Visiting San Marino: The Complete Travel Guide
Have you heard of San Marino? This tiny country in Europe features fairytale castles, panoramic views, and picturesque winding roads. Best of all, visiting San Marino is easy! Whether you’re looking to take a day trip to San Marino from Italy or planning to spend a few days in the city, this historic country and its beautiful sights will wow you.
Let’s take a look at everything you need to know before traveling to San Marino!
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Introduction to San Marino
If you’re wondering what is San Marino, you’re not alone. San Marino is a microstate of only 24 square miles – the 5th smallest country in the world. In fact, it is only larger than Tuvalu, Nauru, Monaco, and the Vatican City.
Located in Europe, San Marino is completely surrounded by Italy, but it’s not part of the European Union. This small country is home to just 33,000 people but sees over 3 million visitors per year. Its largest claim to fame is that it is the world’s oldest republic.
Basics about Traveling to San Marino
When visiting San Marino, there are a few key things to know up front to make your trip go smoothly:
- The currency in San Marino is the Euro, just like in nearby Italy. As far as costs are concerned, it is comparable or even a little cheaper in San Marino than in Italy.
- The official language of San Marino is Italian. Although, you may hear the Sammarinese dialect of Italian being spoken by the locals in San Marino.
- There are 9 castelli – or towns – in San Marino, but the most visited one is the city of San Marino, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This is likely where you will visit on a trip to San Marino.
San Marino’s Relationship with Italy
One of the most common questions about San Marino, is why isn’t San Marino part of Italy?
Well, one key reason for San Marino’s independence from Italy simply comes down to its hilly location. Other, more political reasons include that in the 1800s San Marino protected people being persecuted for their support of the unification of Italy. This was followed in 1862 with a friendship treaty that guaranteed San Marino its independence from Italy.
So what does that mean when trying to visit San Marino from Italy? Here’s some of the most critical questions you’ll need to know.
Do you need a passport to visit San Marino?
While the Republic of San Marino is an independent country and not part of the EU, you will not need to present a passport to get to San Marino from Italy. That being said, you will need to be able to enter Italy to reach San Marino. This includes not just a passport, but also having a valid visa for the Schengen Area, if required for your country of origin.
Can you get your passport stamped in San Marino?
Even though you do not need a passport to get from Italy to San Marino, if you are interested in getting your passport stamped in San Marino, you can do so at the tourist office. It is located near the San Marino cable car and only costs 5 euros.
The Cost of Visiting San Marino
Visiting San Marino doesn’t have to be expensive. Whether it’s a day trip or a few nights in San Marino, you’ll be able to stay within a reasonable budget. In fact, San Marino is cheaper than Italy.
The cost of living in San Marino is 19% lower than Italy. During your San Marino travels, you’ll encounter low prices for food and transportation, and even entrance fees and accommodations are not too intimidating.
That being said, the overall GDP of San Marino is equal to the most developed nations, and it is considered a wealthy country.
How to Get to San Marino
Getting to San Marino is simple due to it being surrounded by Italy, a very popular tourist destination. If you are planning to fly to San Marino, the closest international airport is the Bologna airport. However, most people visit San Marino as a day trip from Bologna or other nearby Italian towns rather than trying to fly in directly.
If this is your plan, the easiest way to get to San Marino from Italy is by car. If you don’t have a car available to you and don’t want to rent a car, don’t fret. There are other great options to travel to San Marino – primarily by using the efficient public transit in Italy.
Just travel by train to Rimini, Italy, a beach side Italian town, and then transfer to the “international” bus to San Marino. Unfortunately, there is no train that goes directly to San Marino. This route will take right around two hours to travel from Bologna to San Marino, but you can follow this route from other cities in Italy.
Learn more about Bologna.
10 Best Things to Do in Bologna, Italy: The City of Porticos
What to Do in San Marino
San Marino sits on a hilltop providing priceless panoramic views of Italy below. In fact, the whole state feels like one giant castle complex. There are rock walls throughout the city, many featuring turrets, along with a quantity of buildings that look like stand alone castles, and that’s outside of the famous three towers of San Marino!
As such, you’ll find no shortage of things to do in San Marino. Here are some of the top activities in San Marino to add to your agenda.
Take a Walking Tour of San Marino
With such a compact city center and deep history, one of the best ways to see San Marino is to take a guided walking tour. Not only will you see all of the main sights of San Marino but you’ll also get the commentary and history behind them. Choose from a 1 hour walking tour to see the highlights or a more robust 3 hour walking tour of San Marino.
Visit the Three Towers of San Marino
The three towers of San Marino are situated on three peaks of Monte Titano and are one of the best known sights in San Marino. In fact, these towers are the prime symbol for the country and are depicted on the San Marino flag and represented in the coat of arms of San Marino.
While many will refer to them as simply the First Tower, Second Tower, and Third Tower (very creative), they do have individual names – Guaita, Cesta, and Montale Tower respectively. Each of these towers sit daringly along the cliff tops overlooking Italy below. They are simply stunning and completely picturesque – take your camera!
Note that you can tour Guaita Tower (First) and Cesta Tower (Second) but the Montale Tower (Third) is unable to be entered. Buy the joint ticket to save a bit of money!
Walk the Witches Path between the Towers
When visiting the three towers of San Marino, you’ll find a cobblestone path that leads from one tower to another creating a short peaceful walk between them. This walkway is considered the Passo delle Streghe or the Witches Path and offers some of the best views of the towers. I recommend you walk it in both directions to fully take in the beauty of San Marino.
Admire the Piazza della Liberta & Palazzo Pubblico
No trip to San Marino is complete without a stop at the Piazza della Liberta and the Parliament Building, Palazzo Pubblico. This central town square is the location of many official festivals, celebrations, and political events. It’s definitely one of the must see places in San Marino, even if you’re on a tight schedule!
Meander through the Medieval Streets of San Marino
One of the top things to do in San Marino is to simply wander through the streets of the city of San Marino. This capital city is considered a UNESCO World Heritage site offering rich history with iconic castle views.
As you walk through the historic cobblestone roads, you’ll pass souvenir shops, restaurants, museums, and more. Take the narrow passageways, climb the random staircases, you’ll find all kinds of adventure await you off the beaten path.
Stop at the Basilica of San Marino
The Basilica di San Marino, also called La Pieve, is the largest church in San Marino and the location of official religious ceremonies. Spend a few minutes admiring this beautiful 19th century church and the smaller church next door – Chiesa di San Pietro.
Take a Cooking Class in San Marino
One of the most fun ways to get to know the cuisine in San Marino is to take a hands-on cooking class. These classes teach you how to make regional specialties like tagliatelle or strozzapreti pasta – and you’ll get to pair the food with fine Italian wine!
Try the San Marino Cable Car
One of the best ways to get to the city of San Marino is to take the San Marino gondola from Borgo Maggiore, the station at the bottom. This ride only takes 2 minutes but offers some amazing views of the Adriatic coast and a comfortable means of transportation up to the city center. Find the latest timetable and prices on the official San Marino website.
If you’d rather just admire the views without taking the cable car, you can head to the terrace at the cable car entrance up in San Marino.
Explore San Marino by E-bike
Looking for a different way to visit San Marino? Consider renting an e-bike or joining an e-bike tour to travel around San Marino! With an e-bike you can explore all of the best things to do in San Marino and more with some fancy transportation and a side of fun!
To rent an e-bike, head to the rental office at the bottom of the San Marino cable car near Borgo Maggiore.
Jump on the San Marino Tourist Train
If you’re looking for things to do in San Marino with kids, look no further. Jump on the San Marino Tourist Train! This train makes a 40 minute, one-way journey from Borgo Maggiore, the bottom of the San Marino gondola, to San Marino city, and it offers an audio guide in 11 different languages that provides the history of San Marino.
Visit One of the Many Museums in San Marino
The state of San Marino offers 5 public museums plus there are a few private museums in San Marino, ranging from the traditional to the weird. Stop in the state museums, such as the Museum of San Francesco, Emigrant Museum, or Museum of Ancient Arms for a bit more history, or admire the art at the Gallery of Modern and Contemporary Art.
If you want something a bit more out of the ordinary or are traveling to San Marino with kids or teenagers you may be more interested in the unusual museums, like Museum of Vampires (Museo delle Creature della Notte – Vampiri e Licantropi), Museum of Curiosities (Museo delle Curiosita), or even the Torture Museum (Museo della Tortura.)
Where to Stay in San Marino
With San Marino being pretty compact, determining where to stay in San Marino is pretty simple… anywhere! No, but seriously, you’ll want to be centrally located in the city of San Marino so that you can walk to all of the best things to do in San Marino.
My recommendation for the best San Marino hotels to stay in are:
Hotel Rosa
One of the best hotels in San Marino, Hotel Rosa offers single, double, triple, and family room options – something for every traveler! It’s also located in the heart of San Marino and offers breakfast with all stays. The most stand out feature though is the views from the rooms and terrace. It’s truly incredible!
Check prices at Hotel Rosa now.
Hotel La Grotta
Located just off the main square, Piazza della Liberta, the San Marino Hotel La Grotta is one of the most convenient hotels to base yourself out of. It also comes with breakfast served daily in their dining room and offers air conditioning for those warm summer nights!
Check prices at Hotel La Grotta now.
B&B Balsimelli12
Staying in a bed and breakfast in San Marino will give you the extra personal touch you may be craving. B&B Balsimelli12 is located in the middle of San Marino and offers an Italian breakfast every morning. Additionally, all rooms offer private bathrooms and the view from the terrace is absolutely stunning!
Check prices for B&B Balsimelli12 now.
Best Time to Visit San Marino
If you’re trying to determine the best time of year to visit San Marino, you’ll be pleasantly surprised that San Marino is typically less crowded than the surrounding Italian cities. That being said, the most popular time of year to travel to San Marino is the summer. This is also peak tourist season in Italy.
To make the most of your trip to San Marino, I recommend you try the shoulder season before or after summer – April/May or September/October. You’ll still be able to take advantage of the beautiful weather without the hoards of people.
Additional Information for Visiting San Marino
Traveling to San Marino is a pleasure and easy to do. However, there may be a few questions you have about the area. Here are the most frequently asked questions about San Marino to help you get prepared for your trip. Have more questions – let me know in the comments!
How many days do you need in San Marino?
San Marino is a very small county and you can easily cover all of the highlights in just one to two days. As such, one of the most popular ways to visit San Marino is a day trip from Bologna. However, if you have the time, you may want to spend the night in San Marino. This will give you the option to explore the city at its quietest and most peaceful times. Check out hotels in San Marino here.
Is San Marino worth a day trip?
100% San Marino is worth a day trip. In fact, the tiny country of San Marino packs a lot of punch for a day trip. For one, it’s beautiful – from meandering the medieval streets to the panoramic views of the valleys below, your eyes are in for a treat! For another, it is rich in culture and history. And of course, it is its own country, which means you can mark another country off – if that’s your thing.
Is San Marino a safe place to visit?
San Marino is considered one of the safest countries in the world to visit. In fact, to get an idea of how safe San Marino is for tourists, let’s take a look at the crime rates. There are typically only about 269 crime related cases per year – with the majority being petty theft.
Explore More of the Region
Visiting San Marino isn’t complicated, but it is worthwhile. Use this complete San Marino travel guide to make the most of your time in the city. Then as you plan more of your time in San Marino, Italy, and the other surrounding cities, check out these additional posts:
- 10 Best Things to Do in Bologna, Italy: The City of Porticos
- Planning a Trip to Cinque Terre: The Complete Guide
- Where to Stay in Cinque Terre: Selecting the Right Town for Your Trip
- 10 Secrets of Bologna to Know Before You Go
- Visiting the Famous Romeo & Juliet Balcony in Verona, Italy
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Your travel blog has become my go-to resource for planning my next adventure, like to San Marino. Your detailed itineraries and travel tips have saved me countless hours of research.
I’m always happy to help other travelers make the most of their time and money on the road!