San Marino / Repubblica di San Marino – Let’s explore here
What’s it like in San Marino?
The Most Serene Republic of San Marino is a tiny landlocked country completely surrounded by Italy. Don’t you love it when countries set themselves apart from the norm – check out that title!
If you’ve never been to its capital – the City of San Marino, you should definitely put it on your list. It’s a really interesting place with loads of cultural sights to see. It sits atop the mountain Monte Titano in the Apennine Mountains, and can be easily accessed by cable car. The highest point is Monte Titano, at 2,425 ft (739m) above sea level.
San Marino is the oldest sovereign state still in existence, as well as the being the oldest constitutional republic. The country is the fifth smallest in the world, being about half the size of Leeds, England or Jersey, UK. It has a population of around 35,000 people (2023).
It also has the world’s highest rate of car ownership, being one of three countries with more vehicles than people, the others being Andorra and Liechtenstein.
A bit about the history of San Marino
Early History and Foundation
San Marino claims to be the world’s oldest republic, with its foundation traditionally dated to 301 AD. According to legend, it was established by a Christian stonemason named Marinus, who fled persecution in the Roman Empire. He founded a small community on Mount Titano, which later developed into the independent republic that exists today. The early history of San Marino is closely tied to its Christian heritage and the region’s struggles during the decline of the Roman Empire.
Medieval and Renaissance Period
During the Middle Ages, San Marino remained independent despite the political and military upheavals in the surrounding Italian territories. The Republic maintained its independence through a combination of diplomacy, alliances, and strategic decisions, such as remaining neutral in conflicts. In the 14th and 15th centuries, the country survived multiple attempts by neighbouring states to exert control over it, notably by the Papal States and other Italian powers.
Modern Era and Preservation of Independence
In the 19th century, San Marino experienced a series of political and social changes. The country managed to preserve its independence even as Italy unified in the mid 1800s. In 1862, San Marino signed a treaty with the newly formed Kingdom of Italy, which recognised its sovereignty. Throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries, San Marino remained a peaceful and neutral country, avoiding involvement in the broader European conflicts.
World War II and Neutrality
During World War II, San Marino maintained its neutrality. However, in 1944, the country was caught in the crossfire of the conflict, and it was briefly occupied by Nazi forces. After the war, San Marino returned to its neutral and independent status. The post-war period saw economic and political stability, as the country focused on rebuilding and modernising its economy.
Contemporary San Marino
Today, San Marino is a democratic republic with a long history of self government. It is governed by two Captains Regent, who are elected every six months. The country is one of the smallest in the world, both in terms of population and land area. San Marino is a member of several international organisations, though it is not a member of the European Union. The economy is largely based on tourism, banking, and manufacturing. San Marino has successfully preserved its independence for over a millennium, maintaining its unique political system and cultural heritage in the heart of Italy.
San Marino road trip
Our Sanmarinese road trip was part of a much larger European road trip.
For our road trip through San Marino, we travelled from Italy to explore the wider countryside and towns of the country, before heading back to Italy and on to Austria. Whilst we’ve been through the country several times, aside from the capital, it didn’t feel like we had a good sense of what else the country has to offer. This road trip really improved our knowledge of this intriguing and beautiful little country, and enabled us to meet some interesting people.
Map of our road trip through San Marino
This is a map of our road trip through San Marino.
Our Sanmarinese route involved travelling from Faetano – Montegiardino – Fiorentino – Murata – Chiesanuova – Acquaviva – San Marino city – Domagnano – Serravalle – Dogana
Our favourite places in San Marino
These are some of the best places that we explored on our road trip through San Marino. We’ve put them in alphabetical order.
Chiesanuova
Chiesanuova is a small town located in the south west of San Marino that houses around 1,200 people (2024). It’s a fairly quiet place that offers some great views of the capital.
Faetano
Faetano is a small town in the east of the country, housing around 1,200 people (2024). It’s got some great far-reaching views of all three of San Marino’s towers.
Montegiardino
Montegiardino is a village in the south east of San Marino that houses the country’s University residences. Around 1,000 people live in Montegiardino (2024). It offers some lovely views of the capital and its towers.
San Marino City
The whole of the capital has been designated a World Heritage Site. As you wander around, you’ll notice that there are three castle towers that are well worth a visit. The Guaita tower is the oldest of the towers, having been built in the 11th century. The Cesta tower hails from the 13th century, and the Montale tower from the 14th century. All three towers were built for defence against invading forces.
Although the capital only has a population of around 4,000 people (2022), you should be aware that it gets pretty busy with over 3 million tourists a year eager to explore the sights, even in the off-season. Plus, the city offers spectacular views over the surrounding country, and there are loads of shops, cafés and restaurants.
We did notice however, that there are a large number of shops that sold leather wallets, guns and knives, which is, well … unusual! Bizarrely, it reminded us of Andorra in that respect.
What’s it like to drive in San Marino?
As with almost everywhere on the continent of Europe, they drive on the right hand side of the road.
San Marino has the world’s highest rate of car ownership, being one of three countries with more vehicles than people, the others being Andorra and Liechtenstein. Although this may be true, we didn’t notice an overabundance of vehicles outside of the capital.
Driving and parking in the capital
There are lots of car parks in the capital, although they fill up quite early in the morning, leaving very few available spaces, especially in the ones closer to the summit. Many of the car parks have a light shining green or red, indicating whether there are spaces within – however don’t be fooled by this, as often the space within is too small for anything but a motorbike. Should you drive into a carpark and not be able to secure a parking space, you can normally insert your driving ticket and drive out again without having to pay anything.
We took a cable car to the capital as it’s always very busy with tourists. There are plenty of buses readily available also. Or, you can always walk, although the serpentine roads and steep steps are always longer than you think 😉
Driving outside of the capital
We found driving outside of the capital to be pretty quiet, and much the same driving conditions as mainland Italy – unsurprisingly! there are lots of free places to park, and we encountered no aggressive driving at all.
Do you require an international driving permit in San Marino?
We’ve created a dedicated page to driving abroad, which answers this question, and more, which you might find helpful.
Can you use your UK driving license when driving through San Marino?
We’ve created a dedicated page to driving abroad, which answers this question, and more, which you might find helpful.
Do I need a carnet de passages to drive in San Marino?
We’ve created a dedicated page to driving abroad, which answers this question, and more, which you might find helpful.
What are the speed limits in San Marino?
The speed limits for cars are:
- 30 mph (50 km/h) for urban driving
- 30 mph (50 km/h) outside of built up areas
- 70 mph (110 km/h) on dual carriageways
- 80 mph (130 km/h) on motorways
What currency do they use in San Marino?
In San Marino they use the Euro. The use of credit / debit cards is now widespread. Travellers cheques are accepted. There are lots of ATMs.
You should make yourself aware of the amount that your bank charges you for using credit and debit cards abroad. Often credit cards are cheaper for purchasing items directly, and for withdrawing cash from ATMs.
What language do they speak in San Marino?
They speak Sammarinese and Italian in San Marino, although many also speak English, especially in the capital.
What time zone is San Marino in?
Remember, when you’re planning your next trip to take a look at what time zone it’s in.
Do I need a visa to visit San Marino?
We’ve created a dedicated, more comprehensive page on visas, which you should find helpful. Check it out!
Is wild camping legal in San Marino?
No, wild camping is Illegal in San Marino.
What plug / socket type do they use in San Marino?
In San Marino they use plug / socket types F and L.
Health issues in San Marino
Is it safe to drink water in San Marino?
Yes, it is safe to drink tap water in San Marino. Bottled water is also readily available across the country.
What vaccinations are required for San Marino?
This NHS website is kept up to date with all relevant information on vaccinations in San Marino.
Phones in San Marino
What is the country calling code for San Marino?
The country calling code for San Marino is +378
What are the emergency phone numbers in San Marino?
- The emergency number for police in San Marino is: 113
- In San Marino, the emergency number for ambulance is: 118
- The emergency number for fire in San Marino is: 115
If you’ve got some useful info that you’d like to share, let us know!
And don’t forget to check out all the other pictures!