Croatia with Kids Guide

Looking for the perfect Croatia with kids guide? Are you planning your family trip to Croatia and have no idea where to start? If you have followed me along any of our Croatian adventures @flyingwithfour you know that Croatia will forever hold near and dear to our family’s heart. I married a Croatian and I am fortunate enough to visit Croatia with kids often.

When I met my father in law 15 years ago, he would tell me no where in the world would ever compare to his birthplace – Croatia. You see, my father in law was a great story teller. He used to tell me to never let the truth get in the way of a good story. I thought he was making it all up. But, not long after we were married, Dave and I visited this beautiful country for the very first time. And boy was my father in law right.

Each time we visit Croatia I am blown away by the turquoise blue water, contrasting white stone houses with the red tile roofs. Eating fresh fish with the Adriatic in the background #unreal.

And the best part of Croatia? The people. Dave’s family continues to open their arms and doors for us to experience only the best of the best while we are here and I will forever be grateful to them.

Dave’s dad is no longer with us, but I know he is smiling down on us each time we make the visit to his beautiful country. I know he is happy that his legacy lives on with his two sons, he beams with pride at his four grandchildren, and especially as we introduce our newest son Luke to all of his Croatian family.

In this Croatia with Kids Guide we will share our favorite destinations, how long we recommend to stay at each place, and our favorite accommodation recommendations. Also included in this guide {coming soon!} will be links to more specifics about each destination and how to plan your time at each place. Use this guide to help you plan your family trip to Croatia this year.

If you have specific questions about Croatia, need help planning your trip to Croatia with kids, or just curious about what more to do or see in Croatia, please send me an email or leave a comment below. Many people may have the same question. And although I may not have the answer, I will be able to ask a Croatian relative who does.

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DUBROVNIK, CROATIA WITH KIDS

Dubrovnik, Croatia has become a hugely popular tourist destination. Thanks to the tens of thousands of travelers that arrive by cruise ship daily during the summer season, Dubrovnik has become heavily crowded even during the off season months.

Would I still recommend a visit? ABSOLUTELY! Dubrovnik, Croatia is full of sights that are unmatched by anywhere else in the world. It would be like going to Paris and not seeing the Eiffel Tower. You have to visit at least once!

GETTING TO DUBROVNIK

Flights, Roads, Boats and Buses

Dubrovnik is accessible via flights, roads, boats, and buses. There are however, no trains to Dubrovnik. For our family, we typically fly into a major European hub – i.e. Frankfurt, Germany and then take a shorter flight into Dubrovnik, Croatia.

If you are coming from Italy you can take the ferry from Bari to Dubrovnik (which runs from March through October). This is an overnight ferry (takes appx. 12 hours) but is a great alternative to flying. Here are a few tips for the Jadrolinija ferry from Bari to Dubrovnik.

When booking your tickets for the Bari to Dubrovnik ferry, consider booking sleeping quarters for your family. The alternative is that you (along with the majority of the guests) will be sleeping on chairs and the rest of the ferry’s interior.
If you pay the extra for sleeping quarters, you can expect bunk beds and a small cabin. Don’t expect anything luxurious, I am just recommending the cabin if you are looking to get a decent night’s rest instead of sleeping on a not so comfortable ferry seat amongst strangers.
There is food available for purchase onboard the ferry at a decent price. Plan ahead if you have children who are picky eaters and/or you have dietary restrictions as options are limited.

For booking information on the ferry from Bari to Dubrovnik – CLICK HERE

ACCOMODATIONS IN DUBROVNIK

When planning a family trip to Croatia with your kids, Dubrovnik is good for at least a full day. I would recommend staying in the Old Town within the city walls to get the full experience. Hotels and resorts are limited in this area, but they are also very EXPENSIVE. For the full experience, book a VRBO or AirBnB for a more affordable lodging for your family.

Do not wait until the last minute to get your accommodations in Dubrovnik, Croatia. Especially during the peak season of May – October. Although you may save money staying outside the city walls, if you are looking to experience the Old Town, spend the extra money and stay within the walls.

Also remember that there are NO CARS within the Old Town of Dubrovnik. When you arrive at the city you are responsible for walking (and carrying) any gear you have with you to your accommodations. There are a LOT of stairs in Dubrovnik.

Here are links to our two favorite places to stay while in Dubrovnik, Croatia. Both of these places are owned by family members, and both have great locations within the Old Town. Both are available on booking.com

Location 1: (currently not being rented out) Vacation Apartment Rental in Dubrovnik, Croatia

Location 2: Vacation Apartment Rental in Dubrovnik, Croatia

PLANNING YOUR TIME IN DUBROVNIK

After visiting the Old Town of Dubrovnik, Croatia more than a dozen times, I personally would recommend at minimum a one night stay. Some visitors are happy with just spending the day in Dubrovnik, but I do think there is so much more than meets the eye.

When traveling to Dubrovnik, Croatia with kids though I would stretch this to 2-3 nights. Why? Because kids are not able to handle fast pace travel as well as adults, and secondly, it just takes longer to see and do everything when you are anywhere with kids!

Another reason for the longer stay is so that you are able to wake up early and hit the Old Town before it becomes overcrowded with tourists, and so that you can experience it in the evening once the crowds have thinned.

I will warn you. The old town of Dubrovnik is overcrowded with tourist during the summer months. Do not let that deter you from visiting or making it part of your travels to Croatia. Just make sure you start your mornings early and find daytime activities that take you away from the crowds.

GETTING AROUND DUBROVNIK

Since there are no cars allowed in the Old Town Dubrovnik, the preferred method of getting around is walking. At the Pile gate you will be able to grab a taxi, arrange a shuttle to and from the airport, or jump on the local transit bus to get you to other areas surrounding Dubrovnik.

When traveling with kids we tend to use the public transportation systems more regularly so that we aren’t dealing with carseats. However, when arranging shuttles to and from the airport remember that you can always request a car seat.

KID FRIENDLY ACTIVITY IN DUBROVNIK

Cable Car to Mt. Srđ

If I were to choose one thing to share as a favorite family activity for my Croatia with Kids guide in Dubrovnik it would be to take the cable car to the top of Mt. Srđ. The kids and adults will equally love the cable car ride with scenic views all the way to the top. Once you get off the cable car you are greeted with a million dollar view of the beloved city of Dubrovnik. If you time it right you can catch the sun setting into the Adriatic Sea.

There are different options when buying your cable car tickets. You can buy a 1-way ticket or round trip. Some people will take the cable car up and then grab a taxi cab with their group to go back down. I however think it is easiest with kids (and not having to deal with carseats, etc.) to just take it both ways.

Looking for more Information about Dubrovnik Cable Car

If you decide to bypass the cable car all together and just head up to Mt. Srđ by car or taxi, consider dining at Konoba Dubrava. It is a family friendly spot with a playground complete with swings outside. It is the perfect place to enjoy traditional Croatian cuisine without the hustle and bustle of the city and tourists in the Old Town.

Walking the City Walls of Dubrovnik

No trip to Dubrovnik, Croatia would be complete without a walk around the city walls. The city walls are truly the main attraction of this Old Town. Here are a few tips before you walk the City Walls of Dubrovnik.

Arrive at the entrance before it opens. I like to be up there early for two reasons. 1. to avoid the crowds 2. to avoid the heat!
Buy your tickets online. You will avoid the crowds at the ticket office and you can cancel your tickets 24 hours in advance.
Plan for at least 1.5 to 2 hours to go completely around the walls, but plan on more time if you have kids in tow, or if you go during the crowded hours of the day.
Bring WATER! It gets hot (even in the mornings) when you are on the walls. There are a few small shops on the walls that have waters available, but you will pay a premium price.
Shops on the city walls will also have coffees, ice cream, and a few souvenirs too.
Bring a hat! Especially for your kids if they are joining you. The white stone is reflective and again you will be hot!
The walls are not stroller friendly. If you have a small child, plan on having a baby carrier with you.
They do offer walking tours of the Old Town and City Walls.
Children under 7 are free.

Looking for more Information about the Dubrovnik City Walls

MLJET, CROATIA WITH KIDS

Mljet, Croatia is a common day trip destination from Dubrovnik. Ferry services run daily from the port of Dubrovnik, and there is also a car ferry that runs from Pelijesac which is about a 1 hour drive North of Dubrovnik. If you are looking for a few days of relaxation without the crowds, Mljet offers all the beauty Croatia has to offer, with no nonsense. The island is pure, the seafood is divine and the people are the most genuine people you will meet.

GETTING TO MLJET

Ferry

The boat ride from Dubrovnik to Mljet is approximately 1 hour, 20 minutes. The cost as of summer 2019 is appx. $15USD per person, one way.

The ferry system has two drop off points on the island of Mljet – Sobra and Pomena/Polace. If you are coming to the island to visit the National Park, you will want to be dropped off at the Pomena/Polace location. However, make sure to check ferry schedules in advance, as the ferries do not run during the off season to Pomena/Polace.

Although you can purchase tickets to the ferry the day of at the ferry terminals, during peak season you may want to purchase your tickets in advance. Also keep in mind that many tourist companies run day excursions to Mljet from Dubrovnik. If ferries are booked you can inquire about purchasing a one-way ticket to get to the island.

For more information on Getting to Mljet Island – CLICK HERE

ACCOMODATIONS IN MLJET

Other guide books and popular travel blogs will recommend that you stay closer to the National Park in either Polace or Pomena. I will tell you just the opposite. If you are looking for serenity, peace and out of this world beauty (less the tourists!) you should head to the opposite side of the island towards Sobra. However, if you are looking to go and explore the National Park and will only be on the island for a short period, then you will want to consider lodging on that side of the island.

If you are looking for accommodation recommendations on the Sobra side of the island consider booking with our family. The accommodations are clean, updated and some are large enough to house a family of 6 like ours. There are multiple apartments available for rent with Apartment More. My favorite 2 are listed below.

Location 1: Vacation Apartment Rental in Sobra in Mljet, Croatia

The view from Apartment More in Mljet, Croatia
is breathtaking and unlike any place our family has ever visited.

Location 2: Vacation Apartment Rental in Sobra in Mljet, Croatia

The vacation apartments feel more like home with a full kitchen and balcony overlooking Sobra, Mljet, Croatia.

If you are looking to stay in a property in the center part of the island in Babino Polje you can look at this family owned property as well. This small town is where Dave’s father grew up. It is small, quiet, and charming. This location would be great for a family. There is an infinity pool as well.

Location 3: Vacation House Rental in Babino Polje in Mljet, Croatia

View on Airbnb Sea Star

PLANNING YOUR TIME IN MLJET

My husband’s family all live on the island of Mljet, so this is where we spend a lot of our time when we visit Croatia. However, if you are coming as a visitor to the island, I would recommend a minimum of 2 nights here. Depending on the ferry schedule, and how much you want to see, you should be able to see, experience, and explore plenty of the island (with kids) in 2 -3 days.

GETTING AROUND MLJET

Car & Scooter Rental

Mini Brum is the only company that rents cars and scooters on the island. If you are traveling during peak season, I would highly recommend to book in advance if traveling with a large family. Most rental cars on the island are compact. There are a limited number that have seating (and space for luggage) for a family of our size. As a matter of fact I believe they have 2 rentals large enough for our family of 6.

When you arrive on the island the rental cars are available directly off of the ferry in Sobra. You do not need to worry about taking a taxi (there is only one taxi driver on the island). It’s literally a two second walk from the ferry drop off.

For rental information about Mini Brum – CLICK HERE

KID FRIENDLY ACTIVITY IN MLJET

Mljet National Park

Besides just hopping into the water (hello, small island and water everywhere you turn!), one of our family favorite kid friendly activities in Mljet is heading to Mljet National Park.

When planning your day at Mljet National Park, make sure you bring all of your beach essentials, as well as food. There is a small hike to get into the lake area of Mljet National Park. Our kids enjoy just floating between the Veliko and Malo Jezero (large and small lake) under the bridge that connects the two lakes.

Also important to note is just like many of the beaches throughout Croatia, the lakes have many rocks and rough surfaces. Make sure to pack your children, and yourself a pair of water shoes for your trip.

If you are feeling adventurous and/or you want to see more when visiting the National Park on Mljet, you can take a boat ride (included with the admission into the National Park) and visit the Benedictine monastery on St. Mary’s island. *Please make sure to plan accordingly and bring a shawl or shirt to cover shoulders when visiting the chapel at the monastery.

KORCULA, CROATIA WITH KIDS

Known as the mini-Dubrovnik, Korcula is truly an amazing island. And since this island is not a stop on the large cruise ships port of calls, it does not have nearly the amount of people in and out of the city as Dubrovnik. This is a must stop on your list to visit in Croatia with kids.

From island hopping excursions, wine tasting, and fine dining, there is truly something here for everyone in your family. Korcula is only accessible by ferry, although there is rumor of the possibility that they will put a bridge connecting the mainland to this island. I secretly hope this does not happen as that will only mean more people.

GETTING TO KORCULA

Korcula is kind of a mid way point between Split and Dubrovnik. It takes about 2.5 hours by ferry from Split and it takes about 2.5 hours to Korcula from Dubrovnik. If you are coming from Mljet however, it is about 30 minutes. Many people who stay on Korcula do plan day trips and/or hire private tour companies to take them to Mljet National Park for the day and also to see Odysseus Cave.

Click here for direct link to book a day excursion to Mljet National Park or Odysseus through Korkyra Nautika.

ACCOMODATIONS IN KORCULA

When looking for accommodations in Korcula you want to focus on staying within the city of Korcula on the island. As in Dubrovnik, there are no cars within the old town of Korcula. Imagine narrow walkways, cobblestone streets, and laundry hanging from the European windows, all while overlooking the Adriatic Sea. Many of the restaurants and happenings are within the Old Town of Korcula.

PLANNING YOUR TIME IN KORCULA

Every time I visit Korcula I find myself wanting to stay and explore more. However, if you are planning a trip throughout Croatia, make sure to allocate at least 3 days minimum here on the island of Korcula. You can easily spend one day out on the water visiting beaches and another day can be spent wine tasting and exploring the Old Town.

KID FRIENDLY ACTIVITY IN KORCULA

Charter a Boat with Korkyra Nautika for the Day

The best part of Croatia is the endless amount of islands and water activities. And one of my favorite things to do when we are in Croatia is to hop on a boat and see the islands from the water.

There are many tourism companies when you arrive by ferry in Korcula. I can only recommend one as it is family owned and operated. Find Korkyra Nautika next to the marina. They will be able to set up your day of boating for you and your family. You will be able to visit some private coves, smaller beaches, and less crowded areas if you take a boat out for the day.

Want to spend the day on the Adriatic Sea? Visit Korkyra Nautika.

HVAR, CROATIA WITH KIDS

This past summer was our first time visiting Hvar, Croatia with kids and I can promise you it won’t be our last. I was slightly apprehensive about bringing them to Hvar. It has a reputation to be a party island. Much to my surprise there was a ton of family friendly activities to do on the island. So much in fact, that we plan on visiting Hvar each time we travel to Croatia from now on.

GETTING TO HVAR

If you are traveling from south to north up the country of Croatia, you will find that Hvar is next on the ferry route from Korcula. It will take you about 1 hour to 1.5 hours to get to Hvar from Korcula by ferry. If you are coming from the North, you would grab the ferry in Split.

ACCOMODATIONS IN HVAR

The city of Hvar, on the island of Hvar is the most popular and most visited area of the island. On the opposite side of the island is another town called Stari Grad. If you are looking for action, easy accessibility to the neighboring islands, and lots to see and do, I would recommend booking your accommodations in the city of Hvar. If you want quiet & peaceful find bookings around Stari Grad.

Here is the booking link to the accommodations we stayed at in Hvar, Hvar. I will tell you that it was the picture perfect location right on the waterfront. We had views of the yachts and of the town, and when you see photos of Hvar, you always can see our accommodations in the pictures. #amazing However, I will also warn you that where we stayed was NOT a quiet LOCATION. You could easily stick your head out the window to see non stop party goers late into the evening and early morning hours.

PLANNING YOUR TIME IN HVAR

This past summer 2019, we stayed 4 nights in Hvar. Could we have stayed longer – always! But I think 4 nights was ample time to see and explore the island as well as the surrounding Pakleni Islands, which have secluded beaches and coves.

KID FRIENDLY ACTIVITY IN HVAR

Although we had quite a few adventures while we were visiting the island of Hvar, our favorite was taking a taxi boat out to the neighboring Pakleni islands to the beaches of Zdrilca and Mlini.

Tickets for the water taxi were 50 kuna per person. You do not need to pre-purchase these tickets. You essentially just walk down the water front where all of the water taxis are lined up. From our VRBO rental it was a 1 minute walk to the waterfront. There are different water taxis for different neighboring islands (so make sure to check that!) It is about a 15 minute boat ride to the beach.

Once you arrive you can stay at Zdrilca beach or take a short walk around the bend to Mlini beach. Both beaches have restaurants, bathrooms and lounge chairs for rent. Keep in mind when packing your bag to visit these beaches to include something to sit on. These are not sand beaches! These are the pebble rocky beaches that are found in most of Croatia.

PLITVICE NATIONAL PARK, CROATIA WITH KIDS

If you are going to Croatia, please make sure to visit Plitvice National Park.

My husband still reminds me to this day this it was our most expensive detour, but I promise you will not leave disappointed. For us it was an expensive detour because we were coming from a 2 week stint in Italy, a cruise around the Greek Isles, and then heading to the southern region of Croatia. So to request a “detour” to Plitvice Lakes National Park just because I had not been and wanted to go was a big ask. Was it worth it? Absolutely, yes.

Plitvice Lakes has become hugely popular tourist destination thanks (or maybe no thanks) to social media. And although I am not in love with the crowds, I do love the scenery.

ACCOMODATIONS IN PLITVICE NATIONAL PARK

When booking accommodations for our family in Plitvice National Park we stayed at the Hotel Jezero. Hotel Jezero is centrally located within Plitvice National Park. Everything we had read had mentioned that in order to avoid crowds and tour groups, that we needed to get to the park early. With kids, the reality is that it is always hard to get up and going early. So, our best bet to beat the crowds was to stay right at the National Park.

Accommodations were not fancy. As a matter of fact, the accommodations reminded me of a 1970’s Brady Bunch summer trip. And in order to accommodate our family we did have to rent two rooms. BUT, they did offer a complete complimentary European breakfast and we literally beat every single tour group and crowd into the park. It was also reasonably priced. So I would call that a win in my book.

PLANNING YOUR TIME IN PLITIVICE NATIONAL PARK

You could see and explore with your kids all of Plitvice National Park in one day. However, if time allows I would recommend two days at this beautiful park. The park itself is broken into the Upper Lakes and Lower Lakes. When traveling with little ones (infants, toddlers and preschoolers) I would consider breaking the park into two days. Day one – Lower Lakes & Day two – Upper Lakes.

KID FRIENDLY ACTIVITY IN PLITIVICE NATIONAL PARK

Going to Plitvice national park is the kid friendly activity to do there! Hiking, seeing water falls, and exploring the natural beauty of Croatia.

LOOKING FOR MORE IDEAS FOR YOUR TRIP TO CROATIA WITH KIDS?

Looking for more help when planning your family trip to Croatia? I would love to hear more about your plans, and how I can help plan your family trip to Croatia with kids. I know the amount of details and questions that go into research and plan a family trip. Send me a comment below, send me an email, or stop by Instagram and send me a DM and I will respond to any questions you have!

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