Best family hotels in Croatia: top resorts in Rabac, Rovinj and Dubrovnik

You’re certainly in good hands when you book a stay at the award-winning Dubrovnik President Valamar. This striking resort on the tip of the Babin Kuk peninsula has won the Best Luxury Beach Resort in Croatia for five consecutive years, been recognised as TripAdvisor’s Travellers’ Choice hotel and it's also received awards for its impressive sustainability efforts.

With an envious beachfront location, Dubrovnik President Valamar provides easy access to Dubrovnik Old Town and is just a few metres from the pebbled shores of the Val President Relax Beach - a great place to sunbathe and spot the Elpahiti Islands. For more energetic or adventurous families you can also enjoy a variety of water sports such as paddle or wakeboarding, hire a speedboat or head to the Abyss diving centre to explore the secrets hidden beneath the shore.

With a choice of interconnected rooms for families or additional beds available on request, most of the modern rooms offer a large balcony with a sea view - a great way to watch the stunning sunsets at the end of a fun-filled day.

Younger guests will love unlimited access to nearby Maro World, a fun-filled haven including an outdoor trampoline, teen hangout, gaming rooms and soft play. Alternatively back at the hotel, the outdoor freshwater pool is a great place to cool down or burn off some energy before bed. Surrounded by deck chairs and parasols, it allows easy supervision of younger swimmers from the terrace overlooking the sea.

The Val President Relax Beach is also home to the delightful Miramare restaurant, known for its show cooking, exquisite Mediterranean fish and meat dishes and excellent choice of local wines.

Just over a mile from Dubrovnik’s Old Town and around 30 minutes from the airport lies Hotel Adria.

With a hilltop location, this hotel promises spectacular views of the Elafiti Islands and Lapad Bay and is in close proximity to the attractions of Gradac Park, Pile Gate, Walls of Dubrovnik, as well as five beautiful beaches.

The modern and spacious family rooms at Hotel Adria can comfortably accommodate two adults and two children, with additional cots available free of charge upon request.

With a variety of dining options, families can enjoy snacks at the poolside bar or tuck into traditional Dalmatian cuisine at Restaurant Sunset, which offers floor-to-ceiling views of the yachts, ferries and cruise ships as they arrive in the nearby Gruz Bay marina.

While relatively small in size, the outdoor pool has an amazing setting overlooking the open water and mountains - providing the perfect place for kids to play while you catch a glimpse of the enchanting sunset.

Off-peak room rates start from around £70 per night.

Surrounded by a stunning Renaissance garden, the charming Hotel Lapad is near the waterfront of the Lapad peninsula. A historic building with mediaeval architecture edged with tropical palm trees, this harbourfront location is less than two miles from the Old Town of Dubrovnik, offering a quiet yet luxurious base for your family break.

With clean and modern decor, the spacious family rooms are split in two parts with an interconnecting door, meaning your night doesn’t need to come to a halt when your children head off to bed.

While there’s no separate children’s pool at Hotel Lapad, the large outdoor pool with snack bar is open from May to October - a great place for children to play and cool down when the temperatures rise. Well tended gardens are perfect for relaxing in with games and puzzles, while the small pebble beach at Lapad Bay is less than a 10-minute walk away.

The hot and cold buffet breakfasts and dinner provide plenty of choice to suit all appetites, while the Dalmatian cuisine and themed cuisine nights are a great way to encourage children to explore and try new foods.

The largest of Neilson's popular beach resorts, the Alana Beachclub is located less than an hour from Zadar in a beautiful spot between the Adriatic and the Paklenica National Park. It's a great option if you're travelling with sporty kids that love sampling different activities on holiday.

There are six tennis courts on site as well as mountain bikes for hire. Off shore, you can try your hand at sailing, windsurfing, stand up paddlingboarding, waterskiing, wakeboarding, and wake surfing (if you’re up for a challenge).

Guests stay in a range of stylish and contemporary cabins. Club board guests can dine at the alfresco terrace and on non-inclusive evenings, there’s a small selection of bars and restaurants just a 10-15 minute walk away, so you can easily head out to enjoy some local cuisine and explore the local village.

If you fancy making use of the onsite spa, the 50-metre swimming pool or beach bar, the Neilson kids’ clubs are suitable for children aged 2-17 and include a play area and mini golf as well as an extensive activity programme.

Hotel Bellevue Dubrovnik is a luxury boutique hotel set high on a cliffside in Miramare Bay, offering incredible panoramic views of the coastline. It offers the best of both worlds - a contemporary and exclusive base but set just 10 minutes from the enchanting medieval sights of Dubrovnik’s city centre.

With breathtaking sea views, it’s not surprising that Hotel Bellevue Dubrovnik is popular with couples and honeymooners. Children are still very welcome however, with spacious Deluxe Doubles and Junior Suites including fold out sofa beds and cots available on request.

With a small but luxurious heated indoor pool, younger children may miss splashing around outdoors, so for some fun in the sun with your family, Miramare Bay is just a minute’s walk away. This quiet beach overlooking the calm Adriatic Sea offers a serene place for parents to relax, while water sports activities can keep older kids busy for hours on end.

The Nevera Beach Restaurant offers a stunning variety of seafood. Alternatively, the Vapor Restaurant offers a unique, seaside fine dining experience, with Mediterranean and Dalmatian dishes with locally sourced ingredients. Should you wish to experience the luxury of child-free cuisine, the hotel even offers a high quality babysitting service  for a small additional charge.

Set within the Golden Cape Natural Park, Hotel Lone is a sleek design hotel just a two-minute walk from a beautiful pebbled beach. You’ll also find Punta Corrente Park, Rovinj Marina, Balbi Arch, Rovinj Market and Rovinj Heritage Museum just a short walk away.

The hotel's impressive rooms can be accessed from interconnecting spaces, allowing families of up to four people to enjoy a shared yet private space - ideal if you’re travelling with teens.

The poolside bar is surrounded by luscious lawns and pine trees and is a welcoming place to relax and snack on fries or tasty club sandwiches during the day. When you’re feeling a little hungrier, the hotel has a choice of three restaurants, including a sushi bar, a Mediterranean-inspired buffet and a locally-inspired a la carte menu.

With two outdoor pools, families can switch between the aqua fun pool, whirlpool or splash in the small pool specifically aimed at younger children. The on-site kids’ club runs from June to September, providing two hours of entertainment each morning and afternoon for children aged 4-12. With an outdoor playground, a soft play room and an impressive evening entertainment programme, there’s also a gaming room packed with consoles - a great place for teens to hang out and make new friends during their stay.

If you’re looking for an easy airport transfer, the five-star Hotel Croatia Cavtat is just three miles from Dubrovnik airport (around a 20-minute transfer).

This luxury waterfront hotel has a unique location built right into the cliffside peninsula. With interconnecting double or superior rooms, you can expect stunning balcony views overlooking the unspoilt Cavtat Bay, home to underwater caves, sunken ships and underwater trading routes from Greece towards northern Italy.

Guests can choose between the stylish heated indoor pool and spa or enjoy the shelter of the large outdoor pool surrounded by pine trees, with a small children’s pool suitable for the youngest of guests. Children will love the open-air playground, playing boules with new friends or challenging their parents to a game of table tennis. The kids’ club offers daily entertainment from June to September for children aged 4-12 years.

Families can make the most of these unforgettable views on the alfresco terrace and tuck into pizza, pasta or family favourites from the Kids’ Menu. Alternatively, you can  head to the steakhouse or buffet restaurant, where you can enjoy a wide variety of international cuisine.

If you fancy exploring outside the complex itself, Croatia Cavtat offers easy access to two quiet pebble beaches on the Adriatic coast, where young explorers can enjoy water sports such as diving and snorkelling to discover the true beauty of marine life protected by the Ministry of Culture.

Who says travelling with your family can’t be relaxing? While unsurprisingly popular with couples, Rixos Premium Dubrovnik is also an ideal destination for families with babies and young children thanks to its babysitting services, entertaining kids’ club and colourful playroom.

Perched on a cliff overlooking the Adriatic sea, this luxury hotel is just a two-minute walk from Bellevue Beach and is close to Dubrovnik’s Old Town, Ploce Gate, Dubrovnik Cable Car and Dubrovnik Cathedral. Executive suites provide a stylish and modern base for families, with extra beds or cots available on request.

While parents will love the views from the freshwater outdoor pool set into the hillside, children can play in the smaller paddling pool and splash area, open from May to September. With a bustling kids’ club and a water sports facility onsite, they can also enjoy snorkelling, diving, canoeing, or burn off some energy in the outdoor adventure playground.

With live music to accompany your meals in the summer months, your memorable holiday experience at Rixos Premium Dubrovnik includes luxurious dining at one of the on-site restaurants boasting Mediterranean, Turkish, Japanese, and local cuisine as well as an impressive seafood menu at the Libertas Fish Restaurant. Specialised kids’ meals can also be made available upon request.

If your children never like to sit still or you’re worried about hearing “I’m bored” during your break, the exciting Club Dubrovnik Sunny Hotel could be the ideal choice for your family. Situated on the Babin Kuk peninsula just 15 minutes from the Old Town of Dubrovnik, this family-friendly hotel is an entertainment hub, surrounded by mystifying views of the Adriatic Sea.

An all-inclusive resort, Club Dubrovnik Sunny has been built with younger guests in mind. With a resident mascot named Maro the Crab, children aged 3-12 will love the high energy kids’ clubs offering entertainment both day and night, including fully equipped playrooms, waterplay, sports competitions, themed days, parties, movie nights and much, much more. For older children and teens, the games lounge with PS5 and Switch consoles is also sure to hold some appeal.

The air conditioned classic family rooms offer two separate areas split by connecting doors, allowing a private space for your children to relax or play, while the balcony with a pool or sea view is the perfect sight to wake up to each morning. The hotel also offers Family Kits to collect from reception, with items such as comforting nightlights and protective plug covers a welcome addition for those travelling with babies or toddlers.

Thanks to the large swimming pool with slides, water sports facilities on site and the beach just moments away, the kids will have unlimited fun. Add in bike tours, fun in the playground and board games in the lobby, you’re guaranteed to keep the kids happy so you can enjoy a carefree holiday.

On Rovinj’s eastern shores, Grand Park Hotel Rovinj offers a truly unique experience. A three-minute walk from a beautiful pebble beach, the hotel has spectacular views overlooking Rovinj Old Town and the Adriatic Sea.

With a choice of no less than six bars and restaurants, you’re sure to find the perfect balance of traditional Croatian cuisine and modern family favourites.

The chic and modern connecting rooms are airy and light, easily accommodating families of four. Thanks to the large bright windows offering stunning views of the sea, surrounding park or marina, even your teens won’t struggle to get out of bed in the morning.

It’s the perfect base to relax but there’s plenty to do for both adults and kids of all ages. With a choice of three large pools including an infinity pool and sun terrace, older children will love having access to water sports or hiring bikes to explore the Istrian Riviera.

For younger children, the kids’ club offers daily entertainment and games including face painting, treasure hunts and mini discos. Whilst the kids are taken care of, parents can make their way to the hotel’s on-site pastry shop.