Things to do in Rimini in a weekend: our itinerary from Rivabella

We hear it at reception all the time: “We’ve got two days, what should we do?” Rimini is much more than its beach, and from Rivabella you can see most of it without a car. Our bikes are free and the bus into town stops 20 metres from the front door. This is the weekend we suggest, the one we send our own friends and relatives on when they come to visit.

Saturday morning: breakfast, then the old town by bike

No rush. Breakfast runs from 8:00 to 10:00, and on a Saturday it is worth sitting out on the veranda with a cappuccino and a croissant before you move. Then grab one of our bikes. The historic centre is about 2.5–3 km away, completely flat, and if you follow the seafront south and then the harbour canal inland you are there in a relaxed twenty minutes.

The first thing you will see is the Ponte di Tiberio, the Tiberius Bridge: two thousand years of Istrian stone, still standing, still crossed every day. The bridge takes you straight into the old town, and a few minutes later you are in Piazza Cavour, with the Pigna fountain and the old covered fish market. From there walk on to the Tempio Malatestiano, Rimini’s cathedral, commissioned by Sigismondo Pandolfo Malatesta. Leon Battista Alberti’s façade is one of the finest things within reach anywhere on the Riviera, and inside there is a fresco by Piero della Francesca.

If you like cinema, the Fellini Museum is a short walk away, spread between Castel Sismondo and the Palazzo del Fulgor. Rimini was Federico Fellini’s home town and you feel it here.

Saturday lunch: piadina, naturally

In Rimini, lunch means piadina. You will find kiosks and piadinerie all over the centre and along the seafront: prosciutto crudo with squacquerone cheese, sausage and onions, or simply rocket and stracchino. A local tip: the Rimini piadina is thin. If yours comes out thick and fluffy, you have wandered into a recipe from Cesena or Forlì. Still good, but not ours.

Saturday afternoon: Borgo San Giuliano

Cross the Tiberius Bridge again and, instead of heading back to the sea, turn into Borgo San Giuliano. This was the fishermen’s quarter; today it is a maze of narrow lanes with painted houses and murals of Fellini and his characters. It is the right place to wander for an hour with no plan, take photos and have a coffee in a tiny square. If your trip coincides with the Festa de Borg, held in some years in September, the whole quarter fills with tables and music until late.

Saturday evening: the seafront and dinner

Ride back to Rivabella along the sea: the light on the harbour canal at sunset is one of the best moments of the day. Evenings here are quiet. A stroll along the Rivabella promenade, then dinner at one of the restaurants a few steps from the hotel. We do not have a restaurant ourselves, so we are happy to recommend one depending on what you fancy: Adriatic fish, tagliatelle or cappelletti with ragù, or a mixed grill. Ask at reception. We know where the food is good and the bill is fair.

If you still have energy, the bus takes you back to Marina Centro and the centre, where Rimini is livelier. If you prefer the calm, stay: in Rivabella you can hear the sea at night.

Sunday morning: the beach

Day two is for the sea, and there is nothing to organise. The beach is 30 metres away, straight across the road, in front of Bagno 10 “Vatikaki”. The water at Rivabella stays shallow for many metres, so it is perfect if you have small children. If you booked a room with beach service, your umbrella and two sunbeds are already waiting; if not, just walk along the shore to the breakwaters, which early in the morning is empty and beautiful.

If you would rather keep cycling, follow the Riviera cycle path: north takes you to Viserba and on to Bellaria, south to Marina Centro and beyond. It is all flat and you are next to the sea almost the whole way.

Sunday afternoon: a short trip, or nothing at all

If it is a long weekend, or you have the car, two places within half an hour are worth the drive. San Marino, the republic on Monte Titano, with its three towers and a view that on clear days reaches the sea. And Santarcangelo di Romagna, a hill village with tufa caves under the houses and a lovely square for a glass of Sangiovese.

Doing nothing is also fine. Check-out is at 10:00, but luggage storage is free: leave your bags with us and spend the last hours on the beach or the veranda until it is time to go.

A few practical notes

• Bikes: free, just ask at reception. Bring a lock if you plan to leave them in town for a while.
• Bus: the stop is 20 metres from the hotel; the centre is about 15 minutes away. Buy tickets before boarding, at a tobacconist or with an app.
• Parking: if you come by car, we have private parking subject to availability and an EV charging point. Tell us when you book. Full details on getting here.
• Pets: one pet per room is welcome, and the promenade is a pleasant place to walk a dog.

If you want the sea in front of you for this weekend, the superior room with balcony and sea view is the one we suggest for couples. For dates and the best rates, book directly on our website; for anything else, write to us on WhatsApp. It is us who answer.