Best family-friendly beaches in Croatia

The single most important factor is the entry into the water. Beaches where the sea stays knee-deep for 20 metres or more let small children play safely while you relax. Shallow water also warms up faster, which matters in May, June and September.

Just as important in practice: parking within a short walk, toilets, some shade at midday, and a kiosk or restaurant nearby so you do not have to pack lunch for everyone.

On each beach page in our guide you can check the practical details before you set off: whether there is a playground, whether the water is shallow, and whether you can park close by. That saves the classic holiday argument in a hot car.

Lifeguards are only present at a small number of large town beaches in Croatia, mostly in July and August — do not count on one being there.

The midday sun on the Adriatic is strong from June to September. Plan the beach for the morning and late afternoon, and use the hours around noon for lunch and a break in the shade.

Water shoes are worth it even at sandy beaches — sea urchins live on rocky patches at the edges of almost every bay.