Hotel Excelsior

Hotel Excelsior Dubrovnik is a 5-star waterfront hotel on the Ploče side of Dubrovnik, combining direct access to the Adriatic with exceptional views of the Old Town and Lokrum Island. Dubrovnik’s historic centre is about 0.6 km away, making the hotel particularly attractive for travelers who want resort-style facilities without giving up the ability to walk into the Old Town.

Its main strengths are the waterfront setting, sea access, indoor pool and extensive wellness facilities, several sea-view restaurants, historic Villa Odak and rooms overlooking one of Dubrovnik’s most recognizable panoramas.

Hotel Excelsior Dubrovnik: quick overview

• Category: 5-star luxury waterfront hotel
• Location: Frana Supila, east of Dubrovnik Old Town
• Distance to Old Town: about 0.6 km / 0.4 mi
• Historic section: Villa Odak, dating to 1913
• Accommodation: 158 rooms and suites - 139 rooms and 19 suites
• Views: many rooms overlook the Adriatic, Lokrum and Dubrovnik Old Town
• Sea access: direct access from the hotel’s waterfront area
• Pool: indoor swimming pool
• Wellness: spa, whirlpools, sauna, Turkish and Roman baths and treatment rooms
• Fitness: onsite fitness area
• Dining: Prora, Sensus and Salin
• Bar: Abakus Piano Bar
• Breakfast: buffet breakfast at Salin; check whether it is included in your booked rate
• Parking: valet parking available
• Transfers: private transfers and car rental can be arranged
• Best for: couples, sea-view stays, luxury city breaks and travelers wanting Old Town access with resort facilities

Is Hotel Excelsior Dubrovnik a good choice?

Hotel Excelsior is one of Dubrovnik’s strongest choices if you want to combine a luxury seaside stay with easy access to the Old Town. Unlike hotels inside the walls, Excelsior has a large waterfront setting, indoor pool, spa and direct sea access, yet you can still walk to the historic centre in a few minutes.

Best reasons to stay here

• Direct waterfront setting and sea access
• Views toward Dubrovnik Old Town and Lokrum Island
• Short walk to Ploče Gate and the historic centre
• Indoor pool and substantial wellness facilities
• Three restaurants and a sea-view bar
• Historic Villa Odak accommodation
• 24-hour room service
• Valet parking and private transfer arrangements

Things to consider

• The hotel is outside rather than inside the medieval walls
• The waterfront area is not a broad sandy beach
• Some restaurants and outdoor services are seasonal
• Room outlook varies significantly, so choose your category carefully if the Old Town or sea view is important
• This is a premium luxury property and rates reflect the location and facilities

Location near Ploče Gate and Dubrovnik Old Town

Hotel Excelsior sits east of Dubrovnik Old Town on Frana Supila, with the historic centre about 0.6 km away. The walk follows the coastal road toward the Ploče side of the walled city.

The location gives the hotel a useful balance: you are close enough to explore Dubrovnik on foot while staying outside the busiest pedestrian streets.

Why the location works well

• Easy walk into Dubrovnik Old Town
• Close to Banje Beach
• Convenient for the eastern Old Town and Old Port
• Excellent views toward Lokrum Island
• Walkable to the Dubrovnik Cable Car
• No need for buses or taxis for most Old Town sightseeing

Villa Odak and the history of Hotel Excelsior

The historic heart of Hotel Excelsior is Villa Odak, built in 1913. The villa became part of one of Dubrovnik’s best-known luxury hotels and has hosted numerous prominent international visitors during the hotel’s long history.

Today the property combines Villa Odak with the more contemporary Tower wing. The two sections have different architectural characters, so it is worth checking whether your selected room is in Villa Odak or the Tower if that matters to your stay.

The hotel underwent a major refurbishment before reopening in 2017, retaining its historic identity while updating rooms, public areas, restaurants and wellness facilities.

Rooms and suites at Hotel Excelsior

Hotel Excelsior currently has 158 rooms and suites, made up of 139 rooms and 19 suites across Villa Odak and the Tower.

Many categories are designed around the hotel’s biggest asset: views across the Adriatic toward Lokrum and Dubrovnik Old Town.

Room amenities

Current room amenities include:

• Air conditioning
• Free WiFi
• Flat-screen satellite TV
• Minibar
• Safety deposit box
• Bathrobes and slippers
• Luxury toiletries
• Private bathroom
• Turndown service
• 24-hour room service

Choosing between Villa Odak and the Tower

Choose Villa Odak if the historical identity of the property matters most. Choose the Tower according to your preferred view, balcony and suite configuration.

If you are booking primarily for the postcard panorama, make sure the room description specifically states the view you want rather than assuming every room faces the sea.

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Direct sea access and waterfront terraces

One of Hotel Excelsior’s biggest advantages is direct access to the Adriatic from the hotel grounds. Guests can swim without leaving the property, which gives Excelsior a very different feel from hotels around Pile or inside the Old Town.

The waterfront is best thought of as a hotel bathing area with terraces and sea access rather than a wide sandy beach.

This works particularly well if you want to combine sightseeing with swimming: spend the morning inside Dubrovnik Old Town, then return to the hotel for several hours by the sea without travelling to another beach.

Banje Beach is also nearby if you want a larger public beach setting.

Indoor pool, spa and fitness

Hotel Excelsior has one of the more substantial wellness offerings among hotels close to Dubrovnik Old Town.

Indoor swimming pool

The indoor pool is useful outside the main swimming season and gives guests an alternative when sea conditions or weather are less inviting.

Whirlpools and thermal facilities

The wellness area includes:

• Jacuzzi whirlpools
• Turkish bath
• Roman bath
• Finnish sauna

Spa treatments

Three treatment rooms are available for body and skin treatments. Massage and treatment menus can change, so check the current spa menu if a specific service is important.

Fitness

An air-conditioned fitness area is available for guests who want to exercise during their stay.

Restaurants and bars

Hotel Excelsior currently has three restaurant concepts plus its main bar, all taking advantage of the hotel’s sea and Old Town views.

Prora Restaurant

Prora is Hotel Excelsior’s signature à la carte restaurant and sits directly beside the sea.

It is the strongest choice if you want a waterfront meal with views toward Lokrum and Dubrovnik Old Town. Prora operates seasonally, so opening dates and hours should be checked for your stay.

Sensus Fine Dining Restaurant

Sensus takes a more contemporary fine-dining approach, combining creative dishes made from local ingredients with Croatian wines.

This page deliberately does not describe Sensus as Michelin-starred unless that status is separately confirmed for the date of your stay.

Restaurant Salin

Salin is the main hotel restaurant and the principal breakfast venue. Its terrace looks toward Dubrovnik’s historic fortifications and Old Port.

Abakus Piano Bar

Abakus Piano Bar is the hotel’s main year-round sea-view bar. It serves drinks and light food and has a large terrace overlooking Dubrovnik Old Town.

It is a particularly good option for cocktails before dinner or an evening drink after returning from the historic centre.

Breakfast at Hotel Excelsior

A classic international buffet breakfast is served at Restaurant Salin, with its terrace overlooking Dubrovnik’s Old Town fortifications.

Whether breakfast is included in your accommodation depends on the room rate or package you book. Check the meal plan shown with your reservation rather than assuming every rate includes breakfast.

Parking at Hotel Excelsior

Hotel Excelsior lists valet parking among its current hotel services.

This is a useful advantage if Dubrovnik is part of a longer Croatian or regional road trip, particularly because parking around Dubrovnik Old Town can be difficult and expensive.

Do not rely on older descriptions saying parking is automatically free. Confirm the current parking charge, availability and vehicle arrangements with the hotel when booking.

See our parking in Dubrovnik guide for wider information about driving and parking around the city.

From Dubrovnik Airport

Hotel Excelsior is approximately 22.6 km from Dubrovnik Airport.

Private transfers can be arranged through Adriatic Luxury Hotels, with an English-speaking chauffeur and air-conditioned vehicle. Transfer availability and pricing depend on the booking.

Other options include:

• Taxi
• Pre-booked private transfer
• Airport bus followed by a local connection or walk
• Rental car

Some special hotel packages may include airport transfer benefits, but do not assume a complimentary transfer is included with every reservation.

Is Hotel Excelsior good for couples?

Yes. Couples are one of the strongest matches for Hotel Excelsior.

The combination of sea-view rooms, waterfront swimming, spa facilities, Prora’s shorefront setting and an easy evening walk into Dubrovnik Old Town makes it particularly well suited to romantic trips, anniversaries and luxury short breaks.

If the view matters, choose a room category that explicitly includes a sea view or balcony.

Is Hotel Excelsior good for families?

It can be an excellent family choice for travelers who want central sightseeing and swimming without staying deep inside the pedestrian Old Town.

Advantages include:

• Indoor pool
• Direct sea access
• 24-hour room service
• Short walk into the Old Town
• Larger suite categories

Selected Executive Suites can connect with a neighboring room to create a two-bedroom configuration, which can be particularly useful for families or companions traveling together.

This is still a sophisticated luxury hotel rather than a children’s resort with extensive entertainment programmes, so families wanting a kids-club holiday may prefer another type of property.

Accessibility and mobility

Hotel Excelsior is a large modernized hotel with lifts and substantially easier vehicle access than accommodation inside Dubrovnik Old Town.

However, the property extends down a hillside toward the sea, and access to some terraces, bathing areas or facilities may involve changes of level.

If step-free access, an adapted bathroom or an accessible route to the waterfront, restaurants or spa is important, confirm your exact requirements with the hotel before booking.

Hotel Excelsior vs Hilton Imperial Dubrovnik

These are two of the strongest 5-star options within walking distance of Dubrovnik Old Town, but they suit different priorities.

Choose Excelsior if swimming, waterfront views, spa time and sea-view dining are priorities. Choose Hilton Imperial if being almost directly at Pile Gate, easy road arrival and onsite parking logistics matter more.

Explore Dubrovnik from Hotel Excelsior

Early morning

Walk toward Ploče Gate and explore the Old Town before the busiest part of the day. Continue along Stradun and the main historic sights.

Morning

Walk the Dubrovnik City Walls before summer temperatures rise.

Afternoon

Return to the hotel for swimming, spa time or lunch beside the sea at Prora.

Late afternoon

Walk to Banje Beach, take a boat toward Lokrum Island when the seasonal timetable allows, or ride the Dubrovnik Cable Car.

Evening

Return for dinner at Sensus or Prora, or have a drink at Abakus before another evening walk through the illuminated Old Town.

Top nearby attractions

• Stradun: Dubrovnik’s main Old Town promenade
• Dubrovnik City Walls: Dubrovnik’s signature historic attraction
• Sponza Palace: at Luža Square
• Rector’s Palace: one of the Old Town’s principal civic monuments
• Dubrovnik Cathedral: close to the Old Port
• Banje Beach: nearby public beach
• Lokrum Island: seasonal boats leave from Dubrovnik Old Port
• Dubrovnik Cable Car: panoramic views from Mount Srđ
• Fort Lovrijenac: fortress west of the Old Town with views back toward the walls

For more sightseeing ideas, browse our Dubrovnik attractions guide and day trips from Dubrovnik.

Most useful hotel facilities

Hotel Excelsior Dubrovnik FAQ

Is Hotel Excelsior Dubrovnik a 5-star hotel?

Yes. Hotel Excelsior is a 5-star luxury hotel on Dubrovnik’s waterfront.

How close is Hotel Excelsior to Dubrovnik Old Town?

The hotel is approximately 0.6 km from Dubrovnik Old Town, making the historic centre easily reachable on foot.

Is Hotel Excelsior inside Dubrovnik Old Town?

No. It is east of the walls on the Ploče side of Dubrovnik, close enough to walk into the historic centre while retaining a larger waterfront hotel setting.

Does Hotel Excelsior have direct sea access?

Yes. The hotel has direct access to the Adriatic from its waterfront bathing area.

Does Hotel Excelsior have a swimming pool?

Yes. It has an indoor swimming pool as part of the wellness area.

Does Hotel Excelsior have a spa?

Yes. The wellness facilities include whirlpools, a Turkish bath, Roman bath, Finnish sauna and treatment rooms.

Does Hotel Excelsior have a gym?

Yes. An air-conditioned fitness area is available.

How many rooms does Hotel Excelsior have?

The hotel currently lists 158 accommodation units, comprising 139 rooms and 19 suites across Villa Odak and the Tower.

What is Villa Odak?

Villa Odak is the original historic section of Hotel Excelsior, dating to 1913. The hotel also has a more contemporary Tower wing.

Are there sea-view rooms?

Yes. Many room and suite categories have sea views, and selected categories also include balconies or terraces. Check the exact room description when booking.

Can Hotel Excelsior suites connect to another room?

Selected Executive Suites can connect with a neighboring room to create a two-bedroom arrangement, which can be useful for families or groups.

What restaurants are at Hotel Excelsior?

The current dining venues include Prora, Sensus and Salin, together with Abakus Piano Bar.

Where is breakfast served?

Buffet breakfast is served at Restaurant Salin. Whether breakfast is included depends on the rate you book.

Does Hotel Excelsior have parking?

The hotel currently lists valet parking among its services. Check current availability and charges before arrival rather than relying on older references to complimentary parking.

Does Hotel Excelsior offer airport transfers?

Yes. Private transfers can be arranged through Adriatic Luxury Hotels. Some special room packages may include transfer benefits, but they are not automatically included with every booking.

Is Hotel Excelsior good for couples?

Yes. Sea views, waterfront dining, spa facilities and an easy walk to the Old Town make it particularly well suited to couples and romantic trips.

Is Hotel Excelsior good for families?

Yes, particularly for families wanting a pool, direct sea access and a central location. Larger and connecting room arrangements are available in selected categories.

Is Hotel Excelsior close to Banje Beach?

Yes. Banje Beach is within walking distance, although hotel guests also have direct sea access from the Excelsior waterfront.

Which is better: Hotel Excelsior or Hilton Imperial?

Choose Hotel Excelsior for direct sea access, waterfront dining, extensive spa facilities and Old Town views. Choose Hilton Imperial if being almost immediately beside Pile Gate, onsite parking logistics and Executive Lounge access are higher priorities.

What are the main disadvantages of Hotel Excelsior?

The main considerations are premium pricing, a slightly longer Old Town walk than Hilton Imperial, seasonal operation of some outdoor dining areas and the fact that not every room has the same sea or Old Town view.

Address & contact details

Street: Frana Supila 12
Postcode: 20000
City: Dubrovnik

Website: Hotel Excelsior

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