Aquafan Water Park's Evening Sessions
Aquafan — one of Europe's largest water parks, open since 1986 just off the Via Flaminia on Riccione's western edge — is hardly a secret by day, but its evening programme is genuinely overlooked by foreign visitors. From around 9 pm in July and August, the park transforms into an open-air club-meets-water-park with live acts, DJs, laser shows and warm pools, and the crowd shifts from families to a
The Daytime Park
By day, Aquafan's 80,000 square metres contain wave pools, a lazy river, kamikaze slides and the Onda su Onda — a surfing simulator that draws a queue from opening time. The park is genuinely well-run: clean, well-staffed and with enough shade structures that it does not become unbearable even in peak August heat.
Arrive at opening (10 am) to get the biggest slides without queuing; the park fills rapidly by noon in July and August. Lockers, towel rental and a range of food outlets (including a surprisingly decent pizza station) are all on-site.
The Evening Transformation
The evening ticket (available from around 7 pm) is significantly cheaper than the full-day pass and gives access to the heated pools, the wave pool and the full entertainment programme. The atmosphere is carnivalesque and very Italian — think groups of friends in matching swimwear, elaborate hairstyles and an enthusiasm for dancing in water that is infectious.
The laser and light shows over the wave pool run at intervals through the night and are genuinely spectacular from the upper terraces of the park. Book evening tickets online in advance — they sell out on weekends in August.
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