Excursions from Milano Marittima

From Milano Marittima there is a lot you can do without a car: the Cervia salt pans with their flamingos, which can be visited from March to November and only with a guide; the pine forest with the Sentiero delle Terme (Thermal Baths Trail); the mini-cruise to the platforms 24 km from the coast, which leaves from the canal port ( €30 for adults); canoeing on the canal, from 1 to 3 hours; and Ravenna with its 8 UNESCO monuments, 20 minutes away by train.

Milano Marittima has an advantage not all seaside resorts have: it's all around. A salt pan that's a nature reserve, a pine forest with real trails, a port that leads to the open sea, and a city of art just twenty minutes away by train. If it rains, or if after three days under the umbrella you need a change, you've already got the plan.

On foot and by bike: the pine forest and the seafront

The Thermal Path

This is the simplest and most beautiful walk: about 2 km through the pine forest, starting from the Stadio dei Pini square on Via Ravenna, where parking is free. Along the route there are picnic areas, benches, and a "fitness trail" with equipment for outdoor workouts.

The pine forest has a network of paths with their own names: in addition to the Terme path, the Storno path and the right bank path that reaches Jelenia Gora street.

The seafront "The pioneers of tourism"

It's the official name of the new promenade, and it's worth walking along it knowing what you're looking at: the restored German bunkers of the Gothic Line, and the sand dune between Viale Forlì and Via Zara, an evolving natural environment that has been there for decades and that most bathers step over without noticing.

The official 72-hour itinerary

The municipality offers a three-day itinerary that's a good starting point if it's your first time: the pier at dawn, the seafront, the Rotonda Primo Maggio, the Art Nouveau villas, and Viale Gramsci on the first day; the pine forest and Jelenia Gora Park on the second; the spa and the Natural Park on the third.

Not far away, in Cervia, is the Parco del Gelso, with a monumental white mulberry tree: it is the last witness to the ancient silk tradition, when mulberry trees supported vines and nourished silkworms. The pine forest of Pinarella and Tagliata, planted in the early 20th century to protect the hinterland from sea winds, is home to picnic areas, fitness centers, and the ParcoLento.

Practical tip: hike the Sentiero delle Terme early in the morning. During the middle of August, the pine forest remains cool, but the trail is much busier.

The Cervia Salt Pans: the iconic excursion

Where: Cervia Salt Pan Visitor Center
When: March to November
How: on foot, by electric boat, by bicycle, by train and by canoe
Access: only with guided tour
Telephone: +39 0544 973040

The salt pan is not freely accessible: you can only enter with a guide, starting from the Visitor Center. This is a limitation worth accepting, because it is a nature reserve and because the explanation makes the difference between seeing the tanks and understanding why Cervia salt is "sweet."

The most popular excursion is the one on an electric boat, which lasts about an hour and a half: it's silent, making it ideal for spotting pink flamingos. There are also sunset and nighttime trips, and at the Salina Camillone, an open-air museum, salt workers demonstrate how salt is harvested by hand.

Practical tip: book your trip at sunset. This is when the flamingos are best seen and when the light on the tanks does the work for you.

At sea: the mini-cruise to the platforms

Where: Cervia canal harbour, Milano Marittima side (via Ruggero Leoncavallo)
When: Monday to Friday, departure 2pm, return around 5pm (closed on Saturdays)
Prices: €30 for adults, €15 for children up to 10 years old; tickets available on board.
Contacts: Alessandro +39 339 4332619 · Tiziana +39 333 3454558 · motonavenewghibli.com

The New Ghibli motor vessel takes you 24 km from the coast, where there are mussel farms and methane extraction platforms. During the trip, you look for dolphins (it happens, but it's not guaranteed) and you can hand-feed the seagulls. On the return trip, a fish snack is included.

The same operator organizes excursions to Rimini, Gabicce Mare and Cesenatico, and special evenings with fish dinners on board. For fishing tourism, there is the motor vessel Ofelia, which departs from the port of Cervia on the Milano Marittima side ( +39 334 7574797 ).

Practical tip: arrive 20 minutes before departure (tickets can only be purchased on board) and bring a hat, sunscreen, and a towel. The sun shines differently on the open sea.

Canoeing on the canal

Where: Canoe Kayak Club, Jelenia Gora 8/A, opposite the Casa delle Farfalle; accessible to disabled people
When: Open all year; season from March 1st to October 1st, 9am–1pm and 2 pm–sunset
Duration: 1 to 3 hours depending on the route
Contact: Angelo +39 333 9949985 · canoecervia@gmail.com

You can rent a canoe or take a guided excursion: out to sea, in the canal surrounding the salt pans, or to the mouth of the Bevano River. Along the way, you may spot herons and, if you're lucky, flamingos. The most beautiful excursion is the nighttime visit, which is available by reservation only.

Practical tip: Night canoeing must be booked days in advance. It's not an outing you can just whip up that afternoon.

The cities of art, in one day

Ravenna

It's the cultural excursion par excellence: a 20-minute train ride from Cervia–Milano Marittima station, or about twenty kilometers by car. Ravenna has eight UNESCO monuments; if you only have one day, the minimum itinerary is the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia, the Basilica of San Vitale, Dante's tomb, and the Classense Library.

Santarcangelo di Romagna

About 30 km, half an hour's drive: the underground tuff caves, the Malatesta Fortress, and the coastal viewpoint. This is Tonino Guerra 's homeland, and you can feel it.

Rimini

Ancient Ariminum: the Tiberius Bridge and the Surgeon's House, which preserves a collection of Roman medical instruments unique in the world.

Practical tip: take the train to Ravenna. It's a twenty-minute journey, with no parking problems in the historic center, and you can return whenever you like.

💡 Pro Tips

1. Salina at sunset. It's the best time for flamingos, and the heat has passed.
2. Night canoeing: book now. It's available by request only and is the most memorable excursion.
3. For the platforms, arrive 20 minutes early, wearing a hat and sunscreen. The ticket office is on board, and there's no shade in the open sea.
4. Ravenna by train. Twenty minutes from the Cervia-Milano Marittima station: parking in Ravenna's city center is the only difficult part of the day, and it's avoidable.
5. The pine forest is a hike you can do without planning anything. Free parking at the Stadio dei Pini and a two-kilometer trail make it a great last-minute plan.

Frequently asked questions about excursions

How do you visit the Cervia Salt Pans?
Guided tours only, departing from the Visitor Center (tel. +39 0544 973040). The season runs from March to November, and there are various options: on foot, by electric boat, by bicycle, by train, and by canoe. The boat trip lasts about an hour and a half.

How much does the motorboat trip to the platforms cost?
€30 for adults and €15 for children up to 10 years old, with a fish snack included on the return journey. Departures from the canal port on the Milano Marittima side from Monday to Friday at 2 pm (PH5), returning around 5 pm (PH6). Tickets can be purchased on board.

Can you see dolphins?
Yes, during the cruise to the platforms, 24 km from the coast, you can also go in search of dolphins. This isn't guaranteed; it depends on the day and a bit of luck.

Where do you go canoeing?
With the Canoe Kayak Club at Via Jelenia Gora 8/A: out to sea, in the canal surrounding the salt pans, or up to the mouth of the Bevano River. Trips last from 1 to 3 hours, and nighttime tours are also available, by reservation only. The base is accessible to the disabled.

How do you get to Ravenna without a car?
By train from Cervia–Milano Marittima station: the journey takes 20 minutes. Ravenna is home to eight UNESCO monuments, including the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia and the Basilica of San Vitale, as well as Dante's tomb.

What can you do when it rains?
Art cities work better with uncertain weather: Ravenna with its museums and mosaics, the MUSA - Museo del Sale in Cervia and the Cervia Thermal Baths, which remain open until December.

The beauty of these trips is that none of them require you to give up the sea: the salt pans at sunset, the motorboat in the afternoon, Ravenna in a morning. You always return in time for dinner in the pine forest.