The Riviera Romagnola: A charming family beach holiday in Italy

Last updated on June 4, 2026

Italy is a strong contender for the easiest place to holiday as a family in Europe. The food alone is a winner (I’ve rarely met a kid who doesn’t like pizza or pasta!). But the biggest win of all is the people and how much they love kids. It’s a place where kids are woven into daily life and welcomed with, often literal, open arms.

While this is true in much of Italy, our recent trip to the Romagna Riviera was one of the most family-friendly holidays we’ve ever had. On the coast of the Emilia-Romagna region, it’s long been popular with Italian holidaymakers, but is lesser known among international tourists. And that means it’s often quiet during the UK school holidays, so you can visit without the crowds. It’s an ideal family beach holiday in Italy.

Here’s our guide to how to visit the Romagna Riviera (or Riviera Romagnola as they say in Italian).

Disclosure: We visited the Romagna Riviera as part of a press trip with Emilia Romagna Tourism.

What’s the Riviera Romagnola like?

The Riviera Romagnola is one of the most popular beach holidays in Italy for Italians themselves, and as such it has a distinctly Italian vibe. It’s this, along with its plentiful natural beauty, that makes it so charming.

Pine-lined boulevards, manicured gardens and miles of coastline create a perfect holiday backdrop. And cute canal towns, hilltop villages and Roman ruins mean that culture and history are on the doorstep. There’s no end of family fun to be had with everything from theme parks to farms to treetop adventures.

At first glance, the riviera’s level of development, especially its sun lounger-laden beaches, could be compared to some of the classic ‘Brits abroad’ destinations – but it feels completely different. This is first and foremost an Italian holiday town, so you still get that cultural immersion.

Plus those orderly beaches make for a very easy beach holiday. The classic set-up includes a beach bar/restaurant, showers, changing rooms, play area and sun loungers, so you can set up in comfort for the day. We loved how easy it was. But if you want something more wild, there are empty beaches along the coast too.

I think many international tourists are sleeping on the Romagna Riviera as a holiday destination, so I’d go there quickly before the secret’s fully out!

Where to stay on the Riviera Romagnola

Here are some options for where to base yourself along the Riviera Romagna…

Milano Marittima

We based ourselves in Milano Marittima, a holiday town famous for its gorgeous gardens and pine-lined streets. It was created in the early 1900s as a ‘Garden City’ resort for Milan’s elite, and still has an elegant feel with grand Art Nouveau villas and flower-filled roundabouts amid the protected pine forest.

It’s well developed with hotel after hotel, but the trees, wide roads and historic architecture keep it looking attractive rather than overly built-up. It’s much smaller than Rimini, so nice and easy to navigate, and without the overwhelm of such a big resort. The beach is lined with beach bars and play areas, plus a handy promenade that’s perfect for cycling. I would definitely choose this again as a place to stay in the Riviera Romagna. Along with Riccione, it’s my top pick for families. I’ve shared more details in the accommodation section below, but we loved Hotel Aurelia.

Cervia

Cervia is right next to Milano Marittima, so much so that our hotel was actually closer to the centre of Cervia than Milano Marittima (a 5-minute cycle versus a 10-minute one!). The pretty canal town has been shaped by its famous salt pans, which are so renowned they even supply salt to the Vatican. The canal is lined with colourful boats, bars and restaurants that create a lovely atmosphere in the evenings when people sit outside along the waterfront. It’s very small, so I’d opt for Milano Marittima if you want to be closer to the action, but it’s a great place to visit, and could be a good option for couples who want to be away from the hubbub of Milano Marittima’s beaches.

Cesenatico

Cesenatico is one of the Riviera’s most attractive towns. Its picturesque harbour, lined with historic fishing boats, seafood restaurants and colourful buildings, is said to have been designed by Leonardo da Vinci, who at least drew it during his time in the region. In summer, the town comes alive with festivals, concerts and evening markets, giving it a lively atmosphere beyond the beach. While Cesenatico has all the family-friendly facilities you’d expect from the Romagna Riviera, it also retains a strong sense of place that makes it feel more authentic than some of the purpose-built resorts. I would still pick Milano Marittima for families, but this would be a good base for couples.

Rimini

Rimini is the largest and most famous resort on the Romagna Riviera. The beach stretches for around 15 kilometres and the scale of development is huge, with rows of hotels, restaurants and beach clubs running along the coast. It can feel busy, especially in summer, but there is more to Rimini than the beach. The attractive historic centre is full of Roman ruins, elegant piazzas and excellent restaurants, giving it far more character than many people expect. If you want lots of choice, nightlife and activities alongside your beach holiday, Rimini is an excellent choice. Personally, I liked it as a place to visit, but preferred the more relaxed vibe of Milano Marittima.

Riccione

Just south of Rimini, Riccione is often seen as its more stylish younger sibling. It has a reputation for fashionable beach clubs, designer shopping and a lively social scene, but it’s also very family-friendly. The beaches are excellent and there are several major attractions nearby, including water parks and theme parks. Riccione feels a little more polished and upmarket than Rimini while still retaining the fun, energetic atmosphere the Riviera is known for. I went on holiday here as a child with a friend’s big Italian family and have fond memories of the camaraderie and easy-going rhythm of an Italian seaside holiday. It’s part of the reason we returned.

Hotels on the Rivieria Romagnola

Hotel Aurelia

We stayed at the Hotel Aurelia in Milano Marittima, which we adored. It’s part of the family-run Batani group, which is famous for its warm Italian hospitality and elegant hotels. Set back from the seafront, it has beautiful gardens, a huge pool, tennis court and its own private beach with a bar and play area. It couldn’t be more convenient. The restaurant is also a highlight with a fabulous breakfast buffet and set menu every evening. You can choose B&B or half board. We also loved the bar where we ordered a poolside spritz every afternoon, which came with a whole tray of snacks alongside it.

Hotel Aurelia isn’t necessarily our usual style, but we were completely charmed by its Italian holiday vibe and wonderfully welcoming staff. The rooms are also excellent. Ours was a super spacious and comfortable suite with two separate bedrooms and a balcony looking out to sea.

If you use my code ‘BALLOONS10’ you can get 10% off your stay. Check prices and book now.

Other Batani hotels

It’s also worth looking at the other Batani Hotels nearby. There are three more in Milano Marittima, including the five-star Palace Hotel. In Cervia, Hotel Universal sits right on the seafront, and in nearby Cesenatico, there’s the magnificent Grand Hotel da Vinci. Finally, the Grand Hotel Rimini is an iconic sight on the seafront and looks like a fabulous place to stay.

Things to do in the Riviera Romagnola with kids

No matter where you stay on the Riviera Romagnola, there are beaches to enjoy and day trips to take. It’s full of fmaily-friendly activities. These are some of the best things to do in the Riviera Romagnola.

Beach days

Top of anyone’s agenda on a trip to the Adriatic coast has to be time on the beach. Italians love to organise the coast with orderly umbrella set-ups managed by miles of beach bars and restaurants. It’s an ideal arrangement for families as it makes everything super convenient with everything you need – shade, showers, toilets, changing rooms and food – all in one place. And pretty much all of them have play areas too. It makes for a super easy day at the beach.

If you want something more wild, there are empty stretches of sand to be found where you can simply lay down your towel, for example just north of Milano Marittima.

Hire bikes

All of the beach towns are well set up for cycling, so it’s a good idea to hire a bike. We loved being able to cycle up and down the beach promenade at Milano Marittima, making an adventure out of our trip to dinner or lunch. Lots of people also hire 4-person Surrey bikes as a way to sightsee and get around for an hour or two. Here are some bike hire places in Milano Marittima, Rimini and Riccione.

Italia in Miniatura

Italia in Miniatura far exceeded our expectations. We thought we were going to a simple mini village, but it actually has rides and play areas too. Plus the mini replica of Italy and all its famous landmarks are seriously impressive. I particularly loved how they’ve grown mini trees to match the different regions, a small detail that goes a long way in adding character and charm to the model. Our kids (age 5 and 8) adored this place and we easily spent half a day there. They particularly loved the log flume!

Miribilandia

The Riviera Romagnola is home to Italy’s biggest theme park, and this turned out to be one of the highlights of our trip. The kids are still talking about it now! Miribilandia is a big theme park with around 40 attractions for different ages, ranging from tiny train rides to full-on rollercoasters, the likes of which you’d see at Universal or any major theme park.

There’s an official Nickelodeon world, which is perfect for younger kids with different character theming including Paw Patrol, SpongeBob, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Our kids loved meeting SpongeBob!

At 6 and 8, Miribilandia was ideal for our kids as there are lots of medium-size rides, like rollercoasters and log flumes, that were a good bridge into the thrills of theme parks. There are also shows, including a K-Pop concert and Hot Wheels stunt show. And in the summer, there’s a neighbouring waterpark.

Oltremare and the Aquarium of Cattolica

If your kids love animals, this corner of the Riviera has two great options. Oltremare, in Riccione, is a theme park focused on nature, wildlife and science, with birds of prey, parrots and interactive exhibits. The indoor play areas and the biodome with crocodiles were favourites with our boys. There’s also a neighbouring waterpark, Aquafan, that’s open in the summer months. Please note that Oltremare also has a dolphin show, so it’s it’s up to you whether you wish to support that.

Meanwhile, the Aquarium of Cattolica is the largest aquarium on the Adriatic coast, home to sharks, penguins, jellyfish, crocodiles and more than 3,000 marine creatures. There’s enough variety to keep children entertained for a few hours, and it’s perfect for a rainy day.

Visit the Cervia Salt Pans

The Cervia Salt Pans are one of the area’s most distinctive landscapes and have been producing salt since Roman times. Today they’re part of a protected nature reserve where you can spot flamingos and other birdlife. Families can take a boat trip through the reserve or visit the Salt Museum in Cervia’s historic centre to learn more about the town’s centuries-old connection to salt production.

Explore San Leo

For a break from the beach, head inland to San Leo, one of the most beautiful villages in Italy. Dramatically perched on a rocky outcrop, the medieval town feels like something from a storybook. History-loving kids will enjoy exploring the enormous fortress at the top, while adults will appreciate the views across the surrounding countryside. It’s about an hour from the coast and makes a nice day trip. We stopped there en route to Emilia Romagna from Umbria.

Visit Santarcangelo di Romagna

One of our favourite day trips from the coast was Santarcangelo di Romagna, a beautiful hill town around 20 minutes from Milano Marittima. With its cobbled streets, colourful houses, hidden courtyards and pretty piazzas, it’s wonderfully atmospheric and reminded me of Tuscany. There are plenty of cafés, pavement restaurants and gelaterias where you can soak up local life. Our kids loved spotting the mysterious underground caves beneath the town!

Treetop adventures

If your family enjoys a bit of adventure, there are several treetop parks in the pine forests behind the coast. Courses typically include rope bridges, zip lines and climbing challenges of varying difficulty, making them suitable for a wide range of ages. It’s a nice, often shady, way to experience the region’s famous pine woods while burning off some energy. We did some of the smaller ones in Oltremare and Italia in Miniatura, which only cost €3 a pop!

Casa delle Farfalle (Butterfly House)

In the park beside Milano Marittima, the Butterfly House is a tropical greenhouse filled with hundreds of free-flying butterflies from around the world. And there are also insects, reptiles and educational exhibits. It’s not huge, but it’s an easy and enjoyable stop, especially for younger children.

A charming family holiday in Italy

In short, we adored our trip to Emilia Romagna and the Riviera Romagnola. It’s one of the most charming family beach holidays in Italy. Just let me know if you have any questions…