Zaton Holiday Resort with kids and a dog: mobile homes, a beach and evening shows near Zadar

Zaton Holiday Resort is a large resort on the Adriatic, between Nin and Zaton, a dozen or so kilometres from Zadar. We spent two May holidays here, in 2025 and 2026, each time in a mobile home, with the kids, the dog and a family we are friends with. Back in Poland we call this early-May long weekend majówka. Here is what a stay looks like with kids and a dog outside the main season. We cover the whole trip in our post Croatia in May with kids and a dog.

A mobile home with a terrace

We stayed in mobile homes with a covered terrace. Inside there is a kitchenette with a fridge, a bathroom, and bedrooms with a double bed and single beds. We ate lunch on the terrace and did some drawing there, while the dogs rested in the shade. The car was parked right next to the house.

The beach and walks with the dogs

Paths through the pine trees lead down to the beach. The resort beach is long and sandy, and on it stands a playground shaped like a wooden boat with a sail. In May it was still quiet, and in the evenings we watched the sun set over the bay from there.

Dogs are allowed on the sand of the main beach, but they can only swim at the separate dog beach by the marina. Our goldens made good use of it. Right next to the resort we also found a wild path along the rocky shore, which you reach by driving across the abandoned Zaton Šepurine military airfield. The dogs ran around on the rocks there, and one of our daughters climbed a sprawling pine tree above the water.

Mini golf and bikes

The resort has a mini golf course with a pond, rocks and a rope bridge, which our youngest daughter loved walking across. We rode our bikes along the resort paths, with our youngest daughter in a child seat, usually on dad's bike, though Agata sometimes took her too.

Kids' entertainment and Zatonino the mascot

In the evenings there is entertainment for kids and a mini disco on the resort stage. The resort mascot is Zatonino, a blue and yellow seahorse. Our daughters danced with the entertainers and had their photo taken with the mascot.

Practical info

Checked in November 2026.

The resort

• Zaton Holiday Resort lies between Nin and Zaton, about 15 km from Zadar. In 2027 the resort will be open from 16 April to 16 October.
• There are two pool areas, Forest Oasis and Beachfront, open from 10:00 to 18:00.
• There are kids' clubs: Mini for children aged 3-6, Maxi for children aged 7-10, and Junior for teens aged 11-15. The mini disco takes place every evening.

With a dog

• Dogs up to 7 kg can come along without asking in advance. Larger dogs need to be declared when booking, with their breed and weight.
• Dogs may walk on the sand of the main beach, but they are not allowed in the water. There is a separate dog beach by the marina for swimming.
• Dogs are only allowed on restaurant terraces, and they must be kept on a lead throughout the resort.