Apartments Studio Dubrovnik Beach Area-Studio Apartment

Hotel Description

So I ended up at this studio apartment in Lapad after my original booking fell through – honestly, one of those happy accidents that turned out way better than expected. The place sits right in the heart of the Lapad peninsula, which if you haven’t been to Dubrovnik yet, is basically where locals actually hang out instead of the tourist-packed Old Town. You’re maybe a 15-minute bus ride from all the Game of Thrones madness, but you get to sleep somewhere that doesn’t sound like a medieval reenactment every night.

The studio itself is pretty straightforward – clean, functional, nothing fancy but everything you actually need. What really sold me on it was stepping out onto that little balcony in the morning with my coffee and realizing I could see glimpses of the Adriatic between the buildings. The owner, Marko, met me at check-in and actually walked me through the neighborhood, pointing out the good bakery (skip the tourist one on the main strip, trust me) and explaining the bus schedules. You know what’s rare? Someone who genuinely wants you to enjoy their city instead of just collecting your money and disappearing.

The location is really the star here – Lapad Bay is right there, which means you can walk to a proper beach in about five minutes instead of trying to sunbathe on those rocky ledges near the Old Town walls. There’s this whole promenade that comes alive in the evenings with families walking and kids playing, and the restaurants along there serve actual Croatian food at prices that won’t make you weep. I mean, you’ll still pay tourist prices, but reasonable tourist prices. The Konzum supermarket is literally around the corner, which saved me a fortune on breakfast and snacks. Parking was surprisingly manageable too – there’s street parking that’s free after 9 PM, though you’ll want to ask Marko about the meter situation during the day.

The only thing that took some getting used to was the Croatian approach to air conditioning – it works great, but you’ve got to remember to actually turn it on before you leave for the day if you want to come back to a cool place. Learned that one the hard way after a long day hiking around Lokrum Island. The shower pressure was actually impressive for a three-star place, and the WiFi held up even when I was video calling family back home. You can hear a bit of street noise in the mornings, but it’s the good kind – people heading to work, not drunk tourists singing at 3 AM.

If you’re the type who needs to be right in the thick of things, this might feel too residential. But if you want to experience Dubrovnik like someone who actually lives there, while still being close enough to hit all the must-sees, this studio hits that sweet spot perfectly. Plus, watching the sunset over the bay from the promenade after a day of sightseeing – honestly, it’s better than any five-star hotel view I’ve had.

Rooms

• Estimated price from: $115. Apartment with 2 sofa beds for Max persons: 2

SURROUNDINGS

Facilities