12 Best Hotels in Central Dalmatia, Croatia

With comfortable accommodations, fine food, and individualized excursions, this adults-only beachfront hotel stands out on the Makarska Riviera as a wonderful place for a summer holiday. The owners of this boutique property have invested a piece of themselves in every detail, such as the selection of Scandinavian-style furniture made from Croatian timber and the candlelit dinners in their beachside restaurant accompanied by live music. The hotel may close (or reopen) over the winter depending on the number of reservations it has, so check ahead if you're traveling at that time. 

Built into a sheer cliff face overlooking the Cetina River, Villa Dvor has comfortable rooms offering sea, mountain, or river views. Out front, the Knez Restaurant terrace (where breakfast is served) looks onto the river canyon, and there's also a small outdoor whirlpool. The eco-friendly owner has ingeniously devised a way of using the river to power the hotel's heating and air-conditioning systems, and the building also uses solar panels.

Just a five-minute walk from the harbor, this small hotel with strikingly designed rooms is set in a white stone building with large blue-shuttered windows and airy curtains. The mix of antiques and white furniture gives guest rooms a modern feel with a splash of vintage vibe.

Set amid pine trees on the path to Zlatni Rat Beach—and just a 10-minute walk from Bol's Old Town—this hotel occupies a modern, three-story white building with rooms renovated in 2022, and amenities include an outdoor pool and a gym, as well as a restaurant with a terrace. The hotel can assist with organizing diving lessons, excursions across the island, and airport transfers.

This small, chic, family-run bed-and-breakfast in a beautifully renovated 400-year-old villa is perfectly located a few minutes' walk from the center of bustling Trogir and just across the street from the ACI Marina Trogir. Rooms are artistically decorated with bright hues and have different configurations, though all are modern in style with neutral tones and pops of color on walls or furniture. A bar and restaurant are on-site.

Freshly renovated, this boutique villa with rooms and suites offers guests a sophisticated taste of times past in an intimate island setting. The villa was once home to a prominent 19th-century Croatian writer and archaeologist, Hvar-born Don Šime Ljubič, who named the villa after the mythological Greek god Apollo (Apolon in Croatian). Each room's design takes its inspiration from a different Greek muse and combines traditional Mediterranean style with contemporary touches. Glossy wooden floors, earth-tone decor, and bathrooms with glass-enclosed showers add to the luxurious atmosphere. At the time of this writing, the restaurant and wine bar are due to reopen in summer 2024. 

Sitting on the city waterfront, right next to the historic center, this modern four-star hotel offers a range of elegant rooms and suites. Some rooms have terraces, and there's also a small wellness center on-site.

The second hotel to open in Skradin, the four-star Bonaca offers rooms with modern neutral-hued decor, an outdoor pool, and a sunbathing terrace. The hotel's Mediterranean restaurant is a five-minute walk down the harbor. Some rooms feature pretty sea views.

This sleek adults-only hotel with a rooftop bar, stylish rooms (most of which have a sea view), and a pool offers something not found in many places on Brač: an urban-style island retreat. It occupies a formerly abandoned school building next to the town hall, but the central location isn't the only thing that keeps guests from wandering too far. The à la carte restaurant serves delicious seasonal fare, and the view of Split from the rooftop bar can’t be beat as you sip refreshing cocktails in the evening.

Inherited and restored antique furniture fills this charming hotel in a typical Dalmatian stone building in the heart of the Old Town. Rooms have heavy wooden desks and beds, as well as modern en suite bathrooms. The adjoining Konoba Pašike restaurant serves barbecued Dalmatian meat and fish dishes at outdoor tables.

One of only a handful of hotels within the palace walls, the comparatively affordable Peristil is located right behind the cathedral and just inside the Silver Gate, the city gate leading to the open-air market. Guest rooms are comfortable and well-equipped, and most have pretty wooden floors. The on-site Tiffany Restaurant has open-air dining on a pleasant shady terrace out front.

This historical villa on Čiovo Island has been converted into a small family-run hotel with wood-floor rooms, some with a sea view and whirlpool tub. The hotel can also help with renting bicycles.