01Where Can Families Stay on Brijuni?

Brijuni has no private holiday apartments. All accommodation on Veliki Brijun is run by the national park. The island has three hotel-style options, plus a set of villas and a hostel on Mali Brijun.

Hotel Neptun

Hotel Neptun is the most practical choice for families. It has family rooms with balconies in 2+1 and 2+2 layouts, plus suites with sea views for four guests. All rooms are air-conditioned. Extra beds are offered at a discount for children, and a child up to 4 years in a cot stays free with two adults. Children aged 4–12 on an extra bed pay a small share of the adult rate. Minimum stay in high season is 3 nights.

Hotel Istra

Hotel Istra sits on the seafront in the main port of Veliki Brijun. It has 32 double rooms, and its superior rooms and suites sleep 2+1 or 2+2. The building keeps its historic layout, so rooms are older in style.

Rooms Karmen

Rooms Karmen are the budget option. They are simple and have no minibar. The one apartment is about 50 m², with a double bedroom, a living room with a sofa, two bathrooms and a sea-facing balcony. It is the only true apartment on the island, so families of three or four should book it early. A baby cot is free on request.

Apartments in Fažana

Fažana is the mainland departure port, about 15 minutes by boat from Veliki Brijun. It has many private apartments, and these are usually cheaper than the island hotels. The trade-off is that you depend on the ferry timetable. Parking at the Fažana port costs about €15 per day from June to September and €12 per day otherwise.

Hotel guests do not pay for the ferry between Fažana and Veliki Brijun. Pets are generally not allowed, except in a few special units at Neptun for a €20 daily fee.

02Best Activities for Kids on Brijuni

Safari Park and Tourist Train

The official excursion includes a ride on a tourist train around Veliki Brijun. The route passes the safari park, which holds animals once given to Tito as gifts, including elephants, zebras and llamas. Children also see the museum displays and the Mediterranean garden with its ancient olive tree.

Cycling

Bicycles and electric vehicles are available to rent on Veliki Brijun. The island is flat and has little traffic, so it suits children who ride confidently. Rental is paid separately.

Dinosaur Footprints

Veliki Brijun has Cretaceous dinosaur footprints along its coast. Children usually find them one of the more interesting stops, since few Croatian sites offer this.

Swimming

Beaches on Brijuni are mostly rocky, with the nearest about 500 m from the Karmen and Istra area. Bring water shoes for children. Shared boat tours from Fažana often include a swim stop.

Boat Trips and Dolphin Watching

Glass-bottom boat trips from Fažana run about 1.5 hours and start at about €16–25 per person. Sunset dolphin cruises cost around €17–35 per person. The glass bottom keeps younger children interested for the whole trip. Boats do not dock on the main island.

Golf and Tennis

The hotels offer an 18-hole natural golf course and a tennis court, which suits older children and teenagers.

03Ferry and Ticket Prices for Families

The official guided excursion is priced by season, with adults paying roughly €35–50 and children aged 7–18 about €15–20 (2026 figures, higher in summer). Children under 7 ride free. Confirm current prices in the park's online shop. The ticket covers the return boat, tourist train, a guide, the safari park and the museum displays. A family of two adults and two school-age children should budget roughly €120–140 in summer.

Cruises that only circle the islands cost less, at roughly €25–40 per person, but they do not include time on Veliki Brijun. Tours that stop at Jerolim island charge a separate entry fee of €7 for adults and €3 for children aged 7–18.

04Local Tips for Families

  • Skip the cheapest cruise if you want the safari park. Only the official excursion or a hotel stay gets you on the island's train and into the park.
  • Don't pay for the 3-night hotel stay with toddlers unless you want quiet. The island has no nightlife, no shops of note and limited evening dining, so the main hotels suit children under 10 and teenagers less well. For families with teenagers, a Fažana apartment plus a one-day excursion is usually better value than three nights on the island.
  • Book cots and extra beds in advance. Room numbers are limited.
  • Travel in shoulder season. September and late May are cooler and cheaper, with rates in 2026 starting at about €54 per person for Neptun standard rooms compared with €111 in July and August.
  • Bring cash. Some island entry fees on boat tours are cash only.
  • Carry water and sun protection. Shade is limited on the bike routes in summer.

05Getting There

Ferries leave from Fažana, about 9 km north of Pula. Shoulder season and winter schedules offer around 3–5 departures daily, with more in summer. Crossing time is about 15 minutes.