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FrançaisRimini pairs 15 km (9.3 mi) of Adriatic beach with a walkable Roman and Renaissance old town, and it was Federico Fellini’s hometown, which shows up everywhere from mural-covered streets to a dedicated museum inside a 15th-century castle. This guide covers the historic centre, the beaches, Fellini’s Rimini, and San Marino as a day trip, with current prices for everything that charges admission.
The historic centre: Roman Rimini and the Malatesta era
Walking Rimini’s old town covers roughly 2,000 years of history in a compact, pedestrian-friendly area, so most of the sights below sit within a 10-15 minute walk of each other and of the train station.
Ponte di Tiberio, a Roman bridge spanning the Marecchia River, connects the old town to the Borgo San Giuliano district. Emperor Augustus started construction in 14 AD and Tiberius finished it in 21 AD, giving the bridge its name; it survived the Battle of Rimini intact and is still open to pedestrians, cyclists and light traffic today. It is especially worth crossing at sunset, when its arches reflect in the water.
Borgo San Giuliano, just across the bridge, began as a fishing village around 1000 AD and today is one of Rimini’s most photographed neighbourhoods. Its pastel houses carry murals depicting scenes from Fellini’s films, since the director grew up nearby and drew on the district’s residents and atmosphere for his work; older houses also carry painted ceramic plaques naming the fishermen who once lived there. The narrow, mostly pedestrian streets make it a good area for an unhurried walk, gelato in hand, and every other September the neighbourhood hosts the Festa de Borg street festival.
Piazza Tre Martiri, the old town’s main square, sits on the site of the Roman forum of Ariminum, founded in 268 BC; sections of the original Roman paving are visible under glass in the modern square. The square takes its current name from three partisans executed there by German forces in August 1944, and a 16th-century column with a statue of Julius Caesar marks the spot where he is said to have addressed his troops after crossing the Rubicon nearby.
Piazza Cavour, a five-minute walk away, was Rimini’s second Roman forum and is now framed by the 13th-century Palazzo dell’Arengo, the Gothic Palazzo del Podestà, and the 19th-century Teatro Amintore Galli. The Fontana della Pigna at its centre dates to 1543 and was admired by Leonardo da Vinci, according to local accounts.
Castel Sismondo, a short walk from Piazza Cavour, is a 15th-century fortress built for Sigismondo Pandolfo Malatesta with help from architect Filippo Brunelleschi. Its red-and-white facade mixes Gothic and early Renaissance details, and the castle now houses the Fellini Museum (see below), which gives it a reason to go inside rather than just admire the towers from outside.
Arco d’Augusto, at the southern edge of the old town, is the oldest surviving Roman arch in northern Italy, built in 27 BC to mark the end of the Via Flaminia road from Rome. Its single 9-metre-wide opening and lack of defensive doors reflect the peaceful Pax Romana period it was built in, and its carved reliefs depict Roman gods including Jupiter and Minerva.
Tempio Malatestiano, Rimini’s cathedral, began as a 13th-century Gothic church and was redesigned in the 1450s by architect Leon Battista Alberti for Sigismondo Malatesta, giving it a Renaissance facade modelled on a Roman triumphal arch around an older Gothic interior. Inside are works by Piero della Francesca, Giotto and Agostino di Duccio, including the Chapel of the Planets and the Malatesta family tomb. Entry is free and the church stays open most of the day, roughly 8:30am-12pm and 3:30-6:30pm on weekdays with slightly longer Saturday and Sunday hours, closed only during Mass, according to the diocese’s own published schedule.
Fellini’s Rimini
Fellini’s connection to Rimini runs through several sites beyond Borgo San Giuliano’s murals. The Fellini Museum, opened in 2021 and spread across Castel Sismondo, the nearby Palazzo del Fulgor and Piazza Malatesta, prices general admission at €10 ($12, £9), reduced to €5 ($6, £4), with free entry for residents of Rimini province and for anyone under 30. It covers Fellini’s life and films through original artefacts, sets and interactive exhibits, and is the most complete way to understand why the director looms so large over the city.
The Old Cinema Fulgor, on Corso d’Augusto, is where a young Fellini saw his first film in the 1920s, an experience he later recreated in his 1973 film “Amarcord.” Closed for years, the cinema reopened in 2018 after a renovation led by Fellini’s longtime production designer Dante Ferretti, and it still screens films today in a space that evokes 1930s and ’40s cinema design.
Gelato, food and drink
Rimini’s food identity centres on the Adriatic’s seafood and the region’s piadina flatbread, usually filled with cured meats, cheese and greens and sold from street-side kiosks across the city. Sangiovese, the red wine of Emilia-Romagna, is the standard pairing with a seafood dinner here.
For gelato, Cuor di Cioccolato in the historic centre is known for creative artisanal flavours such as chocolate with Modica chocolate crumbs and Bronte pistachio from Sicily, alongside the usual classics, plus coffee, crepes and affogatos if you want more than a scoop.
Rimini’s beaches
Rimini’s beach runs for about 15 km (9.3 mi) along the coast starting near Parco Federico Fellini, most of it divided into private “bagni” that rent sunbeds and umbrellas and run their own bars and restaurants, alongside a smaller number of free public stretches. The water is shallow close to shore, which suits families with young children, and lifeguard stations are spaced roughly every 150 m, using a flag system (white for calm, yellow for caution, red for no swimming) to signal conditions.
The northern beaches sit behind breakwaters that keep the water calmer but can trap seaweed; the southern beaches are more exposed but clearer. Named beach clubs worth knowing include Bagno Egisto 38 and Bagno Libra, both popular with families for their kids’ clubs and shallow water, and Bagno 29 Palm Beach, a quieter option for travellers who want fewer crowds. Beach season runs roughly June through September, when nearly every bagno and beachfront restaurant is open.
Italy in Miniatura and family attractions
Italy in Miniatura, a theme park in Rimini’s Viserba district, displays more than 270 scale models of Italian and European landmarks, including the Colosseum, the Leaning Tower of Pisa and a miniature Venice complete with a Grand Canal and gondolas, across an 85,000 sq m (21-acre) park. The park’s own ticket office prices general admission at €22 ($26, £19) for adults, with a €20 rate for children between 100 and 140 cm tall and for seniors over 65; an evening ticket after 6pm runs a flat €20 for everyone. Beyond the models, kids can try a driving school, water-cannon battles at a miniature castle, and rides including a monorail and a water coaster. This skip-the-line ticket avoids the queue at the entrance.
The Ruota Panoramica, Rimini’s waterfront Ferris wheel near Marina Centro, reaches about 50 m (164 ft) and gives a 360-degree view over the coast from its enclosed, air-conditioned cabins. It runs seasonally, roughly Easter to October, and the operator’s own site prices a ride at €10 ($12, £9) general, €7 ($8, £6) reduced for children, and €25 ($29, £22) for a family ticket covering two adults and a child.
For a full family day, Aquafan (water park), Fiabilandia (a fairy-tale theme park for younger kids) and Oltremare (marine and wildlife park with dolphin shows) are all in the wider Rimini-Riccione area and open seasonally, typically from around Easter through the summer; check each park’s own site for exact 2026 dates and current tickets before planning around them, since hours shift year to year.
San Marino as a day trip
San Marino, one of the world’s oldest and smallest republics, sits just 24 km (15 mi) southwest of Rimini, about a 30-minute drive or bus ride away, which makes it an easy half-day or full-day trip from the coast. The historic centre, perched on Monte Titano and recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is built around three medieval towers connected by a walking path with views back over the Romagna coastline on a clear day. Regular buses run between Rimini’s train station and San Marino City, so a rental car is not required for the trip.
Nightlife
Rimini’s nightlife runs hardest from June through August, concentrated around the Marina Centro district and the string of beach clubs that turn into bars and dance floors after dark. The Notte Rosa festival in July adds concerts and events along the wider Riviera Romagnola coastline, and San Giuliano’s wine bars and small squares offer a calmer alternative to the beach clubs for a slower evening out.
How many days do you need in Rimini?
Two to three days covers the historic centre, a beach afternoon and a day trip to San Marino at an easy pace. A first day suits the old town’s Roman and Renaissance sights plus the Fellini Museum, a second day fits the beach and Borgo San Giuliano, and a third leaves room for San Marino or one of the theme parks if you’re travelling with kids.
Best time to visit Rimini
May, June and September give warm weather without July and August’s peak crowds and heat, when highs regularly reach 28°C (82°F). Winters are mild for northern Italy, with January highs around 8°C (46°F), so the historic centre and Fellini Museum are viable off-season visits even though the beach clubs close for winter.
Getting to Rimini
Rimini Federico Fellini International Airport sits about 8 km (5 mi) from the centre, with buses and taxis covering the last stretch; Bologna Airport, roughly 120 km (75 mi) away, is the larger alternative if flight options are limited. High-speed and regional trains connect Rimini directly to Rome, Milan, Venice, Florence and Bologna, and comparing Italian train and coach routes on Omio before booking usually turns up the fastest connection. FlixBus also runs long-distance coaches into Rimini from across Italy and Europe, arriving next to the train station. Once in the city, the old town is entirely walkable and the beaches are reachable on foot, by bike or by local bus.
Where to stay in Rimini
Browsing Rimini hotels on Booking.com is a straightforward way to compare seafront and city-centre options against your budget. A few worth knowing by name:
- Hotel Panama Majestic, a 4-star seafront hotel about 20 minutes’ walk from the centre, with rooftop hot tubs and a fitness area. View on Booking.com
- Admiral Art Hotel, next to its own private beach, with individually designed rooms and a communal lounge with a grand piano. View on Booking.com
- Best Western Maison B Hotel, a beachfront option with a panoramic restaurant, pool and private parking. View on Booking.com
- Card International Hotel, a city-centre choice near the train station and the Tempio Malatestiano, with bikes available at reception. View on Booking.com
Where to eat in Rimini
Seafood is the main draw on Rimini’s menus given the city’s coastal location, alongside classic Emilia-Romagna pastas. Lo Zodiaco specialises in seafood and suits a late, romantic dinner. Sotto Sale covers classic Italian and international dishes in a casual, rustic setting. Le Milton Beach is a beachfront option for lunch or dinner with an outdoor terrace over the water. Cucina Della Nonna leans into homestyle pasta and pizza in a cosy trattoria. Osteria Grotta Rossa serves regional specialities such as stuffed pasta and seafood risotto in a casual setting. Menu prices shift with the season and the euro’s exchange rate, so check current menus directly rather than relying on a fixed figure.
Don’t forget travel insurance
Travel insurance covers cancellations, illness or injury abroad, and lost or stolen electronics. SafetyWing offers flexible plans that can be bought even after a trip has already started.
About the author. This guide is written and maintained by the Wonderful Wanderings editorial team. Wonderful Wanderings was founded in 2012 by Sofie Couwenbergh, and the team covers Italy for independent travellers, including the historic sights, beaches and day trips worth booking around Rimini, and updates this page when prices and opening hours change.
