km from the hotel. Allow 30 to 40 minutes by car, since the route passes the Old Town and summer traffic can be slow. Taxis and transfers are available at arrivals, or the hotel can book a car.
Most US couples connect through a European hub. If you are arriving from Split or the islands, catamarans dock at Gruž harbor, a short taxi ride from the hotel.
You will not need a car for a stay in Dubrovnik. The walk to the Old Town takes about 10 minutes along the road. City buses also stop nearby. Bring sandals or water shoes for the pebble beach. Pack comfortable flat shoes for the polished stone streets of the Old Town, which can be slippery.
Is It Worth It?
For couples who want to swim every day without a bus ride, yes. The Bellevue gives you a private-feeling cove, sea views from every room and a Michelin Guide restaurant at a lower price than the hotels in Ploče. Expect roughly $450 a night and up for an entry room in high season, less in May, June and October. These are approximate and vary by date.
The trade-off is the view and the walk. You look at the open sea, not the city walls. The walk to the Old Town is pleasant but follows a road. Nevera is seasonal, so a spring or late autumn trip loses one of the highlights. Couples who want the Old Town in their window should choose the Excelsior. Those who want a smaller, more design-led retreat should look at Villa Dubrovnik.
Insider tips
- Book Nevera ahead in July and August with a backup plan if the weather turns
- Request a high floor for the widest view of the bay
- Walk to the Pile Gate early for the walls, then return to the beach
- Try a Croatian wine tasting at the Wine Bar before your island days
