Family-friendly stays in Kvarner
Kvarner mixes sandy, shallow beaches with easy drives from Central Europe, and many of our stays in the region are marked by our partner as suitable for families.
Search family stays in KvarnerFor small children, Lopar on the island of Rab is hard to beat. The local tourist board counts more than twenty sandy beaches, and Rajska plaža is long, warm and shallow. Lopar is also set up for families beyond the sand: there are playgrounds in parks and on the beaches, a water chute park and aquapark by Rajska plaža, a small amusement park a few metres from the beach with trampolines and inflatable castles, mini golf and a tourist train. Evenings are quiet, so it suits early bedtimes. You reach it by ferry, either the short crossing from Stinica on the mainland or the longer one from Valbiska on Krk.
If you would rather skip the ferry, look at Crikvenica and Selce on the mainland. Crikvenica's town beach has sandy sections, and the riviera's tourist board points families to its small aquarium, with Adriatic and tropical species, and to seaside paths that are flat enough for pushchairs and bikes. On Krk, which you reach by bridge, Baška's long pebble beach shelves gently, and Malinska and Njivice are calmer family resorts. Further out, Veli Lošinj is home to the Lošinj Marine Education Centre, where children can learn about the bottlenose dolphins that live around the archipelago.
Kvarner is spread out, so think about travel days. Ferry queues on summer weekends can be long, and waiting in the sun with children is no fun, so book early crossings or pick a mainland or Krk base. Opatija is elegant but swimming there is mostly off concrete platforms and rocks, which works better for older children than for toddlers. Many island villages rise from the harbour, so with a pushchair ask how steep the walk is to the beach and the shops, and whether parking is at the house.
Family-friendly stays in Kvarner
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Tips before you book
- For the gentlest water, focus your search on Lopar, Crikvenica and Selce, and check the walking distance to a sandy beach.
- Ask the host for a cot and high chair, and whether a pool or garden is fenced if you are travelling with toddlers.
- Heading to Rab, Cres or Lošinj? Allow for ferry queues in July and August, and pack snacks and shade for the wait.
- Croatian law requires a suitable child seat for younger children, including in taxis and hire cars, so book them ahead.
Frequently asked questions
Where in Kvarner is best for toddlers?
Lopar on Rab, for its many sandy beaches with warm, shallow water and playgrounds close by. On the mainland, Crikvenica and Selce have sandy sections that suit small children and need no ferry. Baška on Krk is small pebble with sandier patches in the water, a good option if you want a livelier resort.
What is there for children to do in Kvarner?
In Lopar there are water slides, an aquapark and a small amusement park by Rajska plaža, plus mini golf and a tourist train. Crikvenica has an aquarium and flat seaside paths. On Lošinj, the Marine Education Centre in Veli Lošinj explains the dolphins that live around the archipelago.
Do I need a ferry for a family holiday in Kvarner?
Not necessarily. Krk is joined to the mainland by a toll-free bridge, and Crikvenica, Selce, Novi Vinodolski and the Opatija riviera are all reached by road. Rab, Cres and Lošinj need a ferry crossing, which can mean long waits on summer weekends, so plan to travel early in the day.
Is Opatija good for young children?
It is lovely for walks, with the long Lungomare promenade and parks, but swimming is mostly from concrete platforms, rocks and small pebble coves. Families with toddlers often prefer Medveja near Lovran, a longer pebble beach, or a base in Crikvenica or on Krk.