Hidden away in the heart of Italy is the Republic of San Marino (Repubblica di San Marino) which is the fifth smallest country in the world and the third smallest country in Europe. It is somewhere that had always been on my list of places that I wanted to visit and earlier this month in March 2025 I finally got there and in turn, San Marino became the 72nd country for me to visit.

Now that I am home from my trip, I have written this blog and travel guide and tried to include everything that you need to know before your visit as well as things to see and do, all up to date information, directions, advice, photos, tips and tricks to help you make the most of your trip to San Marino and make it an unforgettable experience.

Where is San Marino

The landlocked microstate of San Marino is surrounded entirely on all sides by Italy and is located close to the Adriatic Coast and the Italian city of Rimini. The country is only twenty four square miles in size and has a population of thirty four thousand people. The capital of San Marino is Città di San Marino (City of San Marino) which is located 739 metres above seat level on the top of Monte Titano and is one of the nine Castelli which make up San Marino – the other eight are Acquaviva, Borgo Maggiore, Chiesanuova, Domagnano, Faetano, Fiorentino, Montegiardino and Serravalle.

How to Get to San Marino

As San Marino does not have a train station or an airport, it is only accessible by car or bus and the closest major international airport is in Bologna about 80 miles away. Whilst Rimini Airport is closer, the majority of flights to and from there only operate seasonally during the summer months. If you are traveling by train, Rimini is the nearest station and from there, it is an easy bus ride direct to San Marino.

Most visitors to San Marino take the Bonelli Bus from Rimini which takes just under an hour and costs €6 each way. The bus runs several times each day although there is a reduced schedule on Sundays and public holidays so remember to plan accordingly. In Rimini the bus stop is located across from Rimini train station in front of the Napoleon Hotel and once in San Marino, the bus drops off at the P2 Parcheggio Bus Parking area. However always take note of the time that the last bus leaves San Marino in the evening so you do not miss it.

As we flew into Bologna we rented a car for our little Italian road trip and the drive to San Marino was straightforward and incredibly easy (we used Google Maps for directions with no issues) and the journey took roughly an hour and a half. The Autostrada road toll from Bologna costs €8.70 and once you reach San Marino, inexpensive parking is available throughout the city as you climb the hill towards the historic old town. If you would prefer not to drive up through the winding streets (which we did not find an issue at all or even remotely challenging), you can also park in nearby Borgo Maggiore at the bottom of Monte Titano and take the cable car (Funivia di San Marino) up.

For those on a road trip through Italy, San Marino is a fantastic place to stop and explore. The driving times and distances from other cities in Italy are:

Bologna – 80 Miles – 1 Hour 30 Minutes
Florence – 150 Miles – 2 Hours 45 Minutes
Venice – 175 Miles – 3 Hours
Verona – 170 Miles – 3 Hours
Milan – 215 Miles – 4 Hours
Pisa – 190 Miles – 3 Hours 25 Minutes
Rome – 210 Miles – 4 Hours 30 Minutes

When is the Best Time to Visit San Marino

Whilst San Marino can be explored the entire year round and is a lot quieter than other more popular European destinations, the best times to visit are during Spring and Autumn. During both of these times, the weather will be very comfortable and the crowds will be a lot less compared to the hot and busy summer months.

If you do visit during the summer for a day trip try to arrive in San Marino as early as possible to beat the crowds as well as stay later in the evening when you can make the most of exploring with fewer people around – this is when renting a car for the day is highly recommended. If visiting during the winter – there is a Christmas Market – it will be cold but it will also be very quiet however many places may have limited opening hours or even be closed.

As already mentioned we visited in March and we were so lucky with the weather during our visit as it was a lot nicer than we expected it to be with sunshine, blue skies and mild temperatures. It was also very quiet (it felt like we had San Marino to ourselves) as it was during the off-season which is my personal favourite time to travel in Europe to avoid crowds.

If you are in Italy for a few days and have the flexibility of when you can visit San Marino, try to visit on a clear day when good weather is forecast as the views from the top of Monte Titano and the Three Towers are incredible and you can even see Rimini and the Adriatic Sea in the distance.

How Long Should I Spend in San Marino

Whilst San Marino may be small enough to easily see everything that you want in one day – especially if visiting from nearby Bologna or Rimini – from personal experience on our trip, I would definitely recommend staying at least one night to fully experience everything on offer and not have to rush. As most visitors only spend the day here, spending the night in San Marino allows you to enjoy a relaxed dinner and then experience the deserted city once everyone on a day trip has left and you can wander the peaceful and quiet streets all by yourself which is such a wonderful and unforgettable experience to have. You can also experience the beautiful sunset and sunrise from high up on Monte Titano as well as explore the Old Town as well as the Three Towers early in the day before the crowds arrive.

Where to Stay in San Marino

For our one night in San Marino, we stayed at the Grand Hotel San Marino which is located very close to the top of Monte Titano and offered incredible views of the valley below from our balcony. The location was perfect as it was just steps away the Portanova Gate making it very easy to explore all the main attractions in the Old Town which were only a few minutes walk away. Parking was also included with our room rate so we did not need to worry about where we were going to leave the car and the staff even parked the car for us which was a nice touch.

As the City of San Marino is so small, you cannot really go wrong with any hotel located in the Old Town. Everything just felt incredibly easy as well as convenient and we managed to see most of what we wanted to do on the afternoon that we arrived, and the following morning after breakfast, we explored the Three Towers before driving onto our next destination of the trip which was the beautiful city of Verona.

How to Explore San Marino

Exploring the tiny City of San Marino is so easy due to how small it is and how close all of the attractions (including the Three Towers) are to each other so it is possible to see everything on foot and in a short amount of time. Most of the Old Town is pedestrian only so walking the narrow cobblestone streets, staircases and alleyways and seeing where you end up, what you can find around each corner as well as finding all of the different viewpoints really is the best way to explore. Getting lost is all part of the fun though the reality is you will not be lost at all due to how compact the Old Town is and there are also maps and signposts pointing the way throughout.

What is There to See in San Marino

●         Wander around and explore the Old Town (Centro Storico)
●         Visit the Three Towers
●         Walk along the Passo delle Steghe
●         Enjoy the view from the Il Cantone viewpoint amongst many others
●         Visit the Palazzo Pubblico in the Piazza della Libertà
●         Visit the Basilica of Saint Marinus
●         Take the Cable Car down and explore the town of Borgo Maggiore
●         Visit one of the various museums
●         Sit down in a cafe with a coffee and watch the world go by

How to Visit the Three Towers

The best and my favourite thing to do when in San Marino was to visit the Three Towers also known as Guaita, Cesta and Montale which are located at the very top of Monte Titano and are a symbol of San Marino – they also appear on the national flag as well as the Coat of Arms.

The first, oldest and most iconic of the three towers Is Guaita and to get to the top inside you will need to climb up a narrow staircase which is very steep and more like a ladder so remember not to wear a skirt or a dress if visiting as someone below will be able to see absolutely everything as you are ascending or descending. However the view at the top – just like everywhere else is San Marino – is completely worth the climb.

The second tower known as Cesta houses the Museum of Ancient Arms and the view looking back towards Guaita as well as on to the third tower is incredible.

The third tower called Montale is not open to the public however you can walk all the way to it and look at the views along the way.

However my favourite part and the absolute highlight of visiting the Three Towers was walking along the Witches Path (Passo delle Steghe) between the first and second tower as this is where you can get the perfect photo of the cobblestone path leading up to the Guaita Tower. This path is completely accessible free of charge at all times of the day and night and walking along there in the evening was truly magical.

The best tip I can give if visiting the Three Towers is to go early – especially if visiting during the summer months – before it gets too busy as well as too hot as there is a lot of uphill walking and steps involved. Whilst a ticket to enter both the Guaita and Cesta Towers costs €9 per person, you can also buy a combined ticket which includes access to both towers as well as to several museums in San Marino for €11.

Other Information to Know When Visiting San Marino

Whilst there is no border control when you enter San Marino, you will still need a valid passport to visit and the same entry requirements apply in San Marino as in Italy. You can even get a souvenir passport stamp for €5 at the Tourist Information Office however I did not get one as they are not an “official” immigration stamp and I did not want to risk invalidating my passport as I cannot work without it.

Remember to wear comfortable and supportive shoes such as trainers when walking around the Centro Storico as the cobblestone paths and steps can be steep and a little uneven in some places.

Whilst the mobile signal in San Marino was definitely very spotty and nearly non existent in some areas, there is free Wi-Fi absolutely everywhere that you go.

If you need to access mobile data whilst visiting Italy, you can purchase a travel E-Sim through Airalo. If you would like to use my referral code NIKKI8866 when signing up, you will receive £2.50 / US$3 off your first purchase.

San Marino uses the Euro however we did not need to use cash once during our entire stay as we paid for everything either by credit card or by Apple Pay.

The official language of San Marino is Italian though English is also spoken in the tourist areas. However also make sure to learn a little Italian before your trip such as Buongiorno (Good Morning), Ciao (Hello), Buonasera (Good Evening), Per Favore (Please), Mi Scusi (Excuse Me), Vorrei (I Would Like), Grazie (Thank You) and Arrivederci (Goodbye).

Something to be aware of when visiting San Marino is that there are a lot of cobbles as well as stairs and some steep paths so certain areas such as the Three Towers and the Witches Path are not accessible if you have an additional needs.

San Marino might be one of the world’s smallest countries but it is absolutely worth a visit and I loved my short time there. From walking the historic streets to taking in the incredible views everywhere around you, it is truly a beautiful, unique and special place and worth the day trip from wherever you are staying in Italy or even staying the night like we did.

I hope that this blog and travel guide helps you plan your own trip to San Marino. If you have been before or are planning a trip, let me know as I would love to hear all about your visit.

Have fun and enjoy your trip to San Marino.

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