Dubrovnik is a surprisingly rewarding city with children — the real-life castle walls thrill young knights and Game of Thrones fans alike, while beyond the Old Town lie a hillside water park, an aquarium tucked inside a fortress, family beaches, boat trips to a peacock-filled island and a cable car with a summit view. Here are the best things to do in Dubrovnik with kids, with suggested ages, prices and practical tips to keep everyone happy in the summer heat.
€25Aquapark Dubrovnik
Area
Kojan (Gornji Kono)
Type
Water Park
“Slides, pools and a lazy river above the city with sea views — the family day-out that guarantees a happy afternoon. A free shuttle runs from near Pile Gate.”
€10Dubrovnik Aquarium
Area
Old Town
Type
Aquarium
“Set inside the cool stone chambers of St John Fortress — a great rainy-day or midday-heat option, with Adriatic sea life from octopus to loggerhead turtles.”
FreeBanje Beach
Area
Ploče
Type
Beach
“The closest beach to the Old Town, with shallow, clear water, pedalos and paddleboards to hire and the free public zone perfect for a family swim.”
€27Lokrum Island
Area
Lokrum (10 min by boat)
Type
Island
“A short boat ride to an island of wild peacocks, a salt-lake swimming spot, a botanical garden and a sittable Iron Throne — kids love the crossing and the roaming birds.”
€27Mount Srđ Cable Car
Area
Srđ
Type
Cable Car
“A quick, thrilling ride to the 778 m summit for a jaw-dropping view — short enough for restless kids, and there's a café and a buggy-track adventure at the top.”
€30–40Sea Kayaking Around the Walls
Area
Old Town / Pile
Type
Adventure
“A guided paddle beneath the city walls to a hidden beach and cave, with a swim stop — an unforgettable active outing for families with older kids and teens.”
€35Walking the City Walls
Area
Old Town
Type
Walk
“The famous wall walk is a real hit with kids who love castles — go at opening to beat the heat and crowds, bring water and hats, and let them count the towers and cannons.”
€60Elaphiti Islands Boat Trip
Area
Elafiti (from Gruž)
Type
Island Cruise
“A full-day island-hopping cruise with swimming stops and lunch aboard — kids love a day on the boat, and Lopud's sandy Šunj beach is one of the few in the region children can build sandcastles on.”
Dubrovnik with kids in detail
1.Aquapark Dubrovnik
Aquapark Dubrovnik is the city's dedicated family water park, spread across a hillside site above the town with panoramic views out to the sea and islands. It is purpose-built to keep children and teenagers happily occupied for a whole day, with a good spread of attractions for different ages and nerve levels: a range of water slides from gentle to adrenaline-pumping, swimming pools, a relaxing lazy river to float around, a dedicated children's splash zone with smaller slides for little ones, plus sun terraces, loungers and food and drink outlets for parents. The elevated setting means the views are a bonus, and the whole complex is modern and well maintained. It operates seasonally through the warmer months, roughly June to September, when a day here makes a refreshing change from sightseeing in the heat and a guaranteed hit with kids who may have had their fill of medieval walls and museums. Tickets run around €25 for adults and €18 for children, with family options, and a free shuttle bus conveniently connects the park with the Pile Gate area, removing the hassle of getting up the hill. It can get busy at the height of summer, so arriving earlier in the day helps secure loungers. For families travelling with children who need a fun, active, splash-filled break from culture, Aquapark Dubrovnik is the obvious and dependable choice.
Hours
Daily ~10:00–18:00 in summer season (roughly Jun–Sep)
Price
Adult ~€25, child ~€18; family tickets available
Getting there
In the hills above Dubrovnik; a free shuttle bus runs from near Pile Gate
Insider tip: Slides, pools and a lazy river above the city with sea views — the family day-out that guarantees a happy afternoon. A free shuttle runs from near Pile Gate.
2.Dubrovnik Aquarium
The Dubrovnik Aquarium offers a compact but enjoyable indoor activity for families, and its setting is part of the appeal: it occupies the cool, atmospheric stone chambers on the ground floor of St John Fortress, the great bastion guarding the entrance to the Old Town harbour. Run as part of the Institute for Marine and Coastal Research, it displays a variety of Adriatic Sea life in a series of tanks, giving children an accessible introduction to the creatures living in the waters they can see all around the city: colourful Mediterranean fish, octopus, moray eels, sea anemones, crabs, seahorses and, often a highlight, loggerhead sea turtles that have been rescued and rehabilitated. It is not a huge, modern mega-aquarium, so a visit takes perhaps 45 minutes to an hour, but that makes it an ideal, manageable stop for younger children and a genuinely useful option when you need to escape the fierce midday summer heat or a rare rainy day, the thick fortress walls keeping the interior naturally cool. Entry is inexpensive at around €10 for adults and €5 for children. Combining a marine-life visit with the chance to step inside one of the Old Town's mighty fortresses gives it added value. For families seeking a low-key, educational and weather-proof activity in the heart of the walled city, the aquarium is a solid choice.
Hours
Daily ~09:00–20:00 in season (shorter in winter)
Price
Adult ~€10, child ~€5
Getting there
Inside St John Fortress at the Old Town harbour
Insider tip: Set inside the cool stone chambers of St John Fortress — a great rainy-day or midday-heat option, with Adriatic sea life from octopus to loggerhead turtles.
3.Banje Beach
Banje is Dubrovnik's most convenient beach for families, a pebble strand just a three-minute walk east of Ploče Gate with the wonderful bonus of a postcard view back to the Old Town walls and Lokrum island. Its proximity means you can easily combine a morning of sightseeing with an afternoon swim without any transport, a real boon when travelling with children who need a break from walking and culture. The water is clear, turquoise and shelves gently near the shore, making it reasonably suited to a family paddle and swim, and there is plenty to keep older kids entertained: pedalos, kayaks and stand-up paddleboards to hire, and gentle watersports in season. The beach divides into the East West Beach Club section, where you can pay for loungers, parasols and full service including a restaurant and clean facilities (handy with young children), and a free public zone where you lay out your own towels. Being pebble rather than sand, water shoes are a good idea for little feet, and as a busy city beach it can get crowded at the height of summer, so arriving earlier in the day helps. Snacks and drinks are available but pricey, so bringing your own is sensible. For an easy, accessible family beach break right beside the Old Town, with services on hand and that iconic wall view, Banje is the natural choice.
Hours
Always open
Price
Free public zone; loungers/watersports extra
Getting there
A 3-minute walk east of Ploče Gate
Insider tip: The closest beach to the Old Town, with shallow, clear water, pedalos and paddleboards to hire and the free public zone perfect for a family swim.
4.Lokrum Island
Lokrum makes a wonderful family day out, combining a fun boat trip with a car-free island full of things to delight children. The crossing itself, a ten-minute ferry from the Old Town harbour that runs every half hour in summer, is an adventure for young ones, and once ashore the island is a safe, traffic-free natural playground. The undisputed stars for kids are the wild peacocks that roam freely across the island, strutting along paths and displaying their tails — descendants of birds introduced in the 1800s and utterly unbothered by visitors, they make for magical encounters and photos. Beyond the peacocks there is plenty to explore: the Mrtvo More or 'Dead Sea', a small saltwater lake connected to the sea where the calm, shallow, buoyant water is ideal and safe for children to swim; a botanical garden with cacti and exotic plants (and often rabbits); the atmospheric ruins of an 11th-century monastery to clamber around; shady pine forest trails; and a Game of Thrones exhibition with a replica Iron Throne the kids can sit on. Pack a picnic, water, sun protection and swimming things, as facilities are limited to one restaurant and a café, and note the last boat back leaves around 19:00. For a memorable, active, nature-filled family day just offshore, Lokrum is one of the very best things to do in Dubrovnik with children.
Hours
Boats every 30 min in season; last boat back ~19:00
Price
€27 return boat (includes island entry); under-fives cheaper
Getting there
10-minute ferry from the Old Town harbour
Insider tip: A short boat ride to an island of wild peacocks, a salt-lake swimming spot, a botanical garden and a sittable Iron Throne — kids love the crossing and the roaming birds.
5.Mount Srđ Cable Car
The Srđ cable car is a great family activity that packs a big reward into a short, low-effort trip. The ride itself, whisking you 778 metres up Mount Srđ in a little over four minutes, is a mini-adventure that most children find thrilling rather than daunting, and crucially it is quick enough not to test the patience of restless little ones. At the summit the payoff is spectacular: a vast panorama over the Old Town laid out like a toy model of red roofs and walls far below, Lokrum island, the Elafiti islands and, on clear days, views said to stretch as far as Italy — a wonderful way for kids to grasp the geography of the city they have been exploring. The top station has a café and restaurant where families can have a drink or a meal with the view, a souvenir shop, and space to walk around safely and take in the scenery. There is also the Napoleonic Imperial Fort housing a small museum, and buggy or off-road adventure activities sometimes operate on the mountain for older children and teens. Buy a return ticket, and consider timing the trip for late afternoon to catch the golden light, though be mindful of the last descent around 19:00. Strollers are manageable. For an easy, exciting, view-packed outing the whole family will remember, the cable car up Srđ is a Dubrovnik highlight.
Hours
Daily from ~09:00; last ascent ~19:00 in summer (seasonal)
Price
€27 return adult; children cheaper; under-fours free
Getting there
Lower station a short walk uphill from the Old Town's Buža/Ploče side
Insider tip: A quick, thrilling ride to the 778 m summit for a jaw-dropping view — short enough for restless kids, and there's a café and a buggy-track adventure at the top.
6.Sea Kayaking Around the Walls
Guided sea kayaking is one of Dubrovnik's most exhilarating activities and a brilliant adventure for families with older children and teenagers (operators generally set a minimum age of around eight). Launching from the little beach just outside Pile Gate or from the Old Town harbour, a typical three-hour guided tour takes you paddling along the base of the towering city walls — a genuinely awe-inspiring perspective, looking up at the fortifications from the water — before crossing towards Lokrum island and stopping at a hidden pebble beach and the famous Buža sea cave for a swim and snorkel in crystal-clear water. Guides lead the group, provide all the equipment and safety gear, brief beginners and keep an eye on everyone, so no experience is needed and the pace is manageable, though a reasonable level of fitness helps. Many tours include a snack or a glass of wine at the beach stop, and sunset departures add the magic of paddling back as the light turns golden on the walls. It is active, memorable and shows the city from an angle most visitors never see, giving energetic kids and teens a real sense of achievement. Bring sun protection, water shoes and a dry bag for valuables. For families wanting an active, adventurous shared experience rather than another museum, kayaking around the walls is a standout Dubrovnik outing.
Hours
Guided tours daily in season; morning and sunset departures
Price
~€30–40 per person for a 3-hour guided tour
Getting there
Tours launch from the small beach outside Pile Gate or the Old Town harbour
Insider tip: A guided paddle beneath the city walls to a hidden beach and cave, with a swim stop — an unforgettable active outing for families with older kids and teens.
7.Walking the City Walls
Walking Dubrovnik's complete circuit of medieval walls is the city's signature experience, and it can be a surprising hit with children, who often find the real-life castle setting far more exciting than the average museum. The unbroken 1,940-metre ring around the entire Old Town, up to 25 metres high, is packed with the things that fire young imaginations: massive round towers to climb, battlements and arrow-slits to peer through, old cannons pointing out to sea, and forever-changing views down over the maze of red rooftops on one side and the sparkling Adriatic on the other. For Game of Thrones-aware families there is the extra thrill of walking the walls of 'King's Landing'. That said, the walk needs a little planning with kids: it takes around 1.5 hours, there is almost no shade and a lot of steps, and in high summer the heat can be punishing, so the golden rules are to go right at opening (08:00) or later in the afternoon, bring plenty of water, hats and sunscreen, and take it at a relaxed pace with breaks. There are a few points where you can exit early or buy a drink. Younger children may tire, and a carrier can be easier than a stroller (which cannot be taken up). Turn it into a game — counting towers, spotting cannons, waving at the boats below — and the wall walk becomes a genuine adventure and the centrepiece of a family visit.
Hours
Summer 08:00–19:30; shorter in spring/autumn/winter
Price
€35 adult (Jul–Aug); children cheaper
Getting there
Main entrance beside Pile Gate in the Old Town
Insider tip: The famous wall walk is a real hit with kids who love castles — go at opening to beat the heat and crowds, bring water and hats, and let them count the towers and cannons.
8.Elaphiti Islands Boat Trip
A full-day boat trip to the Elaphiti Islands is a relaxed, fun-filled family outing that combines the simple joy of a day on the water with swimming, exploring and one of the region's few sandy beaches. Departing from Gruž harbour around nine in the morning, these popular cruises typically visit the three inhabited Elaphiti islands — Koločep, Lopud and Šipan — spending time at each for swimming, paddling and a wander through car-free village lanes, with lunch (usually fish or chicken, salad and drinks) served aboard as the boat sails between the pine-clad isles. For families the standout is Lopud and its Šunj beach, a genuine stretch of soft sand with shallow, gently shelving water — a rarity along this pebbly coast and perfect for younger children to build sandcastles and paddle safely. The gentle rhythm of the day, with plenty of swim stops and time ashore, suits children well, and the traffic-free islands feel safe and unhurried. Boats vary from larger cruise vessels to smaller, more personal ones, so it is worth checking what is included and the group size. Bring swimming things, towels, sun protection, hats and water, and perhaps some extra snacks for hungry kids. It gets you out of the busy city onto the calm, beautiful Adriatic for a full day. For a laid-back, swim-filled family day trip with a proper sandy beach at the heart of it, the Elaphiti cruise is a lovely choice.
Hours
Full-day tours depart Gruž ~09:00 in season
Price
Full-day tour ~€60 adult incl. lunch; children reduced
Getting there
Tour boats depart from Gruž harbour
Insider tip: A full-day island-hopping cruise with swimming stops and lunch aboard — kids love a day on the boat, and Lopud's sandy Šunj beach is one of the few in the region children can build sandcastles on.