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Entire home

Beauty on the Bluff

Riverfront vacation home with kitchen and balcony

Photo gallery for Beauty on the Bluff

Smart TV, fireplace, books, printers - Beauty on the Bluff (Dubuque)
Exterior - Beauty on the Bluff (Dubuque)
Fridge, microwave, oven, stovetop - Beauty on the Bluff (Dubuque)
Interior - Beauty on the Bluff (Dubuque)
Terrace/patio - Beauty on the Bluff (Dubuque)
Experience the serenity of Dubuque's 3rd oldest home, built in 1840, with panoramic Mississippi River & city views. The property features a spiral staircase, wine cellar, and master suite for a tranquil retreat.

Reviews

9.8 out of 10
Exceptional

Entire home

4 bedrooms4 bathroomsSleeps 12341 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Kitchen
  • Washer
  • Dryer
  • Free WiFi
  • Air conditioning

Add dates for prices

About this property

Entire place

You'll have the entire home to yourself and will only share it with other guests in your party.

Beauty on the Bluff

Take it easy at this unique and tranquil getaway.

Enjoy Dubuque's 3rd oldest home, built in 1840, with panoramic Mississippi River & city views.

This home is 3,666 square ft. featuring 3 levels of finished space with 4 bedrooms, 3.5 baths, 2 fireplaces, spiral staircase, master suite, wine cellar, formal dining and so much more! The space are 3 Bedrooms upstairs along with 2 Full Baths, and One Bedroom in the basement with 1 full bath. Half bath on the main floor with a blow-up mattress available.

The views will make you want to re-book again and again!

Enjoy!

Property amenities

Ski

  • Cross-country skiing nearby
  • Snowboarding nearby

Internet

  • Available in the house: Free WiFi

Parking and transportation

  • Wheelchair-accessible parking and van parking available

Kitchen

  • Blender
  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Cookware, dishware, and utensils
  • Dishwasher
  • Ice maker
  • Microwave
  • Oven
  • Paper towels
  • Refrigerator
  • Spices
  • Stovetop
  • Toaster

Dining

  • Dining table

Bedrooms

  • 4 bedrooms
  • Bedsheets provided

Bathroom

  • 3.5 bathrooms
  • Bathtub or shower
  • Hair dryer
  • Shampoo
  • Shower
  • Soap
  • Toilet paper
  • Towels provided

Living spaces

  • Dining table
  • Fireplace
  • Living room
  • Separate dining area

Entertainment

  • Books
  • Games
  • Smart TV

Outdoor areas

  • Balcony
  • Barbecue grill
  • Firepit
  • Garden
  • Outdoor furniture

Laundry

  • Laundry facilities
  • Washing machine

Work spaces

  • Desk
  • Desk chair
  • Printer

Comfort

  • Air conditioning
  • Heating

Pets

  • Pet friendly
  • Welcoming dogs only
  • 2 pets total

Suitability/Accessibility

  • If you have requests for specific accessibility needs, please contact the property using the information on the reservation confirmation received after booking.
  • 2 accessible parking spaces
  • Area rugs in public areas
  • Front entrance ramp
  • Handrails in stairways
  • Hardwood flooring in public areas
  • Thin carpet in public areas
  • Upper floors accessible by stairs only
  • Well-lit path to entrance
  • Wheelchair-accessible parking
  • Wheelchair-accessible van parking
  • Smoking not allowed

Services and conveniences

  • Iron/ironing board

Location highlights

  • In the city center
  • Near a health/beauty spa
  • Near a hospital
  • Near an outlet shopping mall
  • Near the marina
  • On a river

Things to do

  • Arcade/game room
  • Birdwatching nearby
  • Casino nearby
  • Cycling nearby
  • Fishing nearby
  • Golfing nearby
  • Hiking/biking trails nearby
  • Hunting nearby
  • Ice skating nearby
  • Jet skiing nearby
  • Kayaking nearby
  • Motor boating nearby
  • Sledding nearby
  • Snowmobiling nearby
  • Water skiing nearby
  • Water tubing nearby

Safety features

  • Carbon monoxide detector (host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property)
  • Smoke detector (host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property)
  • First aid kit
  • Fire extinguisher
  • Deadbolt lock

General

  • At least 80% lighting from LEDs
  • Garden
  • Reusable coffee/tea filters
  • Unit size: 3,666 square feet

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Policies

Check-in

Check-in time starts at 3:00 PM
Contactless check-in available
Minimum check-in age: 18

Check-out

Check-out before 10:00 AM
Contactless check-out available

Special check-in instructions

You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools

Pets

Pets allowed
Service animals are welcome, and are exempt from fees
Welcoming dogs only
2 total pets

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome

Events

No events allowed

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
Onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Long-term renters welcome
Host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit, and a deadbolt lock
This property is managed through our partner, Vrbo. You will receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account, where you can change or cancel your reservation

We should mention

This property does not have elevators

About the neighborhood

Map
IA, Dubuque

What's nearby

  • Loras College - 5 min walk - 0.4 km
  • Five Flags Center - 11 min walk - 1.0 km
  • National Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium - 14 min walk - 1.2 km
  • Diamond Jo Casino - 14 min walk - 1.2 km
  • Grand River Center - 18 min walk - 1.5 km

Getting around

  • Dubuque, IA (DBQ-Dubuque Regional) - 13 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪McDonald's - ‬12 min walk
  • ‪Great Dragon - ‬11 min walk
  • ‪Charlotte's Coffee House - ‬9 min walk
  • ‪Jubeck New World Brewing - ‬6 min walk
  • ‪Odd Fellows - ‬11 min walk

Frequently asked questions

Is Beauty on the Bluff pet-friendly?

Yes, this property allows dogs (limit 2 total).

How much is parking?

Onsite parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at Beauty on the Bluff?

Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Beauty on the Bluff?

Check-out is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Beauty on the Bluff located?

This family-friendly Dubuque vacation home is located on a river, within 1 mi (2 km) of Carnegie-Stout Public Library and Mississippi River. Dubuque Museum of Art and Grand Opera House are also within 10 minutes.

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Beauty on the Bluff Reviews

Reviews

Exceptional

All reviews shown are from real guest experiences. Only travelers who have booked a stay with us can submit a review. We verify reviews according to our guidelines and publish all reviews, positive or negative.
More informationOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 18 out of 21 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 2 out of 21 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 1 out of 21 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 21 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 21 reviews

10

Cleanliness

9.8

Location

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Michael L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
This property is perfect for large groups looking to enjoy Dubuque!
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Kelsey B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful property and views

Our family stayed for a weekend and had the best time here! The house is beautiful and the views from all three levels fantastic. We spent a lot of time on the deck and extra bonus was walking down to the farmers market on Saturday.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Stuart G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
wonderful
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2025

6/10 Okay

Fran C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location
Disliked: Listing accuracy
Nice house
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Dayna M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Absolutely beautiful property with an historical story to it. Spotless and host was very helpful and accommodating. The view is breathtaking and our family has a wonderful time reconnecting for my daughter’s wedding. More than enough towels for over a week. Downstairs is a great location for pets as they can walk right outside to go potty and the floor is tile. I really don’t have one complaint and I utilize VRBOs often when I travel. Thanks, Brad, for everything!
From Downtown
Comfy alcove to relax.
Picture from the porch!
Sunrise picture.
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Rory S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Short trip to Dubuque

Great location, very clean and spacious! We had a wonderful thin at this VRBO!
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

Chris B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Christmas Family Gathering

Great place, just what we wanted.
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2024

10/10 Excellent

Jessi C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Family Trip

This property was beautiful, clean and gave us everything we needed. Highly recommend.
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2025

10/10 Excellent

Mary A.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Amazing views day and night

We booked for a family thanksgiving, and couldn't have been happier here. Lots of space for gatherings!
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2024

10/10 Excellent

Chace B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Awesome!

Great location, great house, great time. Overall it was exactly what I was looking for.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2024

8/10 Good

Ellen K.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beauty on the Bluff

The house was great for our needs - but be prepared for the spiral staircase! The house was clean with great views of Dubuque. Negatives: There was only one kitchen towel and one kitchen dishcloth that we could find. Also, there were no sheets/blankets for the blow up mattress in the basement but, fortunately, my husband had brought a cot and fleece bag for one of the grandkids. Also, the poker table was hard to play games at because the top is not secured and kept sliding around.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Meredith B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

OMG - The Views

Brought several family members to celebrate a birthday. It was wonderful to have everyone under the same roof, and have plenty of space for everyone. Huge bonus that this property is pet friendly. We travel with our elderly dog and we always appreciate properties that allow my mellow old girl to stay with us. My family loved the house and raved about the views. Loved how close to everything it was. I'm glad it didn't snow - as those roads in the bluffs of Dubuque are steep!
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2025

10/10 Excellent

Juliana

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

House on the bluff

A very clean, large accommodating home for families overlooking the bluff. Sleeping arrangements for all ages. Beautiful kitchen. The decks/porches were priceless with expansive views of city, river, tree line both day and night. Lovely neighborhood for walks and short drive to Bluff shops.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Matt & Lynette W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Annual Siblings Trip

My sibs and spouses gathered in Dubuque this year for our annual get together. We agreed that this was the best house for our group in the 12 years we’ve been doing this. The lower level was perfect for watching playoff games for some, while room to sit and play games for others. The kitchen was well equipped and the beds were comfortable. Most notably, the view of the city and river were terrific. Congrats to the host on their exceptional renovation of this classic home.
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2025

10/10 Excellent

Michelle M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Stay here if you'd like historic elegance, comfort, with a view from 3 levels

Beauty on the Bluff is a marvelous place to stay. Spacious, super clean, with every amenity and better than we expected. This historic home with modern updates was bliss to stay in. We were a family of 9 adults attending a local wedding and wanted a gathering place that had plenty of baths and kitchen to cook in if we needed to. Beds were comfortable, hot water with good pressure, fully stocked kitchen, plenty of towels. The weather was a bit chilly so we could not spend time much time on the expansive decks with comfortable seating and expansive views of Dubuque and the Mississippi River. The architecture, woodwork and furnishings are very tasteful and inviting. The gorgeous spiral staircase extends to all 3 levels. The only drawback might be for those with bad knees and hips navigating stairs. If you want to make a memory...this is your place!
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2024

8/10 Good

Kimberly S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
The property overall is a very nice property with amazing views that you could soak in while on the top two balconies. The updates made to the house and the furnishings in each room made it a comfortable stay including two large gathering areas (one on the main floor and one on the lower floor). We had twelve in our family staying there and although a few had to "pull up a rug", there were plenty of pillows to make sitting on the floor comfortable. There were just a few things that made the stay not perfect, adding a little frustration during our time there - the kitchen lacked dish cloths (only provided a sponge at the sink for clean up) and could only find one hand towel (synthetic-didn't absorb) so had to go upstairs to get wash cloths/hand towels to use instead. There was also only one roll of paper towels provided & unfortunately we went through that quickly given the lack of towels. Also, it's understandable that there may be "critters" in an old home (a couple of spiders and some ants in the bottom living area), but it just gave a few in our group anxious feelings. Finally, the dining table was in a little disrepair as while fully extended, it sagged in the middle making it a somewhat wobbly. All of that said, we we still had a very nice stay...very comfortable with lots of options for hang-out areas.Finally, communication responses from the owner were very prompt and contained the necessary detail and the check out steps were very concise. No problems whatsoever!
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Andrew M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2025