Rimini

Distance from Riccione: 11 km (city centre to city centre)
By car: 15 minutes via SS16 Adriatica or A14, exit Rimini Sud
By Metromare: 23 minutes, departures every 8-12 minutes, ticket €2.50 — Metromare timetable and stops
By bike: cycle path along the seafront, 35-40 minutes
Recommended duration: half a day for the old town, full day with beach and dinner
Ideal for: everyone, families, couples, young travellers, history and art lovers
Directions: Open route on Google Maps

Rimini is a city of art and sea just 11 km from Riccione, reachable in 23 minutes by Metromare or 15 minutes by car. Founded by the Romans in 268 BC under the name Ariminum, today it is a destination that combines 2,000 years of history, 15 km of beaches, the Fellini Museum, a lively food scene and some of the most vibrant nightlife on the riviera. It is the easiest and most rewarding day trip you can take from your base in Riccione.

How to get to Rimini from Riccione

The most convenient way to reach Rimini from Riccione is the Metromare, the rapid coastal transit system that connects the two cities in 23 minutes with frequent departures every 8-12 minutes. You board at Riccione station and get off at Rimini FS, from where the old town is a 10-minute walk. A single ticket costs around €1.50 and can be purchased from the automatic machines at the station or via app. It is the ideal option for anyone who wants to avoid summer traffic and the hassle of parking.

By car, the journey takes about 15 minutes via the SS16 Adriatica or a short stretch of the A14 motorway (exit Rimini Sud). The handiest car parks for the old town are Borgo San Giuliano and Riva del Porto. In summer, especially at weekends, finding a space can take patience: the Metromare remains the best choice. For cycling enthusiasts, the seafront cycle path links Riccione to Rimini in around 35-40 minutes along a flat and scenic route.

What to see in Rimini: from the Roman centre to the Fellini Museum

Rimini is one of the few Italian cities where you can walk among two-thousand-year-old Roman monuments, Renaissance churches and contemporary art installations within just a few blocks. The ideal route starts at the Arch of Augustus (27 BC), the oldest Roman arch still standing in Italy, and continues along Corso d'Augusto to the Tiberius Bridge (21 AD), still open to cars and pedestrians after 2,000 years of uninterrupted service.

Between the two Roman landmarks lie the main attractions of the centre. The Tempio Malatestiano, designed by Leon Battista Alberti for Sigismondo Pandolfo Malatesta, is one of the architectural masterpieces of the Italian Renaissance and houses a crucifix attributed to Giotto. Castel Sismondo, the imposing Malatesta fortress, is now home to the Fellini Museum, an interactive museum dedicated to the great Rimini-born director: an immersive journey spread across the castle, piazza Malatesta and palazzo del Fulgor, featuring multimedia installations, reconstructed sets and original archive materials.

Also not to be missed: the Domus del Chirurgo, one of the best-preserved Roman archaeological sites in the world with over 150 surgical instruments from the 3rd century, the Teatro Galli designed by Luigi Poletti and reopened in 2018 after decades of restoration, and the Museo della Città which tells the story of Rimini from prehistory to the present day. In the same area, piazza Cavour with its Fontana della Pigna and the Vecchia Pescheria complete the historic heart of the city.

Rimini's beaches and the Parco del Mare

With 15 km of sandy coastline, Rimini ranks among the largest seaside destinations in Europe. The beach is organised into 230 equipped beach clubs with sunbeds, umbrellas, showers, children's play areas and often a restaurant and bar as well. For those who prefer a free beach, there are 12 stretches of public beach spread along the entire coast, some with showers and toilet facilities.

The Parco del Mare is the extensively redesigned seafront between piazzale Marvelli and piazzale Fellini: a pedestrian and cycle promenade lined with green areas, inclusive playgrounds, outdoor gyms and artistic installations. It is the best spot for a sunset stroll or a morning run. Heading towards the harbour, you reach the darsena area, with moored boats, fish restaurants along the canal and a wooden walkway stretching almost to the opposite bank.

Where to eat in Rimini

Romagna cuisine is at the heart of the Rimini experience, and you do not need to spend much to eat superbly well. The must-try dishes are piadina (everyone has their favourite kiosk, the rivalry is serious), passatelli in brodo, tagliatelle al ragù, cappelletti, grilled fish and marinated sardines.

The area with the highest concentration of restaurants is Borgo San Giuliano, the old fishermen's village between the old town and the harbour. In this maze of colourful narrow streets, covered in murals inspired by Fellini's films, you will find trattorias, piadina shops and seafood restaurants close together. Names to note: Retroborgo (creative Romagna cuisine), La Esse Romagnola (piadina and street food), La Marianna (fresh fish), Osteria de' Borg (traditional dishes), SottoSale (fish with a view of the Tiberius Bridge).

For street food, the piadina shops along viale Vespucci and near the station are a classic choice. For a fish dinner by the harbour, the darsena restaurants serve the freshest catch with a view of the boats, the evening atmosphere is particularly charming.

Nightlife in Rimini

The centre of Rimini's nightlife is the Vecchia Pescheria, in the heart of the old town. Around the marble counters of the former fish market you will find pubs, cocktail bars and venues with outdoor tables where you can dine, have a drink or spend the evening. Among the most popular spots: Foyer, Yerbabuena, Guenda, Gate, La Cantinetta and Osteria delle Poveracce.

In summer, the scene extends to the beach area with venues on the sand and along the seafront: Barrumba, Coconuts, Boomerang, Havana and Summer are among the most popular. For those looking for a big club night, the main venues are on the hills between Rimini, Riccione and Misano, on riccione.net you will find the complete guide to riviera nightclubs.

Rimini with children: family activities

Rimini is one of the most family-friendly cities on the Romagna riviera, with attractions designed for all ages. Italia in Miniatura is the park where children can explore the main Italian and European monuments in miniature, sail through a reconstruction of Venice on small boats and enjoy the interactive science pavilion Esperimenta. Fiabilandia is the fairy-tale park, perfect for younger children, with attractions such as Merlin's Castle, Peter Pan's Bay, the Valley of the Gnomes and two water play areas.

On the beach, children will find Boa Bay (an inflatable water park anchored at sea, beach clubs 47-62), Peter Pan (trampolines and go-karts in the harbour area) and Rimini Acquascivoli (water slides and pool on the Rivabella beach). Along the Parco del Mare, between piazzale Fellini and the Arpesella gardens, there are inclusive playgrounds where all children can play together. Add to this mini golf, sailing schools and a packed calendar of family events.

A sample day in Rimini starting from Riccione

If you have a full day to dedicate to Rimini, here is an itinerary combining history, food and sea at a relaxed pace.

Morning: Take the Metromare from Riccione (23 minutes). From Rimini station, walk 10 minutes to the Arch of Augustus and stroll along Corso d'Augusto, visiting the Tempio Malatestiano and the Domus del Chirurgo. Continue to piazza Cavour and the Vecchia Pescheria.

Lunch: Cross the Tiberius Bridge and enter Borgo San Giuliano. Choose a piadina shop for a quick bite or a restaurant to sit down at leisure.

Afternoon: Visit the Fellini Museum at Castel Sismondo (allow 1.5-2 hours). Or, if you prefer the sea, head to the Parco del Mare and pick a beach club or free beach for the afternoon.

Evening: Aperitivo at the Vecchia Pescheria, fish dinner in the darsena area or in Borgo San Giuliano. Return to Riccione by Metromare (last departure around 23:00, check timetable).

💡 Pro Tips for a stress-free visit

Getting to Rimini from Riccione is easy, but a few tips can make all the difference:

1. Metromare, not the car. In summer, traffic on the SS16 is heavy and car parks in Rimini's centre fill up fast. The Metromare is quicker, cheaper and drops you 10 minutes' walk from the old town.

2. Fellini Museum: book if you can. The museum is spread across three venues (Castel Sismondo, piazza Malatesta, palazzo del Fulgor). Allow at least 1.5-2 hours for the full route.

3. Borgo San Giuliano at lunchtime, not just for dinner. The Borgo's restaurants are in high demand in the evening. At lunch you will find a table more easily, and the atmosphere of the mural-lined lanes is just as lovely.

4. Cycle along the seafront. The Riccione-Rimini cycle path is flat and scenic (35-40 minutes). If you hire a bike in Riccione, you can use it to get around Rimini once you arrive.

5. Combine with San Marino. If you have a full day, morning in Rimini (old town + lunch at the Borgo) and afternoon in San Marino (30 minutes by car from Rimini) is the classic combination.

Useful information

Rimini Tourist Office (IAT): Corso d'Augusto (corner of the Arch of Augustus)
Beach clubs: 230 equipped clubs + 12 free beaches along 15 km of coastline
Metromare: full guide with stops and timetable
Old town car parks: Borgo San Giuliano car park, Riva del Porto car park (paid)
Combine with: San Marino (30 minutes from Rimini), Cattolica (by Metromare, opposite direction)

Frequently asked questions about Rimini from Riccione

You might also be interested in

If you are planning your days from a base in Riccione, these destinations pair well with a visit to Rimini or make a great alternative day out:

• San Marino — The world's oldest republic, 30 minutes from Rimini. The classic combination: morning in Rimini, afternoon in San Marino (or the other way round).
• Gradara — The castle of Paolo and Francesca, 25 minutes from Riccione. Perfect for a half day, pairs well with Cattolica.
• Cattolica — Aquarium, Blue Flag beaches and fishing harbour, 12 minutes to the south.
• San Leo and Pennabilli — The Romagna hinterland: Cagliostro's Fortress and Tonino Guerra's Places of the Soul, combinable in one day.