What to do in Milano Marittima

Milano Marittima boasts 45 experiences worth exploring, and they're not all on the beach: 11 activities between sea and sand, 8 downtown, including Art Nouveau and shopping, 9 in the pine forest and surrounded by nature, 4 for families, 7 for wellness and sports, 4 for food and wine, and 2 for nightlife. This guide lists them all, including distances, opening times, and everything you need to know before you go.

Milano Marittima has a unique feature that no other town on the Riviera offers: salt marshes with flamingos, kayaking in the pine forest, a 27-hole golf course, and a town center made up of Art Nouveau villas from 1912. You can spend a week here without ever repeating a day.

On the beach and in the sea

1. Choose your establishment among the 77 on the coast

Along 4 km of coastline, there are 77 beach resorts, numbered from 235 to 340, and they vary greatly: fashionable, family-friendly, and sporty. Choosing the right one is more important than any other holiday decision. Tip: ask your hotel if they have a special offer: in Milano Marittima, this is the norm.

2. A day at Papeete Beach

Bagni 280bis/281: This is Italy's best-known beach club and the most reviewed attraction in the area. DJ sets from early afternoon, parties, a restaurant, and a gym. After sunset, it becomes an open-air disco. Tip: arrive before sunset; afterward, it's difficult to get in.

3. Paparazzi Beach

Bagno 242, Viale Pietro Mascagni: the other historic, fashionable beach club, where VIP watching coexists with serious sports facilities (beach volleyball, tennis, five-a-side football, basketball) and a mini-club for children.

4. Aperitif at sunset

It's a local institution: it's held on the sand overlooking the sea, or downtown under the pine trees. No reservations required, and no need to dress: it's the moment when the day changes gear.

5. SUP, hydrofoil and pedal boats

They can be rented directly at the establishments, without reservation. Tip: SUP early in the morning, when the sea is flat and there are no motorboat waves.

6. A sailing course at the Circolo Nautico

Summer courses for adults and children. The Circolo Nautico is 1.7 km from the center, on the Cervia side. For younger children, the Amici della Vela (Friends of Sailing) offers courses for ages 7 to 13 from June to September.

7. Beach volleyball, beach tennis, basketball, teqball, bowls and table tennis

Almost all establishments have at least one court, and many organize evening tournaments. Tip: Courts can be reserved at the beach resort the same morning, not before.

8. Yoga on the beach and in the pine forest

At dawn on the shoreline or in the shade of the pine trees: it's one of the must-do summer activities, along with Nordic walking along the seafront.

9. Lunch or dinner at a restaurant on the sand

"Restaurant by the sea" is one of the official filters used to search for beach establishments: there are many, and many remain open in the evenings even to those without an umbrella.

10. The walk along the new seafront

It's called "The Pioneers of Tourism" and it's not just a stroll: between Viale Forlì and Via Zara there's a sand dune with restored bunkers and "dragon's teeth" from the Second World War. At the I Traversa, where the canal meets the sea, there's the statue of the Madonna del Mare by Alessandro Savelli.

11. The two free beaches

They are at the former Varese Colony (between XIX and XXII Traversa, with lifeguard service) and in the city center, between Bagno Roma 269 and Bagno Mazzanti 268, with showers and toilets. Tip: in summer, arrive by 9:00 AM.

Downtown, culture and shopping

12. From the Rotonda Primo Maggio along Viale Gramsci

It is the promenade that defines the town: from the roundabout, the heart of Milano Marittima, you enter Viale Gramsci, a pedestrian area, which locals call the "open-air shopping centre".

13. Shopping in boutiques

Big brands and well-kept shop windows, also open in the evening: this is the glamorous side of the place, and on summer evenings it is the main pastime between dinner and the bar.

14. The Artists' Alley

From June to September, along the canal: design, craftsmanship, and art on display outdoors. It's one of those things you encounter while walking, without having to plan it.

15. The flowerbeds of Cervia Garden City

From May to September, the area becomes a sprawling flower show: the flowerbeds are designed and created by gardeners from all over Europe.

16. On the hunt for Art Nouveau villas

Milano Marittima was founded in 1912 as a "Garden City" designed by Giuseppe Palanti, and the Art Nouveau villas among the pine trees are all that remains of that plan. There's an official Art Nouveau itinerary for the destination. Tip: do it in the morning, when the light filters through the pine trees.

17. Brückner's Model

Adriano Bimbi 's sculpture, with the mosaic fountain, stands halfway along Viale Gramsci: it's the spot where everyone stops to take a photo without really knowing what it is.

18. The Stella Maris Church

It's on the town's official "must see" list, and it's a short stop that fits well into a stroll downtown.

19. "The sirens' song is not enough"

Valerio Berruti 's monumental sculpture on the northern quay of the canal port, inaugurated in August 2025. It is the photographic stop between Cervia and Milano Marittima.

Pine forest and nature

20. Walk or cycle in the centuries-old pine forest

The main entrance is at the Stadio dei Pini, on Via Ravenna, where parking is free. The pine forest is part of the Po Delta Park and is the feature that distinguishes this town from all the others on the coast.

21. The life path

An open-air gym among the pine trees, with equipment along the path. Free, and shaded even at midday.

22. The Natural Park and the Old Farm

32 hectares of pine forest with an expanded animal area since 2014: sheep, goats, donkeys, ponies, and birds. There is a botanical trail, picnic areas, and a café.

23. CerviAvventura

Suspended paths among the pine trees with harnesses and difficulty levels divided by age group, including adults. Located within the Natural Park, open from spring to autumn.

24. The Casa delle Farfalle

Tropical Greenhouse on Jelenia Gora Street, about a 1km walk from the city center: hundreds of free-flying butterflies, an Insect House, and a Butterfly Garden. Admission from €14, open from March to autumn. Tip: Dress in red or blue, as they're the colors that attract them.

25. Canoeing and kayaking on the canal

With the Canoe Kayak Club at Via Jelenia Gora 8/A, you can go out along the pine forest canal and the salt pan canals, all the way to the Camillone Salt Pan, passing by the fishing huts. Trips last from 1 to 3 hours; a night version is also available, upon reservation.

26. The salt flats at sunset, with flamingos

The reserve covers 827 hectares and is the northernmost salt pan in Italy. Access is only possible with a guided tour from the Visitor Center ( +39 0544 973040 ), on foot, by bike, by train, or by electric boat; the tour lasts about an hour and a half. Night tours are also available. Tip: go at sunset, when the birds are best seen.

27. The dunes at the mouth of the Bevano

Protected area to the north, beyond the free beaches of Lido di Classe: one of the last stretches of Adriatic coast remaining as it was.

28. The Paths of the Po Delta

The Via Romea Germanica and the Via Popilia pass through Cervia and the salt pans: an itinerary of approximately 400 km in 19 stages, of which the section of interest can be travelled here.

Families and children

29. Mirabilandia

11 km away, about 15 minutes away: Italy's largest amusement park, with 44 attractions and the Mirabeach water park next door. There's a direct bus, line 176.

30. Italia in Miniatura

In Viserba di Rimini, about 20 km away: over 270 scale monuments. Works best with elementary school children.

31. Aquafan and Oltremare

In Riccione, about 40 km away: the two large parks of the southern Riviera, worth considering as a full-day trip.

32. Beaches with play areas and entertainment

"Children's play area" is an official filter in the directory of establishments: there are many, and several have miniclubs, baby dances, and workshops.

Wellness and sport

33. The Cervia Thermal Baths in the pine forest

They use the Mother Water and Liman Mud from the salt pan; the salinity in the pools is at least 6° Baumé, three times that of the sea, and in the hypertonic pool you float like in the Dead Sea. 2026 season: from May 4th to December 19th. Official website termedicervia.it.

34. A spa in a hotel or on the beach

Many hotel spas are also open to non-guests: the Dolce Vita Spa at the Palace, for example, welcomes non-guests every day from 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM by reservation.

35. Golf at the Adriatic Golf Club

27 holes, the first course on the Riviera, nestled between a pine forest and the sea, playable year-round. There are lessons for beginners and a restaurant with a terrace.

36. Tennis

The Cervia-Milano Marittima Tennis Club was founded in 1974 and offers courses for children aged 4 and up; there's also the Mare e Pineta Tennis Center.

37. Horseback riding at the "Le Siepi" equestrian center

It is considered a center of excellence for Italian equestrianism and hosts high-level events.

38. Bikes on the seafront and in the avenues

The seafront has a bike path, and the internal avenues are flat and tree-lined: it's the most natural way to get around here. Tip: with children, rent a bike with a child seat.

39. Jogging and Nordic walking

On the firm shoreline in the morning or on the seafront: they are on the official list of the locality's activities, and for good reason.

Gastronomy

40. Piadina in the kiosks

Also try the seafood version, with sardines. It's the cheapest lunch you'll remember the most.

41. A cooking class with the azdore

Azdore are the landladies of Romagna, and they teach how to make pasta by hand. Hotels and the Pro Loco organize them; just ask at reception.

42. The MUSA and the sweet salt of Cervia

The Salt Museum tells the thousand-year history of "white gold": here, whole sea salt is called sweet because it's free of bitter components. It's also the perfect plan B for a rainy day.

43. Aperitif in the seaside village of Cervia

The fishermen's houses, the historic boats and the cocktail bars on the canal harbour: it's the quietest evening you can have in these parts.

Nightlife

44. Parties and DJ sets in beach clubs

Papeete and Paparazzi above all: a typical day here means beach, aperitif and partying until the evening, without ever changing.

45. An evening among street bars and discos

Zouk Santana at Via Milano 24 is the longest-running street bar in the area; Villa Papeete is a dinner club in a 19th-century villa with a swimming pool; Pineta by Visionnaire has been a VIP club since the 1960s, with select doormanship and medium-high prices.

If you have a day: trips within an hour

Ravenna and its UNESCO mosaics ( 20 km, or 20 minutes by train), Cervia with its salt village, Cesena and the Malatestiana Library ( 25 km ), Faenza and its ceramics ( 48 km ), Forlimpopoli, home of Artusi, Bertinoro and its wines ( 29 km ), Brisighella, Santarcangelo di Romagna, San Leo, San Marino, Montebello with the ghost of Azzurrina ( 45 km ) and Sarsina, the city of Plautus ( 57 km ).

💡 Pro Tips

1. Choose your beach before your hotel, or at least together. Out of 77 establishments, the difference between a high-end one and a family-friendly one is your entire vacation.
2. Nature experiences must be booked. Salina, night canoeing, and motorboat trips can't be arranged on the same day.
3. Use the pine forest as air conditioning. From 1 pm to 4 pm in August, it's the coolest place in town and it costs nothing.
4. Sunset is the perfect time for almost everything: salt flats, aperitifs, cycling along the seafront, and beach clubs.
5. Save a day for Ravenna. A twenty-minute train ride and eight UNESCO monuments: it's the added value that other Riviera towns lack.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much can you do in Milano Marittima?
In this guide you will find 45 of them, including the beach, the historic centre and Art Nouveau, pine forest and nature, families, wellbeing and sport, gastronomy and nightlife, plus trips within an hour to Ravenna and the inland villages.

What's there to do in Milano Marittima besides the beach?
The centuries-old pine forest with trails, a fitness trail, and a 32-hectare Natural Park; the salt pans with flamingos, which can only be visited with a guide; the Cervia Thermal Baths; the 27-hole golf course; the hunt for the 1912 Art Nouveau villas; and Mirabilandia, 11 km away.

What do you do when it rains?
The MUSA - Museo del Sale in Cervia, the indoor Casa delle Farfalle, the Cervia Thermal Baths (open until December), and a day in Ravenna among basilicas and mosaics.

What is the most famous attraction?
Papeete Beach, the beach club at bathing establishments 280bis/281, followed by the pine forest and the Casa delle Farfalle. But the resort's defining feature remains the combination: the sea and the pine forest, just a few dozen meters apart.

What makes Milano Marittima different from other towns on the Riviera?
The combination: salt marshes with flamingos, kayaking in the pine forest, a 27-hole golf course, and a center of Art Nouveau villas built in 1912 as Città Giardino. No other town on the Romagna coast has all four.

Forty-five things is more than you'll do in a single vacation, and that's exactly the point: you keep coming back. The first time you're on the beach, the second you're exploring the pine forest, the third you're booking an electric boat in the salt pan at sunset, and you understand why those who have been coming here for years never change their destination.