The Ultimate San Marino Tour Guide will take you down cobble-stoned streets to ancient towers looking out over the Italian countryside. We’ll explain everything you need to know: where to stay, what to see, what to eat, and more.
What is San Marino?
Not to be confused with Hall of Fame quarterback Dan Marino, The Most Serene Republic of San Marino is a tiny landlocked nation, completely within the confines of Italy. It is a country completely surrounded by another country, of which there are only three on Earth: Lesotho, Vatican City, and San Marino.
Where is San Marino located?
It’s near the Adriatic sea and the Italian city of Rimini. With the San Marino population at only 33,000 people, and just 24 square miles of land, it is one of the smallest countries in Europe.
Why is San Marino a country?
The Republic of San Marino’s history is a strange anomaly. Modern-day Italy used to be many small principalities, kingdoms, and states, but by 1871 these had all been absorbed into the Republic of Italy. All except San Marino.
It has been independent since around the fall of the Roman Empire in 301AD. They stayed neutral in both World Wars. San Marino even convinced Napoleon NOT to invade. During the Italian unification process in the mid 1800’s, San Marino served as a refuge for many people persecuted because of their support for unification. In recognition of this support, The first leader of the unified Italy accepted the wish of San Marino not to be incorporated into the new Italian state.
Some fun San Marino facts:
- The San Marino national soccer team has only one win in the last 25 years, a 1–0 victory in 2004 against Liechtenstein, another of the tiny European countries.
- The entire city of San Marino is a UNESCO World Heritage Site
- San Marino is the only country in the world with more vehicles than people.
- The San Marino capital is….San Marino. Yep. Its capital is San Marino, San Marino.
- It is often misspelled as San Marina.
- Of the small countries in Europe; it is bigger than only Monaco and Vatican City in land area. It’s not the smallest nation in Europe, but it’s pretty close.
What to Do in San Marino?
- Check off another country on your quixotic quest to go to a lot of countries. Congratulations.
- Walk around the historical center of San Marino city, enjoying the cobblestone streets.
- Explore the Guaita and Cesta Towers on Monte Titano. The San Marino three towers date to the 13th century. Open 8am to 8pm in summer, and for 4.5 Euro you get entry to both.
- Witness the changing of the guard ceremony from April to September, every half hour from 8am to 6pm at the Palazzo Pubblico.
- Cycle the Laila footpath – a 2 mile route starting from the town of Domagnano at the bottom of the Monte Titano. It follows an old railway track, and weaves through forest and Roman Ruins.
- San Marino tourism is largely based on shopping for duty-free goods like electronics, sunglasses, watches, purses, clothing and huge quantities of replica and real weaponry. They don’t charge Italian import taxes, so shoppers with a passport other than Italian or San Marinese, can get great deals. There might be more knives and guns for sale per capita than in Texas.
- Check out some strange museums in San Marino city, like the Historical Museum of Torture $20, the Museum of Curiosity $10 and the Vampire and Werewolf Museum $10.
- Visit the Ferrari Museum.
- Experience a sunset view with a glass of wine at the very top of 2500 foot Monte Titano.
The Ultimate San Marino Tour Guide: Things to Know Before You Go:
Backpacker Daily Budget:
$66. You can get a hostel bed for $23, three budget meals for $25, three beers for $13, and entry to the towers for $5.
Cheap Beer index:
$4.53 but really you should be drinking wine in Italy/San Marino. Italian beer is terrible. If you insist on beer, Birrificio Abusivo and Titanbrau are the local San Marino brews.
When to visit San Marino:
San Marino weather varies from hot summer to cold winters. May-June and September-October are ideal times to visit. Highs are in the 70’s and crowds should be manageable. In San Marino, tourism peaks in July and August. These months are hot, averaging 86, and have heavy tourist traffic. Due to its high elevation, San Marino weather brings chilly winters, with lows in the 30’s and 40’s.
What languages are spoken in San Marino?
Italian is the official language of the Repubblica di San Marino. Some people in the tourism industry may speak a little English.
Do you need a passport to go to San Marino?
No. There are no border formalities between San Marino and Italy. However, you can get your passport stamped with a San Marino visa for €5 at the Tourism Office. Visas are not required for nationals of USA, UK, AUS, and CAN. Visitors staying more than 10 days must get a permit from the government.
How to get to San Marino:
There is no San Marino airport. The closest airport is Federico Fellini International in Rimini (RMI).
Bus from Rimini to San Marino:
There is a Rimini San Marino bus, Bonelli Bus 72, and it runs from the city daily, and takes about 45 minutes. A return ticket costs €10. The bus can be found opposite the Rimini train station.
Rome to San Marino:
You can take one of about 18 trains from Rome to San Marino. It takes between five and seven hours and starts at 36 Euros. You can also arrive overland via private car. Expect to pay for parking, as space is at a premium in the old town. It should take about four to four and a half hours.
Bologna to San Marino Train:
You can catch a train/bus combo that will take about two and a half hours. Bologna to San Marino by car is only about 90 minutes.
Getting around San Marino:
- Once you’ve arrived, ditch the car, and enjoy walking around the compact town and following our San Marino travel guide.
- There is an aerial tramway connecting the city of San Marino with Borgo Maggiore, the second largest town in the country.
San Marino currency and how to get it:
Euro (0.86 EUR=$1 as of 2019) are available at numerous ATMs. Even though San Marino is NOT a member of the EU, they use the Euro, and even mint their own coins. For more info on your cash-versus-credit card options when travelling, check out my post on How to Access your Money in Foreign Countries.
Stay Connected:
Any Italian or EU SIM card will work normally without roaming. San Marino has no separate telecom companies. For more info on your telecom options, check out my post on How to Get Cheap Mobile Phone Service Worldwide.
San Marino Hotels:
Hotels are not cheap in the high season. A San Marino day trip might be more affordable. However, It’s lovely to stay right in the old town and have it all to yourself after the tour buses leave.
- Hostel San Marino is the cheapest option in the country at $23 for a dorm bed, BUT, it is located 2.2 miles away from the historical center.
- Hotel Joli is the best budget accommodation right in the old town. Single rooms are $51 a night.
My Personal San Marino Tour:
I could not pass up the chance to visit more tiny countries in Europe, so we rented a car in Florence and hit the road. I was dealt a tiny Ford Ka which sported a puny 1.2 liter engine that spit out a whopping 68 horsepower. It goes from 0 to 60 in just under 10 minutes. Perfect for parking, not so perfect for merging in thick highway traffic. It should be noted that Italians drive 80mph at all times. And gas costs $7.90 a gallon. And there are toll booths every ten miles.
I worried that San Marino would be unimpressive, and Lindso would be saying “Wait, tell me again why is San Marino a country?” and “We drove 4 hours to see this dump?”, but we were not disappointed. The main city of San Marino (also called San Marino) featured a walled old town with three medieval towers capping the top of the highest mountain in the country, Monte Titano. Another sorta-Italian fairy-tale town. The best part was that with few hotels, nearly everyone clears out with the last tour bus. We had the town completely to ourselves that evening!
Companies offering San Marino Tours:
Check out these companies for day tours of the city.
- Curioseety
- eBike Experience
- Fun Top Run San Marino
- BlackBuck Travels
- Consorzio San Marino 2000
Where to eat:
There is lots of great Italian food to be found; here are some recommended spots:
- Il Matterello makes fast custom ordered piadina – a thin flatbread sandwich which is stuffed with meat, cheese, and salad.
- Hocus Pocus is a cheap option on the edge of the old town.
- Strapizzati is an excellent budget choice for Italian standard dishes.
- Pizzeria Cacciatori is the place to go for pizza in the city of San Marino.
San Marino Nightlife:
Not much to be found. The London Pub is located outside the city walls, and might be your only shot for a drink on your San Marino tour.
Get a guidebook:
You probably won’t find much more information than what we have here in our San Marino tour guide, but surely you’ll be visiting Italy as well.
What to Pack:
You can wear whatever you would normally wear in Europe. Bring a jacket, because the top of Monte Titano is windy. To learn how to pack light and be prepared for anything, check out my post The Worldwide Travel Packing List.
Is San Marino safe?
Very safe. It’s like a small town, with a strong police and camera presence, and very little crime.
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