San Marino
San Marino, nestled within Italy, is a captivating microstate known for its rich history and stunning vistas. As the world’s oldest surviving republic, San Marino exudes a sense of timeless charm. Its UNESCO-listed Historic Centre showcases ancient towers, cobbled streets, and medieval architecture, drawing visitors into a bygone era. San Marino is approximately 23 square miles making it the fifth smallest country in the world. Of European microstates (Malta, Monaco, Vatican City, and Andorra), San Marino attracts the least tourists, however it still gets around 2 million visitors per year.
getting to San Marino
We woke early in Bologna and headed to the train station to catch the train to Rimini. The train from Bologna to Rimini varies 1-2 hours depending on what train you take. Once you arrive in the Rimini train station the information station is right there. It cost 6 euros each way bus (2023) and you can get return ticket and use it for any return ticket. To catch bus out of Rimini, leave the train station cross street. You’ll be in front of Burger King. Make a right and head down to the Hotel Neapolitan and the bus station is right there. The schedule is posted on the stops, available on the Bonelli Bus website or free copy in tourist center. The times run different depending on the season and also different on Sundays. The bus ride takes 50 minutes from Rimini to San Marino. The bus drop off and pick up in San Marino is at P1 Parking.
Getting around
Most tourists elect to walk but make sure to be wearing comfortable shoes with a little grip. There are lots of cobblestones and some slippery stones. The walk between the towers has some up and down. Most tourists spend time just exploring the UNESCO capital region.
Our arrival
We arrived in San Marino after the train and bus ride at the P1 parking at the edge of the iconic downtown area. If you go into the parking lot there is an elevator up which brings you right near the tourist center. At the tourist center you can get a stamp in your passport for 5 euros. You can also get a free map. There is a tourist pass which grants access to some museums for 8 euros if you want to do that. From there, we set out on foot to explore the quaint cobblestone roads and hit up the top things to see!
What we did
Basilica del Santo
This Basilica was built in the 19th century and is dedicated to San Marino. It has a classic basilica style on the interior. It is free to enter.
Piazzale Girolamo Genga and Cable Car
This plaza awards epic views (on a clear day of course!) and is where you go to get the cable car. Riding the cable car is one of the ideal things to do to take in the vista. The cable car ride lasts just a few minutes. The availability varies by season but typically runs every 15 minutes. On the day we went, it was obviously closed. The cost is approximately 2.80 euros one way and 4.50 euros.
The Towers
The Towers of San Marino are iconic structures that dominate the skyline of the country’s capital. Offering panoramic views of the surrounding landscapes, these medieval towers, including the Guaita, Cesta, and Montale, serve as reminders of San Marino’s rich history and provide visitors with an unforgettable experience of its architectural splendor. The towers are connected via the Passo delle Streghe or Witches’ Passage.
What we ate
There are several amazing restaurants in San Marino. Before going, I had looked into several with a view. Some of the top rated restaurants include La Terrazza, Cantina di Bacco, La Fratta, Il Piccolo, Ristorante Righi, Ristorante Beccafico and so many more! We suspect due to the weather several shops and restaurants were closed. We ended up eating at Bar Centrale in which we ate Piadina sandwiches which is a local rustic flatbread sandwich and having a nice cappuccino to warm up before heading back to the bus!
Our experience San Marino
When we visited in winter 2023, the weather wasn’t great. Very poor visibility and rain. Because of this the towers were closed. Snow had been shoveled to Tower One and Two but not after Tower Two so we couldn’t even think of heading to Tower Three. I would strongly encourage if you have flexibility in your schedule to go on a clear day. We watched the weather report and first were debating not going since it was projected to be rainy all day. The report changed to cloudy with light drizzle for 1 hour in afternoon and projected visibility to 9 miles. It rained most of the time we were there and visibility was more like 9 feet haha. It is still an iconic trip to do especially if you are in the area. It is quite a bit of travel between the train and bus between Bologna and San Marino. Also since traveling through Rimini it is worth at least walking around the city to explore. Even though we got hit with horrible weather, we were very happy to have made the trip and would highly encourage it! Thomas a life-long Miami Dolphins Football fan said ” It’s his second favorite Marino after Dan Marino!” Maybe he will change his mind if we go on a sunny day!
visting San Marino
Visiting San Marino is a little adventure but it is well worth it! This little country has so much to offer. It is worth spending a night here if your itinerary allows. But all the main highlights can be seen within one day if you are on a tighter schedule like us. My only advice is if your schedule allows flexibility go on a clear day. The pictures of overlooks and towers are incredible on sunny days! We definitely plan to make a trip of it again on a better weather day! You will not regret it!
