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.

6 Reasons to Visit San Marino

1. Easy to Reach from Central Italian Cities

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.

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If you’re coming from Rimini, buses from here to San Marino city centre run frequently throughout the day. The price is €5 each way per person.

2. The Views!

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.

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3. Collect a pretty passport stamp

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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4. Piazza della Liberta

This is San Marino’s 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 Marino’s town hall, and its most iconic building.

5. Climb the Towers

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.

Guaita Tower

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.

Cesta Tower

You can climb this tower and visit the interesting museum with weapons on display from medieval times to the present day.

Montale Tower

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.

6. The Food

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 Città 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.

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Where to stay in Rimini

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.

Travel Tips for Italy

We have many travel guides and tips for Italy—what a beautiful country!

You must read these 15 best places to visit in Italy to help you plan the ultimate itinerary.

Our expertly crafted city itineraries include our perfect 2 days in Florence itinerary.

Be sure to try these top 5 places to eat the best pizza in Florence.

This complete 3 days in Rome itinerary has sights, history and cuisine in mind, and Roman food is fantastic. Don’t miss our 10 delicious Roman dishes when you’re there.

You must plan a stop by the city of canals, Venice. Our detailed one-day in Venice itinerary covers the city’s highlights, with some great suggestions for spending more days here.

These top 10 things to do in Venice will keep you busy. For your convenience, we’ve also listed the top-rated Vatican tours.

If you stop by Milan, the city of Italian fashion – it’s just an easy day trip to Lake Como, the most beautiful lake in Italy. Here is how to get to Lake Como from Milan, it includes three easy options.

Here are our recommendations for why the village of Bellagio in Lake Como is our favourite place to visit and stay.

Did you know that train travel in Italy is the best way to get around? This is why we recommend travelling by train in Italy.

If you’re hungry for more fantastic Italian cuisine, we recommend you visit Bologna.

These 12 amazing things to do in Bologna include the best sites and where to find the best food.

If you travel for food, don’t miss these 10 best countries for food lovers.

You’ll need to stay connected while travelling in Italy. We recommend eSIM. It’s easy, reliable and affordable. View options for eSIM in Italy or view the regional Europe eSIM (which covers 39 countries).

If your travels in Italy are part of a larger global adventure, then a Global eSIM may be the answer. It connects you in 124 countries, offering data-only eSIM and data/call/text eSIM. The Global eSIM has been a game-changer; we couldn’t imagine travelling without it now.

Want to travel in Italy with like-minded travellers? View the best deals on group adventures in Italy.

Check out our best-ever travel tips compiled from more than twenty years of experience.