“Those who seek paradise on Earth must come to Dubrovnik”, said George Bernard Shaw – and with so much to do in Dubrovnik with kids, it’s just as heavenly for families.
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I’m not alone in thinking that, of course. Since my first visit over 20 years ago, the city’s popularity has exploded (not least thanks to Game of Thrones) – but time your visit to avoid the peak summer months, and you can dodge the worst of the crowds.
And with beaches, history, islands, fantastic ice cream and some very fun family attractions, you’ll be falling for this wonderful Croatian city too – here’s my pick of the best things to do in Dubrovnik with kids.
Walk Dubrovnik city walls
Dubrovnik’s historic city walls are what give the city much of its charm, the medieval streets winding inside the fortifications and some fantastic views out to the sea and Mount Srd behind the city.
One of my favourite things to do in Dubrovnik, it’s definitely doable with kids as well – my daughter was just as wowed by the views, and she definitely wasn’t the youngest person walking around the Dubrovnik walls that day either.
Check out my complete guide to the Dubrovnik walls with kids, with all my tips, practical information and details of what you can see along the way
My top tips – buy your tickets in advance (and the 24-hour Dubrovnik Pass costs the same as adult entry to the walls, so it’s well worth getting that for free entry to various other museums and sites). Then start at the Ploce Gate as it’s quieter than the Pile gate, plus you get the hardest set of steps out of the way at the start.
Don’t forget to bring water and a hat too. It’s best to visit early or late, as there’s little shade on the stone walls – the 2km walk involves around 1,000 steps, so while it’s not too taxing for anyone of average fitness, you don’t want to be doing it in 30C sun.
And save plenty of time – you’ll want to take countless photos, soak up the views, explore some of the little towers along the way, and perhaps even stop inside some of the attractions on the walls themselves too.
Explore Dubrovnik Old Town
Dubrovnik’s Old Town truly is old. The history of the city dates back to around the 7th century, when refugees from Epidaurum fled attack and invasion and founded their new city of Ragusarector crammed between the sea and the mountain.
It grew to become one of the wealthiest and most powerful republics in Europe, with the world’s fourth largest fleet. And the limestone streets and red-roofed buildings look like they’ve barely changed in centuries – no surprise it’s now a Unesco World Heritage Site.
Stradun is the main street through the heart of the old city of Dubrovnik, leading from the Pile Gate, but this is somewhere that you can get lost wandering through the narrow streets, climbing steps and vanishing down alleys, without fear of ever getting too lost – bounded by its walls, it doesn’t take long to walk from end to end.
Along the way, we found everything from the market and Jesuit Stairs (famous from Game of Thrones and packed with people posing for photos) to a historic synagogue.
Although it’s not big, this is somewhere where it’s well worth taking a tour to learn more of the history of the city – this tour from Dubrovnik Walks is just 90 minutes but takes you to some places you’re unlikely to discover solo, such as historic graffiti from a monk annoyed at kids kicking a ball against his wall, a former orphanage and the story behind the dog on the Big Onofrio fountain.
But there’s plenty to choose from in order to learn more about Dubrovnik. Try this private family tour of Dubrovnik as well as this one which is good for bigger family groups. Or for something else to entertain older kids and mini gourmets, you could opt for a food tour or even take on a quirky outdoor escape game.
For something a bit different – or a way to see the city after dark – you can also find several night tours of Dubrovnik for families. Dark Tales of the Old Town lasts for just under two hours, or this Dubrovnik Ghosts and Mysteries walking tour is similar.
TRAVEL TIP: Check the cruise ship arrivals to Dubrovnik when you’re planning your days – the number allowed to dock each day is limited, but you’ll quickly see the difference between days when there are no cruise ships in and those when there are three docked. If you can plan your days in the Old Town for quieter days, it’s much more fun to wander rather than getting stuck in human traffic jams on Stradun.
Rector’s Palace
One of the highlights of a visit to the Old Town, the Rector’s Palace dates from the late 15th century, built for the ruler of Dubrovnik – who had a grand total of one month in charge, when he was expected to live in the palace.
The idea was that these short terms of office meant there’d be continuity and stability, as there wasn’t time in a month to do anything too drastic, and it also stopped corruption and nepotism for the same reason.
Inside, it now houses the Cultural History Museum and you can see the old dungeon as well as some of the public areas and private rooms decorated as they might have looked in centuries past – there’s a great view out over the rooftops too, plus fun objects on display from chests with intricate locking mechanisms to sedan chairs.
Look out for the statue of Miho Pracat in the entrance hall, the only commoner in the Republic’s 1,000-year history to get one after leaving all his wealth to the city. Evidently there was plenty of it!
Franciscan Monastery
The Franciscan Monastery, a stone’s throw from the Pile Gate and Large Onofrio fountain, is best-known for its historic pharmacy, and that’s well worth a look around while you’re exploring Dubrovnik with kids.
There are shelves full of old jars, which we did our best to read, and it’s fascinating to think of the scenes the pharmacy must have seen over the years. In fact, it’s officially the third-oldest functioning pharmacy in Europe as there’s a working area just before the ticket desk.
You can also see some of the monastery’s treasures including reliquaries and jewellery on display, and take a wander through the shady cloister. Included in the Dubrovnik Pass.
Lovrijenac Fortress
Just outside the city walls, not far from the Pile Gate, the Lovrijenac Fortress (or St Lawrence’s fort) was part of the Dubrovnik’s defences – when the city’s inhabitants learned that the Venetians were planning to built their own fort here, they quickly threw up a building of their own.
Only the seaward facing side was made of stone – the rest was a rather cunning fake, but it fooled the Venetians for long enough for Dubrovnik’s leaders to get the fortress finished. Or so the story goes at least.
Included in your ticket for the Dubrovnik Walls (or the Dubrovnik Pass), the location is fantastic, sat on a 37 metre-high rock. Look out for the inscription over the door as you enter: “Non bene pro toto libertas venditur auro” – freedom is not to be sold for all the gold in the world.
Fort Lovrijenac, which is thought to date from the early 11th century, is now also used as one of the main open-air stages for the Dubrovnik Summer Festival – and has appeared in Game of Thrones, heavily disguised as the Red Keep of Kings Landing.
Need a shady break from exploring? Gradac Park is just five minutes’ walk from Fort Lovrijenac – another filming location from Game of Thrones (for the Purple Wedding), it’s a lovely tranquil place to escape to
Head to the beach
There’s more than just history to Dubrovnik, including plenty of chance to chill out on the beach. Like much of the coastline in this part of Croatia, most of the beaches are shingly or rocky but the water is ridiculously clear and a gorgeous turquoise colour, so you won’t care about not being able to make sandcastles.
It’s well worth packing water shoes if you’re heading to any of the beaches around Dubrovnik as the shingle can be sharp on everyone’s feet
Banje Beach is the closest to the Old Town, only a few minutes walk from the Ploce Gate with some great views back to the walls, and loungers/umbrellas and places to get food and drinks too.
If you’re ready to travel a bit further, Copacabana Beach is on the Babin Kuk peninsula, just beyond Lapad. Another pebbly option, there are some waterspots here but also shallow water for younger kids to paddle, a few cafes and restaurants and toilets. Kick back and start out to the Franje Tudmana Bridge stretching north from Gruz.
Or slightly closer to Dubrovnik Old Town is Lapad Beach, another family-friendly pebble beach with shallow water, loungers, umbrellas, showers and places to eat/drink.
If you really really want a sandy beach near Dubrovnik, one of the best options is to head to the island of Lopud (not to be confused with Lapad!) in the Elaphiti Islands, where Sunj beach has golden sand and more shallow clear waters. You can get a ferry from Dubrovnik to Lopud, or many boat trips to the Elaphiti Islands stop here – read on for more ideas.
For more tips on the best beaches in Dubrovnik (and nearby), check out this seaside inspiration
Dubrovnik cable car
I always love a cable car ride and the Dubrovnik cable car comes with some amazing views of the city below as you fly up to the top of Mount Srd.
The journey only take a few minutes so it’s very quick for short attention spans (or anyone who isn’t sure about trying it) but the views onto the old town and Adriatic really are phenomenal – check out my video of the Dubrovnik cable car for a taste.
There isn’t a huge amount to do at the top – soak up more views, check out the little amphitheatre with its stepped seats, browse the gift shop or get a drink (with the inevitable price tag) at the Panorama Restaurant.
Kids aged 8+ can also do a panorama zipline tour with the same great views down onto Dubrovnik, or head off on a buggy safari on the mountain
If you want to save money and just travel one way on the cable car, there are a few options but with their own pros and cons – bear in mind you can’t buy tickets at the top if you’re planning to decide once you get up there.
You can get a taxi/rideshare up, although depending how many adults there are, it’s not necessarily much of a saving. It’s harder to get picked up at the top to come down that way. There is also a path you can take – it’s got lots of loose rocks on, so definitely better for older kids and with decent footwear.
Take a boat trip
You really have to get out on the water at least once during your time in Dubrovnik with kids – the coastline is gorgeous, and one of the best ways to see it (and the city) is from the sea.
Although there are plenty of day trips you can take by boat (read on for ideas), as well as various ferries linking Dubrovnik to different islands, you’re also spoiled for choice when it comes to shorter cruises and boat tours.
The majority set off around sunset, or early evening and timings will often change depending when you visit – this hour-long sunset tour is a lovely option for families, or this similar sunset cruise includes drinks.
For something unforgettable, board a replica 16th century galleon and imagine yourself back in the days of the city’s power and glory. The Galleon Tirena has its own sunset cruise, including a welcome drink (and more to buy on board) and lasts for 90 minutes.
Or the Karaka is usually adults-only during the day, but there’s a fun 45-minute night cruise – departing at 9pm, it’s best for older kids.
You can also go sea kayaking – this two-hour tour is suitable for age 5+ and includes a visit to Betina Cave, while this kayaking tour is similar for age 6+.
Visit Lokrum
One of the easiest day trips from Dubrovnik with kids, the island of Lokrum is only a short boat ride away, around 10 minutes from the old port by ferry but it’s a fantastic chilled-out place to spend the day.
For more details of how to get to Lokrum with kids, as well as what we thought of the island, check out this post
You’ll find wild peacocks strutting everywhere in this nature reserve and wild rabbits (if you’re lucky) plus a string of beaches and the saltwater lake known as the Dead Sea to swim in.
Save some time to wander through the botanical gardens and the ruins of the Monastery, where you can also pose on the Iron Throne from Game of Thrones, as well as learning more about how the island is linked to Richard the Lionheart, and discover the curse that’s said to hang over Lokrum island to this day…. (nothing too scary unless you’re planning to seize ownership, which is admittedly tempting).
Dubrovnik aquarium
Dubrovnik Aquarium (or Akvarij) is also housed within the city walls, in the ground floor of the fort of St John (below the Maritime Museum). You don’t actually have to be visiting the walls to look around here if you think your kids would prefer fish to history.
It’s not the biggest aquarium, but the setting is fantastic, with stone rooms and arches to walk through, and marine life from the Adriatic Sea in the 31 different tanks. You can expect fish including scorpion fish, bream, bass and mullets, as well as eels, lobsters and more.
It won’t take too long to look around unless you want to linger at every tank – you’ll probably spend around 30 minutes (or a maximum of an hour). Sadly, it’s not included in the Dubrovnik Pass (or a walls ticket), so you do need to pay for a separate ticket for this.
Natural History Museum
Another little museum where it’s fun to kill half an hour – the collection itself dates back to 1872 but the museum has only been open to the public in 2009.
Set over four floors, there’s collections on various creatures from algea and insects to reptils, mammals, birds and fish, including some displays on invasive fish, as well as historic records on leatherback turtles in the Adriatic.
It’s included in the Dubrovnik Pass and the Dubrovnik Museums Pass, so it’s easy to stop by briefly if you’re looking for somewhere cool to escape the sun, somewhere dry to escape any rain, or just have kids who love natural history museums!
Maritime Museum
At one point, Dubrovnik had the world’s fourth largest fleet – not bad going for a tiny republic that you could walk across in about 10 minutes. Their success in trade led to wealth (and a lot of jealousy from the Venetians) so the Maritime Museum is well worth a quick stop.
If you’re walking around the walls, you’ll pass it as you get to Fort St John by the harbour. It’s included in the Dubrovnik Pass and the Dubrovnik museums pass, so if you have one of these, it’s easy to stop in for a short look around for free.
It’s also cooler if you need a bit of a break from the sun, with everything from Roman amphorae unearthed from a shipwreck to models of ships, cannons, old maps, and plenty more on the Republic’s history.
Red History Museum
The Red History Museum is the first museum in Croatia which explores the country’s Communist past, and it’s a fascinating alternative to all the medieval history with older tweens and teens.
The museum itself is outside the Old Town area, set in the ground floor of a former factory in Gruz, near the Port of Dubrovnik.
There’s an augmented reality app to help make the visit even more interactive, and it has been created by a team of young local designers, historians, journalists, photographers and archeologists, with items donated by people from across the whole country, including photos and stories from the days of communist Yugoslavia.
You can get an insight into everyday life, from what the music was like to the darker aspects, including how the secret service ensured everyone was ‘happy’ living under Yugoslav leader Tito.
Love Stories Museum
Croatia really does seem to specialise in quirky little museums – and while the capital Zagreb might have more, Dubrovnik’s Love Stories Museum definitely fits the bill.
It’s very family-friendly, so you needn’t worry about it being unsuitable for kids, although having said that, it’s more interesting for teens and older tweens.
Set over several floors, there’s an area dedicated to Game of Thrones, as well as some traditional Croatian love stories and celebrity couples (often with a bit of a tenuous link) as well as lots of donated items which represent happy relationships.
The final room is plastered with messages of love written on hearts and you’re encouraged to add your own. You can spend as long as you want inside, but allow around 30-60 minutes (we spent a little over half an hour without either rushing or dawdling).
Eat ice cream
What’s a holiday in Dubrovnik with kids without some ice cream? Whether you’re looking for some bribery to walk the walls, or something to cool your down (or just a bit of holiday indulgence), you definitely won’t be disappointed.
As to the best ice cream in Dubrovnik, you’ll have to make up your own mind, but there’s some serious competition. We were told Peppino’s takes top spot and that the branch in the centre of the Old Town is the best of the two in the city (the other is by the Ploče Gate).
The only reasonable option is to try both and see whether you agree. The earlier you go, the shorter the queue – mango gets my vote.
We also came across Aroma when we were on Hvar, during our stay in Split and its string of unusual flavours, including apple pie ice cream – although this wasn’t quite as amazing as we remembered, there was a fantastic raspberry, more mango here, and some great coffee ice cream for me.
The third best, we were told, was Dolce Vita – sadly, we didn’t make it as we were too busy working through the menus of the two above. A good excuse to go back? Either way, you’ll have plenty of choices and won’t be disappointed.
Day trips from Dubrovnik with kids
While there’s plenty to fill your time in Dubrovnik with kids, it also makes a great base to explore further, including some easier day boat tours and longer day trips to explore more of Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Montenegro.
Blue Cave boat tour
Wander around Dubrovnik’s old harbour and you’ll find a string of boat trips to Kolocep’s Blue Cave – around 20 minutes from the city, in the Elaphiti Islands, the sun reflects off the limestone of the caves to create a magical glimmering shade of blue.
A lot of trips will combine this with other stops in the Elaphiti Islands (read on for more ideas) as well as the Green Caves on Kolocep, including a chance to swim.
If you want to go inside the Blue Cave, the only way is to swim, although a lot of boat trips – like this family-friendly blue cave boat tour – will provide noodles or other swim aids for less confident swimmers (as well as snorkels). If you’re travelling with young children or non-swimmers, you won’t be able to get inside though.
Elaphiti Islands boat tour
This little archipelago is one of the most popular day trips from Dubrovnik with kids, with various boat tours stopping at several of the nearby islands and the Blue Cave on Kolocep.
This four-hour boat tour visits the Blue Cave and Sunj Beach on Lopud by catamaran, or this family-friendly blue cave boat tour is similar but travels by speedboat. Or for something very memorable, this longer galleon cruise stops at Lopud and Sipan, while this full-day Elaphiti Islands cruise stops for lunch at the captain’s house on Sipan.
If you prefer to explore independently, you can also catch a ferry from Dubrovnik to each of the Elaphiti Islands – some have more limited sailings, and some don’t let you book tickets online, so it’s worth doublechecking in person at the main port (and that you can get back again).
Lopud is by far the easiest to explore, with the quickest ferries taking around 45 minutes and plenty of journeys each day in summer. The car-free island is home to sandy Sunj Beach, and you can get around by golf buggy (which work a bit like taxis here).
Sipan is the furthest away with the ferry taking around an hour (check the Jadrolinia schedule as some journeys are longer). Kolocep seemed trickier to arrange for a day trip, so it’s worth looking at the timetable to see what’s running.
I’ve used Bookaway in Croatia to arrange ferry tickets previously but you can also try Ferryhopper and Ferryscanner
Visit Split
We absolutely loved our trip to Split – how many times do you get to stay inside a former Roman emperor’s palace, after all – plus there are so many great things to do in Split with kids too.
And you can take a day tour to Split from Dubrovnik for a taste of the city. It isn’t an easy day trip – you can expect to spend more time travelling than you spend in Split itself – so I’d only include it if you won’t have chance to visit Split for longer, and as long as it won’t eat into your time exploring in and around Dubrovnik.
But with a guided tour of Diocletian’s Palace and free time to wander and explore, if this is your one chance to see Split, don’t rule it out because of the distance!
Visit Mostar
Another long day tour, but you’re actually closer to Bosnia-Herzegovina than most of mainland Croatia, so if you’re staying in Dubrovnik with kids, it’s definitely one to consider if you’ve got older kids and teens.
This day trip to Mostar and the Kravica waterfalls includes a short guided tour of historic Mostar, including a chance to see the famous high arched bridge over the river, plus time at the waterfalls, where you can swim.
As with the day trip to Split, you can expect to spend hours on a coach, although it’s slightly closer to Dubrovnik than Split is, but still doable if you want a brief taste of the neighbouring country before you leave Croatia.
Visit Kotor
Another long day trip, this time to neighbouring Montenegro with a chance to visit Kotor including a short boat trip on the bay of Kotor, as well as a visit to the Lady of the Rocks in Perast.
Again, there’s a lot of time spent on a coach, although you’ll get to enjoy some scenic views along the Croatian and Montenegrin coast as you travel – so again, it’s better with older kids and best if you can’t fit in a full trip to Montenegro.
Where to stay in Dubrovnik with kids
Choosing where to stay in Dubrovnik with kids can make a big difference to your holiday – do you choose inside the old town, outside or elsewhere entirely?
Stay in the Old Town
It’s very tempting to book a stay in Dubrovnik’s old town itself. You’ll be right in the heart of everything and if you do every need to head back to your apartment, it couldn’t be easier.
However, it does mean that you’ll find it harder to escape the crowds, you’ll often have less space (and no outdoor space), and if you are looking to cook, we found most apartments had limited facilities, while hotels are also limited and tend to be pricy.
Bear in mind that you also – of course – can’t drive inside the walls, so if you’re getting an airport transfer (we used Welcome Pickups after arriving late evening) or other taxi/Uber/Bolt etc, you’ll be dropped by one of the gates and need to walk in. The airport bus drops off near Pile Gate if you’re choosing to do that and any parking will be outside the walls. Which means you’ll be carrying bags and possibly climbing a lot of stairs.
Stay outside the Old Town
This has the bonus of being cheaper (a bit), quieter and you may well find accommodation with more facilities, including some outdoor space. If you have a car, there’s a better chance of having parking (although parking anywhere around Dubrovnik is limited).
On the downside, you’ll spend most of your time in the Old Town so you’ll start and end each day by walking in – it pays to work out how close you are to one of the gates, as you could end up detouring to get in through the walls.
If you’re travelling with older kids and teens, an extra 10 minutes at the end of the day probably won’t faze them, but if you’ve got exhausted little ones, you might quickly regret the added daily walk.
We hit the sweet spot with an AirBNB which was close to the cable car, and 3-5 minutes walk from two of the gates, less than 10 minutes from the old port, so it never took long to get right into the heart of the Old Town, but let us escape at the end of the day and had its own little terrace.
Stay by the beach
When you’re planning a trip to Dubrovnik with kids, your choice of accommodation comes down to whether you’re hoping for a city break with some days out (in which case, you want to be close to the Old Town) or if you’re looking for a sunny beach holiday that’s close enough to explore the city.
If you’re going for the latter, it’s worth considering Cavtat and Lapad which are both just outside Dubrovnik. Cavtat is smaller and more laid-back, close to Dubrovnik airport and a 30-minute boat trip from Dubrovnik – you wouldn’t want to do that every day, but it’s easy enough to fit a couple of day trips into a week.
Lapad has a wider choice of hotels, as well as its own beach and is a bit livelier than Cavtat. It’s also closer to Dubrovnik, around 5-10 minutes by taxi/Uber/Bolt or there’s also a bus for a cheaper option. Again, it’s easy enough to do and at around 10 Euros for the journey, not too pricy, but you wouldn’t want to do it every day (or multiple times every day!)
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Images: Banje Beach/Elaphiti Islands/Mostar/Kotor/Cavtat courtesy of Depositphotos, all others copyright MummyTravels
