Get the Inside Track on 5 of the Best Villas in Dubrovnik for a family holiday to Croatia
by Saron Lease 15th May 2026
If you want to book a family villa holiday in Croatia, Dubrovnik is the best place to choose! Often called the Pearl of the Adriatic, it’s consistently the top destination in Croatia year on year and the jewel in the crown of the Croatian coast. But which locations are best for a villa holiday to Dubrovnik?
Where is the best place to rent a villa with private pool in Dubrovnik?
The three best places to rent a Dubrovnik villa for a family holiday are Mlini, Cavtat and Zaton. These are charming fishing villages on the sea which have good access to Dubrovnik old town as well as other sights up and down the Dubrovnik Riviera. They are idyllic locations for a holiday since they are very picturesque with beautiful beaches and a good selection of restaurants and activities. Everything is walkable and it’s also easy to hop on a water taxi, bus or Uber to Dubrovnik old town.
How far from Dubrovnik are Mlini, Cavtat and Zaton?
Mlini and Srebreno just around the bay are 10 minutes drive from Dubrovnik Old Town on normal traffic days and have only around 15-20 minute transfer from Dubrovnik Airport.
Zaton is also around 10-15 minutes drive from Dubrovnik Old Town but on the other side of the old town so it’s about a 40 minute airport transfer from Dubrovnik Airport to Zaton. This means Zaton is within easy reach of you Lapad Bay too.
Cavtat is close to Dubrovnik Airport with only a 10 minute transfer time by car. It’s around 30 minutes drive from Cavtat to Dubrovnik Old Town.
Are there water taxis or local boat lines from Mlini, Zaton & Cavtat to Dubrovnik Old Town?
- From Mlini to Dubrovnik Old Town it’s around 20 minutes by boat. The water taxis / local boat line usually runs from Easter to the end of October daily until around 8pm daily.
- From Cavtat to Dubrovnik Old Town, it’s around 40-45 minutes on the frequent water taxi.
- Zaton doesn’t have a local boat line or water taxis but it does have excursions to Dubrovnik and nearby islands. It also has a good bus line and Ubers are very reasonable.
What is the best way to get around the Dubrovnik area without a car?
You certainly wouldn’t want to take a hire car into Dubrovnik in the high season as parking is in great demand and expensive. Water taxis are the nicest way to travel; arriving into Dubrovnik old town, Cavtat or Mlini is a lovely experience, and right into the heart of things. The views along the way are stunning and you get a different perspective of places. Given the great, regular boat services, the prices are very reasonable. Also consider taking the bus as they are clean, air-conditioned and regular. They are run by Libertas and we suggest downloading the Libertas app onto your phone to see timetables, live bus movements etc. However, if there are more than just a couple of you, then rather than the bus, a taxi or Uber would probably work out cheaper.
Which are the Best Dubrovnik Villas with pools in Mlini, Zaton & Cavtat?
Villa Turquoise is located centrally in Mlini just steps from the sea and gets consistently excellent reviews for its location, stunning views and interior
Villa Flora has a superb beachfront location right by the harbour in Mlini Bay
Villa Zaton has a games room and is a short walk to the restaurants and beaches of Zaton Bay. It’s a really family friendly villa with pool.
Villa Anamaria has great outside space and pool with panoramic sea views. With great alfresco dining and BBQ it sleeps 10 with 5 bedrooms.
Villa Cavtat is a large villa just a short walk into the popular old town of Cavtat with its many restaurants and swimming spots. It sleeps 23 across x bedrooms with flexible bedroom configuration.
More Information
- Browse Villas in Croatia
- To book Croatia villas: Email: [email protected], Tel: UK +44 (0) 117 3326620
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