From Rimini, outings can follow the Marecchia upstream, explore Covignano hill on foot or devote a day to a hinterland village. The river offers a long itinerary to split into stages; Covignano allows a more compact hill circuit. Santarcangelo and San Marino require a full day for travel and visits.
The Marecchia from Parco XXV Aprile to Ponte Verucchio
Parco XXV Aprile, near Ponte di Tiberio, is the urban starting point for following the Marecchia into the hinterland. The landscape changes gradually: the town park gives way to the riverbed, riverside vegetation and views towards the Valmarecchia hills.
The itinerary published by the Riviera di Rimini tourism portal from Rimini to Ponte Verucchio measures 20.6 kilometres along CAI route 017. This is one way: returning along the same trail makes the outing around 41 kilometres. For a short walk or shorter bike ride, the turning point is chosen beforehand.
The path is gravel and flat except for the final climb towards Santuario della Madonna di Saiano: the Comune's Rimini Turismo portal recommends a mountain bike. Between San Martino dei Mulini and Ponte Verucchio, the river floodplain is a good birdwatching stretch.
Walkers can return by buses passing through Ponte Verucchio, as the itinerary listing notes. By bicycle, the simplest return is along the same route.
Verucchio, Montebello and San Leo are other valley destinations. They are reached by uphill detours from the riverside path.
Covignano: a hill loop near the city
The Covignano hill route described by Riviera di Rimini measures around 6.5 kilometres, with 160 metres of elevation gain and an indicative time of three to three and a half hours. It starts in the square below Santuario delle Grazie.
The circuit alternates roads and dirt stretches through the San Fortunato area, near Abbazia di Scolca, and towards Villa Belvedere and San Girolamo. It is a hill walk requiring footwear suitable for dirt trails.
Museo degli Sguardi, beside Santuario delle Grazie, opens on reservation: requests are made to Musei comunali di Rimini.
A seaside walk
For an outing within the city, the harbour and Parco del Mare offer a seafront itinerary. The lighthouse and Palata area provide a landmark for watching the harbour entrance; southwards, the route continues through refurbished spaces facing the beach.
The stretch is chosen according to available time, returning along the same route. For a walk combined with a seaside stop, coastal areas are described in the Rimini beach guide.
In summer, tourist motor vessels board at beach jetties, the canal harbour and various locations between Torre Pedrera and Miramare for coastal trips off Riccione, Cattolica and Gabicce as far as Baia degli Angeli and Monte San Bartolo; evening outings take place only in July and August. Sailing boats and catamarans depart from the marina. The jetty list is on the Comune's Rimini Turismo portal, updated in August 2025.
Santarcangelo, San Marino and other villages
Santarcangelo di Romagna, 10 kilometres along Via Emilia, suits a day spent between the historic streets and the hill; the caves are explored on guided visits. It can be reached by train, followed by a walk of around 15 minutes from the station to the centre, by Start Romagna route 9, or by bicycle along the Marecchia in around an hour.
San Marino requires more time for the upper town, viewpoints and fortifications. From Borgo Maggiore, the cable car climbs to the city every quarter of an hour; seasonal hours and scheduled closures are on the AASS cable car service page; AASS is the public company that operates it.
Verucchio and San Leo offer trips devoted to Valmarecchia history. Rocca Malatestiana di Verucchio is explored on guided visits, and at weekends a joint ticket combines it with Fortezza di San Leo.
Planning transport
Start Romagna timetables and notices list hinterland connections and service changes. For a booked visit, planning backwards from the last useful return service, allowing time from the stop, is advisable.
Metromare links Rimini and Riccione stations in around 23 minutes. Only folding bicycles are allowed on board. Metromare timetables list the services.
The Rimini guide gathers city visits; Riviera itineraries help with choosing stops to combine in a hinterland day.