Hey there, fellow travelers! Today, we visit San Marino, a micro-nation surrounded by Italy! The Republic of San Marino is a beautiful place, with mountains on one side and the sea on the other side. As you know, here at Wolters World, we like to prepare travelers with the good, and the bad, of visiting a new travel destination. So these are the five things you’ll love, and the five things you’ll hate when you visit San Marino.
Hate #1: Getting to San Marino
If you’re coming to San Marino from Rome, there’s no direct train. You have to take a train to Rimini and then a bus up to San Marino. The bus takes a winding mountain road and if you are prone to motion sickness, beware. Several people on our bus got sick during the trip from Rimini to San Marino. The challenge in reaching it keeps San Marino tourism well controlled.
Hate #2: Summer Tourists
Rimini is a popular beach destination and in the summer, busloads of tourists come to San Marino for day trips. It can get really crowded, so if you are visiting in the summer, try to come early in the morning or stay later in the evening to avoid the day trip crowds at most San Marino attractions. Low season is a great time to visit San Marino because you can really enjoy the city without crowds.
Hate #3: Uphill Hikes of San Marino
San Marino is built into the mountains and it’s a very hilly city, so there’s a lot of uphill walking. The parking lots are often lower down and then you have to hike uphill for the towers and the views. If you have limited mobility, it can be difficult to get around. Be prepared for a lot of uphill walking in San Marino.
Five Rules for What Shoes to Wear in Europe
Hate #4: Shopping in San Marino
When you visit San Marino, you probably expect to find some cool, authentic shops in such a historic place, but the shopping in San Marino is not great. You’ll find a lot of shops selling guns and crossbows, perfume and watches. During the high season, the shopkeepers will stand in the street and try to get you to come in and buy something. It’s not the quaint shopping experience you might expect.
Souvenirs: What Not to Buy When You Travel
Hate #5: Service in San Marino
Service in San Marino isn’t quite up to the high standards of Italy and surrounding regions. It’s not necessarily bad, but it’s not as friendly and outgoing. It’s definitely more of a tourist atmosphere, where they want to get you in and out quickly.
Love #1: Views from San Marino
The hilltop location means San Marino has spectacular views in every direction. You can look down at Rimini and the Adriatic Sea, or look up to the surrounding mountains. Everywhere you look, there’s another amazing view. You really feel like you’re in a different time and place than other parts of Italy and Mediterranean Europe.
Love #2: Fortresses of San Marino
The city walls and fortresses around San Marino give it a unique feel and really give you a sense of the history of this country. There are 11th-century and 13th-century fortresses, and you feel like you are walking around in medieval times. There are also tons of cool churches and cathedrals as you would expect from this region of Europe.
Love #3: Offbeat Museums of San Marino
Micronations love to have museums on the silly side and San Marino is no exception. In addition to the usual history and art museums, they have a museum of old weapons, a museum of new weapons, a car museum, the Museum of Curiosity and a wax museum. The museums aren’t expensive, so it’s fun to visit a few of the more offbeat San Marino attractions.
Love #4: Venturing Outside San Marino
There are eight other cities in the small country of San Marino, and there are outdoor adventures to be had as well. You can take a day trip to the beaches at Rimini or go see the ancient Byzantine churches of Ravenna. San Marino is surrounded by hills and mountains so there are tons of hiking opportunities as well.
Love #5: Evening Solitude in San Marino
Since most travelers visit San Marino on a day trip, if you choose to stay over, you’ll practically have the town to yourself at night. The streets get pretty quiet after the day-trippers go home and then you really feel like you’re back in medieval times with quiet streets and no tourists or tour buses. It’s easy to find affordable San Marino accommodation, so I highly recommend staying the night.
San Marino is a really cool little micro-nation that’s well worth a visit if you find yourself along the Adriatic Coast of Italy. If you can’t tell, the “hates” aren’t really “hates” at all, just a few things to keep a head’s up on rather than a reason not to visit San Marino. Want more tips for traveling in Mediterranean Europe? Check out these other blog posts: