Scalini Palace
by the TopOfHotel team
Scalini Palace is the Old Town guesthouse with the single highest location score, 9.8 — and the lowest prices anywhere in the same neighborhood.
Scalini Palace is the Old Town guesthouse with the single highest location score, 9.8 — and the lowest prices anywhere in the same neighborhood.
In-Depth Review
Rooms and decor
Scalini Palace is a guesthouse hidden inside an old stone building in the heart of Old Town Dubrovnik, and its 9.8/10 location score on Booking.com — the highest in this article — tells you the address is the headline draw that nothing else at this price can match. The rooms are simply furnished but clean and fully functional, with air-conditioning, a TV and a kitchenette in every unit. That kitchenette comes with an electric stove, a microwave, a fridge and the basic kitchen kit, and reviewers single it out for saving a lot of money on food in a city where tourist restaurants run high, especially on longer stays. Many units look out over church domes and the old-town skyline. Know before you book that the building has 4 floors and no elevator, with the narrow stairs you get in old European buildings.
Food and amenities
There is no restaurant on site, but the kitchenette more than covers it. The Gundulic morning market is a 5-minute walk away, with fresh fruit and vegetables, Dalmatian cheese and cheap local baked goods — buy your supplies, cook breakfast in the kitchenette, and you trim a good chunk off each day compared with eating at the tourist spots along Stradun. The team earns steady praise for being friendly and helpful, and they run room service every day. The feel is a small guesthouse that reads more personal than a big hotel; one 2026 guest summed it up as great service, an excellent location and great value.
Location and getting there
Step out the door and you are on Stradun — no car, no taxi. Everything in Old Town is within a 10-minute walk: the city walls, Pile Gate, the small harbor and the Franciscan Monastery are all an easy stroll. For a traveler who wants to base themselves in the old quarter and spend the day exploring the lanes from morning to night, this address has almost no rival at the $57-a-night level.
Things to know before booking
A few honest caveats. The 4 floors with no elevator mean the steep, narrow stairs are a chore with large bags. Some reviews note the hot water is not always consistent, so an early shower can be hit or miss. And rooms on the main-street side can hear tourist noise on summer evenings, so ask for an interior room if you sleep light. None of these are dealbreakers, but they are the trade-offs for a guesthouse this central and this cheap.
Our take
Scalini Palace suits solo travelers, mid-budget couples and anyone who wants to stay in the middle of Old Town without paying 4- or 5-star rates. If the stairs are fine and you are happy with a warm guesthouse feel rather than a full-service hotel, this gives you the best location in the city at the best price in the city.
Score Breakdown
Assessed by our editorial team from data and real guest reviews
The Honest Verdict — pros & what to know
- Highest location score in the article at 9.8/10 — you are in the middle of Old Town, 3 minutes from Stradun.
- Rates start around $57 a night, the cheapest option for a stay inside the Old Town walls.
- Every room has a kitchenette, so you can cook for yourself and save a lot in a pricey tourist city.
- Friendly team that runs daily room service, and reviews praise the service consistently.
- Many units look out over church domes and the old-town skyline, the kind of view you cannot fake at this price.
- Four floors with no elevator — the old-building stairs are steep and narrow, awkward if you are hauling large bags.
- Some reviews note the hot water is inconsistent, so an early-morning shower can be a gamble.
- Street-facing rooms can pick up noise from tourists on summer evenings; ask for an interior room if you are a light sleeper.
Who It’s For
Match Score by travel style
Amenities
Location & Nearby Spots
Things to do near Dubrovnik
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Insider Tips
- East-facing rooms on the 3rd floor tend to have the best view of the church domes — say so when you book, or email ahead, and the team will try to set it aside for you.
- The Gundulic morning market is a 5-minute walk away — pick up fresh fruit, vegetables, cheese and local pastries and make your own breakfast in the kitchenette, which saves real money and tastes properly Dalmatian.
- If you are a light sleeper, request an interior room rather than a street-facing one when you reserve, since the main-street side hears summer foot traffic in the evenings.