Croatia
Croatia family holidays
The sun-dappled coastline, spectacular craggy mountains and beautifully preserved ancient cities provide a truly idyllic backdrop to a Croatia family holiday. This is the place to come for a winning blend of adventure activities, relaxing beach time and impossibly pretty coastal towns. The hotels are lovely too; choose from small boutique properties on quiet islands, sumptuous luxury in the heart of Dubrovnik or peaceful countryside retreats with superb sea views.
Croatia’s coastline boasts 2,000km of endless sparkling turquoise water – the kids will love it
Strung along the Adriatic Sea, the country is blessed with a multitude of pristine landscapes. The 2,000km coastline boasts sparkling turquoise waters and is speckled with hundreds of islands that are home to olive groves, hidden coves and stunning beaches. Inland, the many national parks are a lush patchwork of incredible landscapes, featuring azure green cascades, remote canyons and rocky peaks.
A Croatia family holiday will invariably mean enjoying freshly barbequed seafood at a quiet beachside taverna then kayaking around remote islands, stopping to swim in secluded coves. You will be able to soak up history in a magnificently preserved Roman amphitheatre then let off steam white water rafting. Whether you are a family that thrives on action, history, culture, beaches, food, or a combination of them all, a Croatia family holiday is guaranteed to delight.
Kayak on the River Zrmanja through stunning scenery, a highlight on our Croatia family holidays
Why take the kids to Croatia?
Activities are central to any Croatia family holiday. In the popular summer months it can get hot, so many of these are water-based, making the most of the sparkling waters of the Adriatic and the many rivers that feed into it.
Some of our favourite activities on our Croatia family holidays include:
- Swimming & kayaking on the beautiful Zrmanja River
- Exploring the emerald waterfalls of Plitvice
- Island hopping around Hvar and Brac
- Cycling through the olive groves on Elephiti
- Soaking up the views in pretty Šibenik
- White water rafting on Cetina River
- Meandering through the streets of Dubrovnik
- Relaxing on postcard-perfect beaches
Water-based family fun on the Cetina River
It’s not hard to put your finger on why the kids will love a Croatia family holiday. The main attraction is of course the coastline with its sapphire blue water. Active children will be delighted by the endless opportunities for swimming, jumping off rocks and exploring little bays. Those who need a bit of post-school relaxation will be just as delighted with a sun-lounger, an ice-cold drink and a marvellous view.
See our blog post on holidaying in Croatia with kids for more ideas and photos.
Explore spectacular Plitvice – 16 crystal clear lakes and 90 waterfalls – along a network of trails
Getting around Croatia
There are a variety of options for getting around in Croatia. Many of our families will choose to hire a car and drive around the country themselves. This allows maximum flexibility for exploring at your own pace, stopping off along the way in small wayside tavernas. Islands are well connected with car ferries so you can keep your car with you if heading to one of the larger islands.
If you prefer to relax on holiday and don’t want to have to bother with driving, the network of passenger ferries makes this extremely straightforward. We can arrange taxis to get you to and from the ferry terminals, and ensure that you stay in centrally located hotels from where you can explore on foot.
Family hiking on Cres Island
Family holiday itineraries to Croatia
All of our itineraries are bespoke, which means that they are tailor-made for your own specific family. Croatia is ideally suited to an active family holiday, and our sample two-week itinerary, Highlights of Croatia, includes many of our favourite adventure activities. However, if you need a bit more time to relax, this isn’t a problem.
Just let us know, and we can intersperse active days with plenty of downtime. For a half-term break, see our Croatia Short Break example itinerary. And if you’d like to visit Slovenia, see our Croatia and Slovenia combination itinerary. You might also be interested in looking at Croatia’s neighbour, Montenegro.
We will always take into account the ages of your children, your interests, and your budget.
The Roman ruins at coastal Pula are fascinating for kids who love history – visit a local gelateria to complete the experience
Croatia in pictures
From our blog
“Brilliant fun! We did so much but still had time to relax. So many highlights… river rafting, the history, sea kayaking, swimming in the crystal clear sea, all perfect for our active family”
Idle Family (with children aged 9 and 13)