Pet-friendly hotels in Dubrovnik
Small dog on a Dubrovnik hotel terrace
Seven Dubrovnik hotels that genuinely welcome dogs — with pet fees ranging from $0 to $30 a night — plus which beaches allow paws and where not to bring your dog in July.
Sun Gardens Dubrovnik (Orašac) — the top pet-friendly choice
Sun Gardens accepts dogs up to 15kg in specific room categories for a flat $25 a night, which includes a bed, bowl and welcome treat. What makes it the top choice isn’t the room policy — it's the setting. The resort has 12 hectares of coastal grounds with proper walking paths, shaded lawns and the pebble beach at the north end is dog-tolerant off-season (October through May). Rates run $290-$520.
The shuttle boat into the Old Town does not accept dogs, so plan on either leaving the dog in the room (yes, they allow it, and housekeeping will skip if you leave a note) or driving in and paying garage fees. Sun Gardens is genuinely climate-positive here too — a week without daily driving is easier on both the dog and the emissions ledger. Best for medium-length stays where the dog is part of the holiday rather than a logistics problem.
Villa Dubrovnik (Sveti Jakov) — small dogs, no fee
Villa Dubrovnik accepts small dogs (under 8kg) with no fee, which is unusual at the five-star tier. The setting is a small cliffside hotel below Sveti Jakov, 20 minutes on foot from Ploče Gate along a coastal path that's a proper dog walk. Rates open around $680 and hit $1,100 in August, so this is the couples-splurge choice.
The catch: the property is small, quiet, and the pool has quiet hours from 2pm — a barking dog will get you a polite word from management. The room service will bring a dog dish on request. What Villa Dubrovnik gets right for pet travellers is unhurried service and staff who actually like the dog, which sounds trivial but isn’t after five nights of being tolerated elsewhere. Best for couples with a well-behaved small dog and money to spend.
Hotel More (Lapad) — mid-size dogs welcome
Hotel More accepts dogs up to 20kg for $20 a night, no room-category restriction. Its Lapad Bay location matters for pet owners — Lapad has proper pavements, plenty of grass at Uvala Lapad park, and a pedestrianised beachfront where dogs are legal after 6pm in season. Doubles run $340-$560.
The underground garage is included in the rate, so you can day-trip to Trsteno Arboretum (dogs on leads, allowed year-round) or Konavle with the dog in the car. What Hotel More gets wrong: no dedicated dog-friendly outdoor dining area, so summer dinners on the terrace mean the dog stays in the room. Best for couples doing a week-long Dubrovnik base with mid-size dog and one or two day trips.
Valamar Argosy (Babin Kuk) — the family-plus-dog choice
Valamar Argosy accepts dogs up to 20kg for $15 a night in specific ground-floor rooms with terrace access, which is genuinely useful for morning toilet trips. Family rooms sleep four humans plus dog. Rates open around $260 in June and $410 in August.
Babin Kuk peninsula is dog-walkable — there's a coastal path all the way around, with pine shade and sea access at multiple small coves. Copacabana beach itself doesn’t allow dogs in high season (June-September) but the smaller bays around the peninsula are unofficially fine. The Argosy is the practical family-with-dog choice: unpretentious, spacious, and the staff aren’t precious about muddy paws.
Small guest houses that welcome dogs
Villa Micika in Lapad is a 15-room guest house that charges no pet fee, accepts dogs of any size at owner's discretion, and has a garden the dog can use. Rates run $130-$210, breakfast included. Villa Klaić in Ploče takes small dogs for a $10-a-night fee and has genuinely dog-friendly staff. Both are booked well ahead in summer.
The advantage of small guest houses over big hotels for pet travellers: real communication with an owner rather than a policy applied by a shift manager, flexibility on things like early breakfast if you want to walk the dog first, and no risk of being moved rooms mid-stay for a corporate event. Book directly, mention the dog's size and breed upfront, and confirm parking.
Where dogs can (and can’t) go in Dubrovnik
The Old Town is legal for dogs on leads year-round but genuinely difficult in July — the crowds are intense, the stone is hot, and outdoor cafés on the Stradun politely refuse dogs at peak lunch. Early morning (before 9am) and late evening are the windows to actually enjoy it with a dog. The city walls do allow dogs on leads but the stairs and the exposed sun make it a bad idea for anything with short legs or long fur.
Dog-friendly beaches: Copacabana in low season only, Uvala Lapad after 6pm year-round, and Šumratin (small bay at the west end of Lapad) informally year-round. Lokrum island bans dogs entirely — the boat won’t board you with one. Trsteno Arboretum welcomes dogs on leads and is a proper day out. Konavle valley is the best day trip with a dog — vineyards, walking paths, and rural restaurants that don’t blink at a dog under the table.
Before you book
What people ask before booking Ploče.
Yes — Croatia is in the EU, so the standard pet passport with rabies vaccination and microchip works from other EU countries. From the US or UK check current entry rules (post-Brexit UK requires an EU Animal Health Certificate). Dubrovnik Airport handles pets routinely and there's a small relief area outside terminal 2.
Outdoor tables at most Lapad and Ploče restaurants accept dogs without issue — waiters will often bring a water bowl. Inside dining rooms are generally no. In the Old Town, cafés on quieter side streets (not the Stradun) will accept a small quiet dog. In summer, aim for dinner before 7pm to avoid the busy service window.
Veterinarska Ambulanta Ragusa on Ulica Vladimira Nazora in Lapad is the main city vet, open Mon-Sat, with English-speaking staff. Emergency out-of-hours care requires driving to Split (3.5 hours) or crossing into Herzeg Novi in Montenegro. Bring your dog's regular medications and vaccination records with you.
