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Upcoming events.

Personal Exhibition of the Artist Eduardo Kobra

The internationally recognized Brazilian muralist returns to San Marino

San Marino Outdoor Sport & Adventure Festival

Tour de France 2024

Stage 1 - Passage in San Marino

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Hip Hop Music Festival

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Explore the territory of san marino.

Our territory is rich in cultural beauties, castles, churches, art, culture and nature. Don’t forget even sports!

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Watch San Marino from the Webcams!

Discover San Marino thanks to 3 webcams installed in the main points of interest and active 24 hours a day: Centro Uffici (with a view of Mount Titano and the three Towers), Cableway (with a view of the sea) and Palazzo Pubblico (with a view of Piazza della Libertà)

THE 10 BEST City of San Marino Tours & Excursions

City of san marino tours.

• Sightseeing Tours
• Walking Tours
• Historical & Heritage Tours
• Cultural Tours
• Private Tours
• Wine Tours & Tastings
• Self-Guided Tours & Rentals
• Ports of Call Tours
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• The ranking of tours, activities, and experiences available on Tripadvisor is determined by several factors including the revenue generated by Tripadvisor from these bookings, the frequency of user clicks, and the volume and quality of customer reviews. Occasionally, newly listed offerings may be prioritized and appear higher in the list. The specific placement of these new listings may vary.

1. Private Tour of San Marino: UNESCO World Heritage Site

2. 2 Hours Local Wine and Food Tasting in San Marino Center

3. San Marino: A Self Guided Audio Tour

4. Private San Marino Walking Tour

5. San Marino Uncovered: Walk the World's Oldest Republic

6. San Marino - Private Walking Tour

7. San Marino: Food Tasting Tour

8. Day trip from Ravenna to San Marino

9. 2 Hours Tea Tasting in San Marino Center

10. Private Guided Tour with Aperitif in Winebar in San Marino

11. San Marino Scavenger Hunt and Sightseeing Tour

12. Private tour with Welcome KIT in San Marino

13. Private Transfer from Borgo Maggiore to Rimini (RMI) Airport

14. Guided tour “Love stories of San Marino”

15. San Marino Self Guided Sherlock Holmes Murder Mystery Game

16. Couple Trekking in San Marino with Aperitif Included

17. Guided Tour of San Marino at Sunset with aperitif included

18. San Marino - Historic Guided Walking tour

19. Private Transfer from San Marino to Bologna (BLQ) Airport

20. Entrance Ticket - Titanus Museum: Multimedia Experience

21. San Marino’s Starlit Stroll: A Christmas Walking Tour

What travelers are saying.

• Private Tour of San Marino: UNESCO World Heritage Site
• San Marino: A Self Guided Audio Tour
• 2 Hours Local Wine and Food Tasting in San Marino Center
• Guided Tour of San Marino at Sunset with aperitif included
• San Marino - Historic Guided Walking tour
• San Marino Experience
• VoiceMap San Marino
• City Game San Marino
• BlackBuck Travels
• San Marino Scavenger Hunt and Sightseeing Tour

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San Marino Tours & Trips

Find the right tour for you through San Marino. We've got 20 adventures going to San Marino, starting from just 7 days in length, and the longest tour is 28 days. The most popular month to go is May, which has the largest number of tour departures.

20 San Marino tour packages with 176 reviews

• In-depth Cultural
• Christmas & New Year

Italian Holidays

The first day was not to our liking. Our nephew's flight was delayed and cancelled due to weather. We asked if he could be picked up later and was told it would cost 244 Euros to help us out! The hotel we were staying in was kind enough to offer to do that. 244 Euros was an out outrageous amount to charge help a client out! Also the stop in Gubbio was a waste of time. Other than that, out guides were good.

• Coach / Bus
• Sightseeing

All About Italy ( 8 days )

Fantastic itinerary - great mix of “must sees” and off-the-beaten-path!! Accommodations were all good and guide recommendations of what to see, where to eat and historical information was spot on. Highly recommend!

Italian Delights

We saw a lot in the time we were there. Our tour leader, Martina (Marty) was fabulous!

• 10% deposit on some dates Some departure dates offer you the chance to book this tour with a lower deposit.

Milan-Verona-Venice-Padua-Perugia-Rome 7 Days

Europe Explorer Grand Tour “Imperial Route”

Europe Explorer Grand Tour “Adriatic Route”

One of the best trips I’ve been on. So much to see. Such beautiful landscapes. Andrea (guide) was extremely knowledgeable and knew all the best places to go and a few off the beaten path gems. Such an incredible experience!!! An absolute must!

Best of Italy (Venice to Rome) (2024)

Best of Italy (Venice to Rome) (2023)

In the heart of Italy ROT

Italian Treasures ( 11 days )

Golden Italy ( 15 days )

Treasures of Italy ( 13 days )

In the heart of Italy

In the heart of Italy and Campania

Italian Roundabout Complete End Rome

What people love about san marino tours.

The first day was not to our liking. Our nephew's flight was delayed and cancelled due to weather. We asked if he could be picked up later and was told it would cost 244 Euros to help us out! The hotel we were staying in was kind enough to offer to do that. 244 Euros was an out outrageous amount to charge help a client out! Also the stop in Gubbio was a waste of time. Other than that, out guides were good.

Tour was most enjoyable, lots of destinations visited in a short time. Journey was broken up with fantastic lunch stops at amazing places. Marty our tour guide was very informative and gave us lots of information about the destination prior to arriving. She would also walk us to meeting points and be available to contact if any one needed her assistance.

International Versions

• Français: Circuits et voyages au Saint-Marin

Visiting San Marino: 11 tips for your visit to this magical tiny country

San Marino is one of the smallest countries in the world – and one of the least-visited. But if you go to Bologna or Rimini in Italy and don’t make the very slight detour to visit San Marino, you’re missing out on a spellbinding country with a lot to offer. Read on for advice and tips for visiting San Marino, and how to get the most out of your trip.

Where is San Marino?

San Marino is a tiny country, just 24 square miles in area and completely surrounded by the Emilia-Romagna and Marche regions of Italy. It’s 8 miles from the Italian seaside resort of Rimini.

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San Marino is made up of 9 regions, although most visitors to San Marino will only visit the capital, Cittá di San Marino. While the whole country is hilly, Cittá di San Marino perches astonishingly on top of a mountain peak, so pretty it could come straight out of a fantasy movie.

Tip: Don’t say San Marino is in Italy! While it is surrounded by Italy, it’s an independent country.

Is San Marino worth visiting?

Absolutely yes – there are few places that I’ve been that are as spectacular and atmospheric. I’d planned a trip to San Marino mainly to tick another country off my list (my 42nd), but what I found was an incredibly beautiful and welcoming place that I’d love to return to.

Standing on the ramparts of one of the castle towers, climbing the narrow stone streets or taking the Witches’ Path through the forest between the towers, you could easily imagine yourself to be in a fairy tale. There’s some decent shopping, but what you’re really visiting San Marino for is the exceptional location, the extraordinary views and the otherworldly atmosphere.

Tip: If you have some flexibility in when you visit San Marino, try to pick the clearest day – the fewer clouds there are, the more you’ll see of the amazing views. That said, if you go to San Marino on a cloudy day in Rimini, you might well be above the clouds when you get to the top of Monte Titano.

How long to stay in San Marino

Most visitors to San Marino take a day trip from Bologna or Rimini, but I strongly recommend that you stay for at least one night and preferably two, particularly if you visit when there are events on. I definitely recommend staying overnight in San Marino if you’re visiting by public transport, as the bus timetable from Rimini doesn’t give anything like enough time to explore the city properly.

Cittá di San Marino is a maze of narrow streets which run along the sides of Monte Titano, gradually climbing as they go. Because everything is so compressed into a small space and lots of the roads run parallel to each other (but higher or lower up the mountain) it can be difficult to orientate yourself. We got lost when visiting San Marino a lot more than we normally do! There are a lot of steps so getting around takes a bit longer than you might expect based on looking at a flat map of the city.

Tip: staying for one or two nights in San Marino will give you the chance to see the city in the evening, when all the day trippers have gone home and the city is quiet and mysterious.

Getting to San Marino

Which airport should i use for san marino.

San Marino doesn’t have its own airport. The nearest is in Rimini, on the Italian coast, which is served by low cost carriers Ryanair and Wizz. If your local airport doesn’t have flights to Rimini, try Bologna, which is 85 miles to the north of San Marino.

How to get to San Marino by car

It’s probably easiest to visit San Marino by car, although large parts of the historic old town are either pedestrianised or access only so you’ll need to leave your car at one of the car parks. These are either on the edge of Cittá di San Marino or in Borgo Maggiore, the town further down the slopes of Monte Titano.

There are some hotels with parking, although not many. I stayed at the Hotel Rosa , which had parking for a small number of cars right outside the door. Parking in the main San Marino car parks cost 4 euro a day if you’re staying in a hotel in San Marino.

If you do bring your car when you’re visiting San Marino, I really recommend going on Google Maps’ Street View and planning your route before you arrive. The roads up Monte Titano zig-zag their way up, with hairpin bends and I found it quite confusing to know which way I should be going (I do generally have a decent sense of direction!).

Tip: If you’re renting a car, I recommend choosing as small a car as you can manage as the roads are narrow and twisty, and parking spots can be tight. You should also check that your car rental company will be ok with you taking the car into another country.

How to get to San Marino by public transport

The nearest railway station to San Marino is in Rimini, on the Italian coast.

If you’re flying into Bologna airport, the route that Google Maps recommends is the Marconi Express monorail to Bologna Centrale railway station, then a train from Bologna Centrale to Rimini, then a bus from Rimini to San Marino. This is fine, and it’s what I did, but I wish we’d taken the Shuttle Italy Airport bus straight from Bologna airport to Rimini.

The fast Frecciarossa and Intercity trains from Bologna to Rimini which take around an hour often sell out. If they do, you’ll have to take one of the slower Regionale trains which can take well over 2 hours and sometimes require a change.

The Regionale train I travelled back from Rimini to Bologna on was absolutely packed and we had to stand almost all the way back. The Shuttle Italy Airport bus takes around 1 hour and 30 minutes to get to Rimini; it also means you don’t have to contend with the Marconi Express monorail, which was a lot less fun than it sounds!

Tip: Intercity trains from Bologna are around half the price of the Frecciarossa, but only take around 20 minutes longer. You should consider booking fast trains a week or so in advance – or if you’re travelling from Bologna airport, you could take the Shuttle Italy Airport bus.

Rimini to San Marino bus

Bonelli Bus runs a scheduled bus service between Rimini’s main train station and San Marino. The bus runs every day, including on Sundays and public holidays. There are around three timetables each year, one for the summer (April to mid September), one for the Autumn (mid September to November) and one for the winter (November through to April).

There are eight buses per day in each direction, with the first bus setting off from Rimini just after 8am and the last bus from San Marino returning just after 7pm. The journey takes between 50 and 55 minutes, depending on the time of day. The buses are more like a coach than a city bus, with comfortable seats and luggage storage underneath.

You can either buy tickets on board the bus or, in Rimini, at the little tabaccheria immediately across the street from the train station. Tickets cost 6 euro each way and are valid for any service; if you buy a return at the tabaccheria you’ll be given two tickets which you can use anytime. I was able to pay for my tickets by card in the shop but lots of people say that they don’t always accept cards, and can be funny about taking small change.

The bus stop for San Marino has recently moved – it was by the Burger King but it’s now a little further along Piazzale Cesare Battisti, outside the Hotel Napoleon.

In San Marino, the bus from Rimini stops at Parcheggio P1 A, just outside the city walls and immediately below the Porta del Paese – Porta San Francesco (Gate of St Francis).

A queue forms at the bus stop before each bus departure. Leaving San Marino it was very orderly, a bit less so in Rimini. While all of us managed to get on each time, I’ve read that that’s not always the case. If you go for the last bus back to Rimini from San Marino and don’t get on, you’re looking at a 45-50 euro taxi. We opted to catch the bus before the one we actually needed to catch to make sure we got a seat.

Tip: Make sure you’re at the bus stop well before the bus is due to leave, just in case there’s a long queue.

Things to do in San Marino

Tip: If you stay in a San Marino hotel, you’ll be given a TuttoSanMarino discount card , which gives you money off entry tickets for the three towers and lots of San Marino’s museum, along with discounts at shops and restaurants and on the cable car.

Visit the three towers

If you do one thing when you’re visiting San Marino, it should be to see at least one of San Marino’s iconic towers. The towers sit on Monte Titano’s three peaks and are connected by a ridge.

The first tower, known as Guaita, is the oldest, built in the 11th century. It’s also the most popular with visitors. You can explore almost every part of the Guaita fortress, including climbing up a very steep and narrow ladder to get to the highest turret!

The second tower, Cesta (but also known as De La Fratta) is temporarily closed for restoration work as of October 2022, but hopefully it’ll be open again soon. There are gorgeous views across to the Guaita tower and across the city, and many visitors say they found it the most beautiful tower. The Cesta tower is also home to the Museum of Ancient Weapons – while it’s closed, there’s a small display in the prison section of the Guaita tower.

San Marino’s third tower is the smallest, and it isn’t open to the public, although you can walk to it. It was built in the 14th century and was used as a prison tower.

Passo Delle Streghe – the Witches’ Path

Between the first and second towers, there’s a narrow path, known as Passo Delle Streghe, or the Witches’ Path. There are two stories for how the Witches’ Path got its name. One story says it was named because witches gathered here at night. In the morning, they would turn themselves into black cats and flee. The other story is more gruesome – it was where women who had been accused of being witches were taken to be thrown from the ridge.

The path is exceptionally beautiful, with stunning views in both directions. If you’ve seen a gorgeous picture that’s made you want to visit San Marino, there’s a good chance that it was taken here. Since it is so stunning, it’s also very popular with visitors so you might have to wait a while to get your perfect Instagram shot.

See Piazza della Libertà and the Palazzo Pubblico

A big part of my reason for visiting San Marino was because it is an independent country. The Palazzo Pubblico, on lovely Piazza della Libertà is San Marino’s official government building and where official ceremonies take place.

During summer (until mid September), you can watch the changing of the guard here – unfortunately I visited the week after it finished for winter.

Get your passport stamped

There’s no border control entering San Marino from Italy, but you can still make your visit official by getting your passport stamped at the tourist office on Piazzetta Garibaldi. It costs 5 euro and you’ll get a carefully-placed San Marino postage stamp and date stamp as a souvenir of your trip.

Next door to the tourism office, you’ll find San Marino’s Museum of Stamps and Coins. San Marino has its own stamps, some of which are highly sought after – it’s believed that at one point in history, selling stamps to foreign collectors made up 10% of San Marino’s national income.

Ride on the cable car

The cable car that takes you from the lower slopes of Monte Titano at Borgo Maggiore up to the centre of Città di San Marino, behind the Palazzo Pubblico. The ride only takes a couple of minutes but the views are spectacular.

Tip: If you get off the bus from Rimini to San Marino in Borgo Maggiore, you can arrive in the heart of the old town by cable car – much more exciting than the bus!

Visit San Marino’s unusual museums

San Marino has lots of museums, most of which have a distinctly dark nature! When you visit San Marino you can go to the Museum of Torture, the Museum of Curiosities and the Museum of Creatures of the Night. On a lighter note, you can visit the Museum of Waxworks – it’s no Madame Tussauds but it’s worth a look if you have the Tutto San Marino card which gets you into all these museums half price.

Check what’s on at Cava dei Balestrieri

Cava dei Balestrieri is an old quarry in the centre of San Marino, between the cable car station and Piazza della Libertà and is the setting for lots of San Marino’s most exciting events. The annual crossbow competition is held here in September, when you can see representatives of San Marino’s 9 regions compete to be named the crossbow champion.

In July, San Marino comes alive with 4 days of medieval parades and pageantry , with evening events featuring jesters, archery, troubadours, duels and flag-waving at Cava dei Balestrieri.

Tip: Check out the events calendar on the San Marino tourism office’s website before booking your trip – there are events throughout the year.

See the old train

These days, San Marino’s nearest train station is in Rimini, but it did have its own station for a while. The San Marino to Rimini railway opened in 1932 but closed only 12 years later due to the damage caused by bombs and fighting in World War 2. San Marino was neutral during the war but being surrounded by Italy meant that fighting did spill over the border.

I’m really into trains (check out my posts about my favourite heritage railways and a vintage market in Madrid’s railway museum ) so after I saw The Tim Traveller’s video about San Marino’s railway I had to go and see it.

There’s nothing left of the railway station in San Marino (it’s underneath the P2 bus park and the roundabout) but if you walk a little way down Via del Voltone you’ll see a stretch of track, a tunnel entrance and inside it, one of the old trains.

You can walk down the tunnel as far as you dare; when I visited there was an art installation further inside the tunnel and there’s apparently a great viewpoint where the tunnel briefly emerges on the side of the mountain, but it was a bit spooky for me. If you do go in, please let me know what it’s like in the comments! (Niche) tip: If you watch carefully, you can spot bits of the old railway line when you’re on the bus from Rimini to San Marino. The old Cerasolo station is right by the side of the road, next door to Federici Sofà.

Where to stay in San Marino

Choosing the best place to stay in San Marino will depend on how you’re getting to San Marino and how much luggage you’re bringing with you.

I stayed at Hotel Rosa , which is near the top of the mountain and in a prime position just underneath Guaita Tower. The views from our hotel terrace were absolutely amazing, and some rooms at Hotel Rosa have these incredible views from their windows. Breakfast was included, and the hotel had its own small car park. We arrived by bus, and it was a long way up a lot of steps from the bus stop. Luckily we’d packed light with just one small backpack each – I’m not sure I would have fancied the walk up with a lot of luggage!

Tip: For an extra-special stay, choose a hotel room with a view; the morning light over San Marino’s rolling hills as you open the curtains will take your breath away.

The best-reviewed hotel in San Marino is Hotel La Grotta . While it doesn’t quite have the views that you get further up the mountain, it does have some rooms with views across the valley. It’s right in the middle of the historic centre and easy walking distance to the bus stop and all the top sights you’ll want to see when visiting San Marino.

If you’re arriving by bus and you do have a lot of luggage, it’s worth looking at hotels at around the same level as the bus stop. Hotel Joli is up either a short slope or up in a lift to the next street up, and from there’s it’s a nice level walk to the hotel.

If you’re arriving by car, Grand Hotel San Marino could be a good option. It’s right in front of one of the largest car parks in the city and a short, gently sloping walk from Piazzetta Garibaldi where the tourist office is.

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Things to do in Rotterdam: day trip to 3 day break

Visiting bologna, italy: 9 don’t-miss tips for your trip.

Discover San Marino: The Perfect Day Trip from Italy

Welcome to the fifth-smallest country in the world – San Marino! Easily mistaken as part of its encircling neighbor Italy , this tiny and ancient republic on the slopes of Mount Titano makes the perfect day trip. It’s full of beautiful architecture, from the three medieval towers peering out over the Umbrian wine country to the narrow cobblestone streets leading towards the city’s Public Palace and old-timey restaurants. Spend a few hours roaming the mountain-top microstate, enjoying the atmosphere, stunning views, and all the best things to do in San Marino.

Things to do in San Marino

Like Vatican City, the microstate of San Marino lies “in” Italy, as it’s encircled entirely by its neighbor. Though much larger than the pope’s home, it makes a fascinating day-trip destination to add to your Italy itinerary . 

As you walk along the city’s medieval stone walls, take in the beautiful surrounding scenery, and discover the many alleys lined with cafes, restaurants, and shops selling ceramics and duty-free products. Though it resembles a lot of Italy, such as the language and architecture, soon enough, you’ll notice that the 61-square-kilometer country has its very own character.  

Good to know: Before entering the old town of San Marino, you’ll walk past many shops selling various luxury goods. Although the city is known as a great place to go tax-free shopping, be aware that there are also some strange stores selling more questionable products.

Here are all your hotel options in San Marino.

1. San Marino Castle (Guaita Tower)

Perched high up on the hill overlooking the beautiful Umbrian landscape stands the Guaita Tower, the eye-catcher of San Marino. Out of three that sit on the peaks of Monte Titano, this 11th-century fortress is by far the most iconic. 

As if it came straight out of a fantasy story, the impressive stone building towers over its surroundings, with the city of San Marino at its feet.

Over the years, San Marino Castle has been rebuilt several times for different uses; it even served as a prison once.

Now, it’s there for locals and tourists to admire the ancient history and incredible views. Though it takes a bit of time to climb the medieval fortress, the panoramic views from the top make it more than worth it! 

Exploring San Marino

Most things to do in San Marino can be done by purchasing a combi-ticket. You can get these at one of the sites, such as the towers. Combi tickets cost between 6 – 8 EUR (6,50 – 8,70 USD) and include entry to the towers, the Public Palace, and up to four museums. 

Alternatively, book a private tour of San Marino to explore the best places in the area with an expert. See tickets and availability here .

2. Basilica of Saint Marinus

The 19th-century Basilica of Saint Marinus, full of valuable statues and paintings, is a must-see when visiting San Marino. This beautiful religious building stands atop a pre-existing Romanesque church and is dedicated to the city’s patron saint, St. Marinus. 

The classic basilica-style interior, with a long nave and two side aisles, is lined with seven altars. As you walk past the wooden benches and the building’s pillars, take a moment to look at the church’s intricate paintings and sculpt work. At the very front, you’ll also find a high altar with a statue and the relics of St. Marinus. Entrance to the basilica is free.

Also read: The best cities to visit in Europe in 2023

3. Second Tower (Cesta)

Not too far from the iconic Guaita Tower stands the second tower of San Marino, Cesta. Perched even higher than its older sibling, this 13th-century tower offers breathtaking views over the surrounding countryside. On a clear day, you can even see as far as the Apennine Mountains.

The ancient building sits right between the other two towers, connected through a panoramic route on the mountain’s edge. Inside, the tower houses a traditional weaponry museum, where you can discover about 700 different weapons from various periods in time.

You can buy a combi-ticket to enter the San Marino Castle (Guaita) and Cesta. At the top, you’ll also find some food and drink stands and a couple of tourist kiosks. If you would like to learn more about the different monuments while exploring the old town’s narrow streets, you can also choose to join a walking tour.

Book your walking tour in San Marino here

4. Palazzo Pubblico

In the heart of the old town, on Piazza della Liberta, you’ll find one of the most popular places in San Marino: the Public Palace. Covered in small elaborate details, the stone building with its grand doorways functions as San Marino’s government town hall.

Inside, a staircase leads up to the Council Hall, which is richly decorated with a large fresco on the wall. You can also visit this room on days when there are no sittings scheduled to take place. In summer, watch as the guards change in front of the ornate building, a ceremony that takes place several times a day between June and September.

Tip: If you enjoy festivals and happen to visit San Marino during July, there are plenty in town, from the city’s Adriatic Music Festival and San Marino Jazz to the quirky Medieval Days fest celebrating the country’s roots with costumes, food, and games.

5. The State Museum

From state museums and private collections, small San Marino has a total of 12 (!) museums you can choose to visit. The State Museum in the stunning Palazzo Pergami Beluzzi houses some impressive archaeological artifacts of the region’s past. It’s one of the best things to do in San Marino, with over 5,000 items from different times in history.

Other Museums to Visit in San Marino

Apart from the State Museum, there are plenty of other interesting, even quirky, museums you can visit in San Marino. A few included with a combi-ticket are: 

• The Stamp and Coin Museum , full of beautiful postage stamps and coins that the republic has issued as regular series since the mid-19th century. Although the country has adopted the Euro, it continues to mint limited editions of gold coins for collectors. These coins are only accepted as a currency in San Marino. 
• The National Gallery of Modern and Contemporary Art . This incredible building houses over 1,000 pieces of work of some of the most renowned artists of the 20th century, making it a great visit when in San Marino. 
• The San Francis Art Gallery , inside the cloister of the St. Francis church. This building houses a collection of beautiful frescoes and paintings illustrating the order’s long history in San Marino.

6. Head to the Beach 

About half an hour’s drive from the microstate, you’ll find kilometers of beautiful soft sand on Italy’s eastern coastline. This holiday region is dotted with different beach resorts, cute towns, and many colorful umbrellas perfect for lounging under. Most also have lush greenery, offering some shade, and are equipped with changing rooms and lifeguards. 

Spend a few hours soaking up the sun on one of the public or private beaches, cooling off whenever you’d like in the gentle waters of the Adriatic Sea. The eastern coastline also makes a great stop on your visit to San Marino or your road trip through Italy .

From San Marino to the beach town of Rimini: takes about 25 minutes by taxi (30 – 40 USD) or 40 minutes by bus (3 – 6 USD).

Is San Marino in Italy?

Though it is often mistaken as a part of Italy, San Marino is actually an independent country with its own government and laws. It’s one of the few microstates in the world, spanning only 61 square kilometers in size, though Italy does completely surround it.

It’s also known as the oldest sovereign state in the world, and the capital city (old town) lies atop the rugged Monte Titano, the highest point of the area. There’s no border control that you need to pass through when you enter San Marino. However, you do need a valid passport when you’re there. You can even buy a passport stamp for 5 EUR (5,45 USD)! 

Also read: Best things to do in Florence, Italy

The Best Cafes and Restaurants in San Marino

The food in San Marino is, as you would expect, heavily influenced by Italian flavors. You’ll find lots of pasta dishes, local products, and delicious rich wines. Enjoy some incredible seafood or hand-made gnocchi in one of the traditional Osterias with views over the stunning Umbrian hills.

Some of our favorite restaurants were: 

• La Terrazza
• Ristorante Pizzeria Smaller
• Ritrovo Dei Lavoratori
• Strapizzati (pizza to-go to eat on the castle walls)
• Cacio & Pepe

Tip: The Republic of San Marino is also known as a vineyard settlement, making it a must-visit for wine lovers looking to try the region’s specialties.

How to Visit San Marino

Due to its size, San Marino doesn’t have an airport. If you’re only visiting the microstate, the closest place to fly is beach town Rimini or Umbria’s capital, Perugia . However, note that these are small airports with specific flight schedules. 

Situated between the beautiful rolling hills of Tuscany and Umbria , San Marino makes a great stop when traveling through Italy by car. From Perugia , it’s a 2.5-hour drive to get to the medieval hilltop city, and from Florence , it’s about 3 hours.

We recommend to rent a car in Italy through Sunny Cars with free cancellation and insurance included. Book your rental car here .

Getting Around

As all the best sights of San Marino lie on top of Monte Titano, enclosed in the ancient city, it’s best to explore the medieval city on foot. In the lower Borgo (town), the new part of town, there are plenty of parking spaces to park your car. From there, you can take the bus or funicular up to the old part of the city. 

Using San Marino’s cable car to get to the upper city is not only quick and convenient but an experience in itself. While you move up the edges of Mount Titano, you’ll be able to get your first glimpse of the microstate’s incredible surroundings.

The funicular opens at 7:45 AM and operates every 15 minutes. A single journey costs 2 EUR (2,20 USD), and a return ticket 3,50 EUR (3,80 USD).

Tip: The data connection doesn’t properly work in San Marino, so we recommend downloading maps on Google Maps beforehand. Otherwise, there’s also wifi in the city.

Where to Stay 

San Marino makes a great location to explore on a day trip. A few hours is all you need to stroll the streets, climb the towers, and visit some city’s city’s museums. However, the small republic is also an incredible place to stay the night.

Hotels in San Marino 😴

Watch as the city calms at the end of the day while a glowing sun sinks behind the hills. The most convenient hotels are located in the old town, where you also find most of the top attractions.

How Much Does San Marino Cost?

San Marino is one of the cheaper locations to travel to in Europe , with reasonably priced hotels, BnBs, and restaurants. Additionally, the country is known as a tax haven, with many (Italian) tourists coming to do some tax-free shopping. 

Costs of Traveling in San Marino

Travel on a budget in San Marino, from $220 − $470 USD weekly per person, mid-range $520 − $1090 USD, and high-end from $1020 − $1740 USD. However, costs depend on factors like accommodation, transportation, and activities. We did not include flights. Check flight prices here

• Hotels: $25 − $200 USD Check available hotels
• Hostels: $15 − $40 USD Check available hostels
• Transport: $3 − $40 USD Book public transport
• Food: $5 − $30 USD
• Activities: $5 − $10 USD See tickets & tours
• Sim: $1 − $3 USD Get an eSIM or SIM here
• Travel Insurance: $2 − $6 USD Get Travel Insurance

Best Time to Visit San Marino

The country is relatively quiet all year round, although it does get much busier in the summer when Italians have their holidays. Because of this, we recommend visiting in April – June or in September – October. During these shoulder seasons, it will still be warm, allowing you to enjoy the city with plenty of sunshine.

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San Marino Day Trip: The Perfect Itinerary

So small – and so spectacular! The old town of San Marino is majestically enthroned at the top of Monte Titano. No wonder its historic centre has been proclaimed a UNESCO World Heritage Site . San Marino is simply breathtakingly beautiful.

Referred to as a microstate, San Marino is one of the smallest countries in the world . It is completely surrounded by Italy. Therefore, visiting San Marino is ideal for a road trip through “Bella Italia”.

In this travel guide we show you all you can experience on a day trip to San Marino and which sights are not to be missed. On top of this we share our experiences , what we enjoyed, and of course, as always, our personal tips and the best itinerary for your day trip.

1. San Marino: Overview of the microstate [initial travel tips]

2. san marino travel guide: things to see on a day trip, 3. practical travel tips for your day trip (arrival, entry, parking etc.), 4. staying the night in san marino, 5. further travel destinations around san marino, 6. map: the best sights for your day trip at a glance.

Useful & exciting facts

• San Marino is tiny . Spanning just 12 kilometres from north to south. Crazy, right?
• San Marino is considered the oldest republic in the world .
• The old town is enthroned on a ridge of Monte Titano . The area is really extraordinarily spectacular. It isn’t for no reason that San Marino’s old town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• Around 30,000 people live in San Marino – the vast majority not in the old town, but in the suburbs at the foot of the mountain.
• San Marino is not part of the EU . However, you still pay using euros.

San Marino’s flair: our (honest) experience

As spectacularly as San Marino is situated – unfortunately the flair of the town centre (at the capital on the mountain) did not amaze us personally as much as we had hoped. To clarify what we mean, we need to expand a little.

No doubt, the city landscape of the old town is beautiful. Small alleyways, old houses, stunning buildings and of course the three landmark towers – San Marino is quite a feast for the eyes.

However: the life was missing for us. The old town is completely, thoroughly catered towards tourists. There are rows of souvenir shops, jewellers, leather goods shops and gun stores. Yes, you read right. Gun stores. There are an absurd amount of stores in San Marino where you can buy pocket knives, air pistols and so on. Why is this? We didn’t understand until the end, but it definitely puts people off.

Taking a stroll through San Marino feels a bit like visiting a museum . And unfortunately we don’t mean that in a positive way. Nevertheless: the historic town centre is definitely worth seeing, even though the sparks didn’t really fly with us. 

Is a day trip enough to visit the main sights?

Admittedly: it sounds a little strange to visit a whole republic in just one day. In the case of San Marino, we definitely think that taking a day trip is enough.

All the main attractions can be found in the old town (the capital, which is enthroned on the hill). You can imagine this part of San Marino as being kind of like a small, medieval town , which can be explored rather quickly. There would even be enough time for an excursion to Borgo Maggiore (the municipality at the foot of the mountain, where the gondola starts). 

If you would like, you can of course also spend one night (or two) in San Marino. Although, the hotel selection is rather light, because the vast majority of guests only visit San Marino on a day trip.

The three towers

San Marino’s landmark and easily the main attractions are the three defence towers and the associated castle complex. They are enthroned on the ridge of Monte Titano and can be seen far and wide.

• Guaita:  The first tower is the oldest and most iconic of the three. From this tower (and from the castle’s defence wall) you get a grandiose view of the second castle complex.
• Cesta:  The second tower (also called „Fratta“) is just as impressive. You can visit it, although the area is currently (as at Spring 2022) being renovated. You have a great view from here back towards the first tower.
• Montale:  The third tower in the bunch is the smallest and youngest of the three. It probably originates in the 14 th Century. It is not possible to visit this tower.

Travel Tip: witches’ path between tower 1 + 2

All three castle complexes are connected via a so-called witches’ path. They path is always open (even outside of opening hours). Most of all, you can look forward to the iconic postcard picture view in the first part of the witch path.

The stone staircase with a view of the second tower, Cesta, presents an especially popular photo opportunity . Also don’t miss the view back towards Guaita. It is really impressive to see how the majestic fortress is perched here on the ridge.

Palazzo Pubblico in the Piazza della Libertà

The central square of San Marino’s old town is the Piazza della Libertà. One of the nation’s most important sights is situated here, the Palazzo Pubblico . It is the seat of the town hall, parliament and the government – and is also depicted on the back of the 2 euro coin.

The Palazzo Pubblico immediately catches the eye with its cream coloured, Neo-Renaissance style façade. You can also view the palace interior (including the large boardroom), as long as there isn’t an important meeting taking place.

The spacious Piazza della Libertà stretches out in front of the Palazzo Pubblico. The square is open to the south-west so that you can enjoy a great view of the surrounding landscape. In our opinion, you shouldn’t leave San Marino without having paid a visit here.

San Marino Basilica

San Marino‘s  main church is the San Marino Basilica. It was built in the 19 th century in classical style and is definitely one of the most impressive sights in the country.

You can of course also view the church interior. Entrance is free. The column architecture of the cathedral’s entrance continues into the interior. We personally found the flair very special and worth seeing.  

Small tip: be sure to dress appropriately. You cannot enter with shorts, short skirts or bare shoulders.

Tip: get your passport stamped

You can get a pretty souvenir for your passport from the tourist information centre in the Piazzetta Giuseppe Garibaldi. You can get a sticker with a stamp in your passport for 5 euros . Clearly, this whole thing is rather touristy, but we really enjoy this special kind of souvenir.

Arrival: how to get to San Marino

San Marino is located inland, only about ten kilometres away from the Adriatic sea, and is completely surrounded by Italy . The next largest city is Rimini, which you can drive to in less than half an hour.

San Marino does not have any airports . You usually get there using your own car, especially if coming from Germany or Austria. It is a good 8 hour drive to this region from Vienna.

An alternative possibility is to arrive by plane (e.g. to Bologna). You can find cheap flights on Skyscanner . From there you can then book a rental car. We always book our rental cars through SunnyCars .

Entrance into San Marino

Entering San Marino from Italy is less spectacular than you would think. There are several border crossings, which you only notice if you’re really paying attention. There are simply signs that say you are leaving the European Union.

Surprisingly, there is no border control , so you don’t need to account for wait times. The same entry requirements apply in San Marino as in Italy.

Tips for parking

Once you arrive in San Marino, you have roughly two options for parking to reach the (mainly car free) old town (i.e. the capital).

Option 1: You park “down” in the municipality of Borgo Maggiore (e.g. at carpark P11). You take the gondola (Funivia di San Marino) from there directly to San Marino’s old town. The trip (there and back) costs 4.50 euros. The top station is located practically in the middle of San Marino’s old town.

Option 2: You drive along the road up towards the old town. You can park there at e.g. carpark P9. From there you reach the town centre via two elevators. Then just a short stroll (uphill) lies between you and the town centre.

Option 1 (our tip): In neighbouring Italy

Personally, we wouldn’t suggest you stay in San Marino, but instead one of the surrounding villages in Italy. The picturesque town of Santarcangelo di Romagna is recommendable. You can drive from there to San Marino in less than half an hour.

We can highly recommend the Delle Farfalle Boutique B&B . This personally managed bed and breakfast is located in a peaceful area on the outskirts of Santarcangelo di Romagna’s old town. There are only three rooms and a lovely garden.

Option 2: In San Marino

If you stay overnight in San Marino, you do naturally have the advantage being able to get up and going in the morning and explore the old town before everyone else. The majority of the guests visit San Marino on a day trip, so of course staying the night there has its appeal.   

The range of accommodation options in San Marino is fairly slim. We recommend the B&B Balsimelli 12 , an authentic Bed and Breakfast located right in the historic old town. The rooftop terrace and its view is simply fantastic.

If you are not already staying in Rimini and visiting San Marino from there, then taking a stop-off in the small town is definitely worth the while. Aside from parties and the beach, Rimini has a lot on offer.

Rimini’s old town , with its many Roman remnants, exudes a very special flair. The Tiberius Bridge and the Arch of Augustus are particularly impressive.

You can find our tips in this blog article: Rimini Sights (available soon)

The small town of Verucchio sits gracefully on a hill just a few kilometres away from the border to San Marino. We personally really liked it here.

The main sight in Verucchio is the historic castle complex , the Malatesta, from which you can enjoy a dreamy view into the Marecchia valley and back towards the Adriatic coast.

The flair of the alleyways in Verucchio’s old town is just as charming. Time passes slower here. Because Verucchio is so small and quick to explore, a couple of hours is enough time for a visit.

West of San Marino, just five kilometres as the crow flies, lies another jewel: San Leo. With its medieval and spectacularly situated fortress , San Leo is a little reminiscent of San Marino in terms of its setting.

Although, the flair of the town centre is hardly comparable. San Leo can gladly be described as an insider tip. We personally had a really great time here.

To round things off, we have marked all of the main sights and our tips for your day trip on this interactive map. How do you get the most out of this map? Our tip: it is best to click the top right corner of the map, to open the map in the Google Maps app on your smartphone. That way, you can comfortably navigate your way from A to B while there.

Disclaimer: Affiliate Links

This travel guide contains our personal recommendations in the form of affiliate links. If you book or buy something via the links, we will receive a small commission. This will not change the price for you at all. A million thanks from the both of us! 

Have you already been to San Marino? How did you like it? Do you have any additional tips for the perfect day trip? We look forward to hearing about your experiences below this blog article.

You might also be interested in this

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Visiting San Marino From Bologna & Rimini Step by Step Guide – Easy as Pie Day Trip to One of the World’s Smallest Countries

February 24, 2023 by Bino Leave a Comment

After my trip around the Balkans, I decided to make a detour to Italy as I wanted to tick one new country off my bucket list. That country was San Marino and to get there, I had to find myself a city interesting enough to serve as my base. Given Italy’s many fast trains, it is entirely possible to base yourself anywhere in Central Italy and be able to do San Marino as a day trip. However, the most practical cities to make that trip with the least possible connections would be Rimini and Bologna. Rimini gets you there the quickest due to a direct bus, but it’s more of a resort town and I wanted a place with some history and good food. I then looked a bit farther at the map and found Bologna, which only required an additional 1 to 1.5 hours from Rimini. So Bologna it was. Bologna is one of Italy’s great cities and is perhaps most well known for its food . Tagliatelle al ragu immediately springs to mind!

Where Exactly is San Marino?

When I was about to enter San Marino, I ran a poll in my Instagram accoun t and asked people if they knew where San Marino was. For a very small country, I was surprised to find that more than half actually knew! I ran a similar poll asking people if they knew where Bosnia and Hercegovina was and fewer people recognized that far larger country. 

san marino (shown with the red arrow)

San Marino is one of the smallest countries in the world – the 5th smallest to be exact. It is a landlocked country, located in between the Emilia-Romagna and Marche regions of Italy. Geographically speaking, the country sits somewhere near the central part of Italy but it is north of Rome.

If you are visiting San Marino from Bologna, here are the easy steps you’ll need to follow to get there.  

Step 1: Purchase your train ticket from Bologna to Rimini

The first thing you will need to do after you’ve decided to make that trip to San Marino and to use Bologna as your base in getting there is to book your train tickets. For Italian trains, your best bet is to book via Trenitalia , the official website of Italy’s train system or ItaliaRail , an agency where you can book train tickets. It is best to compare as fares can be cheaper in either one. In my case, I booked my tickets a day before my intended departure and found a cheaper price from Trenitalia.

There are no direct trains to San Marino as San Marino does not have a train station. Instead, you will first need to make your way to Rimini (Stazione di Rimini), the nearest large town from San Marino. For the Bologna to Rimini route, there are various types of trains that you can choose with journey times of as little as 53 minutes to as much as 1 hour and 41 minutes. You can also choose between direct non-stop trains as well as trains with multiple stops, depending on your budget and whether you are pressed for time. In my case, I chose a reasonably fast Freccebianca train that had 4 stops and which brought me to Rimini in just a little over an hour.

To choose the best train timing, you may want to check out the Rimini to San Marino bus schedule to make sure you don’t have to wait unnecessarily long. You can check the updated bus schedule here .

Step 2: Head to Bologna Centrale to catch your train

As with the usual case in Italy, the city’s main train station is not too far from town. You can easily reach Bologna Centrale after around 20 minutes of walking from the old town.

Step 3 – Purchase bus ticket once you arrive in Rimini

It is pretty common to do day trips to San Marino from Rimini and ticket kiosks to the small republic are not difficult to spot once you arrive in Rimini’s station. The local tourist office there sells tickets for the #72 Bonelli bus that goes to San Marino. It costs EUR 6 for a one-way ticket and EUR 12 for a round trip ticket. Cash only. The tickets are not timed so if you miss a bus you can always take the next one.

If you are planning to leave your luggage somewhere, it is possible to do so at the train’s station tourist office for a nominal fee. Do note the office is open from 8:30AM to 5:45PM.

Step 4 – Board the Bonelli bus #72 heading from Rimini towards San Marino from the bus stop

this is the queue that quickly forms when boarding the san marino-bound bus

Once you have your ticket, head to the bus stop. From Rimini train station’s exit, you can find it across the road just near the Burger King. Do note that there are actually two bus stations outside Burger King. The one directly in front of Burger King is a bus stop that serves the locality of Rimini. You’ll have to go to the other one further down for the buses that go to San Marino.

Tip: The line of people waiting for the bus to San Marino can get very long so it’s important to wait in line as soon as you arrive in Rimini. Just because you have already bought yourself a bus ticket doesn’t necessarily mean you can just wait it out inside the Burger King or a cafe nearby. If there are more people than seats, you may find yourself having to stand for the entire journey (if they even allow that) or wait for the next bus.

Step 5 – Alight at San Marino

the beautiful view of the rolling plains from the bus stop at san marino city (citta)

The journey time from Rimini station to the last stop in San Marino takes approximately 50 minutes but runs through a few towns in the country. You officially “enter” San Marino at approximately the 23-minute mark, passing through larger towns such as Serravalle and Rovereta. Unless you are interested to do a bit of duty-free shopping, most tourists will get off at the last stop which is in the namesake town of San Marino.

The capital of San Marino, a city (citta) with the same name, lies on the slopes of Mount Titano. The bus will drop you off at the bus parking lot on the lower parts of town.

The City of San Marino

san marino city

Once you’ve arrived, you can spend the rest of your time exploring the zigzag streets of the capital – a more comprehensive guide will come soon! The citta is a charming little town filled with quaint shops, plenty of viewpoints from which to glimpse the entire country (and Italy beyond it) as well as get a taste of this nation’s fiercely independent culture. I highly suggest taking one of the earlier train/bus combos and arrive in San Marino before 9AM. You will find the city all to yourself in some parts!

In my case, I spent around 5 hours there. I arrived at around 10AM just when the crowds start to arrive. In that short span of time, I managed to climb two of the three towers, visit the museum, check out the parliament building and go for a spot of lunch. If you have a few days to spare, it is actually worthwhile to stay a night in San Marino. The city is known for its fog during certain months. As the town is high up the mountain, you can sometimes see a “sea” of clouds in front of you with the lowland areas completely covered up with fog.

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