The tiny country of San Marino is an independent nation entirely surrounded by Italy.
Its location is perfect, neatly placed in the mountains near the Adriatic Sea.
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As Europe’s third smallest nation and the fifth smallest country in the world, it’s quite unique.
But why should you visit San Marino?
With a total of 61 square km, San Marino claims to be the oldest surviving sovereign state in the world, and also one of the wealthiest in terms of GDP per capita.
Due to its size, you can experience the highlights and have time to eat a delicious meal on a single day trip.
You can look forward to a labyrinth of cobble-stoned medieval streets, small cafes, shops, and strategically placed outdoor restaurants with epic views.
From the piazzas to the guard towers, the stunning panoramas will have you mesmerised. Here are six more reasons why you should visit San Marino.
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You can visit San Marino on a day trip or a weekend away. It’s an easy drive from Italian cities like the very popular seaside city of Rimini (35 mins) Bologna (1.5 hrs) or Florence (2.5 hours).
You can rent a cheap car through Europcar or take a train to visit San Marino.
Book instant train tickets at the best price with Trainline.
If you’re coming from Rimini, buses from here to San Marino city centre run frequently throughout the day. The price is ā¬5 each way per person.
With huge mountain peaks, you’ll often find stunning views. These were some of the best panoramas we’ve seen in all of Europe.
The journey to the top of Monte Titano, standing more than 700 metres above sea level will reward you with incredible views of rolling hills, age-old houses and rooftops, and of course, the Adriatic sea.
The views from this gorgeous nation are why San Marino features on our list of 15 Best Places to Visit in Italy.
There is no official border to enter San Marino from Italy, so you won’t get a stamp on your passport. If you like keeping a record of your travels, you can stop by the tourist information centre and pay 5 euros for the prettiest passport stamp to keep as a souvenir when visiting San Marino.
This may sound like a novelty thing to do, however, San Marino is a fully independent country and a United Nations member.
They have the right to stamp passports and issue visas at their own discretion, which means having the stamp on your passport shouldn’t cause you any problems at all in the future.
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This is San Marinoās most popular public square.
From here, you can enjoy the views of the countryside, watch the changing of the guard and see the Palazzo Pubblico, San Marinoās town hall, and its most iconic building.
There are three towers and lengths of fortress walls that can be climbed and explored. They offer incredible views and the entry ticket to visit just one tower is 3 euros or 5 euros to visit all three.
This is the oldest and the largest of the three towers. Built on Monte Titano in the 11th century, Castello della Guaita is even depicted on the San Marino flag. The tower was briefly used as a prison all those years ago.
You can climb this tower and visit the interesting museum with weapons on display from medieval times to the present day.
This is the third tower. We decided not to visit this one as we heard the surrounding views from the other two towers were much better.
The 6th reason why you should visit San Marino is that the food in San Marino is delicious. Being located close to the Adriatic sea, you can expect some fresh seafood from this region.
We ate some magnificent seafood carpaccio and fresh seafood pasta dishes at a local restaurant which we highly recommend.
Here are the details if you’d like a meal to remember – Restorante Il Piccolo – Address: Via del Serrone, 15/17, 47890 CittĆ di San Marino, San Marino.
You can also expect flavours from neighbouring regions mixed with local ingredients and fresh herbs. Also, look out for rabbit stew, faggioli con le cotiche (bean and bacon soup), and torta tre monti (chocolate and hazelnut layer cake) for dessert.
We’d happily return to San Marino to discover a little more of the culture and more of its fantastic food. I’d recommend spending at least one night here and enjoying it in the evening after the crowds have gone home.
In the morning, before the day tours arrive would be a great opportunity to capture the best photos and have the place all to yourself too.
Most people visit San Marino on a day trip, especially if you are on summer vacation/holiday in Rimini. Here are the best places to stay in Rimini:
Budget Hotel – Hotel Majorca is a great hotel for the price: excellent location, only 100m from the beach, free WIFI, and a great breakfast.
Mid-Range Hotel – A wonderful choice for your stay in Rimini. Palazzo Galletti Abbiosi has it all. It’s in a fantastic location, only 400 m from the train station. This property offers elegant rooms with free Wi-Fi, air conditioning, and satellite TV.
Top-End Hotel – This is a very popular choice for visitors who want to enjoy Rimini in style. Hotel Villa Paola has a heated outdoor pool and free WIFI and is only 30m from the beaches of Torre Pedrera. Each air-conditioned room features a balcony and is individually decorated in a modern design.
Want to check more hotels in Rimini? View ALL accommodation in Rimini here
I hope this article helps you plan your visit to San Marino. If you’re travelling further in Italy, don’t miss our comprehensive 3-Day itinerary for Rome and the Best 2 Days in Florence Itinerary has you covered.
I’ve even got a post about where to find the best pizza in Florence – 5 Top Places!
Heading to Venice? Here are the Top 10 Best Things to do in Venice. If you’ve only got a day to explore this unique city, then our Perfect One Day Itinerary for Venice is all you’ll need to cover the highlights.
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You may also be interested in our Ultimate Food Map of Europe and our Essential Packing List for Europe.
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1 Comment. Leave new
So many gorgeous places to visit here. My bucket list is just getting longer and longer!