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5-star hotels in Zaton
A shortlist of the 5-star places to stay in Zaton, the quiet bay 9km north of Dubrovnik, from a large resort on the water to private villas with pools and saunas. It is for travellers who want the bay's pebble-and-pier swimming and family konobas rather than the city's crowds.
Staying in Zaton
Zaton is two hamlets on one sheltered bay, Zaton Veliki and Zaton Mali, where wealthy Ragusan merchants built summer houses in the 1600s to escape the city's plague summers; about 20 of these Renaissance villas still stand along the shore among pine and cypress. The bay is 2km deep, with clear water, small pebble beaches and swim ledges, a marina and a handful of konobas in Zaton Mali, and a single mini-market and a bakery that opens at 6:30am. Dinner ends by 10pm and the one bar by the harbour closes when the last table leaves.
The hotels on this list sit along that shoreline and the lanes behind it: Sun Gardens Dubrovnik on Na Moru, Villa Agave and ORA Villas Collection Villa Amelie at Štikovica, Luxury Villa Helios 5 at Poljice, Awesome Home In Zaton Veliki With Sauna at Pinji, and Beautiful Home In Gromaca With Wifi at Gromaca. It suits couples and families who want to swim off stone piers and walk the 2km shore road between the hamlets, and anyone on a short break who values a 15-minute bus ride to Pile over nightlife, shopping or anything urban.
The shortlist
Ranked by hotel class, then guest rating and number of reviews.
Sun Gardens Dubrovnik
Na Moru 1, Dubrovnik, Croatia
- Air conditioning
Why stay hereSun Gardens Dubrovnik is the large resort option in the shortlist, holding a 5-star class and a 4.7 guest rating across 3118 reviews. Its facility list is the broadest here, making it the most practical choice for guests who want everything on site: a 24-hour front desk, security around the clock, a beauty salon and bars. Aerobics and badminton give active guests something scheduled, while babysitting service and air conditioning suit families. The address is Na Moru 1 in Dubrovnik.
See Sun Gardens DubrovnikFour Bedroom Holiday Home In Zaton Mali
Croatia
- Beach nearby
- Air conditioning
- Free Wifi
Why stay hereThis four-bedroom holiday home in Zaton Mali is built for a group that wants space and self-catering rather than a resort. Free Wifi and air conditioning cover the essentials, a dishwasher and coffee-making kit handle the kitchen side, and a fireplace plus balcony extend the living area. Darts and a CD player fill quiet evenings, and the beach is nearby. It suits several couples or a family group travelling together under a 5-star classification.
See Four Bedroom Holiday Home In Zaton MaliBeautiful Home In Gromaca With Wifi
Gromaca 56, Dubrovnik, Croatia
Best for: Drivers
- Free car parking
- Kitchen
- Air conditioning
Why stay hereSet at Gromaca 56 in Dubrovnik, this home stands out for its kitchen and free car parking, a useful combination for guests arriving with their own vehicle. Air conditioning, a balcony and a fireplace keep the house comfortable across seasons, while free Wifi and internet access cover work or planning. A bath and bathroom, cot, dishwasher and coffee facilities round out family needs. It is a 5-star house for guests who prefer independent stays over hotel service.
See Beautiful Home In Gromaca With WifiAwesome Home In Zaton Veliki With Sauna
Pinji 23, Dubrovnik, Croatia
- Fitness Center
- Beach nearby
- Air conditioning
Why stay hereThe draw here is the sauna and fitness center, unusual among the holiday homes on this list. Add a balcony, a bath and beach proximity at Pinji 23 and the house works for guests who want to alternate exercise and swimming. Air conditioning, free Wifi, a dishwasher and coffee facilities make longer stays easy, and a cot is available. Darts, a CD player and a DVD player cover indoor time. A 5-star home suited to active couples or families.
See Awesome Home In Zaton Veliki With SaunaLuxury Villa Helios 5
Poljice 48 Zaton, Dubrovnik, Croatia
Best for: Breakfast
- Breakfast
- Beach nearby
- Air conditioning
Why stay hereLuxury Villa Helios 5 on Poljice 48 in Zaton combines self-catering with hotel-style services: breakfast, cleaning and concierge are all listed alongside the kitchen facilities. Bathrobes and a bidet point to a more polished bathroom setup, and air conditioning, a balcony and beach proximity complete the stay. A cot is available for families. It suits guests who want the privacy of a villa without giving up daily service, under a 5-star classification.
See Luxury Villa Helios 5Villa Agave
Stikovica 44 20235 Zaton Veliki, Dubrovnik, Croatia
Best for: Drivers
- Free car parking
- Beach nearby
- Air conditioning
Why stay hereVilla Agave sits at Stikovica 44 in Zaton Veliki with the beach nearby, free car parking and free Wifi, a straightforward trio for guests arriving by car. Cleaning service is included in the facilities, and air conditioning, a balcony and a fan keep the interior comfortable. A dishwasher, coffee facilities and a cot make it workable for families. With a 5-star classification, it is aimed at guests who want a quiet base with practical support rather than a full resort.
See Villa AgaveNice Home In Orasac With Wifi
Cerjan 34, Croatia
Best for: Drivers
- Free car parking
- Beach nearby
- Air conditioning
Why stay hereAt Cerjan 34, this home offers free car parking and free Wifi alongside a garden, giving guests outdoor space as well as a base for exploring. Beach proximity, air conditioning and a bath keep the essentials covered, and a dishwasher, coffee facilities and a cot support family stays. A DVD player and hairdryer are among the extras. It is a 5-star house best suited to guests who value privacy, parking and a garden over on-site services.
See Nice Home In Orasac With WifiORA Villas Collection Villa Amelie
Štikovica 32, Dubrovnik, Croatia
- Beach nearby
- Air conditioning
Why stay hereORA Villas Collection Villa Amelie at Štikovica 32 brings a service layer the other villas here lack: babysitting service, car rental service and cleaning are all listed. Beach proximity and a canoe appeal to guests who plan to spend time on the water, while bathrobes and a bidet add comfort. Air conditioning and a balcony are included. The 5-star villa suits families and couples who want support on hand without a large hotel.
See ORA Villas Collection Villa Amelie
How to choose
For couples
Luxury Villa Helios 5, Villa Agave and ORA Villas Collection Villa Amelie are the intimate choices: each is a 5-star villa with air conditioning, a balcony and beach nearby, and Villa Agave and Villa Amelie add a bathroom with bidet and free car parking or a car rental service. Helios 5 goes further with breakfast, a concierge and bars on site.
Luxury Villa Helios 5 · Villa Agave · ORA Villas Collection Villa Amelie
For families
Sun Gardens Dubrovnik is the obvious base for families: a 5-star hotel with 3118 reviews and a guest score of 4.7, with babysitting service, a cot, a balcony and a long list of sports from badminton to aerobics. ORA Villas Collection Villa Amelie also offers babysitting, and Four Bedroom Holiday Home In Zaton Mali has four bedrooms, a cot, a dishwasher and a beach nearby.
Sun Gardens Dubrovnik · ORA Villas Collection Villa Amelie · Four Bedroom Holiday Home In Zaton Mali
For groups of friends
Four Bedroom Holiday Home In Zaton Mali, Awesome Home In Zaton Veliki With Sauna and Beautiful Home In Gromaca With Wifi are self-contained houses with kitchens, dishwashers, air conditioning and balconies; the Zaton Veliki house adds a sauna and fitness centre, and the Gromaca house has a fireplace and free car parking. Good for friends who want to cook and spread out.
Four Bedroom Holiday Home In Zaton Mali · Awesome Home In Zaton Veliki With Sauna · Beautiful Home In Gromaca With Wifi
Where to stay in Zaton
Štikovica
A shoreline spot on the bay where two of the villas stand: Villa Agave at Štikovica 44 and ORA Villas Collection Villa Amelie at Štikovica 32. Both are 5-star, with air conditioning, a balcony, a bathroom, beach nearby and free wifi; Villa Agave has free car parking, and Villa Amelie offers babysitting and a car rental service.
Our picks here: Villa Agave · ORA Villas Collection Villa Amelie
Zaton Veliki
The larger hamlet is almost entirely residential, with the summer villas fronting the water and the parish church of Sv. Nikola set back on the through road. Awesome Home In Zaton Veliki With Sauna sits at Pinji 23, and Villa Agave's address gives Zaton Veliki; neither has a shop beyond the single mini-market and the bakery.
Our picks here: Villa Agave
Gromaca
Beautiful Home In Gromaca With Wifi is at Gromaca 56, a 5-star house with a fireplace, free car parking and a dishwasher. It is the quiet, self-catering end of the list, away from the shore road and suited to guests with a car who want the bay within reach rather than at the door.
Our picks here: Beautiful Home In Gromaca With Wifi
Plan your stay
Getting there and around
Zaton is 9km north of Dubrovnik, and the bus is the practical link: bus 15 runs every 40 minutes, takes 25 minutes to Pile, and the last bus back is at 10:30pm. Within the bay, the shore road connects the two hamlets: Zaton Veliki to Zaton Mali via the villas is 2km, about 40 minutes at an easy pace, starting at Zaton Veliki's small harbour, passing the parish church of Sv. Nikola after about 600m and the chapel of Sv. Rok with its swim ledge, and finishing at Konoba Gverović-Orsan on the water. Several of the villas on this list have free car parking.
When to go
Summer is the season the bay is built for: swimming off stone piers, swim ledges and the short pebble strip near the chapel of Sv. Rok, with kids in the shallow water at the head of the bay. Evenings mean sitting outside with a bottle of Pošip watching the light go off the water, and dinner ends by 10pm. Bring water shoes for the sea urchins on the rocks. For the walk between the hamlets, the 2km shore route past the villas takes roughly 40 minutes at an easy pace.
Things to do near Zaton
- Where to stay in Zaton (Dubrovnik): area guide
- Zaton Beaches: Family Safety and Water Depth in Autumn
- Zaton in November: Events, Weather and What Is Open
- Zaton's October Beaches: Clear Water, Fewer People
- Zaton vs Korčula Town: Which to Pick for Your Trip
- Zaton with Kids: Family-Friendly Beaches and Activities
Questions, answered
Is Zaton good for families with small children?
Very. There are safe shallow swim spots at the head of the bay, no traffic on the shore road, family konobas with high chairs, and a beach path where kids can run without worry. Sun Gardens Dubrovnik has babysitting service and a cot, and ORA Villas Collection Villa Amelie also offers babysitting.
Is there a sand beach at Zaton?
No. Swimming is from stone piers, swim ledges and a short pebble strip near the chapel of Sv. Rok. Bring water shoes for the sea urchins on the rocks, and families with small children tend to head for the shallow water at the head of the bay rather than the pier swimming.
How do I get from Zaton to Dubrovnik?
Bus 15 runs every 40 minutes and takes 25 minutes to Pile; the last bus back is at 10:30pm. Zaton is 9km north of Dubrovnik. Several hotels on this list, including Villa Agave, Beautiful Home In Gromaca With Wifi and Nice Home In Orasac With Wifi, have free car parking.
Which hotel in Zaton has the best guest score?
Sun Gardens Dubrovnik, with a guest score of 4.7 out of 5 from 3118 reviews. It is a 5-star hotel on Na Moru with a 24-hour front desk, air conditioning, a balcony and a long list of sports and bars.
Can I stay in a villa with a sauna in Zaton?
Yes. Awesome Home In Zaton Veliki With Sauna at Pinji 23 is a 5-star house with a sauna, fitness centre, balcony, dishwasher and beach nearby. Other villas on the list add a fireplace, free car parking or a concierge.
What is there to do in the evening in Zaton?
Evenings mean sitting outside with a bottle of Pošip watching the light go off the water; nobody is dressed for anything, and the one bar by the harbour closes when the last table leaves, usually well before midnight. Dinner ends by 10pm, so skip Zaton for nightlife.
Which hotels are in Zaton Mali?
None of the addresses on this list name Zaton Mali. The hotels sit at Na Moru, Štikovica, Poljice, Pinji and Gromaca, with Four Bedroom Holiday Home In Zaton Mali listed under Croatia. Zaton Mali holds the marina and the handful of konobas.