in Istria, Croatia
Park Plaza Belvedere Medulin
Updated 1 July 2026
- Baby
- Toddler
- Kid
- Teen
The reason to book Belvedere is thirty seconds from the front door: Bijeca, the only proper sandy beach on the Istrian peninsula, shallow for a very long way out and warm by late June. The hotel itself is a big functional block from another era, refreshed rather than rebuilt, with two outdoor pools, a children's pool, a heated indoor seawater pool and a straightforward animation programme. The buffet repeats itself by day five. But for a family with a toddler who wants to walk into the sea rather than climb down a ladder, nothing else in Istria offers this.
Our verdict
Book it for the beach, not for the hotel. With a toddler who wants sand under their feet, that is a perfectly good reason.
The rooms
Straightforward rooms in a large block, many with a sea-side balcony, plus one-bedroom suites that give families a door between the beds. Nothing here is designer, but the sea-side rooms are worth the small supplement.
At a glance
- Beach
- Bijeca sand, next door
- Pools
- 2 outdoor, 1 kids, 25 m indoor
- Airport
- Pula, about 20 minutes
- Nearby
- Pula arena, 20 minutes
How the KidProof Score works
Every hotel is rated on eight things families actually care about, then weighted by how much each one drives your choice. Room setup counts the most. The little touches break the ties.
Sleeps how many? Connecting rooms, family suites, a real extra bed?
Clean travel cot, high chair, bottle warmer, changing table, kit to borrow.
Shallow pool or paddling area, playground, kids club (free or paid).
Quick breakfast, kids menus, allergy options, snacks on hand.
Secured windows, protected corners, watched pool, well kept grounds.
Laundry, in-room fridge, stroller access, parking, reliable Wi-Fi.
Close to family attractions, easy transport, park tickets or access.
Welcome gift for the child, staff who talk to kids, themed rooms.
Why families love it
- Bijeca sandy beach, the best in Istria for small children, right next door
- Heated indoor seawater pool of 25 metres
- Two outdoor pools plus a dedicated children's pool
- Ten minute flat walk into Medulin centre and the marina
- Pula and its Roman arena are twenty minutes away
🗓️A day here with kids
- 8:00
Breakfast
Get a window table on the sea side, it is the best view in the hotel.
- 9:30
Bijeca beach
Set up early, the shade spots along the edge go fast.
- 13:30
Indoor pool
Heated seawater, a good escape from the afternoon sun.
- 17:00
Walk to Medulin marina
Flat promenade, ice cream, boats to look at.
Family things to do nearby
Bijeca beach morning
Walk-in sand, waist-deep water fifty metres out, ideal for a first proper swim.
Pula Arena
One of the best preserved Roman amphitheatres anywhere, and small enough not to exhaust anyone.
Brijuni safari
Boat from Fazana to the island national park, with a small safari park and Roman ruins.
Is it right for your kids?
Baby
0 to 1 yr
The gentle sandy shore is the easiest water entry in Istria, and the flat site is pram friendly.
Toddler
1 to 3 yrs
This is the hotel's whole argument: sand to dig, shallow warm water and no ladders.
Kid
4 to 11 yrs
Beach and pools are fine, but you will want day trips to Pula and Brijuni to fill a week.
Teen
12 yrs and up
Watersports on the bay and Pula's cafes and Roman sites nearby, though the hotel itself is quiet.
Plan your stay
Check prices & bookWe compare Booking, Expedia, Hotels.com and more so you book at the best price. Prices update in real time.
Live prices & availability
Stays near Park Plaza Belvedere Medulin, Osipovica 33, 52203 Medulin, Croatia
We compare Booking, Expedia, Hotels.com and more so you book at the best price. Prices update in real time.
Parents also ask
Is Bijeca really sandy?
Yes, and it is genuinely unusual in Istria. The slope is very gentle, so small children can walk out a long way before it gets deep.
Are there water slides?
No. The pools here are for swimming. If slides are the priority, look at Umag or Rabac instead.
Is it a good base without a car?
Yes for the beach and Medulin itself. Buses run to Pula, but a car makes Brijuni, Kamenjak and the hilltop towns much easier.
Similar family stays
in Istria
Family Hotel Amarin by Maistra Select
276 rooms and four suites in eight layouts, from 28 to 74 square metres. A lot of them connect through a door, which is the single most useful thing here for a family of four or five, and rollaway beds are standard rather than a fight.
in Istria
Hotel Garden Istra Plava Laguna
291 rooms in the hotel over four floors, from Classic up to Junior Suite, plus 198 more in the neighbouring Residence for families who want a kitchenette. Family categories take four, and the Premium rooms are the ones with real balcony space.
in Istria
Isabella Island Resort, Valamar Collection
A spread of hotel rooms, suites, apartments and seafront villas across one small island, so you can pick the size that fits. Family rooms and suites take four to five, several villas have separate bedrooms and a kitchen, and connecting rooms exist if you ask early.
Some links are affiliate links. If you book through them we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you. It never changes what we recommend.