Dubrovnik, Croatia
First Impressions When I first walked up to Apartment Marija close to Old Town, I'll be honest — it doesn't scream "hotel" from the outside.
When I first walked up to Apartment Marija close to Old Town, I’ll be honest — it doesn’t scream “hotel” from the outside. It’s tucked into a residential building on Gornji Kono, which actually turned out to be one of its biggest charms. The entrance is unassuming, but once you’re inside, you realize you’ve stumbled onto something pretty special. This three-star property feels more like staying at a well-appointed local friend’s place than a typical tourist accommodation, and I mean that in the best possible way.
Here’s what nobody tells you about Dubrovnik — location isn’t just about being close to the Old Town walls, it’s about being close enough without dealing with the cruise ship crowds every morning. Apartment Marija nails this balance perfectly. You’re literally a few minutes’ walk from Pile Gate, but you’re staying in a neighborhood where actual locals live. I could grab morning coffee at the little café around the corner before the tour groups even woke up. The location score of 9.0 makes complete sense once you experience it — you get that authentic Croatian residential vibe while still being able to pop into the UNESCO sites whenever you want.
The apartment — and it really is more apartment than hotel room — surprised me with how thoughtfully it’s set up. There’s a proper kitchen if you want to hit the local market (which, honestly, you should), and the living area actually feels livable rather than just functional. The bedroom was comfortable enough, though don’t expect upscale finishes — this is a three-star place, after all. What I appreciated most was the attention to practical details: good Wi-Fi, decent water pressure, and windows that actually open to let in that Mediterranean breeze.
Staying here means you get to experience Dubrovnik beyond the postcard shots, and that’s where it gets interesting. In the evenings, I’d walk back through quiet residential streets where laundry hangs between buildings and neighbors chat on their balconies. There’s a small grocery store nearby where the owner started recognizing me after day two — that kind of thing just doesn’t happen when you’re staying in the tourist zone. You know what? It made me feel less like a visitor and more like I was actually experiencing how people live here.
The 8.9 rating tells the real story here, especially among couples who seem to really connect with what this place offers. It’s intimate without being cramped, local without being inconvenient, and affordable without feeling cheap. You’re not paying for marble lobbies or concierge services — you’re paying for a genuine slice of Dubrovnik life with all the practical benefits of being perfectly positioned. If you’re the type of traveler who’d rather discover a neighborhood bakery than eat hotel breakfast, and you want to fall asleep to the sounds of a real Croatian street rather than air conditioning units, then Apartment Marija just makes sense.
Hotel in Dubrovnik reservations spike ahead of cruise arrivals, so savvy guests lock in harbor-view balconies before ships sail in.
Choose from 2 room types
| Room | Type | Beds | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Two-Bedroom Apartment | Max persons: 3 | 1 large double bed, 1 single bed | From $160 /night |
| Two-Bedroom Apartment | Max persons: 4 | 1 extra-large double bed, 2 single beds | From $239 /night |
We booked both apartments and they were both excellent.Very clean and comfortable
The courtyard has an amazing view of old town and the sea and is very relaxing sitting in th sun having a few beers
A few supermarkets close by and a bakery
The host was very helpful
What could be improved: There are a lot of stairs to reach the appartment but that is the same everywhere.
If you struggle with stairs book lower down the hill
We had no problem with them
Location and view
What could be improved: The beds were hard and the bathrooms were simple. Shower was difficult to use and one shower did not work.
Lovely apartment, wonderful shaded terrace, good place to spend a relaxing ‘in the heat of the day’ afternoon, very characterful.
Great views from the property
Well fitted out, great kitchen with a fantastic view, lots of amenities all you could need for a few days stay
Good Air con
Good shower
Very helpful and friendly host with great comms, provides a very good info-pack.
High above the Old Town via staircase but climb not too bad (would advise against getting the bus up, goes a round-about route and takes a long time!)
Short 10 min walk to the Castle view Cable car (if going at sunset, queues will be long, up and down, might be an idea going with the Taxi-Hawkers)
What could be improved: Hard to find fault!
Other reviews mention the stairs; the stairs are a feature of Dubrovnik, as long as you don't have mobility issues, the effort is worth it, there are Ubers for those times when you can't face the climb!!
The property location was perfect. It was near the old town. It’s was a lovely quite place for relaxing. It has a lovely outdoor area for sitting out in evening. The apartment is very comfortable. The beds were very comfortable. The apartment is very clean. I would recommend it to anyone visiting Dubrovnik.
What could be improved: I can’t think of anything I didn’t care for about the property.
The whole apattment is nice with view t the sea. Terrace is wide enough to have party 😁. It is beautiful in every single thing!
What could be improved: There is no convenience store/ food around
The apartment is part of an old house so it had character and a sense of history about it and, above all, it had a lovely atmosphere. It was immaculately clean and the little (shared) garden had a spectacular view of the city (there is a bigger apartment above in the rest of the house). We had our own little patio area under vines where it was lovely to have breakfast or read in the quiet of the evening.
What could be improved: Nothing
Lovely old palace And really interesting apartment. So well taken care of.
Loved the location and the stunning view. Vesna and Diana were absolutely exceptionally helpful and extremely friendly
What could be improved: There was no fan in one of the bedrooms and due to the heat one of us slept in the lounge where there was a fan available
The property was in a great location (if you are fine with stairs) and had a beautiful view of old town. Very clean. The host was so helpful and attentive. I lost my passport and she offered to help however she could.
What could be improved: The only negative about this property is that is doesn’t have wifi and the reception can be shotty. However, this did not bother us much at all.
Great location (if you’re comfortable with lots of steps) with great views
Very clean
Maro was a great host. Offered assistance & recommendations on multiple occasions & allowed us some extra time at the apartment on our last day due to a late flight.
What could be improved: The apartment was a little chilly in the colder weather due to it being an older property
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