Best Hotels with a Pool in Zadar

Luxury Aparthotel Zadar has family rooms with practical extras such as washing machines, which I would point out first to parents on a longer stay. The swimming pool has panoramic views, there is a sun terrace and an outdoor seating area, and Diklovac Beach is a short walk away. Parents can use the sauna and the fitness room after a day out. A 9.9 score from 156 reviews is exceptional and suggests a very well-kept property.

For a family, Hyatt Regency Zadar is a five-star hotel with a seasonal outdoor pool, an indoor pool and a sun terrace, so children have water in any season. Rooms are air-conditioned with bathrobes, a tea and coffee maker and free Wi-Fi. A spa with a hot spring bath, a sauna and a fitness centre is there for the adults, and the dining is varied. I would choose it for a pampered stay inside the hotel rather than for stepping out to the city.

Miramare Hotel in Zadar is a four-star hotel that I would recommend to families who want comfort with the practical points covered. Rooms are air-conditioned with a private bathroom, a minibar and free Wi-Fi, and many have a balcony or terrace with a sea or city view. The seasonal outdoor pool is there for hot days, the modern restaurant and the 24-hour coffee shop simplify meals, and private parking is free, although off site.

For a family, Falkensteiner Family Hotel Diadora is built for children: it stands on the Punta Skala peninsula in Petrčane with beachfront access, several pools including a children's water world, and free swimming lessons. A buffet restaurant and a beach club cover meals and afternoons, and a spa is there for the adults. Pets are welcome. I would choose it for a full resort holiday, since Zadar is some distance away.

This adults-only hotel is aimed at couples and friends, not families, so I would not book it with children, who are not part of its concept. It has an outdoor pool and beachfront access, and guests receive complimentary entry to the extensive Thalasso & Spa Center Borik next door. Air-conditioned rooms come with a minibar and a spa bag. For adults who want a calm, spa-focused stay by the sea, the setup is clear and consistent.

I would book Falkensteiner Club Funimation Borik for a family that wants everything sorted from the moment they arrive in Zadar. It is a beachfront resort with an all-inclusive option, indoor and outdoor pools, and enough sport, from tennis and beach volleyball to water sports, to fill the days of active children. Parents get a 2,500 m² wellness centre with sauna, hot tub and massage. Rooms are air-conditioned with free WiFi, and a score of 8.6 from 2,800 reviews backs it up.

For a family, Hotel Kolovare puts an outdoor pool and a pebbly beach almost on the doorstep, with air-conditioned rooms and balconies. The lungomare promenade starts at the hotel and leads to the historic centre of Zadar within a 15-minute walk, so strollers and tired legs manage it without a car. The restaurant serves national and international dishes. I would ask for a balcony room on booking.

Donat is built for families who want everything on the spot. Meals and drinks are included, the outdoor pool runs in season, a free kids' club keeps younger children busy, and the beach is reached directly through the pines. Family rooms sleep four or five in two separate areas and have a fridge, which helps with milk and snacks. The weaknesses are worth knowing: this is a large three-star of 240 rooms, last renovated in 2010 according to listings, and a guest score of 8.0 across nearly 2,900 reviews points to solid rather than standout. Zadar's old town, with the Sea Organ and the Forum, is 3.5 km away. I would choose it for a week of beach and pool with small children.