01Riccione at a glance
A trip along the coast from Hotel Viking, the Antonioli family's 3-star hotel in Viserbella di Rimini: Riccione is the “Green Pearl” of the Adriatic, with Viale Ceccarini and its shops and summer evenings, Villa Mussolini on the seafront, the canal harbour and Riccione Paese with the Museo del Territorio.
It is 23.0 km from the hotel, about 35 minutes by car, and in the evening you are back by the sea for our Romagna cooking. Festivals and events at that time of year are listed on our events in Rimini page.
| Where | Piazzale Ceccarini, 47838 Riccione (RN), along Viale Ceccarini, in front of the Palazzo del Turismo and the IAT tourist office (Piazzale Ceccarini 11) |
|---|---|
| From the hotel by car | 23.0 km, about 35 minutes |
| By train | Riccione railway station |
| When to go | all year round; on summer evenings in Viale Ceccarini |
02History and curiosities
- Riccione began as a small farming village along the Via Flaminia, with traces of settlement dating back to the 2nd century BC. Its name, Arciùn in dialect, may come from the Greek archeion, burdock, a wild plant that once grew along the shore.
- In the second half of the 19th century Riccione became a seaside resort: the 1880 town plan laid it out as a garden city, with tree-lined avenues and villas set in greenery, and in twenty years the number of villas rose from ten (1885) to more than two hundred (1905). Its leafy avenues earned it the nickname "Green Pearl of the Adriatic".
- Riccione has been an independent municipality since 1922 and celebrates its birthday every October. From 1926 to 1943 the Mussolini family spent their holidays here, helping to make the town known throughout Italy; since the 1950s it has been famous for its nightlife and fashionable clubs.
- Viale Ceccarini links the railway station to the sea and is the town's signature shopping street. It started out as a lane called "Viola"; in 1912 it was named after Maria Boorman Ceccarini, the benefactor who had the Ceccarini Hospital built in 1892, whose façade closes the avenue at the inland end. The Hotel Amati, the town's first hotel, opened here in 1901.
- Viale Ceccarini ends at the sea in Piazzale Roma, built in 1938, with the fountain "Il Bosco della Pioggia" (The Rain Forest), designed by Tonino Guerra and completed in 1990 with the architect Giancarlo De Carlo. The square hosts big summer concerts and Riccione's New Year's Eve celebrations.
- The Palazzo del Turismo, in white travertine, was built in 1938 to a design by Gogliardo Ossani and was the first building on the Adriatic designed for tourism promotion and leisure. Today it houses the IAT tourist office and rooms for exhibitions and events.
03Things to see and do
Villa Mussolini, overlooking the seafront promenade, was built at the end of the 19th century as a holiday home, and from 1934 to 1943 it was the Mussolini family's summer residence. Restored, it has hosted exhibitions and events since 2005, including photographs by Elliott Erwitt, Robert Doisneau, Steve McCurry, Robert Capa and Vivian Maier.
Villa Franceschi, an Art Nouveau villa built between 1900 and the 1920s, has been Riccione's Gallery of Modern and Contemporary Art since 2005. It displays the municipal collection and the Emilia-Romagna Region's Arcangeli Collection, with works by Alberto Burri, Enrico Baj, Mario Schifano, Virgilio Guidi and Mattia Moreni.
Riccione Paese is the original core of the town, which grew up along the ancient Via Flaminia, today's Corso Fratelli Cervi. Here you'll find the church of San Martino, rebuilt after the 1786 earthquake, and the Centro Culturale della Pesa with its library and museum; the Sunday after Easter is the Feast of the Blessed Alessio.
The Museo del Territorio "Luigi Ghirotti", in the Centro della Pesa (Viale Lazio 10), tells the story of the area from prehistory to Roman times: there are skeletons of a prehistoric bison, elephants, bears and rhinos, objects from Neolithic villages and Roman finds from the settlement of San Lorenzo in Strada on the Via Flaminia.
The Lungomare della Libertà, closed to traffic and with separate lanes for pedestrians and cyclists, runs from Piazzale del Porto, the heart of the fishing community and of evening life, to Piazzale Roma. The canal harbour is a small marina for little boats, with a square used for events.
Riccione has 130 beach establishments, all accessible and barrier-free, and 13 free public beaches along its coastline. It has held the Blue Flag since 2022, and the Ministry of Culture has listed the lifeguard's trade among Italy's ethno-anthropological heritage.
Sources: riccione.it · Riviera di Rimini · comune.riccione.rn.it. Information checked in October 2026.
04Visitor information
Viale Ceccarini, Piazzale Roma and the seafront promenade are free to explore on foot or by bike; Riccione railway station is at the top of the avenue. The IAT tourist office is in the Palazzo del Turismo, Piazzale Ceccarini 11 (tel. 0541 426050; hours published in October 2026: Monday–Thursday 9:30am–1pm, Friday–Sunday 9am–1pm and 3pm–7pm). The Museo del Territorio (Viale Lazio 10) is free; hours published in October 2026: from 1 September to 30 June Tuesday to Saturday 9am–1pm, plus 3pm–6pm on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday; in July and August Tuesday to Saturday 9am–1pm, plus 8:30pm–11pm on Tuesday and Wednesday. Villa Franceschi (Viale Gorizia 2) is free; it hosts temporary art exhibitions, with opening hours that vary by exhibition. Villa Mussolini (Viale Milano 31) opens for exhibitions and events, free or paid depending on the event. The Castello degli Agolanti, on the hill, opens only for cultural events. There are free and paid car parks near Villa Franceschi and Piazzale Roma.
Opening hours, prices and dates may change: always check the official website before you go.
Sources: comune.riccione.rn.it · riccione.it. Information checked in October 2026.
05How to get there from Hotel Viking
By car: 23.0 km, about 35 minutes. At reception we'll suggest the best route and the most convenient car parks; your parking space at the hotel stays reserved in the private car park, which is fenced and covered by CCTV.
Without a car: bus no. 4 stops 100 metres from the hotel (stop 25) and runs to Rimini railway station, where regional trains leave for Riccione station.
06Nearby
- Castello degli Agolanti, on the hill above Riccione
- Aquafan and Oltremare, Riccione's theme parks
- Villa Lodi Fé and Parco Papa Giovanni Paolo II
- Misano Adriatico and Cattolica, further south along the coast
- Montefiore Conca (about 20 km) and Mondaino (about 22 km)
- Rimini, to the north along the coast
- Misano World Circuit
- Gabicce Mare and Gabicce Monte
- Aquafan
- Oltremare
More ideas for days out from the hotel on things to do in Rimini and on the hinterland and hilltop villages page.
07What our guests say
What guests say about the hotel's location and day trips.
Day trips
«You can book trips inland with the help of the reception staff»
Handy for everything
«excellent location, close to everything, the sea included, but on a quiet street.»
08FAQ
Why is Viale Ceccarini called that?
Since 1912 it has borne the name of Maria Boorman Ceccarini, a benefactor of Riccione who had the Ceccarini Hospital built in 1892; before that the avenue was called "Viola". At no. 107 stands her bronze statue, unveiled in 2012.
Can you visit Villa Mussolini in Riccione?
Yes, during exhibitions and events: since 2005 the villa on the seafront, at Viale Milano 31, has hosted exhibitions and cultural events, with free or paid entry depending on the event. Information from the IAT tourist office (tel. 0541 426050).
How much does it cost to visit the Museo del Territorio in Riccione?
Entry is free. The museum is in the Centro della Pesa, Viale Lazio 10, in Riccione Paese, and is closed on Sundays and Mondays; guided tours can be arranged with the staff (tel. 0541 600113).
How far is Riccione from Hotel Viking?
23.0 km, about 35 minutes by car from Viserbella di Rimini; without a car, take the bus to Rimini railway station and then the train.
How long do you need to visit Riccione?
Half a day for Viale Ceccarini, the seafront and Villa Mussolini; summer evenings are when it is at its liveliest.
Where to stay to explore the Romagna Riviera?
At Hotel Viking in Viserbella di Rimini: a 3-star hotel 100 metres from the sea, with a private car park, open all year round, halfway between Ravenna and Gabicce.
