Side family days compared
Pirate Ship or Rafting from Side? Choosing with Children
Rafting is an adventure you paddle yourself; a pirate day is an adventure put on for you. For a family with small children, that difference decides most of the question.
In short
A rafting day puts the family in a raft on a river, paddling and getting soaked; it is active, wet and physical. The pirate days keep everyone on a ship, with the play organised by the crew. For young children, Little Pirates — costumes, a treasure hunt, the coast and a swim stop, €14 a child — is the gentlest pirate option. Whether your children can raft is for the rafting site to say.
Paddle or be entertained
On a rafting day the family does the work: you sit in a raft, take a paddle and go with the river. The thrill is the water and the effort, and everyone ends the day wet.
On a pirate day the crew does the work. On Little Pirates the children are handed costumes, listen to stories of the high seas, play deck games and follow the clues of a treasure hunt, while the ship cruises the coast and stops for a swim in clear water. On the big pirate-ship day there is a river trip to the delta, a live show, tug-of-war and a foam party.
Ages
On Little Pirates a child from 2 to 10 pays €14, an adult €20, and under 2 rides free. On the big day everyone from 2 pays €23. The ages guide has the full table.
We do not state who may join a rafting trip; that is the rafting site's rule. If your family includes a very young child, check there before you plan.
Safety, honestly
On the pirate days, the operator's record says the boat is run by a licensed maritime crew, and the big day's fare includes travel insurance for every guest. Parents stay with their children throughout; the crew runs the games and does not take over childcare. Our safety guide sets out what the records say and where they are silent.
Rafting has rules of its own, and the rafting site is the place to read them. We do not compare the two on risk, because we would be guessing about a day we do not run.
Getting wet
On a raft you are wet from start to finish. On the pirate days the swim is a choice: on Little Pirates, a stop in clear water off the coast; on the big day, the river delta, where cold fresh water runs into the warm sea. Whether a child goes in is your decision, and a grown-up stays with them either way. Our swimming guide describes both stops.
Where to go next
If your children are young enough for costumes and a treasure map, book Little Pirates and pay in euros on the morning. If the family is ready for paddles and spray, our sister site sells that day: rafting from Side.
