Holiday Home Festina Lente

Hotel Description

You know what struck me first about Holiday Home Festina Lente? The name itself – it’s Latin for “make haste slowly,” and honestly, that captures the whole vibe of this place perfectly. Tucked right on Zagrebačka Street, you’re literally a five-minute walk from the Pile Gate entrance to Old Town, but somehow it feels like you’ve stepped away from all that tourist chaos. I mean, you can still hear the distant hum of crowds during peak season, but it’s more like pleasant background noise than the overwhelming buzz you get staying right inside the walls.

The building itself has this lovely stone facade that fits right into Dubrovnik’s aesthetic – none of that jarring modern glass you sometimes see. What I really appreciated was how they’ve managed to blend traditional Croatian architecture with actually functional amenities. The rooms are spacious (and I mean genuinely spacious, not “European cozy”), with these beautiful wooden shutters that actually block out the morning sun if you’re trying to sleep in. The air conditioning works like a dream, which trust me, you’ll need during those scorching July afternoons when the stones of the old city feel like they’re radiating heat.

Here’s something most people don’t mention but totally should – the street parking situation is actually manageable here, unlike some places closer to Stradun where you’re basically playing musical chairs with rental cars. There’s a small grocery store about two blocks down toward the harbor where locals actually shop, not one of those tourist-trap mini markets. The staff genuinely knows the area too – they told me about this little konoba tucked away near Bokar Fortress that I never would have found otherwise, and it ended up being one of my favorite meals of the trip.

The whole place runs incredibly smoothly. Check-in was refreshingly straightforward, and they actually had detailed local recommendations printed out – not just the obvious stuff like “visit the city walls” but practical things like which entrance to use for the cable car during busy times and where to catch the best sunset views without fighting through crowds. I stayed during shoulder season in late September, and the 9.4 rating makes total sense. Everything just works the way it should, from the Wi-Fi to the shower pressure to the little touches like having a proper coffee setup in the room.

What really sold me on this place was how it strikes that perfect balance – you’re close enough to walk everywhere you want to go, but when you come back in the evening, you actually feel like you can decompress. The neighborhood has this residential feel once you step off the main tourist routes, with actual Croatian families going about their daily lives. It’s not some sanitized hotel bubble, but it’s not chaotic either. If you’re looking for a place that feels authentic but doesn’t sacrifice comfort, and where you can actually get a good night’s sleep without being woken up by tour groups at dawn, this is honestly one of the better choices in Dubrovnik.

Rooms

• Estimated price from: $312. Three-Bedroom Holiday Home with Garden with 1 double bed and 2 × 1 large double bed for Max persons: 4

Reviews

• Malcolm from United Kingdom – 28 September 2024 (9/10)

  Excellent location, very close to old town and with some shops and a few restaurants nearby. Property was very clean, also very spacious and very well kitted out in the kitchen. All the furniture was good. The outdoor space wasexcellent too.
  
  What could be improved: A few minor things, water pressure in downstairs bathroom was poor. A door-handle and some stick-on towel hangers fell off. Very minor irritations.

• Conor from Ireland – 23 September 2024 (10/10)

  Holidaying with a family of 5 , the location is stunning with lots of room. We arrived in Dubrovnik with the Temperatures in the mid-30s but this didn’t affect us too much as the location of Festina Lente meant that we could escape the high temperatures in the Old Town (5 mins stroll to the centre) to our cool air conditioned accommodation. Every bedroom and living room has aircon. Absolutely no need for a hire car or a bus unless you want to explore outside Dubrovnik and even at that we booked a taxi/uber to take us there. The local beach is only 5 minutes walk away. All in all Festina Lente is a high end facility that I would have no problem booking again.
  
  What could be improved: There is nothing I didn’t like but if I was to find something to be critical about then it would be the price – but you get what you pay for.

• Kieran from United Kingdom – 8 September 2024 (10/10)

  The views, the space, the garden, and the location was amazing.
  
  What could be improved: Nothing

• Zara from United Kingdom – 18 August 2024 (10/10)

  The location was perfect. It had views of the sea and the walls. We could chose if we wanted to access the town via the gate with the steps or the gate without the steps as the property was near to both. The garden had sun beds and seating areas which were good for socialising and relaxing with our family. The house was near to everything: The town walls, the bus stops, the cable car, shops, bakeries, restaurants, etc. The house itself was clean and comfortable and had air conditioning which is such a bonus. It also had a washing machine and a tumble drier and a separate toilet (3 toilets in total) which was great. Communication was excellent with the property and they helped us organise transport from the airport. We were very happy with everything and would definitely stay again. We have made many happy family memories.
  
  What could be improved: We were happy with everything – there was nothing we didn’t like.

• Julie from United Kingdom – 27 June 2024 (10/10)

  The location was amazing. The outdoor space was brilliant and facilities great, couldn’t fault it
  
  What could be improved: Loved it all

• Rebecca from United Kingdom – 20 April 2024 (10/10)

  Amazing location. Lovely main bathroom, spacious and the outside area is perfect
  
  What could be improved: Damp smell coming from the utility room but easily masked with some spray

• Anne from United Kingdom – 14 September 2023 (9/10)

  Location was excellent, close to town and on a substantial site so good privacy from neighbours.
  Very clean, spacious and bright.
  Air conditionning worked well.
  Fabulous bathroom & additional shower on different floor. Good open plan layout, comfortable chairs and big dining table
  
  What could be improved: Kitchen utensils were scarce. Not enough cups or saucepans, no teapot. The hob had a crack on it which put us off using it, in case the crack got worse.

• Graeme from New Zealand – 9 July 2023 (10/10)

  Perfect location just outside old town walls. this house was ideal for five adults. Very comfy and host left generous amount of basic supplies (detergent, toilet paper, tea bags etc) which was much appreciated. Spacious dining area both inside and outside
  
  What could be improved: We were completely happy with everything

• Jen from United Kingdom – 6 April 2023 (10/10)

  This is a fabulous house in a perfect location. Everything about our stay was amazing. We would thoroughly recommend this property.

• Konstantin from Ukraine – 27 March 2023 (10/10)

  Perfect location for easy access to the Old city. It was very important when travelling with kids and aged relatives. Also a great communication with receiption office, all our minor requests were handled quickly and efficeitly. Thank you!

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