Beaches of Milano Marittima

Length: 3.6 km
Establishments: 77, numbered from 235 to 340
Free beaches: 2
Awards: Blue Flag and Green Flag
Bathing season: from June to September
Seabed: fine sand, gently sloping

Milano Marittima beach is 3.6 km long and has 77 beach resorts (numbered 235 to 340, similar to those in Cervia) and two public beaches. It has been awarded the Blue Flag for water quality and the Green Flag by pediatricians for its suitability for children. The bathing season runs from June to September. Italy's most famous beach clubs, Papeete and Paparazzi, are located here, but most of the beaches are equipped for families.

The noisy part of Milano Marittima is well-known: DJ sets on the sand, VIP viewing, and aperitivos that last late into the night. It's real, and it's concentrated in just a few beach clubs. The rest of these four kilometers is a fine sandy beach with a gently sloping seabed, where children have to wade a long way before reaching deep water.

The real difference from the other beaches on the Riviera, however, isn't the sea: it's what's behind it. The centuries-old pine forest reaches almost to the sand, and to get to the beach, you cross tree-lined avenues instead of rows of houses. This is why, even in August, at midday, you still find real shade here.

What the beach looks like: the Canalino divides everything in two

The reference point is the Canalino, the canal that flows into the sea at Traversa I, where the statue of the Madonna del Mare is located. From there on, the beach behaves in two different ways, and this is the most useful thing to know before choosing where to stay.

North of the Canalino: the Traverse and the families

Toward Lido di Savio, the beaches are wider and can be reached via the Traverse numerate (numbered paths), the avenues that cut through the pine forest perpendicular to the sea. This is where the family-friendly beach resorts are concentrated, with swimming pools, kids' clubs, and play areas. The hotels are located on these same paths, so the beach is often within walking distance.

Practical tip: if you're traveling with small children, look for accommodation between the IV and XV Traversa: you can reach the beach in a few minutes, in the shade of the pine trees, without having to cross the center.

South of the Rotonda: the pedestrian promenade

From the Rotonda Primo Maggio (First May Roundabout) towards Cervia, the pedestrian promenade named "The Pioneers of Tourism" runs along the promenade, complete with a bike path and direct access to the beach. Between Viale Forlì and Via Zara, the path passes over a sand dune where the Gothic Line bunkers have been restored: they're there, just a few meters from the beach umbrellas, and almost no one notices.

Practical tip: The seafront is the perfect place for cycling, but get there early in the morning: from 10 a.m. onwards, in summer, there's a constant flow of people and the pace is slow.

Beach clubs: where the beach becomes a venue

Three or four establishments have made Milano Marittima famous far beyond Romagna. They aren't representative of the entire beach, but they are a part of its identity.

Papeete Beach (beaches 280bis and 281, via Traversa Terza Pineta) is more than just a beach resort, it's a brand: it produces clothing and records. By day, it has a gym, sports fields, a tropical bar, and a restaurant; after sunset, it becomes an open-air disco with happy hour and DJ sets. It's the most reviewed attraction in Milano Marittima.

Paparazzi Beach (beach 242, Viale Pietro Mascagni) is the epicenter of VIP watching, but it's also one of the most sporty beach resorts: beach volleyball, beach tennis, five-a-side football, basketball, fitness with instructors, a kids' club, and a lively aperitif. Bicio Papao (beach 276, Via Spalato) boasts a lounge bar and a designer restaurant, with a sunset aperitif as its highlight. The Attilio Beach Pleasure Club has a 120-seat lounge and an outdoor terrace with micro-misting sails.

Practical tip: If you want to see Papeete in the evening, arrive before sunset. After that, there's a long line to get in, and there's simply no more seating.

Family-friendly establishments

This is the part that surprises those who arrive with the idea of a worldly resort: most of the 77 beach resorts work with families, and some are real villages on the sand.

Bagno Holiday Village ( 305bis/306 ) has 110 meters of seafront, 400 umbrellas, two bars, a panoramic restaurant and two swimming pools heated with solar panels, one of which is 40 cm deep and designed for the little ones; in addition, there is a mini club, water aerobics and hydrobikes. Peperittima Beach Club ( 304/305 ) organizes its "Baby Beach" with group games, theater and workshops. Bagno Club Milano 273 has a very active junior club (treasure hunts, cooking workshops, birthday parties) and for adults yoga and water aerobics. At Rosen Beach 302bis they give children an anti-loss bracelet; Oscar 298 offers entertainment for children from 2 years old.

Practical tip: ask your hotel if they have a special agreement with a beach club. In Milano Marittima, this is the norm rather than the exception, and often includes an umbrella and loungers.

The two free beaches

There are two free beaches in Milano Marittima, and it's a good idea to know where they are before starting to look for them.

• The largest is that of the former Varese Colony, between the XIX and XXII Traversa: it is large and is equipped with a lifeguard service.
• The second is right in the centre, between Bagno Roma 269 and Bagno Mazzanti 268, a stone's throw from the Rotonda: smaller, but with showers and toilets.

Practical tip: In July and August, they fill up quickly. If you're aiming for the central free space, arrive by 9:00 AM; after that, you'll only find space in the back rows, away from the water.

Dogs on the beach: the real rules

Dogs are not allowed on the beach outside of authorized establishments, nor are they allowed to swim in the sea: this is established by the Emilia-Romagna Region's bathing ordinance. This isn't a rule you can circumvent by asking a lifeguard; you have to go where it's allowed.

In Milano Marittima, the best equipped beach establishment is Bagno del Pino 312, at XV Traversa, with a fenced-in area equipped with bowls, umbrellas, sunbeds, and a dog shower, as well as a baby club for children. A little further south, in Pinarella, are Bagno Giuliana (beach 121) and Delfino Village (127/131).

Practical tip: call the day before. Space in dog parks is limited, and they fill up on weekends in August.

Sports on the sand and in the water

Almost all the establishments have beach volleyball, beach tennis, basketball, soccer, bocce, and ping pong courts. Canoes are available for rent on the water, and sailing and water skiing lessons are available; the Circolo Nautico ( Yacht Club) is 1.7 km from the center, on the Cervia side. On the shoreline, early in the morning and at sunset, it's common to encounter yoga, Nordic walking, and SUP groups.

💡 Pro Tips

1. Choose the side based on who's traveling with you. North of the Canalino with kids, for wide beaches and resort-like bathing areas; south of the Rotonda if you want the seafront, biking, and evening strolls.
2. Book your umbrella for weekends in July and August. Many beach resorts allow you to book online: on central weekends, it's the only way to avoid settling for the last row.
3. For public beaches, hurry. By 9:00 AM, or you'll have to walk from afar, umbrella in hand.
4. If you're interested in Papeete, get there before sunset. The DJ set atmosphere starts at dawn, not late at night.
5. The pine tree is a service. During the peak hours, the stretch of pine forest behind the beach is the coolest spot you can find without spending a thing.

Practical information

• Bathing season: from June to September.
• Establishments: 77, with numbers from 235 to 340 (the one in Cervia continues).
• Free beaches: ex Colonia Varese (XIX–XXII Traversa, with lifeguard) and between Bagno Roma 269 and Bagno Mazzanti 268 (showers and toilets).
• Municipal coastline: 9 km in total, between Milano Marittima, Cervia, Pinarella and Tagliata.
• Dogs: allowed only in authorized establishments; in Milano Marittima, Bagno del Pino 312.
• Umbrella and sunbed prices vary from beach establishment to beach establishment and from year to year; for the most up-to-date price list, please contact the beach establishment directly.

Frequently asked questions about Milano Marittima beach

How many beach resorts are there in Milano Marittima?
There are 77 of them, listed in the official directory of the Municipality of Cervia and numbered from 235 to 340: the numbering continues that of the Cervia establishments along the same coastline, which in total measures 9 km.

Are there free beaches and where are they located?
Yes, there are two. The larger one is near the former Varese Colony, between the XIX and XXII Traversa, and is equipped with a lifeguard service. The second is central, between Bagno Roma 269 and Bagno Mazzanti 268, near the Rotonda Primo Maggio, with showers and toilets.

Can you bring dogs to the beach?
Only in authorized establishments: the Emilia-Romagna Region's bathing ordinance prohibits access and swimming in the sea elsewhere. In Milano Marittima, the designated area is at Bagno del Pino 312, at XV Traversa, with a fenced-in area, bowls, umbrellas, and a dog shower. In Pinarella, there are Bagno Giuliana and Delfino Village.

What is the best area for families?
The stretch north of the Canalino, the one served by the Traverse that cross the pine forest: the beaches are wider and there you will find the bathing establishments organised like villages, for example the Holiday Village 305bis/306 with two heated swimming pools, one of which is 40 cm deep for the little ones, and the Peperittima 304/305 with its Baby Beach.

When does the beach season start?
The season runs from June to September. Outside this period, the establishments are closed, but the beach and promenade remain accessible and are popular for walking and cycling.

What are Papeete and Paparazzi?
These are the two beach clubs that have made Milano Marittima famous. Papeete (beaches 280bis/281) is a brand that also produces clothing and records, and after sunset it becomes an open-air disco. Paparazzi (beaches 242) combines VIP watching with a wide range of sports, with beach volleyball, tennis, and five-a-side football courts and a kids' club.

Ultimately, the beach at Milano Marittima manages to be two things at once, without either one bothering the other: shallow water where children can stand for dozens of meters, and a few hundred meters away, a DJ who starts playing at sunset. In between, the shade of pine trees. Choose the right kilometer, and your vacation is already set.