SunOne Dubrovnik

Hotel Description

Look, I’ll be honest – when I first pulled up to SunOne Dubrovnik on Blatska Street, I wasn’t expecting much from a 3-star place. But you know what? Sometimes the best surprises come in unassuming packages, and this little hotel in Lapad actually won me over pretty quickly.

The thing about staying in Lapad is that you’re getting the real Dubrovnik experience without the tourist circus of the Old Town. I mean, don’t get me wrong – you’ll definitely want to explore Stradun and climb those city walls, but it’s actually refreshing to come back to a neighborhood where locals are walking their dogs and kids are playing football in the small parks. The hotel sits on a quiet residential street, and honestly, that’s half the charm right there. You can walk to the main Lapad promenade in maybe five minutes – where there’s this lovely tree-lined stretch with cafes and a small pebbly beach that’s perfect for a morning swim. The bus stop to get into the Old Town is practically around the corner, and the ride takes about 15 minutes (though I’d recommend walking it at least once because the coastal path is gorgeous).

What really struck me about SunOne is how they’ve managed to punch above their weight class. The rooms are clean and modern – nothing fancy, but everything works, which is more than I can say for some 4-star places I’ve stayed at. The air conditioning actually cools the room (crucial in Croatian summers), and the Wi-Fi doesn’t drop every ten minutes. The staff genuinely seem to care about helping you out, not just going through the motions. I remember the woman at reception drew me a little map showing the best route to avoid the crowds when walking to Pile Gate, and she was spot on. There’s a small breakfast spread that covers the basics – decent coffee, fresh bread, local cheese – nothing Instagram-worthy but it’ll fuel you for a day of sightseeing. The hotel doesn’t have a pool or spa or anything like that, but there’s a small terrace where you can sit with a drink in the evening, and the whole vibe is just… relaxed. You know those places where you can actually hear yourself think? This is one of them.

I kept thinking about that 8.4 rating while I was there, and it makes total sense. SunOne isn’t trying to be something it’s not – it’s just doing the fundamentals really well. The location gives you easy access to everything without the noise and chaos, the rooms are comfortable, and the price point is honestly pretty fair for Dubrovnik (which can be brutal on your wallet). If you’re the type who needs a rooftop infinity pool and marble bathrooms, this probably isn’t your place. But if you want a solid base for exploring one of Europe’s most beautiful cities, somewhere you can actually sleep peacefully after a long day of walking those steep cobblestone streets, then SunOne hits the sweet spot perfectly.

Rooms

• Estimated price from: $74. Apartment with 1 large double bed and 1 sofa bed for Max persons: 2

SURROUNDINGS

Facilities