It was aristocrats who originally swanned through the halls behind the honey-coloured walls of this splendid building. Three centuries later, the Pucic Palace's doors swing open to guests who seek a touch of grandeur in their lodgings.
Located on Dubrovnik’s atmospheric main square, the hotel has been traditionally restored with wooden-beamed ceilings, wrought-iron balustrades and lustrous green marble. Corridors are lined with glass cases displaying antiquities, walls are hung with valuable artworks on loan from city museums, and each of the 19 rooms is named after a famous Croatian poet, musician or artist. If it’s all sounding a bit too much like an over-stuffed cultural excursion with Great-Aunt Matilda, don’t fret... there are Bulgari toiletries in the bathrooms, CD/DVD players in the bedrooms and not a stitch of pretentiousness in the staff. The Pucic Palace is comfortably modern and yet conveniently located on the doorstep of Dubrovnik’s tremendous history.
Highs
- This is just 1 of only 2 hotels located in the old town
- You'll have no need for a car - just walk out the door and you’re in Gundulić Square, ready to stroll down the Stradun and explore the cathedrals, outdoor cafés and hidden corners of this impressive walled city
- Gracious, charming and helpful staff
- There's a swanky private beach just a 5-minute walk away
Lows
- Because the palace is within the walls of the old town, you will miss the views of the sea from the lower floors
- Rooms may seem smallish and a little basic for the price
- If you decide to bring a car, the closest parking is several streets away, outside the car-free city walls
Best time to go
To enjoy the Dubrovnik Summer Festival, you have to go in July or August, but this is high season and the city gets very crowded. By far the most pleasant time to visit Dubrovnik is in September, when it’s still warm but the tourists have gone home.
Our top tips
Men will want long trousers and women a skirt to enter the churches and some of the nicer restaurants.
- Boutique Hotel
- 19 rooms
- Restaurants and bar (open daily)
- All ages welcome
- Open all year
- Pool
- Spa Treatments
- Walk to beach
- Pet Friendly
- Disabled Access
- Car not necessary
- Parking
- Restaurants Nearby
- WiFi
- Air Conditioning
- Guest Lounge
- Terrace
- Garden
- Gym
- Beach club
- Excursions
Rooms
Ok, maybe you haven’t heard of Ivan Gundulic, the 17th-century Dubrovnik-born writer who predicted the downfall of the Ottoman Empire in his epic poem ‘Osman’. But if you stay in the suite named after him, you can read one of his manuscripts - it’s hanging on the wall, along with other fine works of art. Every room has the motif of an esteemed Croatian artist on its door and all are tastefully decorated with Italian and Turkish period furniture, antique rugs, polished olive wood floor and lush silk-and-velvet-draped windows.
Splash out on the Senior Suite, on the top floor, with its own in-room Jacuzzi for that extra bit of luxury. Or opt for the Junior Suite which has a balcony overlooking Gundulić Square. But the rooms are also excellent options, with high beamed ceilings and dark oak floors.
The bathrooms are especially spectacular - both the roll-top bathtub and sink are encased in copper and the mosaic floors have been laid by local artisans. Here you can step on the designer scales in your Japanese bathrobe before pampering yourself with Bvlgari toiletries. Then, dim the stylish lighting alcoved in the high ceilings and choose a CD or DVD from the library before falling asleep in cool cotton bed linen. Luxury and history aren’t often bed fellows but they seem quite comfortable here...
Features include:
- Air conditioning
- Minibar/fridge
- WiFi
Eating
A trinity of gastronomic venues make up the Pucic Palace - and one does double duty day and night. Café Royal, a Parisian-style café by day, serves up freshly baked pastries for breakfast, right by the bustle of early-morning market traders in Gundulić Square and when the stalls are cleared, re-emerges with an evening menu of Croatian specialities such as smoked ham with marinated figs and ‘sea stone soup’.
Lemon and bay trees border the terrace of Defne Terrace, the first-floor restaurant in front of what was once the palace’s private chapel. Here, a robust seafood-based Eastern Mediterranean cuisine is on offer, with Dalmatian dishes like octopus salad, squid-ink risotto and plenty of fresh fish.
Late-night beatniks can bed down in the plush green leather interior of Razonoda Wine Bar. Here again, local produce is on hand, from a zingy glass of red zinfandel to the smoky cheese and ham nibbles - even the groovy jazz trio are sure to be stalwarts of Dubrovnik’s buoyant music scene.
There are numerous restaurants within walking distance serving a range of cuisines. Ask the hotel staff for recommendations.
Features include:
- Minibar/fridge
- Restaurant
- Restaurants nearby
Activities
Activities on site or nearby include:
- Sailing
- Scuba diving
- Snorkelling
Kids
Children are welcome at the The Pucic Palace and babysitting can be arranged. Supplements apply for for the use of cots and extra beds. You're in the heart of the pedestrian Old Town for easy sightseeing.
Best for:
Children (4-12 years), Teens (over 12)
Family friendly accommodation:
A Family Room can be created by connecting a Double Deluxe room with a Single room, each with separate doors and bathrooms. The Double Deluxe rooms can fit either an extra bed or a baby cot and the Double Executive rooms can fit both an extra bed and cot.
Cots Available, Extra Beds Available
Babysitting:
Babysitting available by arrangement
Baby equipment:
Baby cots available on request
Remember baby and child equipment may be limited or need pre-booking
Kids Activities nearby:
- Game of Thrones Tours
- Walk the Old City's walls
- Head to the hotel's private beach
- Charter the hotel yacht for the day
- Kayaking
- Head to the beach (Copacabana in Lapad is the best)
- Boat trips to nearby islands
Families Should Know:
As the hotel is in the heart of the Old Town, the nearest taxis can get is 200m away
Distances:
- Airport: 40 minutes
- Shops: 1 minute
For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection
Location
Pucic Palace has a privileged position within the car-free city walls of Dubrovnik's Old Town.
By Air:
Fly to Dubrovnik airport (20km). Usually you have to fly to Zagreb, Croatia’s capital and then catch a flight to Dubrovnik; during the high season there are some charter flights that fly directly. If combining a stop in Dubrovnik with a tour of the islands, Korçula and some of the other islands offer ferry service, as does Split, a city on the mainland with a big airport.
From the Airport
Transfers (approx. 40 minutes) by limousine or taxi are available at a supplement, but please note that due to the location in the Old Town, the last 200m of the transfer is on foot.
By Car:
A car is not required in Dubrovnik, but if you want to explore further afield, see our car rental recommendations. Bear in mind that parking in Dubrovnik is a problem, especially in summer, though the situation has improved slightly with the opening of a 24-hour public garage at Ilijina Glavica (Zagrebaèka ulica bb), a 5-minute walk from Pile Gate.
By Sea:
If you are arriving from Italy, Jadrolinija operate a twice-weekly overnight ferry to Dubrovnik from Bari. From Dubrovnik’s Gruž harbour, take a bus or taxi to Pile Gate, the entrance to the old town.
Detailed directions will be sent to you when you book through i-escape.
Airports:
- Dubrovnik 30.0 km DBV
Other:
- Beach 0.5 km
- Shops 0.5 km
- Restaurant 0.5 km