Things to Do in Rimini, Italy: Beaches, History & Where to Eat

My trip to Rimini was hosted by Visit Romagna. As always, all opinions are my own.

Most travelers know Rimini, Italy, for its miles of colorful beach umbrellas lined up along the Adriatic Sea, and that’s certainly part of its charm. But spend a few days here and you’ll discover there’s so much more to this seaside city than a beach vacation. Rimini was an important Roman town more than 2,000 years ago, it’s the hometown of legendary filmmaker Federico Fellini, and it’s in the heart of Romagna, where piadina, fresh seafood, and handmade pasta are a way of life.

Rimini is also where Italians go on vacation, which makes it a wonderful place for an authentic Italian experience. I explored the city on foot, by bike, and even by sailboat, and I left with a long list of reasons to come back.

This guide covers the best things to do in Rimini, what to eat and where to eat it, where to stay, the best time to visit, and easy day trips from the city.

Things To Do In Rimini Italy

I explored Rimini’s historic center with a local guide, and I was amazed by how much history is packed into such a walkable area. These are the things to do in Rimini that I’d put at the top of your list.

Walk Through the Arch of Augustus

The Arch of Augustus was built in 27 BC and dedicated to the Emperor Augustus by the Roman Senate, making it one of the oldest surviving Roman arches. It marked the end of the Via Flaminia, the Roman road from Rome, and it still stands at the entrance to Rimini’s historic center. Walk underneath it and follow Corso d’Augusto, the city’s main street, the same path the ancient Romans took all the way to the Tiberius Bridge.

Cross the Tiberius Bridge

The Ponte di Tiberio is more than 2,000 years old. Construction began in 14 AD under Emperor Augustus and was finished in 21 AD under Emperor Tiberius, which is why an inscription on the bridge honors both emperors. It survived the fall of Rome, centuries of floods, and attempts to destroy it during World War II. Today it’s surrounded by the Piazza sull’Acqua, a peaceful waterfront square where you can admire the bridge’s reflection in the water.

Get Lost in Borgo San Giuliano

Just across the Tiberius Bridge is Borgo San Giuliano, Rimini’s old fishing village and a photographer’s dream. Its narrow streets are lined with pastel houses, colorful doors, and murals, many of them inspired by Fellini’s films. I took a leisurely bike ride through the Borgo, which is the perfect speed for taking it all in. Wander the lanes, then stay for dinner at one of the neighborhood’s trattorias.

Visit the Fellini Museum

Federico Fellini was born in Rimini, and the city celebrates him with the Fellini Museum, which opened in 2021. It’s spread across three locations in the historic center: Castel Sismondo, a 15th-century fortress; Palazzo del Fulgor; and Piazza Malatesta, the square between them, which is dotted with installations inspired by his films.

The Palazzo del Fulgor is home to Cinema Fulgor, the Art Nouveau movie theater where young Fellini watched his first films and fell in love with cinema. It was beautifully restored before the museum opened, and it still screens films today. The museum is closed on Mondays that aren’t holidays, and entry is free for visitors under 30.

“Life is a combination of magic and pasta.” Federico Fellini

See a Performance at Teatro Amintore Galli

Opera began in Italy, and seeing a performance in an Italian opera house is an unforgettable experience. Rimini’s Teatro Amintore Galli opened in 1857, was heavily damaged during World War II, and after decades of work was restored to its original splendor in 2018. Even if you don’t catch a show, take a look inside at the gilded boxes and grand chandelier. Check the Teatro Galli calendar for opera, concerts, and ballet.

Tempio Malatestiano

Rimini’s cathedral, the Tempio Malatestiano, is one of the most important Renaissance buildings in Italy. In the 15th century, Sigismondo Malatesta, the powerful lord of Rimini, commissioned the architect Leon Battista Alberti to transform a Gothic church into a monument that echoes the Arch of Augustus. It’s free to visit and just a few minutes’ walk from Piazza Cavour.

Domus del Chirurgo

For a glimpse of everyday Roman life, visit the Domus del Chirurgo, or Surgeon’s House. This excavated Roman home in Piazza Ferrari has well-preserved mosaic floors, and archaeologists found one of the largest collections of ancient surgical instruments ever discovered here.

Piazza Cavour and Piazza Tre Martiri

Rimini’s two main squares are the heart of the historic center. Piazza Cavour is surrounded by medieval palaces and the historic fish market, while Piazza Tre Martiri sits on the site of the ancient Roman forum. Both are perfect for an espresso or an evening aperitivo.

Spend a Day at the Beach

Of course, relaxing on the beach is one of the most popular things to do in Rimini. Rimini’s sandy beach stretches for miles along the Adriatic, and most of it is divided into numbered beach clubs called bagni or stabilimenti. For a daily fee, you can rent an umbrella and a pair of loungers, and most clubs have showers, changing cabins, and a bar or restaurant. There are also free public beaches if you’d rather bring your own towel. The beaches are busiest in July and August, when Italians flock to the coast for their summer holidays.

Go Sailing on the Adriatic

One of my favorite experiences in Rimini was a beginner sailing lesson on the Adriatic. You don’t need any experience to enjoy an afternoon on the water, and seeing the coastline from a sailboat is a completely different view of Rimini.

That evening, we had dinner on a catamaran in Rimini’s harbor, and it was one of the most memorable meals of my trip. Course after course came out of the galley: shrimp with fennel and celery, monkfish wrapped in guanciale, cannelloni with prawns and mantis shrimp, cuttlefish with peas, and a Sangiovese grape mousse for dessert, all paired with local wines as the sun set over the water. If you’re traveling with a group, I highly recommend booking a private catamaran dinner. Several operators run sunset and dinner cruises from the harbor.

Explore by Bike

Rimini is one of the most bike-friendly cities in Italy, with flat streets and plenty of bike paths. You can cruise along the seafront, ride through Borgo San Giuliano, or follow the Marecchia River park inland. Adventurous cyclists can head for the hills on a road bike, mountain bike, or e-bike to visit hilltop villages like Santarcangelo and Verucchio. Check out biketourrimini.it for rentals and guided tours.

Where To Eat In Rimini

Trattoria La Marianna

For fresh, simple seafood, book a table at La Marianna, a historic trattoria right by the Tiberius Bridge at the edge of Borgo San Giuliano. There’s been a trattoria here since 1908, and it’s listed in the Michelin Guide. Our dinner was a parade of classic Rimini seafood: cuttlefish salad, warm octopus with potatoes, clams marinara, grilled sardines with radicchio and onion, and a platter of mixed fried fish with crunchy vegetables. It’s casual and lively, and reservations are a good idea for dinner.

Address: Viale Tiberio, 19, 47921 Rimini | trattorialamarianna.it

La Piadina del Porto

You’ll find piadina all over Rimini, and locals will tell you theirs is the best in Romagna. For a casual lunch near the harbor, stop at La Piadina del Porto. Try a traditional piadina with prosciutto, or piadina con rucola e stracchino, a vegetarian version with arugula and soft cheese. Piadina is traditionally made with lard, but you can usually ask for a version made with olive oil.

Address: Via Destra del Porto, 71, 47921 Rimini | piadinadelportomcm.it

La Dolce Vita at the Grand Hotel Rimini

For a special lunch or dinner, head to La Dolce Vita, the restaurant at the Grand Hotel Rimini. In warm weather, tables are set out on the terrace overlooking the hotel’s gardens. We rode our bikes here after our walking tour for lunch on the terrace, with colorful appetizers, ricotta and spinach ravioli, and zuppa inglese for dessert. The menu is refined but not fussy, and the setting will make you feel like you’ve stepped into a Fellini film.

Address: Parco Federico Fellini, 1, 47921 Rimini | grandhotelrimini.com

Where To Stay In Rimini

Grand Hotel Rimini

For a five-star luxury stay right on the seafront, the Grand Hotel Rimini is the icon of the Adriatic Riviera. Built more than a century ago and owned by the Batani family, it’s full of old-world charm, with parquet floors, glittering chandeliers, and grand salons. Fellini loved the hotel, and it appears in his film Amarcord. If you’re lucky, you might get a peek at the Fellini Suite. The hotel also has a private beach club and bikes for guests.

Address: Parco Federico Fellini, 1, 47921 Rimini | grandhotelrimini.com

Hotel Villa Adriatica

For a beautiful stay close to the beach but lighter on the budget, check out Hotel Villa Adriatica. This four-star hotel is set in an Art Nouveau villa from 1880, one of the oldest hotel buildings in Rimini, with a lovely garden pool. It’s steps from the beach and right on Viale Vespucci, the main seafront street for shopping and dining.

Address: Viale Amerigo Vespucci, 3, 47921 Rimini | villaadriatica.it

Duomo Hotel

I stayed at the Duomo Hotel, and I loved it. This quirky, four-star design hotel was created by the internationally known architect and designer Ron Arad, with bold colors, curved walls, and sculptural furniture. The breakfast is excellent, and the location in the historic center is perfect, just steps from Piazza Cavour, the Tempio Malatestiano, and the Fellini Museum.

Address: Via Giordano Bruno, 28, 47921 Rimini | duomohotel.com

Best Time to Visit Rimini

July and August are peak season in Rimini, when Italian families pack the beach clubs and the nightlife is in full swing. If you’d prefer fewer crowds, visit in late spring or early fall. I visited in late September, and it was ideal: the weather was still warm enough for the beach, the sea was calm for sailing, and the historic center was relaxed and easy to explore. Keep in mind that some beach clubs and seasonal restaurants close from late fall through early spring, though the historic center stays lively year-round.

Day Trips from Rimini

One of the best things about staying in Rimini is how easy it is to explore the surrounding area. Within an hour, you can be standing in the world’s oldest surviving republic, rolling out pasta in the birthplace of Italian home cooking, or tasting Sangiovese in the hills overlooking the Adriatic. Spend your mornings exploring the region and your evenings back by the sea, and you’ll see a side of Emilia Romagna that many beach-goers miss.

Getting around is simple, too. San Marino is an easy bus ride from Rimini’s train station, and Ravenna, Bologna, and Forlimpopoli are all reachable by train. For winery visits in the countryside, book a tour that includes transportation or hire a private driver, so everyone can enjoy the tastings.

San Marino

The Republic of San Marino, one of the smallest countries in the world, sits high on Monte Titano and is visible from Rimini’s beaches. A bus runs from Rimini’s train station to San Marino, making it an easy day trip. You don’t need a passport to visit, but bring it anyway so you can get a commemorative stamp at the tourist office. Read my guide to visiting San Marino for more.

Casa Artusi in Forlimpopoli

If you love Italian food, plan a visit to Casa Artusi in Forlimpopoli, less than an hour from Rimini. It’s dedicated to Pellegrino Artusi, whose 1891 cookbook was the first to bring together home cooking from across newly unified Italy. The center includes a museum, a library, a restaurant, and a cooking school. Classes are taught with the help of the Mariette, local home cooks named after Artusi’s own cook, Marietta. We toured the village and the Artusi Library, then rolled out fresh pasta and piadina and paired our lunch with local DOCG wines. It’s one of the most fun cooking classes you’ll ever take. Book in advance through Casa Artusi.

Tenuta Mara Winery

Just outside Rimini in the hills of San Clemente is Tenuta Mara, a biodynamic winery devoted to Sangiovese. The landscape is breathtaking, and the visit is a multi-sensory experience. Mozart and other classical music plays throughout the vineyard, the fermentation room is filled with vats painted by contemporary artists, and ancient Chinese warrior statues guard the barrel room where the MaraMia wine ages. Book a tour and tasting in advance.

Ravenna and Bologna

Ravenna, famous for its dazzling Byzantine mosaics, is about an hour north of Rimini by train, and Bologna is about an hour away. Many visitors combine Rimini with a stay in Bologna. See my Bologna travel guide and Bologna food guide to plan the rest of your trip.

Plan Your Trip to Rimini

From Roman monuments and Fellini’s films to beach clubs, piadina, and seafood dinners on the water, there are so many things to do in Rimini that a few days fly by. Pair it with a few days in Bologna and a day trip to San Marino, and you’ll have the perfect taste of Emilia Romagna. And to bring the flavors home, browse my collection of Italian recipes!