San Marino is said to be the world’s oldest surviving republic.
In August of 2023, Yanny and I fell in love with yet another country. Located in the middle of Italy, San Marino is considered the world’s older surviving republic. With a population of merely 33,000 estimated citizens and a size of only 61.2 km2 (23.6 sq mi), San Marino is one of six micro states in Europe.
This exploration was part of our seven day Summer vacation in Italy. We managed to pull it off with hand luggage only. Click here to learn about how to pack efficiently and what to bring on a carry-on only trip.
How to get to San Marino
Guglielmo Marconi Airport (BLQ) of Bologna is the nearest airport. Cologne has a direct connection through Ryanair, where we landed in the summer heat of Italy. At the airport, we rented a car to go to San Marino. You can either take a bus from Rimini or go to San Marino by car. Beware: The roads leading up to San Marino are narrow and if you can’t handle a stick shift, don’t even bother trying. These roads are aren’t for the faint-hearted.
My hopes of driving around in a Fiat 500 while blasting Eros Ramazzotti were crushed as we were giving a sightly bigger model. With temperatures nearing 40 ° Celsius, we were thankful we were giving a car with a functioning air conditioner.
Unless you have a hotel reservation, you need to park your car in one of the public parking garages you will be directed to. Brace yourself for many staircases.
Gladiator Dreams
Make sure to take it slow and enjoy the beautiful landscape. It is a very scenic drive and Yanny constantly reminded me that it looked like the setting from Gladiator, where Russell Crowe goes home (to Tuscany) and slightly touches the wheats on a field. It took us at least an extra hour because we stopped to take beautiful pictures of the landscape.
Where to stay in San Marino
We stayed at Hotel Cesare in San Marino Città, which is located close to the Guaita Tower. Many famous people like Michael Schumacher have stayed in this hotel before. Staff was very friendly, the breakfast was amazing and our room was a bit dated but very clean and charming. Accommodations in San Marino are quite expensive. The price for one night was 173 € ( ~ 190 USD). We had booked through Booking.com. At the time, I held a Level 2 status in the genius programme. Whenever applicable, you get a 10 % discount and / or free breakfast.
What to bring to San Marino
Forget the good looks, bring your most comfortable shoes – preferably hiking boots. This town is build on a steep hill and all the roads are partly made of uneven cobblestone. In August of 2023, we had maximum temperatures and were sweating a lot. Needless to say, if you’re planning on coming during the Summer, bring a fan, sun glasses, sunscreen and wear light and airy attire. The heat is brutal. Don’t forget your camera gear.
Mobility is a must. Therefore, I don’t recommended walking here if you are not good on your feet – especially in Summer! High season is crowded and makes navigating through narrow paths more difficult.
As with any travel activity, ensure sufficient funds in your account and a credit card that is not American Express. While we were there, we couldn’t use our Amex. American Express is not accepted in San Marino. The resident sales people told us that this problem has been existing in the entire country for a while now. Visa, Master Card and Diner’s Club were widely accepted.
Food in the Città
Expect good food at a decent price. We had dinner at Bar Piadineria La Capanna, located near the entrance of the Guaita Tower. It was the highest location we could eat at and the view was spectacular! Although we couldn’t make out a traditional local dish but the food we had was delicious and we enjoyed the view as we watched the sunset of this tiny nation. You could even see the Adriatic Sea from our table.
Basilica Del Santo
What to see
Everything in this place is worth taking a picture. The unique blend of beige stones with lush plants against a stunning backdrop is breathtaking. From the Guaita Tower to the Galleria Nazionale d’Arte Moderna e Contemporanea, the Modern Art Gallery, everything is worth a visit. Due to the short duration of our stop in SM, we opted out of visiting the novelty museums so we focussed on the architectural sights.
10 / 10 would recommend
This trip was amazing. Exploring the narrow streets of SM was an adventure and learning about the rich history of this republic was amazing. As for the time of the year, I’d suggest to avoid the hottest months of the year and maybe visit in May or September / October.
English