Rovinj with Kids: Beaches, Boats and What to Skip

Rovinj works well with children if you keep the days short and put the water first. The shallow, pebbly beaches are close to town, a forest park has playgrounds, and there are boat trips of only 1.5 hours. The things that go wrong are long boat days with a tired child, quad rides with a child who is too young, and midday walks on hot cobbles. This guide is about how to avoid all three.

When to go

The tourist board names late May to early September as the best season and recommends June and September if you want to avoid the crowds. The old town gets very busy in summer, so plan walks for the morning or evening and use the middle of the day for the beach.

Beaches that suit small children

Rovinj’s beaches are mostly pebbles and gravel, not sand, so water shoes are worth packing for small feet.

• Lone Bay. Part of the Zlatni Rt (Golden Cape) forest park, with shallow, pebbly water and shade a few metres from the shore. Snack bars and sun loungers are nearby, according to the tourist board.
• Mulini. About 950 metres, or ten relaxed minutes on foot, from the old town. Its entrance to the water is gentle and pebbly, and cafés are close by.
• Zlatni Rt. A pine-fringed peninsula with a fine-gravel beach. The park has playgrounds, fitness areas and climbing zones; the tourist board does not give age limits for the equipment, so judge it on the spot.
• Kuvi. A smaller cove beyond Lone Bay with shallow, calm water.
• Red Island. Reached by boat, with flat pebbly beaches and shallow entry points. See our guide to Red Island by boat or ferry.

Things to do on dry land

The Rovinj Aquarium belongs to the marine research centre founded in 1891 and shows Adriatic sea life. The Batana Eco-Museum has hands-on exhibits about traditional wooden boats; hours change by month, so check them before you go. For older children, the bell tower of the Church of St Euphemia is about 60 metres tall and is climbed by open wooden stairs, so hold hands on the way up. Our guide to the old town on foot or with a guide explains the route.

Strollers are harder than you would expect: the old town is cobbled and the lanes climb towards the church. A sturdy pushchair or a carrier is easier than a light one.

Boat trips with children

Start with a short one. The 1.5-hour sunset boat trip with dolphin watching costs €30 per person and has 4.6 stars from 877 reviews. If your child hates it, you have lost 90 minutes, not a day. Check the child fare and any age limit on the booking page, because the summary mentions neither. Our guide to sunset dolphin trips compares the options, and the sunset boat trips page lists them all.

For a longer outing, the four-hour sunset Lim Fjord tour with barbecue, swimming and dolphins costs €60 per person and has 4.8 stars from 487 reviews. The listing describes a traditional wooden boat with a family-friendly atmosphere and an experienced crew. It also gives you a swim stop, which is useful if the children have energy to burn. Read our comparison of the Lim Fjord trips before you choose between this and a kayak.

Seasickness is a real risk on a small boat, and some children get it more easily than adults. Ask a pharmacist or your paediatrician before the trip rather than buying something at the harbour. What helps without any medicine is simple: sit in the middle of the boat, and look at the horizon.

See availability for the four-hour sunset Lim Fjord tour

What to leave out

The quad safari, for young children. The operators of the quad tours list children under nine or under ten as not suitable, according to the booking pages. A buggy for four people is described as suitable for families, but the listing gives no age, so ask before you pay. Details are in our quad safari guide.

The five-hour boat day, for toddlers. It is long, and nobody can get off in the middle. Choose the 1.5-hour trip instead.

The eight-hour inland day trip. Roughly a third of it is spent in the van, going by the times in our Poreč, Grožnjan and Motovun guide, and the stops are hilltop towns.

The verdict

Plan beach mornings and one short boat trip, and add a second boat only if the first went well. Check minimum ages and child fares on each booking page, because the summaries rarely state them. For more ideas, browse things to do in Rovinj.