Croatia has that rare combination of cinematic beauty and easy grace. The Adriatic glints turquoise against limestone cliffs, island pines scent the air and centuries-old towns tumble toward the sea as if drawn to the water’s edge.
Jump to:
- Kempinski Hotel Adriatic Istria — Istria Peninsula, Northern Croatia
- Bluesun Hotel Berulia — Adriatic Coast, Central Dalmatia
- Amadria Park Hotel Milenij — Opatija, Kvarner Bay
- Hotel Lone — Rovinj, Istria
- Hilton Rijeka Costabella Beach Resort & Spa — Rijeka, Kvarner Bay
- Hotel Dubrovnik Palace — Lapad Peninsula, Dubrovnik
- Bluesun Hotel Jadran — Makarska Riviera, Central Dalmatia
- Hotel Salona Palace — Solin, Central Dalmatia
- Hotel POSH Split — Split, Central Dalmatia
- Maslina Resort — Hvar Island
- Falkensteiner Hotel & Spa Iadera — Punta Skala, Zadar
Travelers have long come for the history and the beaches, but these days, Croatia is a destination made for indulgence. And when it comes to the best hotels in Croatia, we’ve done the legwork for you.
Eleven Best Hotels in Croatia
From Istria’s vineyard-covered hills to Hvar’s sun-splashed shores, Croatia’s luxury hotels prove that indulgence can be both thoughtful and deeply restorative. Below, a selection of eleven hotels that capture the spirit of modern Croatian hospitality—rooted in nature, elevated by detail.
1. Kempinski Hotel Adriatic Istria — Istria Peninsula, Northern Croatia
On a quiet stretch near Savudrija, Kempinski Adriatic brings a refined sense of calm to Istria’s rolling countryside. The hotel feels anchored in its setting: olive trees, golf greens and the kind of light that softens everything it touches. Each guest room comes with a private balcony—some facing the sea, others facing the vineyards and meadows inland.
The Carolea Spa is the heart of the experience. Inspired by the rhythm of the Adriatic, the spa is an elegant expanse of steam rooms, saunas and hydrotherapy pools designed to help you pause.
Morning yoga glows with sunlight, accompanied by private rituals featuring sea minerals and local botanicals. Between rounds of championship golf or family afternoons by the pool, you’re reminded that luxury here isn’t about excess. Rather, it’s about ease.
2. Bluesun Hotel Berulia — Adriatic Coast, Central Dalmatia
Set above a pebbled beach fringed with pine, Bluesun Berulia channels the laid-back energy of the Dalmatian coast. The atmosphere is light and breezy, with glass walls opening to sea views and terraces that spill into the water. Rooms are generous and contemporary, though the swim-up suites raise the bar. Guests can slip straight from their terrace into the pool whenever the heat starts to build.
There’s an unpretentious focus on movement and wellness. The gym faces the sea, turning even a treadmill run into a meditation. Guests cycle the rugged slopes of Biokovo, join outdoor yoga classes, or dive into a lineup of activities that range from rafting and canyoning to stand-up paddleboarding. By evening, the spa becomes a quiet refuge: Finnish sauna, steam bath, hydro-massage whirlpool, softly lit, scented with coastal herbs.
3. Amadria Park Hotel Milenij — Opatija, Kvarner Bay
Opatija has long been Croatia’s grande dame—a place of palm-lined promenades and faded Austro-Hungarian glamour—and the Milenij honors that legacy with warmth and poise. Its location couldn’t be more romantic: right on the Lungomare promenade, overlooking Kvarner Bay. The building itself balances old-world grandeur with contemporary polish, all marble floors and terraces shaded by cypress and fig.
The Milenij Spa sprawls across several levels, offering everything from Turkish baths to aromatherapy saunas and therapeutic massages that make good use of local sea salt and essential oils.
In summer, the outdoor pool merges almost seamlessly with the sea below, and in cooler months, guests retreat indoors for a swim beneath the skylight. Step outside and you’re moments from Opatija’s manicured gardens, Belle Époque villas, and a café culture that’s as elegant as ever.
4. Hotel Lone — Rovinj, Istria
Rovinj’s Hotel Lone feels like it could have been airlifted straight from a design magazine. All clean lines and sculptural curves, the building nestles into a pine forest that tumbles to the sea. It’s contemporary but never cold. The hotel is more like an art installation that happens to have excellent service and one of the best spas in Istria.
Each guest room opens onto a private balcony overlooking either forest or water, both equally serene. Some come with their own plunge pools, a quiet luxury that’s hard to beat on hot afternoons.
The Lone Wellness & Spa follows the hotel’s minimalist aesthetic, with light-filled interiors home to waterbeds, saunas and treatment rooms devoted to sensory calm. Outside, Mulini Beach is a short stroll away, and Rovinj’s old town is within easy reach.
5. Hilton Rijeka Costabella Beach Resort & Spa — Rijeka, Kvarner Bay
Terraced along a hillside above the Adriatic, the Hilton Rijeka Costabella has a knack for balancing scale with intimacy. The resort stretches across a generous plot, yet it never feels overwhelming. Rooms, suites, and villas all open to sweeping sea views, and mornings here begin best on your terrace with coffee and that particular shimmer of the Kvarner Gulf.
The spa spans three levels —an architectural feat dedicated to well-being. There’s a hydrothermal zone for heat therapy, a fully equipped gym, and a treatment suite where therapists tailor every session to what your body actually needs. Afterward, guests linger by the indoor-outdoor pool or head straight to the beach, where the water is so clear it feels almost weightless.
6. Hotel Dubrovnik Palace — Lapad Peninsula, Dubrovnik
Tucked into the rocky coastline of the Lapad Peninsula, Hotel Dubrovnik Palace offers a front-row seat to the Adriatic without the crowds of Old Town. Every room faces the sea, so mornings begin with that endless horizon and the hush of waves against stone.
The spa, set on the tenth floor, makes full use of its vantage point. Treatments unfold against a backdrop of blue, with panoramic windows framing the islands beyond. There are two infinity pools for sunlit lounging, plus a Finnish sauna and steam bath to recharge after a day exploring the city’s marble lanes. The mood is quietly elegant—BIOBAZA bath amenities, crisp linens and service that’s attentive without intrusion.
7. Bluesun Hotel Jadran — Makarska Riviera, Central Dalmatia
Between the mountains and the sea, Bluesun Hotel Jadran makes a compelling case for staying put. The architecture flows with the landscape, terraces cascading to a beach that glows silver in late afternoon light.
Rooms range from sleek standards to swim-up suites, bringing the water practically to your door. Mornings by the pool or guided hikes lead back to a spa that feels fresh and restorative. Inside the Blue Spa, wellness takes center stage with custom massages, facials and body rituals. The air smells faintly of sea salt and citrus, and everything slows.
8. Hotel Salona Palace — Solin, Central Dalmatia
A few minutes from Split, in the quiet town of Solin, Hotel Salona Palace strikes a chord between ancient history and contemporary calm. The ruins of the Roman city of Salona lie just beyond the garden, lending a sense of time and continuity to everything here.
With fewer than fifty rooms, the hotel feels personal. Each has a balcony overlooking the pool or the hills beyond. The spa is compact yet complete, with an indoor pool, hot tub, saunas and massage options that rival bigger resorts. Guests come for the easy access to Split’s energy, but often stay for the tranquility that defines this smaller, slower corner of Dalmatia.
9. Hotel POSH Split — Split, Central Dalmatia
POSH lives up to its name without a hint of pretense. It’s sleek, all glass and light, perched above the coast with views that stretch across the Adriatic to Brač and Šolta. Each suite doubles as a private apartment—kitchen, living area, terrace—so it feels more like a residence than a hotel.
Still, luxury touches are everywhere: designer furnishings, premium toiletries and the kind of service that anticipates what you need before you ask. The spa and fitness area are small but polished, anchored by an outdoor infinity pool where the sunsets are almost unreal. Guests alternate between laps and long, lazy evenings on the terrace, the city lights flickering below.
10. Maslina Resort — Hvar Island
Maslina doesn’t shout for attention. It whispers it. Hidden among olive groves on Hvar’s northern coast, this “mindful luxury” resort redefines what an island escape can be. The architecture blends wood, stone and glass with restraint, letting the sea and pines set the tone.
Wellness here is immersive. Pharomatiq Spa uses organic ingredients from the island and draws inspiration from Mediterranean healing traditions. Morning yoga moves to the sound of cicadas; evenings stretch out beside the saltwater pool or over a glass of local wine from the resort’s cellar.
The kitchen celebrates the island’s producers, each dish an ode to season and place. Maslina is less a hotel than a state of being—grounded, sensory, unhurried.
11. Falkensteiner Hotel & Spa Iadera — Punta Skala, Zadar
On a peninsula just outside Zadar, Falkensteiner Iadera commands an extraordinary position—blue sea on three sides, with the islands of the northern Adriatic glittering in the distance. The design is contemporary but warm, full of natural textures and sunlit spaces that open to terraces and pools.
Acquapura Spa is one of Croatia’s largest, offering a full thermal circuit, an array of saunas and treatments that borrow from Mediterranean rituals. Guests drift between the indoor and outdoor pools, sip fresh juices at the spa bar and wander to the beach for a dip in the sea.
Zadar itself, with its Roman ruins and poetic modern art installations, is only a short drive away. Back at the resort, serenity returns like a tide.
Snapshot Summary
Croatia’s best hotels nestle along the Adriatic, from Istria’s rolling vineyards to Hvar’s sun-dappled island hideaways. Each stay blends thoughtful design with wellness-first amenities—Kempinski offers a sea-mineral spa, Berulia boasts swim-up suites and Maslina retreats among quiet olive groves. With turquoise waters, local cuisine, yoga and restorative treatments at every turn, indulgence here is about renewal rather than excess.
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