Here is a practical guide on traveling to Croatia with kids. What can you expect? Should you change your mind and go elsewhere? Find out here.
So you’re planning a family holiday to Croatia and want to know whether it is a family-friendly destination. You’ve undoubtedly googled and come up short with the answers – am I right?
That’s what happened to Chamisa; she wrote about her experience traveling to Croatia for 10 days with her three boys, and it made me think about the lack of information she found. Holidays with kids can be so much fun, so I was surprised at the lack of real, practical knowledge.
As a mother of two kids who has lived in Croatia for over 13 years and raised small children here, while also traveling nonstop around the country, I can tell you now that Croatia is a great place to come with kids. This isn’t based on a short holiday or a single trip — it’s based on daily life, countless road trips, hospital visits, playground afternoons, and years of navigating Croatia with babies, toddlers, school-age kids, and now teenagers. However, I get a lot of questions. Let me answer them for you.
Skip Ahead To My Advice Here!
Traveling To Croatia With A Baby
Is Croatia Suitable For Babies?
Yes, but flexibility is important. Croatia isn’t built around baby infrastructure, yet babies are welcome everywhere. Parents who are comfortable adapting to fewer facilities generally find it an easy and relaxed destination.
Does Croatia Have Changing Tables, Child-Sized Toilets, Or Family Bathrooms?
No. Baby changing tables are rare, and dedicated family bathrooms are uncommon. Newer shopping centers and renovated restaurants may offer a place to change your baby, but these are few and far between. Child-sized toilets and sinks are not common.
That said, changing a baby in a stroller or pram in a park or town square is socially acceptable, and no one will bat an eye. I’ve done this countless times over the years, in city parks and busy town squares alike. Carry small plastic or paper bags and dispose of diapers in public trash bins.
Buying Diapers And Baby Essentials In Croatia
Coming to Croatia with a baby is easy. Most supermarkets and many convenience stores sell diapers, wipes, and baby food. Organic baby food is available in larger stores such as DM.
I recommend bringing enough supplies for the first two days. After that, you’ll easily find what you need.
Pushchairs, Strollers, And Prams In Croatia
You can bring a pushchair, but be aware that many historic towns and tourist sites are ancient. Roman and Byzantine-era streets were not built with ramps or smooth paving in mind.
Cobblestone streets in places like Zadar can be tough on strollers and your arms. I used a stroller daily while living here, but for old towns and historic areas, a baby carrier was often far more practical and much less frustrating.
Car Seats And Driving With A Baby
Rental car companies in Croatia generally offer car seats, but availability is limited. Book as far in advance as possible, especially if traveling between June and September.
NOTE: Croatian law requires children under 135 cm to be seated in an appropriate child restraint or booster seat.
Traveling To Croatia With A Toddler
Are Restaurants And Hotels Toddler-Friendly?
Yes. Hotels, restaurants, cafés, and bars in Croatia generally welcome children. Staff are often kind and patient, and messy toddlers are usually met with smiles rather than judgment.
It’s common for staff to reassure parents that “kids are kids” and insist they’ll clean up any mess. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve tried to apologise while staff waved me off and told me not to worry.
Do Restaurants In Croatia Have High Chairs?
Not often. Small cafés and family-run restaurants rarely have high chairs. All-inclusive resorts are the most reliable places to find them.
If having a high chair is essential, a portable travel high chair that folds into a bag is a practical solution.
Food For Toddlers In Croatia
Children’s menus exist in some large restaurants in big cities, but they are not common. That said, Croatian food is naturally toddler-friendly.
Most menus include pasta, risotto, stews, grilled meats, and pastries. Chefs are usually happy to grill a plain chicken breast on request. In all the years I’ve lived and traveled around Croatia with toddlers, I’ve never once been told no.
And if all else fails, pizza, ice cream, and burek are everywhere.
Parks, Playgrounds, And Space To Run
Most towns and many villages have at least one playground, often more. Equipment may be older than what you’d find in Australia or the US, but it is generally well maintained and safe.
Playgrounds are often located near cafés, making them a win for parents and toddlers alike.
Health Care And Emergencies With Young Children
Major cities such as Dubrovnik, Split, Zadar, and Zagreb have hospitals with emergency care. Some islands do not have full-service hospitals, and transfers to the mainland can take several hours depending on weather.
English is widely spoken in hospitals and pharmacies. My own kids have been treated in Croatian hospitals multiple times over the years, and while buildings may feel dated, I’ve never doubted the quality of care.
IN CASE OF EMERGENCY: Dial 112 from any phone in Croatia to reach ambulance, fire, or police.
Brands We Use And Trust
Traveling To Croatia With School-Age Kids
Is Croatia A Good Destination For School-Age Children?
Yes. Croatia works extremely well for school-age kids thanks to its safe cities, outdoor lifestyle, clean sea, and relaxed attitude toward children.
Kids are welcome almost everywhere, and it’s normal to see children running around beaches, promenades, town squares, and cafés without anyone batting an eye. After more than a decade of raising kids here, this relaxed attitude is one of the reasons we’ve stayed.
Beaches And Swimming With Kids
The Adriatic Sea is clean, clear, and generally calm, making it ideal for children who enjoy swimming and snorkeling close to shore.
Many beaches slope gently into the water. Pebble beaches are more common than sandy ones, so water shoes are helpful.
Are Croatian Beaches Safe For Children?
Yes, but supervision is still essential. Some larger or organised beaches have lifeguards during summer, while many smaller beaches do not.
The sea has no tides and strong currents are uncommon, but standard water safety rules always apply.
Parks, Playgrounds, And Outdoor Activities
Most towns and many villages have at least one playground, often more. These are easy places for kids to burn off energy between sightseeing and beach time.
In addition to playgrounds, Croatia has many adventure parks offering activities such as climbing courses, zip-lining, and paintball for older children.
National Parks With School-Age Kids
Many national parks are suitable for children, especially those with boardwalks and clearly marked trails.
Visiting early in the day helps avoid heat and crowds, particularly in summer.
Language And Communication
Children in Croatia typically begin learning English in primary school, often from the first or second grade.
Many kids speak basic English thanks to school, television, games, and family abroad, making playground interactions easy for visiting children.
Fun fact: Croatian kids often learn additional languages such as German or Italian at school.
Traveling To Croatia With Teenagers
Is Croatia Suitable For Teens?
Very much so. Croatia offers a wide range of activities that appeal to teenagers, especially those who enjoy the outdoors, water sports, and active holidays.
Outdoor And Adventure Activities For Teens
Popular activities for teens include swimming, snorkeling, kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, biking, rafting, and island hopping.
Adventure parks, zip-lining, climbing parks, and aquaparks are widely available, particularly along the coast and on popular islands.
Beaches And Freedom For Older Kids
Beaches in Croatia are social spaces where teens can swim, snorkel, explore rock pools, and spend long afternoons with minimal structure.
Older children often enjoy the independence of walking along promenades, visiting nearby cafés, and exploring small towns safely. As a parent who has watched my kids grow up here, this sense of safety didn’t come from theory — it came from years of lived experience.
City Life And Culture For Teens
Historic towns such as Dubrovnik, Split, Zadar, and Zagreb combine history with modern cafés, ice cream shops, and lively public spaces that appeal to teenagers.
Old towns are compact and walkable, making them easy and safe for teens to explore with light supervision.
Getting Around With Teenagers
Ferries, buses, and walking are easy for teens, and island hopping becomes much more enjoyable at this age.
Limiting travel days and allowing downtime between activities helps keep teens engaged and avoids burnout.
Where To Stay In Croatia With Kids
There are loads of places to stay with kids in Croatia. After years of traveling around the country as a family — and living here full-time — we’ve found that choosing the right base makes a huge difference to how relaxed your trip feels.
Hotels And Family Resorts
Family-friendly hotels and resorts are a good option if you want on-site facilities, easy dining, and kid-focused amenities.
Many larger resorts offer family rooms, kids’ clubs, pools, playgrounds, and reliable extras like baby cots and high chairs.
All-inclusive resorts are the most consistent option if you want guaranteed high chairs, kid-friendly dining, and minimal planning.
Apartments And Private Accommodation
Apartments are extremely popular with families in Croatia and often offer better value than hotels, especially for longer stays.
They provide more space, kitchens for simple meals, and flexibility around nap times and early nights.
Availability of baby cots and extra beds varies widely, so it’s important to confirm these details before booking.
Choosing The Right Location
Staying slightly outside major old towns can make life easier with kids, offering more space, easier parking, and quieter evenings.
Many families find that staying near the coast or close to beaches works better than changing locations frequently.
Choosing fewer bases and staying longer in each place reduces travel fatigue and helps kids settle into a routine.
Recommended Family-Friendly Stays
If you want tried-and-tested options, I recommend starting with a list of family-friendly hotels and resorts that cater specifically to traveling families.
Find the best Croatia family resorts and hotels here.
Is Croatia Family Friendly?
Yes. Croatia is very family-friendly, with a relaxed attitude toward children in restaurants, public spaces, and on beaches.
Does Croatia Have Child-Sized Toilets Or Baby Changing Tables?
No. Dedicated baby facilities are rare. Newer shopping centres and renovated restaurants may have changing tables, but most places do not.
Do Rental Car Companies In Croatia Provide Car Seats?
Yes. Most car rental companies offer child car seats, but availability is limited in summer and should be booked well in advance.
Do Restaurants In Croatia Have High Chairs?
Sometimes. Small cafés and family-run restaurants often do not, while hotels and all-inclusive resorts usually do.
Are Family Bathrooms Common In Croatia?
No. Family bathrooms are uncommon, but children regularly accompany parents into public toilets.
Is The Food In Croatia Suitable For Kids?
Yes. Croatian cuisine includes pasta, risotto, grilled meats, stews, pastries, pizza, ice cream, and burek, all of which are popular with kids.
Is Croatia Safe For Families?
Yes. Croatia is considered very safe, with low violent crime and a relaxed atmosphere for families.
Can You Drink Tap Water In Croatia?
Yes. Tap water is safe to drink throughout Croatia unless signage indicates otherwise.
Are There Enough Parks And Playgrounds For Kids?
Yes. Most towns and villages have at least one playground, often located near cafés.
Is Healthcare Accessible When Traveling With Kids In Croatia?
Yes. Cities have hospitals with emergency care, English is widely spoken, and pharmacies are easy to find. Some islands require transfer to the mainland.
Is Croatia Suitable For Babies And Toddlers?
Yes, but parents should expect fewer baby-specific facilities and be comfortable adapting.
Is Croatia Good For Teens?
Yes. Beaches, water sports, adventure parks, island hopping, and walkable towns make Croatia appealing for teenagers.
When Is The Best Time To Visit Croatia With Kids?
Late May, June, and September offer warm weather, fewer crowds, and better prices. July and August are hot and busy.
Is Croatia Expensive For Families?
Costs are moderate compared to Western Europe, but prices increase significantly in peak summer and popular coastal destinations.
Such a helpful post SJ!
I have a little daughter myself (shes only 1 and a half). So I’ll keep this in mind if we ever do decide to do the Croatian tours in the future (which I think we will be!)
Always a pleasure. Take care,
Ken
Enough already! You know I’m coming! :)
I took my 2 boys to Croatia last year on a long road trip that also included Montenegro and Bosnia. They were 8 and 13 at the time and I can wholeheartedly say that these 3 countries were completely child/family friendly. I find southern Europe in general to be much more tolerant/welcoming to kids than many parts of the world and I’m basing this on a fair amount of travel: my now 14 year old has been to 26 countries and now 9 year old, 21.
It’s definitely about the attitude. The child-friendly conveniences are most necessary when nobody’s willing to help you out. If the community is tolerant and welcoming of all ages you can easily fudge along.
That said, I do like it when you can drink straight from the tap (kids are not good at hygiene). Not a deal-breaker, but I worry less.
Also! I don’t want to sound like a boostapak fangirl, but that’s our go-to for makeshift high chairs. (It’s also our car seat once they’re old enough for a booster – but we should have bought it earlier for our eldest to use in restaurants etc.)
From how you’ve described Croatia, it does indeed sound family friendly to me. I’m glad that they have a welcoming attitude towards kids even if they do not have the abundance of amenities that families from America and Australia have come to expect. Your blog has made Croatia seems like such beautiful place from the historical sites in the big cities to the gorgeous nature experiences. I’d really love to visit there with the kids some day. Thank you so much for linking to me.
Great post! I agree that it is family friendly considering we’ve been taking our son there almost yearly since he was born to visit grandparents and will now take our newborn baby. Although we have the luxuries of staying with relatives, there is still plenty for children to do. At first my son missed sandy beaches, but once he realized how calm and swimmable the water is he liked it better than american costal beaches with strong waves. He also enjoyed a petting farm near dubrovnik, ice skating at a near by hotel during the winter time and just being out and about in new places! I do wish there were more kid friendly museums and drivers are crazy! Every time we rode in the car i was worried for my family’s safety! Also, we had a bad experience when my son got sick with the stomach flu. We were told to go to a specific emergency center for tourist located at the airport, but when we got there they sent us to a pediatrician’s office 25 minutes away. Once we got there and waited to be seen, the pediatrician wanted to send him back to the airport to be seen! My mother-in-law begged the doctor to let us stay. The doctor obliged but not so nicely. So make sure you know exactly where to take your sick child and also have all meds your child might need. We live in USA and many meds I would’ve liked to have, croatian pharmacies did not carry.
Cant wait for Croatia, am bookmarking this for this time next month – thanks!
Great post, glad I came upon your blog. My father travels to Croatia every summer and I had contemplated taking the kids. Although I wasn’t sure if they would enjoy – now I know they will, thank you! Cheers Monique
Another fantastic and really helpful blog post SJ. Been a busy summer so just getting some time to catch up some blog posts now! Keep the useful information coming :)
Great post!! For me one of the main things is also being welcomed in a restaurant. Our little one started eating (baby-led weaning) four months ago and everything is a mess after each meal, so being in a place where this isn’t a problem is important :)
Hi SJ!
Hi,
I really want to visit Croatia with my kids this year, and your blog just made me more brave. Our idea is to spent 24 days between Slovenia and Croatia. And we don´t know when is the best time to go. Our options are:
– Going in June: My older girl would be 28 months and the youngest 7 months
– Going in september:My older girl would be 31 months and the youngest 10 months
What do you think it is best?
Best Rergards,
Vinicius
Hi there! Those two months are both great, and much the same in terms of the number of tourists. I would say that in September the sea water is warmer, and you are far more likely to get to swim. In June the water can still be too cool for the little ones, especially up north closer to Slovenia. Here are some ideas to get you started with planning your family fun. If you have any other questions, just ask and I’d be happy to help out.
Thanks SJ for the help!
I think I will go on september, my youngest will be older and this might be better for the trip.
If you don´t mind, can you help me with the itinerary? I thought starting in Ljubljana, then bled, then we will be going to Plivitice. I think the drive from bled to Plivitice is too long, so maybe I will spend a couple of nights in Opatija. Do you think this is a good choice? Maybe there is another place to stop?
Also I am having difficulties for finding accomodation in Hvar and Dubrovinik. Because we will with a hired car. Do you know a good place to stay around 150 euros a night?
Best Regards,
Vinicius
Yup, I can help for sure. Let’s talk via email chasingthedonkey@gmail.com and i can help you, I know a great travel agency who has wonderful contacts. I am travelling until the 16th and I can help after that xxx
They may not have the high chairs & kids menus but our experience was that they were so happy to see our kids! We were often made to feel like family. Kids would occasionally get a treat “on the house”…ice cream, pudding, a sea shell, the chance to feed the fish in the aquarium. Everyone is so welcoming!
Yup, that is so very true! Barb, can I add that into the post and reference you?
I need to pick your brain soon!
Its here and ready :)
Thinking about it… :)
My kids loved Croatia and it was their favourite country on our recent European holiday. They cant speak Croatian so I acted as the interpreter when they met Croatian children at parks and playgrounds. My kids are fussy eaters but we always found something for them, whether it was pizza, calamari or “pomme frites”. I agree re: toddler seats for rental cars. I booked our car (and toddler seat) months in advance but they failed to provide one so Id recommend double checking with the rental company before arrival.
Love this!
This is brilliant! We have added Croatia to our destination list when in Europe next year & will have 2 kids under 4. Any recommendations for kid friendly cruises or tours? ;)
Yay! We could make some suggestions, let us know here
Thanks for great tips!! I have five siblings and going on vacation in Croatia when we were little was AN adventure! Now that I watch all that you do for your son (which is amazing!) I also get to admire my mom a lot more!
Thanks so much! Will you bring your kids to Croatia?
A very resourceful post covering all the aspects relating to family holiday in Croatia….loved every points…I will love to share it right away…..Thanks
We spent 4 months discovering Croatia last year and just got back from a week in Zagreb which is so so underrated as a family friendly destination. Thanks for getting all these resources together in one place. Invaluable.
Did you stay at laterna or Umag or similar camp parks? I was looking at mobile homes in those parks and customer service said that a baby crib would only fit in the living room. Not in any of the bedrooms. Not sure how to travel to these places with a baby
I have stayed in many mobile homes, no way to have the baby crib in the bedrooms, it can only fit in the living room, which is 1 meter from the bedroom so don’t worry you will hear the baby in the night.