Rimini

The Adriatic's most famous beach resort, with 15 km of sand and ancient Roman remains, Fellini's hometown, and just half an hour from the mountaintop republic of San Marino.

Rimini lies at the southeastern tip of Italy's Emilia-Romagna region, facing the Adriatic Sea. It is one of Europe's earliest and most famous seaside resorts, and the hometown of film director Federico Fellini. The city has two parts: the seafront Marina Centro, with about 15 km of beach lined with numbered bathing establishments, hotels and nightclubs; and the old town inland, which preserves Roman remains such as the Arch of Augustus, the Bridge of Tiberius and the Surgeon's House, along with the Tempio Malatestiano, Castel Sismondo and the Fellini Museum. Day trips abound: half an hour's drive to the mountaintop republic of San Marino to climb its Three Towers; to the west, San Leo fortress, Verucchio and Santarcangelo; to the south, Gradara Castle, Riccione and water parks; and farther afield, the Renaissance city of Urbino and the canal port of Cesenatico. The best season is the June–August beach season; May and September are quieter and cheaper with comfortable weather. In winter most beach clubs and parks close, but the old town and San Marino are still worth visiting. Trains from Bologna take about 1 hour, and the Metromare rapid bus runs along the coast to Riccione. Allow 3–4 days. Note that beach loungers cost extra, and in high season hotels often require a minimum stay.

Top sights

• Rimini Beach – About 15 km of Adriatic sand lined with numbered beach clubs offering umbrellas, loungers, playgrounds and seaside bars.
• Bridge of Tiberius – A Roman stone bridge built in the 1st century AD, its five arches still open to traffic, and one of the best-preserved bridges of the Roman…
• San Marino Historic Centre – The capital of the world's oldest surviving republic, set in a medieval town atop Mount Titano, with stone lanes, government palaces and du…
• Three Towers of San Marino – Three fortress towers along the Titano ridge, featured on San Marino's flag and coat of arms, with castle views from the cliffs that will t…
• Arch of Augustus – A triumphal arch built in 27 BC in honor of Augustus, one of the oldest surviving Roman triumphal arches, marking the end of the Via Flamin…
• Tempio Malatestiano – Rimini's cathedral, whose unfinished Renaissance façade designed by Alberti draws on Roman triumphal arches; inside are a Giotto crucifix a…
• Castel Sismondo & Fellini Museum – A 15th-century castle of the Malatesta family which, together with the Palazzo del Fulgor, houses the Fellini Museum, recreating the master…
• Domus del Chirurgo – The remains of a 3rd-century Roman surgeon's house, where more than 150 surgical instruments and fine mosaics were unearthed; open to visit…
• Piazza Cavour – The central square of the old town, enclosed by a medieval town hall, a pine-cone fountain, the Galli Theatre and the old fish market, and…
• Borgo San Giuliano – An old fishermen's quarter across Tiberius Bridge, its colorful houses covered with Fellini film murals, with alleys hiding authentic Romag…
• Grand Hotel Rimini – A seafront Art Nouveau hotel opened in 1908, a dreamlike palace from Fellini's childhood memories that appeared in Amarcord and is now a na…
• Italia in Miniatura – A miniature-landscape park opened in 1970 with more than 200 scale models of Italian and European landmarks, plus rides; a classic choice f…
• Fiabilandia – A fairy-tale theme park on the southern outskirts of Rimini, built around a lake with pirate ships, a Merlin castle and a small train, suit…
• Fortress of San Leo – A Renaissance fortress standing atop a huge rocky crag, once a prison for the legendary alchemist Cagliostro, and considered one of Italy's…
• Gradara Castle – A well-preserved medieval castle and walled town, famous for the tragic love story of Paolo and Francesca in Dante's Divine Comedy.
• Santarcangelo di Romagna – A hillside town near Rimini, beneath whose old town lie over a hundred mysterious tufa caves, with Romagna-style restaurants and wine cella…
• Verucchio – The birthplace of the Malatesta family, with a hilltop fortress overlooking the Marecchia Valley and an archaeological museum holding fine…
• Riccione & Viale Ceccarini – A stylish seaside town just south of Rimini, where Viale Ceccarini, the “Pearl of the Adriatic,” is lined with designer shops, and its nigh…
• Aquafan – One of Europe's best-known water parks, opened in 1987, with extra-long slides, a giant wave pool and summer music parties.
• Oltremare – A nature- and ocean-themed science park with a dolphin theater, raptor flight shows and animal interaction areas as highlights; great for f…
• Mirabilandia – One of Italy's largest amusement parks, with some of Europe's top roller coasters and a separate water park, ideal for thrill-seekers.
• Cesenatico Leonardo's Canal Port – A canal harbor where Leonardo da Vinci once drew survey maps, with colorful traditional sailing boats moored year-round and seafood restaur…
• Urbino – A model of the Renaissance ideal city and the hometown of Raphael; the Marche National Gallery in the Ducal Palace houses masterpieces by P…

Where to eat

• Osteria de Borg – A traditional osteria in the historic San Giuliano district, famous for its handmade pasta and cappelletti in chicken b…
• Da Lucio – A Michelin-starred restaurant on the Rimini Marina, famous for its dry-aged sea fish and wood-fired oven cooking.
• La Marianna – A historic seafood restaurant operating since 1908, located right next to the Tiberius Bridge, serving simple dishes th…
• Casina del Bosco – A famous piadina spot that started as a small kiosk in 1995, serving made-to-order flatbreads made with organic stone-g…
• Guido – A three-generation family restaurant on the Miramare seafront, holding one Michelin star and specializing in Upper Adri…