Last Updated on 12/10/2026 by Ting Dalton
Although Croatia is scattered with thousands of pine-clad islands surrounded by the shimmering Adriatic Sea, Dubrovnik is perhaps one of the country’s most visited (and popular) cities.
The Old Town – the city’s historic core – is encircled by a 2km-long medieval city wall. Within these fortified walls lies a skyline dotted with terracotta rooftops and a maze of narrow streets. It’s a cosmopolitan hub where chic restaurants and cafes sit alongside bustling open-air markets, food stalls, and baroque architecture.
Nestled against the rocky cliffs of the Dalmatian Coast, Dubrovnik is as stunning in reality as it appears in pictures. Over a million tourists visit Croatia’s most popular hotspot every year (many of those from cruise ships). While Dubrovnik Old Town is compact, it’s remarkable how so many manage to coexist within its walls – especially in peak season. However, if you want to enjoy Dubrovnik with kids at a more leisurely pace, visiting outside the summer months (April-May or September-October) is a wise move.
Can you really have an enjoyable family holiday in Dubrovnik despite the crowds and cobblestones? Yes, absolutely! If you have young children and toddlers, make sure you come prepared with a lightweight pushchair or baby sling. We spent a fantastic week discovering Dubrovnik with kids, from exploring all around the Old Town to hanging out on the city’s beaches and visiting neighbouring islands, including Lopud and Lokrum.
Dubrovnik for families?
I think so. Although we spent a full week in Dubrovnik, it is the perfect base to see other parts of Croatia. And there is plenty to occupy families, especially if you like history, incredible views and great food.
We found ourselves a beautiful apartment close to Pile Gate in the Old Town, which meant that many of Dubrovnik’s attractions were within walking distance. We chose then to visit many attractions earlier and later in the day when the crowds were thinner. And although we didn’t go to other Croatian destinations such as Split and Hvar (the journey times being too far to do within a day), we had a great combination of relaxing and exploring Dubrovnik.
So if you’re thinking of heading to Dubrovnik with kids, then here is our guide to the most fantastic things to see and do.
What to do in Dubrovnik
Head to the beach
For such a small radius, Dubrovnik has a decent number of beaches. We discovered quite a few during our time in Dubrovnik, and all of them have the option of hiring sun loungers and places to get food and drink. Some of our favourites include Copacabana Beach – which has great facilities for families, including two cafes and restaurants, as well as clean toilets (always a bonus!). With views across the Franja Tuđmana Bridge and shallow waters – perfect for paddling – we had a long, fun-filled beach day soaking up the sunshine.
Meanwhile, Banje Beach, is the closest to the Old Town and has great views across Dubrovnik harbour and walls. It is also home to many watersport options such as banana boats and parasailing. We also loved Sveti Jakob. This Dubrovnik beach felt like a hidden gem, so much so that it was hard to find – even the Uber drivers had trouble locating it. The steep stairs make this beach hard to access, particularly with a pram, but it was worth it to see the stunning views across Dubrovnik Old Town across the Adriatic Sea. Click here for my guide to Dubrovnik beaches.
Eat tons of ice cream!
What family trip would be complete without tons of ice cream thrown into the mix? There are so many wonderful places to eat and drink in Dubrovnik to suit all budgets. But the one thing that is hard to ignore is the number of gelato stores that offer up delicious creamy treats. A few of our favourite ice cream parlours included Peppino’s and Gianni’s. Every time, I was overwhelmed by the choices of different flavours and colours. It was a great bargaining tool for us and the kids and we made sure to make an event of it every single day of our stay.
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Those with a sweet tooth, you’ll also find Captain Candy stores which have tons of bright, colourful confectionery to entice kids. So be warned, you may have to give in to the incessant badgering as we did.
Walk the city walls
For the most incredible views across Dubrovnik and the Adriatic, a walk on the Dubrovnik medieval City Walls is a must. Play at being Cersei Lannister from Game of Thrones, or keep admiring the wonderful scenery from high above. Our kids pretended to be soldiers, making use of the strategically placed cannons along the way.Our leisurely stroll around Dubrovnik city walls was a highlight of our Dubrovnik holiday, and I am glad we decided to leave it until later in the day to experience it. Choose to go early in the morning before the cruise passengers descend or go in the late afternoon or early evening. Not only is it less crowded, but it’s much cooler, too.
You need to buy tickets before you climb them – and they’re available at the entrances near Pile Gate (where we got them), the Ploče Gate and the Maritime Museum, or online in advance, where you can skip the queues. Tickets currently cost €40 for adults and €15 for children under 18. The route around the walls takes you in an anti-clockwise direction to avoid congestion, as some areas are narrow enough that you’ll need to go in single file. You also don’t have to walk the whole route, which takes around 45 minutes. There are also plenty of refreshment stops along the way that offer cool drinks, a bite to eat and some shade.
Take a boat trip to the Blue Caves
From private charters and glass-bottom boats and even mini submarines, head to the old port and you’ll find many options for hitting the water. Or you can even book in advance online. One of the main reasons to book a boat trip is to head to Kolocep’s Blue Caves. They’re about 20 minutes from Dubrovnik, and there are lots of tours that include lunches and snorkelling time. Why are the Blue Caves so famous? As the sun reflects off its limestone surroundings, it creates a magical, luminous blue effect. You can only reach inside the Blue Caves by swimming, so this isn’t recommended for young children who aren’t strong swimmers.
Explore the Old Town
There’s nothing better than getting lost in the maze-like streets of a city, not knowing what you’ll find around each corner, or what you’ll discover at the top of a steep climb of hundreds of steps (and there are lots of them in Dubrovnik!). Getting lost in the Old Town is a rite of passage for all visitors and we did it lot. Even though the streets can get extremely busy, the Old Town still manages to retain its charm. The Baroque architecture is stunning, from beautiful handcrafted doorways to deep honey-coloured stonework, you’ll come across plenty.
And for any Game of Thrones fans, it’s also a great opportunity to tick off all the filming locations – of which there are many, including Dubrovnik’s West Pier for Blackwater Bay and the Jesuit Staircase by Saint Ignatius Church, where a naked Cersei Lannister had to do her iconic walk of shame. We didn’t do a Game of Thrones walking tour but you can easily book one in advance online. There are plenty to choose from and all take around 2-3 hours to complete. Because our boys were young, we just looked up a few key locations ourselves and headed to them in our own time.
Visit Lovrijenac Fortress
While this is yet another special treat for Game of Throners, no trip to Dubrovnik is complete without visiting the ancient Lovrijenac Fortress – or The Red Keep as it’s known in the fantasy TV series. It’s impressive and was built in 1013 as a defensive measure to protect the western part of the city. The Lovrijenac was named after St Lawrence, a revered saint at the time of the Dubrovnik Republic, and there was once a church dedicated to him within its walls. Unfortunately, a great deal of the interior was destroyed in Dubrovnik’s earthquake of 1667. I particularly loved the inscription over the door, which says: ‘Freedom is not sold for all the gold in the world’. You can visit Lovrijenac Fortress daily from 8am-7pm. No entrance fee is payable if you already purchased tickets for City Walls.
Top tip: The best views of Lovrijenac are actually from the City Walls – and the sunset views are incredible.
Ride a cable car
Go to the top of Mount Srd, and you’ll be rewarded with a different – but spectacular – perspective of Dubrovnik and its surrounding archipelagos. Enjoy a bird’s-eye view on the journey up by taking Dubrovnik’s orange cable cars to the summit – around 2,500ft to the top. It takes around 3 minutes, but in that time you can get 360°c views across Dubrovnik’s terracotta skyline and the shimmering Dalmatian coastline. Check fares and timetables, and bear in mind that if there are strong high winds, then for safety reasons the cable cars won’t run. Currently, return prices are €30 return for adults and €8 for kids aged 4-12. You can buy tickets in advance online, or at the kiosk or ticket machine at the lower cable car station.
Once there, you can spend as much time admiring the scenery, and browsing the few shops. We decided to go to the upper station and have lunch in the Panorama restaurant, which is a great way to soak in your surroundings. The menu was pretty extensive, with a wide range of Mediterranean dishes.
Top tip: If you’re not a fan of cable cars (particularly if you don’t like heights) or you just don’t want to pay nearly €80 for what is a ride that is less than 10 minutes long there and back, you can order a taxi, or take your own hire car. The drive up is an adventure in itself with a narrow track and sheer drop. Plus, the price of a return taxi fare is much lower than the cable car (around £25 each way).
Explore Elaphiti islands
Most visitors want to take a boat out to neighbouring Elaphiti islands. A popular choice, it is a small archipelago north of Dubrovnik which consists of several islets that are a joy to explore. It’s a great way to head away from the crowds.
You can find many of the pricier boat trips in City Harbour at Dubrovnik Old Town (as mentioned above). However, if you want to catch the ferry to the Elaphiti Islands, you need to head to the Dubrovnik Ferry Port in the Kantafig area of Gruž Bay. You can find the timetable here. We found it really simple to book our tickets online, and you can also get ferry tickets to Hvar and Split if you’re exploring more of Croatia. The cost for a single ticket is around €5.
Lokrum Island
The closest island to Dubrovnik is Lokrum, which was the location of the summer home of Maximilian I, the Emperor of Mexico in the 1860s. Just a short boat ride away, you can discover a pleasantly lush, green and peaceful getaway from the city. Lokrum is small in size, and you can pretty much wander it in less than an hour. While the beaches aren’t really suitable for young kids, with quite rough seas and rocky outcrops, there is plenty of space for them to enjoy – especially getting up close to the roaming rabbits and peacocks!
There is a play area with swings and climbing frames as well as a small lake called Mrtvo More (Dead Sea) where you can paddle and swim. Although be aware, it’s not really a lake – more like a paddling pool… We also wandered the botanical gardens, which have over 800 species of different plants, as well as the ruins of a Benedictine Monastery that was built there in medieval times. But the best part for me anyway was discovering the Iron Throne nestled in a quiet corner, and we all took turns sitting on it! Of course, Lokrum is another Game of Thrones filming location.
Top tip: There are several restaurants, stalls and cafes on Lokrum, so there are places to grab a drink and a bite to eat. There is also a nudist beach on the southeast side of the island.
Lopud
We took a ferry to Lopud and discovered a charming bay littered with quaint seaview restaurants and a gorgeous sandy beach. There are no cars allowed here, so it really is like stepping back in time. After jumping on a golf buggy (which you can hail much like a taxi), we spent most of the morning relaxing at Šunj Beach – and while the kids adored sinking their feet into powdery sand, we sipped a cold beer and sunbathed. Afterwards, we headed back into town and found a restaurant with attractive chequered-clothed tables right by the water’s edge. It was such a wonderful family day out, and as far as my favourite destination in Dubrovnik with kids – this was it. Not to be missed.Best of rest
Swing in the playground
What child doesn’t like to go to a playground? Purely by chance, we stumbled upon a small play area beneath Minceta Fortress just outside Pile Gate. It may be tiny, but our kids loved being able to clamber on the climbing frames and being pushed in the swings. We found it a great respite from the Old Town crowds and a chance for the kids to mingle with other children, too.
Head to the pedestrian boulevard at Lapad beach and you’ll also find rides, trampolines, and a new playground. You can take bus number 6 from Pile Gate to get there.
Spy Marine Life Aquarium
Okay, so it was a little overpriced for the four of us (especially as we only managed to spend around 40 minutes in there), however, the aquarium was a great choice when we had to shelter from a torrential downpour. And it’s in a pretty special spot. Carved into the city walls and on the ground floor of St John’s Fortress, Dubrovnik’s aquarium has over 30 different tanks housing a fascinating mix of different fish and marine life. It’s around €10 per adult, and less for children.
Dubrovnik with kids FAQs
How do I get to Dubrovnik from the UK?
Direct flights to Dubrovnik are available from major UK airports. Airlines including British Airways, easyJet, Jet2, and Ryanair offer frequent flights, especially in spring and summer. Flight time is around 2.5 to 3 hours.
When is the best time to visit Dubrovnik?
Best overall: May to June and September to early October – warm weather, fewer crowds, and pleasant sea temperatures.
Summer (July–August): Peak tourist season; hot and busy, but ideal for beach lovers.
Winter (Nov–Feb): Quiet, fewer tourists, but some attractions and ferries have limited hours. The Old Town is still beautiful for a city break.
Spring (March–April): Blooming gardens and mild weather, great for sightseeing without the heat.
How do I get from Dubrovnik Airport to the city centre?
There is an airport shuttle bus that is affordable (around €10) and runs regularly and drops you off at Pile Gate. It takes 30–40 minutes. More expensive is to choose a private transfer taxi or Uber, which costs around €35 to the Old Town. Or you can hire your own car rental.
Can you use Uber in Dubrovnik?
Yes, and we found it invaluable and pretty inexpensive for getting around.
Is food and drink expensive in Dubrovnik?
Prices in Dubrovnik are higher than other parts of Croatia due to its popularity, but still reasonable compared to UK cities. We found it to be on par with most other European cities – around €15-€25 per person for a decent restaurant.
Is Dubrovnik suitable for a longer stay or just a short break?
As I’ve proved, you can easily find enough time to occupy yourselves in Dubrovnik if you wanted to stay for a full week. If the weather is on your side, you’ll have plenty of downtime on beaches, plus you might choose a Dubrovnik hotel with pools for the perfect relaxing break. Plus if you’re prepared to do a little island hopping, then you’ll get a chance to head out of the hustle and bustle of the city and experience more of Croatia’s sleepy towns.
How many days do you need in Dubrovnik with kids?
Three to four days is enough to see the Old Town, walk the city walls, ride the cable car and still keep a day free for the beach or an island, without marching the children from one sight to the next. We stayed a full week, but that was with slow mornings, long lunches and a couple of ferry trips out to Lopud and Lokrum.
Is three days too long? Not with kids. Dubrovnik fits a lot into a small area, and the island hopping alone can fill a short trip. With three days, I’d walk the walls early on day one, take a ferry to Lokrum or Lopud on day two, and save the cable car for sunset on day three.
I think you chose well:) I’ve visited Dubrovnik twice, but as a couple:) I’ll definitely take my kids there too one day. I’m pretty sure Dubrovnik as well as Venice for instance aren’t stroller friendly cities:) I’d definitely advise any family to visit off peak season to avoid crowds from the cruisers
It’s such a long time since I was in Dubrovnik, you’ve reminded me how gorgeous it is (and some extra Game of Thrones bonuses these days). I bet it was a bit tricky with a toddler! And some lovely beaches to chill out on
Croatia is high on my travel bucket list. Basing yourself in the the old town sounds like a great idea for seeing the sights. I think I’d also like to get out along the coast. On week would definitely not be enough. Oh and Captain Candy – I’d never heard of it before we went to Venice. The girls through they were in heaven 🙂
I love that you spent a week in the city. Gives you a good amount of time to really get to know it and explore properly.
A good playground is worth its weight! It sounds as though there were challenges to seeing Dubrovnik with kids, but tbh I think you find that with most city breaks. It looks and sounds beautiful, and well worth it.