Bologna
Bologna is one of Italy's most rewarding family destinations: walkable, historic, and home to some of the world's finest food.
0 guides · Emilia-RomagnaExplore →
🇮🇹Rimini
Rimini combines Adriatic beaches with a walkable historic centre full of Roman ruins, Renaissance architecture, and the legacy of Federico Fellini. A genuinely rewarding family destination.
Your family guide
Rimini: beaches, Roman ruins, and real Italian life
“Two thousand years of history, one perfect piadina, and a beach your kids will never want to leave.”
— San & Jo
Rimini surprises almost every family that visits. Most people arrive expecting a beach holiday on the Adriatic coast, and they get that. But tucked just behind the shoreline is a historic old town packed with Roman arches, Renaissance temples, medieval fortresses, and colourful fishermen's lanes that feel nothing like the crowded tourist trail of bigger Italian cities.
What makes Rimini work so well for families is the combination. Your kids can splash in the warm Adriatic in the morning, then walk across a 2,000-year-old Roman bridge in the afternoon. The pace is relaxed, the streets are walkable, and the food, fresh seafood, handmade pasta, and the iconic piadina flatbread, is the kind that wins over even the fussiest eaters.
Rimini is also the birthplace of Federico Fellini, one of Italy's most celebrated film directors, and the city wears that legacy with quiet pride. Whether you spend a long weekend or a full week, Rimini rewards families who take the time to look beyond the beach umbrellas.
Emilia-RomagnaRegion, Italy
May to SeptemberBest time to visit
Mid-rangePrice level
Best things to do
Why we love Rimini for families
Walk the Ponte di Tiberio
This Roman bridge was built around 20 AD and is still carrying traffic today. Walking across it with your kids and explaining that it is literally 2,000 years old never gets old. On the far side you will find the charming, colourful lanes of Borgo San Giuliano.
Best at golden hour for photos
30 minutes
Explore Castel Sismondo
This 15th-century fortress built by Sigismondo Malatesta is one of the most impressive medieval structures in the region. It now houses parts of the Fellini Museum, blending history with the legacy of Rimini's most famous son. Kids love climbing the ramparts for panoramic views over the city.
Check for temporary exhibits inside
1 to 2 hours
See the Arch of Augustus
Built in 27 BC, this is the oldest Roman triumphal arch in northern Italy. It marked the ancient end of the Via Flaminia road from Rome. Standing beneath it is a genuinely impressive moment, and it is completely free to visit.
Combine with a walk to Piazza Tre Martiri nearby
15 minutes
Visit the Malatesta Temple
Leon Battista Alberti redesigned this church in the 15th century for Sigismondo Malatesta, and the result is one of the finest early Renaissance buildings in Italy. The story of the Malatesta family, full of power, art, and drama, is genuinely captivating to share with older children.
Look for the elephant carvings on the exterior base
45 minutes
Wander Piazza Cavour and Piazza Tre Martiri
These two squares are the beating heart of Rimini's old town. Piazza Cavour is surrounded by medieval buildings and features the 16th-century Fontana della Pigna, which was the city's only drinking water source until 1912. Piazza Tre Martiri has a stone marking where Julius Caesar addressed his troops.
Weekend market at Piazza Tre Martiri is great for local produce
1 hour
Stroll through Borgo San Giuliano
This former fishermen's quarter across the Tiberius Bridge is one of Rimini's most photogenic corners. Colourful houses, murals, and a genuinely relaxed village atmosphere make it a lovely place to slow down. It is also one of the best areas to find excellent seafood restaurants.
Look for the Fellini-themed murals on the house walls
1 hour
Hit the Adriatic beaches
Rimini's long sandy beaches are a summer highlight for families. The water is warm and shallow near the shore, making it great for younger children. Beach clubs line the coast with sunbeds, umbrellas, and facilities, while the beach bars keep everyone fed and hydrated throughout the day.
Book a beach club spot in advance during July and August
Half day to full day
Our verdict
How Rimini scores for families
Kids
Sandy beaches, Roman ruins to clamber around, a medieval fortress with views, and a theme park nearby. Rimini keeps children genuinely entertained.
Culture
Two thousand years of history compressed into a walkable old town. Roman, medieval, and Renaissance layers sit side by side, and Fellini's legacy adds a modern cultural thread.
Food
Fresh Adriatic seafood, handmade pasta, and the beloved piadina flatbread make eating in Rimini a genuine pleasure. Fussy eaters will find plenty of safe options too.
Beach
Long, sandy, and well-organised. The Adriatic is warm and calm enough for young children, and the beach club setup makes a full day by the sea very comfortable.
Budget
More affordable than Rome or Florence. Many historic sights are free or low cost, though beach clubs and summer dining add up. Mid-range overall.
Planning your visit
How long should you stay in Rimini?
1
1 day
Quick visit
Walk the old town highlights: the Arch of Augustus, Ponte di Tiberio, Borgo San Giuliano, and both main piazzas. Grab a piadina for lunch and you will have seen the best of historic Rimini.
sweet spot
3
3 days
Sweet spot
One day for the historic centre, one day on the beach, and one day for Castel Sismondo, the Malatesta Temple, and a leisurely seafood dinner in Borgo San Giuliano. This is the pace most families enjoy.
5
5 days
Deep dive
Add a visit to Italy in Miniature, explore the surrounding Emilia-Romagna region, and spend lazy afternoons at the beach. A full week gives you time to settle in and really feel the rhythm of the city.
Did you know?
Things about Rimini your kids will love
A bridge older than most countries
The Ponte di Tiberio was completed around 20 AD, which means it has been standing for roughly 2,000 years. Cars still drive across it every single day. Roman engineers really knew what they were doing.
Hollywood came from here
Federico Fellini, one of the greatest film directors in history, was born in Rimini in 1920. Films like La Dolce Vita and 8½ made him world famous. The city now honours him with a whole museum inside a medieval castle.
One fountain for a whole city
The Fontana della Pigna in Piazza Cavour was the only source of drinking water for the entire city of Rimini until 1912. Every resident had to come to this one spot to collect their water. Kids usually find this both fascinating and horrifying.
Taste Rimini
What to eat with your family in Rimini
Piadina Romagnola
Kids love itNud e Crud
A thin, griddled flatbread filled with squacquerone cheese, prosciutto, and rocket. It is fast, filling, and absolutely delicious. The sealed stuffed version called cassoni comes with fillings like tomato and mozzarella, which younger kids tend to love.
Brodetto di pesce
Local favouriteIl Pescato del Canevone
Rimini's signature fish stew, made with a mixed catch straight from the Adriatic. It is hearty, flavourful, and deeply local. Order it with bread to soak up the broth.
Grilled sardines and fried seafood
Must tryOsteria de Borg
Simple, fresh, and exactly what you want after a morning on the beach. The fishermen's quarter near Ponte di Tiberio is the best place to find honest plates of grilled and fried Adriatic fish at fair prices.
Handmade pasta
Safe choiceOsteria de Borg
Tagliatelle with ragù, cappelletti, strozzapreti, and passatelli in broth are all part of the Rimini table. These are the kinds of dishes that feel like a warm hug after a long day of sightseeing, and children almost always ask for seconds.
Ciambella Romagnola
Daily treatLocal bakeries throughout the centro storico
A traditional ring-shaped pastry from the Rimini area, lightly sweet and perfect with a coffee or a glass of juice. Pick one up from a local bakery and eat it in the piazza like a local.
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