These Emilia-Romagna Beaches Are Italy’s Summer Classic

The Riviera Romagnola is one of the great classics of the Italian summer: long beaches, fine sand, shallow seabeds, equipped beach clubs and destinations where the sea is experienced from breakfast until evening. From Marina di Ravenna, among the most colorful villages in Italy, to Bellaria Igea Marina, from the Lidi di Comacchio to Riccione and Gatteo a Mare, the beaches of Emilia-Romagna remain a safe choice for families, couples and groups of friends.

In 2026, the beaches of Emilia-Romagna count as many as 11 Blue Flag destinations, with Rimini once again among the awarded municipalities. But the real reason to choose it remains its simple and well-tested formula: an easy seaside experience, services everywhere, hotels close to the beach, activities for children, sports, venues and that Italian holiday atmosphere that here continues to work summer after summer.

The beaches of Emilia-Romagna are the most recognizable face of summer on the Adriatic: wide sandy shores, shallow seabeds, organized beach clubs, sports, restaurants by the sea and destinations where it is easy to move from a day on the beach to an evening on the seafront.

In this guide you will find the most suitable destinations to experience the Riviera in 2026: from the quieter beach resorts near Ravenna and Comacchio to the family-friendly beaches of Bellaria Igea Marina and Gatteo a Mare, up to the great classics such as Rimini, Riccione and Cervia.

Here are the beaches and destinations you will find in the article:

• Marina di Ravenna

• Bellaria Igea Marina

• Lidi di Comacchio

• Riccione

• Gatteo a Mare

• Rimini

• Cervia

Surrounded by a thick pinewood forest, Marina di Ravenna is the oldest beach on the coast of the former Byzantine capital. It is a dynamic, modern resort, suitable for both young people and older people.

It is also known as the first of the South Lidi, a series of seaside resorts located south of the Candiano, a canal that connects Ravenna to the Adriatic Sea.

Services available:  Equipped beach clubs with umbrellas, sunbeds, bars, restaurants and sports fields, including beach volleyball, beach tennis, basketball and five-a-side football. 

How to reach it:  By car, you arrive via the A14, Ravenna exit, then follow the direction to the sea. By train, get off at Ravenna FS and continue by bus towards Marina di Ravenna. In summer, the Navetto Mare is also active, connecting the car parks in via Trieste and via del Marchesato with the seafront and the ferry. 

Local tips:  Use the park-and-ride car parks and the Navetto Mare on summer weekends: you avoid traffic and the search for a parking spot near the beach clubs. Marina di Ravenna is a good choice if you are looking for beach life during the day and seaside venues in the evening. 

Thirty-five kilometers south of Ravenna, in the province of Rimini, Bellaria Igea Marina is another renowned tourist destination of the Romagna Riviera.

As well as being a place of leisure, entertainment, and sport, Bellaria Igea Marina is known for being one of the first places to be awarded the Blue Flag, a national prize for its clean water and beach.

Services available:  Equipped family-friendly beaches, beach clubs with play areas, entertainment, bars, restaurants and several pet-friendly services. 

How to reach it:  By car, you arrive from the A14, Rimini Nord-Bellaria exit. By train, you can get off at Bellaria or Igea Marina stations. 

Local tips:  If you are traveling with your dog, check the beach club in advance: the 2026 bathing ordinance confirms attention to four-legged friends, but rules and spaces can change from one beach club to another. 

Also called Lidi Ferraresi, the Lidos of Comacchio are seven seaside resorts located in Ferrara's province. Among the most beautiful beaches of Romagna, they are: Lido di Volano, Lido di Pomposa, Lido delle Nazioni, Lido degli Scacchi, Porto Garibaldi, Lido degli Estensi, and Lido di Spina.

Real scenic wonders, pearls of the Adriatic coast, the beaches of the Lidos of Comacchio are a must for anyone wishing to enjoy the sea breeze of the Romagna Riviera.

Services available:  Beach clubs, family-friendly beaches, restaurants, evening venues, camper areas and different services depending on the lido you choose. 

How to reach them:  By car: A13, Ferrara Sud exit, then the Ferrara-Porto Garibaldi link road to Comacchio. By train, the nearest stations are Ferrara, Ostellato, Codigoro and Ravenna, connected to the Lidi by bus. 

Local tips:  Choose the lido according to the type of holiday: Pomposa and Scacchi are more family-oriented, Volano and Nazioni are more suitable for nature and sports, while Estensi and Spina work better if you are also looking for venues and nightlife. 

A real open-air playground, Riccione is the funniest destination on the Romagna Riviera, famous for being one of the most popular tourist destinations for young tourists looking for entertainment.

The town in the province of Rimini has much more to offer: wonderful beaches, kilometers of golden sand, and bathing establishments among the most modern of the Peninsula.

Services available:  Modern beach clubs with sunbeds, umbrellas, bars, restaurants, entertainment, beach sports, children’s areas and family-friendly services. 

How to reach it:  By car, you arrive from the A14, Riccione exit. By train, the station is in the city center; to move between Rimini and Riccione you can also use the Metromare. 

Local tips:  In high season, avoid looking for parking directly on the seafront: consider more internal or structured car parks and then reach the beach on foot, by bus or with local shuttles. Riccione is perfect if you want to alternate sea, shopping in Viale Ceccarini and nightlife. 

It is the ideal vacation destination for those interested in spending pleasant vacations. Gatteo a Mare, located along the Romagna Riviera, is the perfect place for a family and friends holiday. During the day, the beaches of Gatteo offer all kinds of entertainment and animation, while at night the lidos liven up to the sound of liscio (an Italian ballroom dancing). This popular town is famous all over Italy for being the homeland of liscio, and every summer it organizes events and liscio dance shows.

In addition, Gatteo a Mare is about 10 km from Gatteo a Mare ancient town, easily accessible by car. Founded in the Middle Ages with the name of Fundus Catei, and home of an important Malatesta castle, the town offers the opportunity to visit its historically important buildings.

Services available:  Equipped beaches with family-friendly beach clubs, entertainment, playgrounds, beach volleyball, beach tennis and activities for children and teenagers. 

How to reach it:  By car, you arrive from the A14, Valle del Rubicone exit. By train, you can get off at Gatteo a Mare station, on the Rimini-Ravenna coastal line. 

Local tips:  Gatteo a Mare is a good choice if you are looking for a simple and family-friendly holiday, with beach life during the day and evening events. Also dedicate a few hours to the historic village of Gatteo, about 10 km from the coast. 

Rimini, here is the great classic of the Riviera Romagnola, a seaside city where the beach is only part of the experience. The city of Federico Fellini, one of the greatest Italian directors, who shot Amarcord, I Vitelloni and 8½ in Rimini.

Here you find kilometers of sand, equipped beach clubs, venues, restaurants, sports, nightlife and a historic center that allows you to easily alternate sea and culture. In 2026, Rimini also returned among the Blue Flag destinations of Emilia-Romagna, strengthening its role among the symbolic destinations of summer on the Adriatic.

Services available:  Equipped beach clubs, free beaches, restaurants, bars, sports areas, entertainment, family services and nightlife on the seafront. 

How to reach it:  By car, you arrive from the A14, Rimini Nord or Rimini Sud exits. By train, Rimini station is close to the center and connected to the sea by buses and local services. To move towards Riccione, you can also use the Metromare. 

Local tips:  Rimini works well if you want to combine beach and city: in the morning the sea, in the afternoon the historic center between the Tiberius Bridge, the Arch of Augustus and Borgo San Giuliano, in the evening dinner or a walk on the seafront. In high season, consider buses, bikes or the Metromare to avoid traffic and full car parks. 

Cervia is the right choice if you are looking for a more family-friendly and less hectic Riviera Romagnola compared to the major nightlife hubs. Alongside the wide and well-organized beach there is a compact historic center, born around the Magazzini del Sale. Splendid buildings recently redeveloped, which today host a museum where you can discover the history of Cervia’s salt pan.

Around the town you will discover a rare natural landscape, ideal for walks and nature adventures. The two most recommended destinations are: the Saline di Cervia, with their mountains of sweet salt, and the natural oasis, an unspoiled place where you can spend a few hours and also observe pink flamingos and other bird species.

Services available:  Equipped beach clubs, free beaches, bars, restaurants, sports areas, family services and bike rental. 

How to reach it:  By car, you arrive from the A14, exiting at Cesena or Ravenna and continuing towards Cervia. By train, you can get off at Cervia-Milano Marittima station, close to the center and connected to the seafront. 

Local tips:  After the beach, visit the Magazzini del Sale and plan an excursion to the Saline di Cervia: at sunset they are one of the most evocative places in the area. 

Rimini and Riccione are the most suitable destinations if you want to alternate beach, restaurants, venues, shopping and evening walks along the seafront.

Bellaria Igea Marina, Gatteo a Mare, Cervia and the Lidi di Comacchio are among the most convenient choices: shallow seabeds, equipped beach clubs, entertainment and services designed for children.

June and September are ideal if you are looking for fewer crowds and more manageable temperatures. July and August are the liveliest months, perfect if you want to fully experience beach clubs, events and nightlife.