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5 Favorite Places to Visit with Kids in Croatia

Croatia is a land of rich history and culture, with many beautiful natural wonders, ancient cities, and delicious food and wine. I am thrilled to have Marina from Parental Journey sharing her 5 favorite places to visit with kids in Croatia. Croatia is one of my favorite places in the world. I even recommended it for travelers as one of our favorite spring break destinations, although any time of year would be great. I hope Marina’s post inspires you to put Croatia on your bucket list if it isn’t there already!

5 Favorite Things to Do with Kids Croatia-Kids Are A Trip

Best Places to Visit in Croatia with Kids

Wherever you decide to visit in Croatia, you can’t go wrong. Croatia is a perfect destination for a family vacation because there are many places you can relax and know that your kids are enjoying it as much as you are. Everyone will enjoy the tasty food as well as the beautiful beaches and crystal clear water.

If you’re not sure which city to visit, here are my top picks for you:

Zadar with kids

I am choosing Zadar as my number one, not only because it is my hometown, but because it is definitely the one city everyone falls in love with! You will be amazed by the beautiful ancient architecture in Zadar’s Old Town, but also enjoy some of the modern art installations like The Sea Organ. Tourists love to sit there, relax, and let the sea music take all their problems away. The beauty of the Adriatic is just unmatched and visitors will enjoy watching some of the world’s most beautiful sunsets in Zadar!

Kids will also love Adventure Park Zadar-Kožino with more than 100 exciting and entertaining rope courses to explore. Also, within an hour driving distance of Zadar there are a few national parks that will take your breath away, so be sure to allow time for a visit.

Where to Stay in Croatia with Kids Zadar Sunset-Kids Are A Trip
A beautiful sunset in Zadar, photo: Creative Commons

Split with kids

Split is my second choice for families because it’s the city where we live currently, so I am very familiar with the city and know it has a lot to offer kids. Families will love the city beach Bačvice. It’s a beautiful sand beach where everyone can play in the sea all day long. 

Also, it’s never too early for kids to learn something about world history and culture – and Split is full of fascinating historic sights. Diocletian’s Palace is one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites and it was built by the Roman emperor Diocletian in preparation for his retirement. There are still many restaurants, shops and even homes, within the walls of the palace.

Croatia with Kids Diocletians Palace in Split-Parental Journey
Marina and her daughter in front of Diocletian’s Palace

Poreč with kids

I decided to include a city not so familiar to me, Poreč. Many of my friends highly recommend this amazing 2,000 year old city, located on the western coast of Istrian peninsula. I visited there once, without kids, but I remember this city as a great resort town, perfect for families. 

The best activity with kids is going to the beach. Beaches in Poreč offer many interesting activities like a banana boat ride, sea trampoline, tubing, and many more fun water sports. There is also a fun Dinosaur Park located near Poreč.

There is so much to see in the beautiful park, not only are there daily shows, but visitors will also find a children’s train, playground, and trampolines. This would be a very fun day out for families.

What to Do in Croatia Porec-Kids Are A Trip
Porec, photo: Creative Commons

Plitvice Lakes with kids

This is something you will not see anywhere else. In my opinion, it’s the most beautiful national park in Croatia and I am sure everyone will agree with that. This is definitely a must visit sight in Croatia. 

Plitvice Lakes has 16 sparkling lakes enclosed by forest and separated by many waterfalls. You can spend hours walking around and enjoying the sights and you will never get bored. Kids won’t like the fact that they can’t jump in the beautiful blue water, but they will definitely be amazed by wonderful waterfalls.

Things to See in Croatia Plitvice Parental Journey
Isn’t Plitvice gorgeous?

Brijuni Park with kids

I visited Brijuni when I was a kid, so I definitely know that this is something kids would like. Brijuni Islands National Park is an archipelago consisting of 14 islands off the coast of Istria.

Veli Brijun is the main island and there you will find a tourist train to take you around. Children will certainly enjoy a visit to the safari park where they can see animals like zebra, Somali sheep, zebu, llama and elephants. There are also Roman ruins on the island that date to the 1st century. Everyone will love this experience.

Visit Croatia with Kids Brijuni Animals-Kids Are A Trip
Brijuni Zebra, photo: Creative Commons

This is just a small collection of Croatia’s best places for families in my very own opinion. As I said earlier, wherever you decide to go – you will not regret it!

If you’re looking for information on Croatia, be sure to check out this post: The Best Things to Do in Dubrovnik and Best Dubrovnik day trips.

About the author: My name is Marina and I am a mom blogger for Parental Journey. I am from Croatia, born and raised, but live in the UK. I have been blogging for over 10 years. Parental Journey is where I share interesting activities I do with my daughter. I am a work-at-home mom, freelance writer, and a journalist. I hope that my daughter will find a love for new cultures and experiences just as her parents do.