Hotel Pucic Palace

For a decade or more now Croatian tourism is booming, especially in Dubrovnik — travelers, are charmed by its sidewalk cafes and historic sights, and are descending on the “jewel of the Adriatic” in record numbers.

The top hotel within the walls of Dubrovnik’s old town is a special one indeed — the Pucic Palace is a Baroque aristocrat’s mansion converted into a modern luxury boutique in what’s probably the perfect location, on Gundulic Square in the heart of the historic district. Each of the nineteen rooms and suites is named for a writer or artist from the city’s past, each still traditional in style but functionally contemporary, with luxurious freestanding tubs and Bulgari products in the luxe modern bathrooms.

There’s a Parisian-style café opening onto the square, right in the heart of the action, as well as a Mediterranean restaurant and a swanky leather-clad wine bar, serving selections from the highly regarded Croatian wine industry. You’re in the perfect spot to start a stroll through the ancient streets of the walled city, and in the high season of the summertime Dubrovnik is filled with arts, music and theatre events.