VISA
For EU citizens and citizens of countries that have signed the Schengen Agreement, a valid identity card is sufficient as an alternative to a passport.
Citizens from non-EU countries may enter Italy with a passport valid for at least three months after the planned date of departure from the Schengen Area. Depending on your country of origin, you can request a visa from the Italian Embassy or Consulate in your country of residence and it will generally be issued after 90 days.
To find out which countries require a visa to enter Italy, please click here and enter your nationality, your country of residence, the duration of your stay (less than or more than 90 days) and the reason for your trip. The Italian government provides further information on the entry to Italy and the entry visa. Please also refer to our Terms and Conditions.
You are advised to check the entry requirements before registering for the Congress or making any travel arrangements. Follow the instructions indicated by the Italian Embassy or Consulate. Only register and make travel arrangements once you have consulted the Italian Embassy or Consulate and you are convinced that you have enough resources to obtain the necessary visa.
In some cases, appointments are needed to schedule face-to-face interviews and these can be booked out for months in advance. In other cases, the process to obtain certain documentation needed to secure the visa can also be time-consuming. The ECSS kindly encourages all non-EU citizens to begin their visa application process at the earliest to ensure a smooth and timely travel.
Please be advised that the ECSS cannot assume responsibility for delays in visa processing that may prevent entry into Italy. Unfortunately, we are unable to refund the Congress registration fee, if an entry visa is not obtained in time.
ECSS Congress invitation letter
The local organisers of the ECSS Annual Congress can issue a Congress invitation letter in case it is requested by the respective Embassy/Consulate. Please note that invitation letters are issued to registered Congress participants only. Please follow the below instructions to obtain an invitation letter which apply to everybody, regardless of having submitted an abstract or not:
- Log into or create a new ECSS account.
- Scroll to ‘myCongress’ and pay your registration fee.
- Please send a request for a Congress invitation letter via email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., indicating your ECSS account ID.
- The invitation letter will be sent to you in PDF format via email. If you require a printed copy, please mention this in your email request and provide the postal address. Please note that postal delivery can take several weeks and take this into account when planning your Congress registration and journey to Italy. Also, please be aware that the costs for express delivery are to be borne by the applicant. Please find further information regarding the registration fees and deadlines here.
Please book your Embassy/Consulate appointment as early as possible, as depending on the Embassy/Consulate, it could take up to several months to get an appointment.
TRAVEL INFORMATION
GETTING TO RIMINI
Rimini is an accessible and welcoming destination. Getting to Rimini and the travel within the city is a breeze due to its well-planned connectivity. Its public transport, shuttles and taxi services connecting key locations, including the Congress centre - Palacongressi di Rimini, local hotels and historic touristic locales will make your travel to the 30th ECSS Annual Congress fairly easy..
BY AIR
Rimini itself has its smaller Federico Fellini Airport, located around 5km from the Rimini city centre, offering some international connections. In addition, especially the Bologna Guglielmo Marconi International Airport that is approximately 100km from Rimini by motorway is very well connected internationally and can be reached in an hour and also with shuttle buses or private vehicles. Both the airports are easily accessible from major Italian, European and international cities.
When arriving in Bologna you may take the shuttle bus to Rimini or use the Marconi Express to get to Bologna Centrale train station and continue via train to Rimini (see below for further information).
Florence Amerigo Vespucci Airport, located approximately 200km from Rimini, is another convenient option for international travellers. From Florence, Rimini can be reached via train in approximately 2.5 hours, with connections from Florence Santa Maria Novella station to Rimini train station. More information on ticket fares and sale can be found here.
Travellers can also opt for private transfers or car rentals for a more direct journey. The airport has numerous car rental services that can be reviewed here.
BOLOGNA AIRPORT SHUTTLE BUS
There are daily frequent shuttle buses between the Bologna airport and Rimini train station, tickets to which can be booked from Shuttle Italy Airport website. The journey takes approximately 1.5 hours with ticket prices ranging from €25 to €30. The shuttle runs between 9:00 and 21:00 (CEST) with an additional service around 1:00.
BY TRAIN
The Marconi Express, a monorail train, connects Bologna Airport to Bologna Centrale train station in 7 minutes. The service runs from 5:40 to midnight for a cost of €12.80 for a one-way journey while the return fare costs €23.30. For more information, visit www.marconiexpress.it.
From Bologna Centrale to Rimini’s train station (Tutte Le Stazioni), it is a smooth and picturesque journey with connections at regular intervals. For Frecciarossa high-speed trains, with a travel time of 1 hour, ticket costs would range between €20 and €30, while for regional trains with a duration of 1.5 to 2.5 hours, ticket prices range from €10 to €14, depending on the connection booked.
The train network also helps to link the Rimini Riviera with the rest of Italy. From the Rimini train station, one can conveniently reach by high-speed connections to Bologna in 1 hour, Milan in 2 hours and Rome in less than 4 hours. For further information, visit www.trenitalia.it.
The Palacongressi di Rimini is located approximately 2km from the Rimini train station. It is accessible via a 12-minute ride on bus line no. 7 or an 8-minute drive by taxi. The single travel bus ticket may cost around €1.50, while a day ticket costs approximately €4.50. To travel within the city, you can purchase tickets via the vending machines at the stops or via multiple apps such as Roger, DropTicket and MooneyGo. For more information, visit www.startromagna.it.
It is an approximately 25-minute walk from Rimini train station to the Palacongressi di Rimini.
BY CAR
Rimini is also well-connected with the rest of Italy and Europe via motorway. It lies on the A14 Milano-Bari motorway and is served by two exits: Rimini Nord and Rimini Sud. The distance from the A14 Rimini Sud exit to Palacongressi di Rimini is around 2.5km. The congress centre offers two levels of underground parking facility for around 500 cars for a fee to ensure a convenient journey.
With the A14, from Rimini it is also easy to reach the A4 to Venice and the A22 to the Brenner pass. Florence, Rome and Naples are equally accessible with the A1 motorway.
To plan your road trip, you can also refer to the website www.autostrade.it.
GETTING AROUND IN RIMINI
The Palacongressi di Rimini is situated within a green bay. A 30-minute walk connects the congress centre to numerous hotels that line the beach area.
There are multiple options to travel within the city:
BY BIKE & SCOOTER
There are several cycle lanes through parks and along the Marecchia river.
Rimini offers bike sharing and scooter facilities through Lime and Bird Rides Italy. The services can be availed via their respective apps.
Rimini train station also has a new cycle parking facility for renting and parking bikes. The city aims to promote interaction between the use of local transport, trains and the cycle/pedestrian system. Please note the website is currently available only in Italian language, however details can be acquired using the translation option on web browsers.
BY CAR OR TAXI
Car rental services are available with or without drivers, providing Congress goers with a means of transport for getting to and from the venue or exploring the local area. Alternatively, one can have the option of a taxi sharing service from the hotel to the Palacongressi di Rimini and back.
For taxi services with RI Radio Taxi Rimini, call +39 0541 50020. Special rates from and to the Palacongressi di Rimini are available.
You can also download the app ‘itTaxi!’ and book your taxi!
BY BOAT
It is possible to come across Rimini canal harbour via a barge! The service is available from May to September and you can also take bikes on it to reach Borgo San Giuliano and return.
BY METROMARE
The METROMARE , an electric, zero emission single track, connecting Rimini and Riccione train stations in 23 minutes with 15 stops along the way and it runs every 20 minutes. Tickets can be purchased on board by paying contactless with credit card ranging from €1.50 to €5.00 depending on ride zone and duration. The Romagna Smart Pass offers three (€11) to seven (€22) day tickets including further destinations.
