Italy’s ultimate seaside vacation spot, Rimini is best known for its golden sands stretching for miles along the Adriatic coast. It’s most exuberant in summer, enticing groups of young Italians with beach clubs and hedonistic nightlife while also catering to families who come for shallow water and well-equipped swimming areas. While the seafront provides most of the things to do in Rimini, the city also has Roman and Renaissance history, which can be seen in its old town, and a filmmaking legacy from its famous son Federico Fellini.
Summer is the season when Rimini comes to life. Beaches are officially open from the last weekend in May to the second weekend in September, and you can expect the place to be packed in the popular Italian vacation months of July and August. Many seafront hotels, restaurants, and nightclubs are only open in the warmer months.
Parts of Rimini’s historic center are designated as ZTL (limited traffic zones), meaning only authorized vehicles can enter. Look for signs that say zona traffico limitato to avoid a fine. Since the city is mostly flat and logically laid out, you can explore fairly easily by walking or biking instead. Another option is to take a taxi or a public bus. The Blue Line, a summer night bus service, passes the nightclubs along the coast, right down to Riccione.
Rimini was the birthplace of Federico Fellini, the celebrated Italian filmmaker who produced Amarcord and La Dolce Vita. You'll be able to easily find Piazza Tre Martiri and the Palazzo dell'Arengo (Arengo Palace), where he filmed. To learn more about his life and legacy in Rimini, visit the International Federico Fellini Museum. The multi-site museum has three locations in Rimini at Castel Sismondo, Palazzo del Fulgor (Fulgor Palace), and Piazza Malatesta.
