Cesenatico Excursions: Our Tips for Families
Are you planning excursions with children for your vacation in Cesenatico and looking for tips? Then you should definitely keep reading. We share our favorite family-friendly excursions and insider tips.
Are you planning excursions with children for your vacation in Cesenatico and looking for tips? Then you should definitely keep reading. As a family, we vacationed in June at the Cesenatico Camping Village and extensively explored the surroundings (by the way, here is our experience report on Cesenatico Camping Village). The Italian Adriatic has so much to offer that it would be a shame to spend all your time just by the pool or at the beach. From historical towns with many attractions to amusement parks and breathtaking nature, there is plenty to experience here. We will share our favorite family-friendly excursions and insider tips in this article. All are easily accessible from the camping site in Cesenatico.
Table of Contents:
- Cesenatico Old Town: Experience Maritime Flair
- Why a visit to Cesenatico's Old Town is worthwhile with children
- Vegetarian Dining in Cesenatico
- Atlantica Water Park: Action for Kids
- Excursions for the Whole Family: Mirabilandia Amusement Park
- Cervia Salt Pans: Nature and Flamingos
- Ravenna: Mosaic Art and World Heritage
- Rimini: A Piece of Roman History
Cesenatico Old Town: Here You Can Experience Maritime Flair
Since we rented bicycles at the camping site, we definitely wanted to ride to the Old Town of Cesenatico. It is just a few minutes away by bike from the camping site and is definitely worth a visit. We loved discovering attractions in Cesenatico together as a family, taking plenty of photos as memories, and trying out restaurants.
In our opinion, it is also interesting for children to experience Cesenatico's Old Town & Co. But be sure to plan enough breaks in the shade if you are traveling with small children and always stay close to them, as the banks of the canal harbor are not secured everywhere.
Why a Visit to Cesenatico's Old Town is Worthwhile with Children
- Historical Harbor of Cesenatico (Porto Canale Leonardesco): designed by Leonardo da Vinci, today the heart of the Old Town
- Colorful fishing boats & historical sailing ships at the Museo della Marineria (also accessible from outside)
- Stroll along the canal with short paths (ideal for families with children)
- Many cafés, ice cream parlors & restaurants directly by the water (including vegetarian options)
- Small alleys & squares with typical Italian flair
- Especially beautiful in the evening: When the lights reflect in the canal, a very special atmosphere is created
- Well combinable with beach or ice cream breaks (not a classic "exhausting" city trip)
- Child-friendly: plenty to see without long explanations or museum visits
- Perfect for half a day or as a relaxed evening outing
- Central location & easily accessible from the camping site (by car or bike)
Cesenatico Excursions: Our Tips and Experiences
Historical Harbor in Cesenatico
Particularly worth seeing and one of the most famous attractions in Cesenatico is the Porto Canale Leonardesco, designed by Leonardo da Vinci. During a guided tour, we learned exciting stories about the historical harbor and the old ships in the Maritime Museum. But exploring on your own is also worthwhile.
The picturesque backdrop offers plenty of photo opportunities, such as the town hall or the Piazza delle Conserve. You can simply let yourself be carried away by the maritime flair of the old fishing village or settle down in a restaurant right by the water and let the evening wind down in a relaxed manner.
Evenings on the harbor promenade in Cesenatico with a view of the town hall
Cesenatico: Piazza delle Conserve
The Piazza delle Conserve used to serve as a kind of cold storage for food storage. The old, traditional houses in the background with their colorful colors provide a great contrast. Eating ice cream is, of course, a must during our vacation in Italy. And we highly recommend the ice cream at Il Gelato di Jessica on Viale Carducci 46/a. She uses high-quality, natural ingredients, and there is a great selection of ice cream flavors. My favorites: Mango and Pistachio!
Delicious ice cream in Cesenatico at Il Gelato di Jessica
The historical Porto Canale in Cesenatico
Ciotolina: Vegetarian Dining in Cesenatico
A real highlight for us in Cesenatico and an absolute insider tip was dinner at the vegetarian restaurant Ciotolina in Piazza delle Erbe 9. Very delicious, creative dishes prepared with fresh ingredients and absolutely recommended!
Vegetarian dining in Cesenatico at Ciotolina
Cesenatico vegetarian restaurant Ciotolina
The restaurant is decorated with many loving details and exudes a very special charm. I was able to exchange a few words with the owner, and you can really tell how much passion and love is put into this restaurant. My tip: Don't miss out on the delicious dessert!
Vegetarian restaurant in Cesenatico: Ciotolina
Delicious cake and dessert at Ciotolina in Cesenatico
Atlantica Water Park: Action for Kids
Children's pool with water slides at Atlantica Water Park in Cesenatico
The Atlantica Water Park in Cesenatico (here is the website) is just a few minutes by bike from the camping site. For children, it is a real paradise, as there are large pools, colorful slides, and enough space for a whole day of water fun. A perfect excursion destination for hot summer days when you are looking for a change from the beach.
Paid sun loungers and umbrellas
Eating and drinking at Atlantica Water Park
Is Atlantica Water Park in Cesenatico Worth It with Kids?
- Large water park in Cesenatico with many slides and children's areas
- Very family-friendly: attractions for different age groups
- Shallow children's pools & play areas (perfect for younger children)
- Slides & action areas for older children and teenagers
- Sunbathing areas & shaded spots to relax between swimming breaks
- Snack bars & restaurants on-site (ideal for a day trip)
- Easily accessible from the camping site (depending on accommodation, even by bike)
- Perfect for summer heat (cooling off guaranteed)
- Half-day or full-day excursion possible
Water slides at Atlantica Water Park
Atlantica Water Park in Cesenatico
The Atlantica Water Park in Cesenatico was a welcome refreshment on a hot vacation day for us. I particularly found it practical that the park is very clear and offers both quieter areas to relax (large sunbathing area with shade-giving trees) and plenty of action for kids. The sun loungers and umbrellas around the pools are, by the way, subject to a fee. Therefore, we brought our own folding chairs and a picnic blanket and found a shady spot on the sunbathing area.
Our daughter especially enjoyed the slides. For hunger in between, there are also snacks available for purchase on-site. The water park is certainly a bit dated, but we still had a great time there. For families vacationing in Cesenatico during the summer, the Atlantica Water Park is definitely a relaxed half- to full-day excursion.
Cesenatico Excursions for the Whole Family: Mirabilandia Amusement Park
Another highlight of our family vacation in Cesenatico was our visit to the Mirabilandia Amusement Park near Ravenna. We drove about 20 minutes by car from Cesenatico to get there. With over 40 attractions in six themed areas, Mirabilandia is the second-largest amusement park in Italy. You can find information about the attractions and admission prices on the park's website. By the way, the largest amusement park in Italy is Gardaland, which I wrote about in my article on excursion tips at Lake Garda.
Amusement park in Italy: Mirabilandia
Master Thai roller coaster at Mirabilandia amusement park
We spent a whole day at Mirabilandia and had a lot of fun. Even though it was sometimes very exhausting in the Italian summer heat. It’s best to choose a weekday, as it’s not as crowded then. Because waiting for the attractions in the heat can be very tiring. And don’t forget sun protection!
Nickelodeon Land in Mirabilandia