Family Hotels Near the Beach in Zadar, Croatia

Zadar works for a family beach holiday because distances are short. Kolovare beach is within walking distance of the old town, and Borik and Puntamika are a short bus ride or drive to the north. Most beaches here are pebbly or rocky with some concrete platforms, so water shoes help children. The hotels on this list let you choose between a seafront resort with a pool and spa, a quiet family-run hotel by a pebbly beach, a pool hotel near Kolovare, or an old town base for evenings at the Sea Organ. I would decide first whether you want to wake up by the sea or by the old town.

The Hyatt Regency Zadar is the most complete beach hotel on the list. It is a five-star on the Borik strip, a short bus ride north of the old town, rated 9.6 on Booking.com. Rooms face the sea or the garden, and the hotel has an outdoor pool, a large spa with a hot spring bath and a sauna, and a sun terrace right above the water. For families who want to switch between the pool and the sea without leaving the hotel, it is the obvious pick. The spa is a resource for parents, as saunas usually have age limits for children.

Hotel Niko is the quiet alternative. It is a family-run four-star in Puntamika, steps from a pebbly beach and about ten minutes by car from central Zadar, rated 9.2. It has its own à la carte restaurant, free parking and air-conditioned rooms. The setting is calm and personal, which suits families with a car who plan day trips along the coast and want to come back to a peaceful beach in the evening. Without a car, the trips into town take more planning, so I would book it mainly for families driving to Zadar.

Miramare Hotel, rated 9.1, sits near the Kolovare beach area, an easy walk along the seafront promenade to the old town. Rooms have balconies with sea or city views, there is a pool, and the restaurant works for families. It is a practical choice if you want a pool and a beach within reach without being far from the centre. Kolovare is one of the closest beaches to the old town, with shade from pine trees, so children can swim in the morning and families can walk to the Sea Organ and the Greeting to the Sun in the evening.

The two old town hotels are not beach hotels, but they make sense for some families. Hidden Tree Heritage Hotel, rated 9.4, is a boutique four-star inside the old town with a small garden and terrace, a short walk from the Roman Forum, the Sea Organ and cafés; it suits families with older children who enjoy exploring on foot. Hotel A'mare, a three-star rated 9.1, offers quiet soundproofed family rooms close to the old town and the seafront. From either, Kolovare beach is a walk along the promenade, so I would choose them for culture first and beach second.