The Best Things to Do in San Marino

The tiny country of San Marino only covers 61 square kilometers (24 square miles), but there’s a whole lot of things to see here, and in a rather compact space.  There are the medieval towers arranged around the top of Monte Titano, some rather quirky museums, glorious views of the surrounding countryside, and more peaceful walking trails than you’d imagine a country of this size has space for.  San Marino is both easy to get to and easy to navigate.  You’ll find a compact historic center that is easily walkable and all the main things to do in San Marino clustered together.  My guide covers the best things to do in San Marino, whether you’re here for a day trip or staying overnight.

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San Marino has been around since 301 A.D., when it was founded as a small community for Christians.  It wasn’t until 1291, however, that Pope Nicholas IV recognized it as an independent country.  At that time, San Marino was just Monte Titano (essentially the historic center), but in 1463, the territory expanded to include the towns of Faetano, Fiorentino, Montegiardino, and Serravalle.  There’s more on the history of San Marino in my guide here.

San Marino is the oldest sovereign state and constitutional republic in the world, so you can imagine there’s a huge amount of history here to explore, but it doesn’t take long, and it’s a delight to do.  Here are the best things to do in San Marino.

The Best Things to Do in San Marino

Officially, San Marino is called the Republic of San Marino, and it is completely landlocked inside Italy.  It’s the third smallest country in Europe (after Monaco and Vatican City) and the fifth smallest in the world (add Nauru and Tuvalu in too). But good things come in small sizes, and San Marino packs a lot in. 

Ride the San Marino Cable Car

The San Marino cable car was primarily designed to get people from the lower town to the upper historic center quickly.  There’s more parking available at the bottom than in the streets just below the historic center (and it’s cheaper), so if you’re coming for the day, it makes sense to use it as your mode of transport.

However, it’s a fabulous way to get great views of the Adriatic coast, the towns of San Marino, and the surrounding farmland.  San Marino’s cable cars operate from 07:45 every 15 minutes, and the last ride depends on the time of year that you visit. Check the times here.  The ride takes 2 minutes, and if you’re only spending one day in San Marino, it’s the perfect way to arrive.

• Address of San Marino Cable Car:  Piazzale Campo della Fiera, Borgo Maggiore, San Marino
• Cost of San Marino Cable Car Ride: €2,80 one way, €4,50 round trip.
• Opening Times of San Marino Cable Car:  07:45 – 20:00 (earlier in Jan/Feb and later in summer months)

The Three Towers of San Marino

It’s what you’ll see on all the postcards, and they’re the best known of the attractions in San Marino – her fortress towers.  There are three.  You’ll find them on San Marino’s official flag, and they’re part of the UNESCO World Heritage site that encompasses the historic center.

The highest tower is Rocca or Torre Cesta.  It houses a museum of ancient weapons and offers glorious panoramic lookouts.  In the museum, you’ll find crossbows, swords, knives, and all manner of weapons. 

The three towers are linked by a paved path, called the Witches Passage (Passo delle Streghe), which, at the lower part, is lined with booths and souvenir stalls.  Rocca Guaita is the oldest, dating from the 13^th century, and it is dramatically perched on a cliff edge and has sweeping views.  It acted as a prison until the 1970s.

Montale, the third tower, is the smallest, and it’s not open to visitors, but sits off on its own, and its glorious isolation is well worth the visit.  You can find the latest opening hours of the towers here.

• Address of the Towers: Salita alla Cesta – 47890 Città di San Marino, San Marino
• Entrance fee for the Towers:  11 Euros – includes access to Tower I, Tower II, Palazzo Pubblico (if open), State Museum, Pinacoteca San Francesco, National Gallery, Stamp and Coin Museum
• Opening hours of the Towers:  2 January to 29 June and from 7 September to 31 December: 9.00-17.00. From 30 June to 6 September: 9.30-22.30. Last admission is 30 minutes before closing time. Closed on 2 November (afternoon), 25 December, and 1 January

Explore San Marino’s Viewpoints and Walking Trails

San Marino is all about the views. From the ramparts, you’ll see across Emilia-Romagna, into the Apennines, and out to the Adriatic coast on clear days. Short walking trails loop around Monte Titano, while longer routes connect the nine castelli. Even a short stroll beyond the walls gives you a quieter perspective.  While some might not recommend heading to Montale, you’ll find a haven of peace and quiet if you do venture there.  You’ll find a great guide to some short and slightly longer walking trails to take in the views of San Marino here.

Wander the Historic Center of San Marino

The old town of San Marino is a tangle of narrow lanes, stairways, and piazzas. Shops sell ceramics, stamps, coins, and souvenirs, while cafés spill into the squares. Piazza della Libertà, with its striking Palazzo Pubblico, is a central spot to pause. Even without entering a museum or tower, wandering the streets is a joy.  I do recommend staying overnight, as the day trippers disappear and the winding streets are glorious.  It’s easy to find places to eat as you wander around, with many family-run trattorias and restaurants.  Read more in my guide on what to eat in San Marino here.

See San Marino’s Palazzo Pubblico and Piazza della Liberta

The Piazza del Liberta is the busiest and most popular public square in San Marino; it’s where the changing of the guard happens in San Marino, and the Palazzo Pubblico is the Government House.  It’s possible to enter the Palazzo Pubblico when the government offices are closed, and you can even see the letter from Abraham Lincoln (read more about that here).

If you’re visiting San Marino during the summer months, then you’ll be able to watch the changing of the guard ceremony.  You can’t miss them, they have red trousers with a green stripe, a dark green jacket, and hats with pompoms!

Government House was designed and built in the late 1800s and is built of stone that was quarried from Monte Titano.  You’ll be able to see the coat of arms of both the Republic of San Marino and the four municipalities on the façade of the building.

See the Cava dei Balestrieri in San Marino

This is the quarry that was created when they wanted the stone to build the Government House that I just mentioned above.  The name comes from the San Marino Crossbowmen Federation, which was formed in 1956, and the quarry was used to host large crossbow shooting competitions, with the first held in July of that first year.  The quarry is used as a training and exhibition space now and hosts medieval festivals throughout the year, but mainly in the summer months.

Visit the Museums of San Marino

San Marino has a surprisingly eclectic mix of museums.  You can of course visit them all, but you’re best picking a couple that suit your interests.  Here are the most important and quirkiest of them.

The San Marino State Museum:

Located in the Palazzo Pergami Belluzzi, the archaeological collections here date from the Neolithic Age.  There are nearly 5,000 items here, many of which were donated from the collections of Italians.  It’s a great place to learn more about the history of San Marino and includes paintings from the 17^th century and sculptures from Guercino, too.

• Address of the San Marino State Museum: Piazzetta del Titano 1, San Marino Città
• Entrance fee for the San Marino State Museum:  11 Euros – includes access to Tower I, Tower II, Palazzo Pubblico (if open), State Museum, Pinacoteca San Francesco, National Gallery, Stamp and Coin Museum
• Opening hours of the San Marino State Museum:  Monday- Friday 09:00 – 17:00, open until 18:00 on weekends.

The San Marino Museum of Medieval Criminology and Torture

There are four rooms here with detailed explanations of the instruments of torture on display, and there are more than 100 of them, from stretching benches to knee breakers and inquisitorial chairs.

• Address of the San Marino Torture Museum: Contrada S. Francesco, 2, 47890 San Marino.
• Entrance fee for the San Marino Torture Museum:  9 Euros
• Opening hours of the San Marino Torture Museum:  November FRI – SAT – SUN 10:00 am – 7:00 pm. December all day MON – SUN 10:00 am – 7:00 pm. January FRI – SAT – SUN 10:00 am – 7:00 pm.

The San Marino Museum of Curiosities

As it says on the name of the museum, it’s about curiosities.  And you’ll certainly find them here.  From flea traps to 60-centimeter-high clogs to help when Venice floods.  There’s more on what you can expect here.

• Address of the San Marino Museum of Curiosities: Salita Alla Rocca, 26, 47890 Città di San Marino, San Marino
• Entrance fee for the San Marino Torture Museum:  9 Euros
• Opening hours of the San Marino Torture Museum:  November FRI – SAT – SUN 10:00 am – 7:00 pm. December all day MON – SUN 10:00 am – 7:00 pm. January FRI – SAT – SUN 10:00 am – 7:00 pm.

Check out the Basilica of San Marino

The Basilica was completed in 1836 on the site of a fifth-century church, which was one of the first Christian monuments built in the pre-Romanesque style in Italy.  The bones of San Marino’s patron saint, Saint Marinus, are stored here in an urn.  It’s open from January 2nd to June 29th and from September 7th to December 31st: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm. From June 30th to September 6th: 9:30 am – 10:30 pm. Holy Mass time: 11:00.

Shopping and Souvenirs in San Marino

Shopping is part of the experience here. San Marino is known for tax-free goods, so perfumes, electronics, and clothing are often cheaper than in Italy. More interesting for visitors are local crafts, ceramics, and unique coins and stamps, which reflect the country’s independent identity.  Since 1995, there’s been a Trademark of Origin and Typicality, which indicates the provenance of goods produced here.

There’s a market each Thursday down in Borgo Maggiore – it dates back to 1243, but no longer sells the cattle that it was set up to do!

Spending the Evening in San Marino

If you stay overnight, you’ll see a completely different side of the republic. Once the buses leave, the streets become quiet and atmospheric. Stroll the ramparts at sunset, then enjoy dinner in a trattoria with panoramic views, check out my guide on what to eat in San Marino. It’s worth considering an overnight stay for this experience alone.

Where is San Marino?

Completely landlocked within Italy, San Marino is one of only 44 landlocked countries around the world.  This independent state is bounded by the Emilia-Romagna and Le Marche regions of Italy. It’s also close to the Adriatic Sea, with Rimini being a nearby Italian beach resort.  (It makes an easy day trip from there, Bologna, and Florence).

The capital of San Marino is also called San Marino and was created as the Monte Titano fortress, sitting at 739 meters (2,425 feet) above sea level.  Most people visit the capital and the historic center, although there are towns and villages at the base that you can explore as well.  My guide on how to get to San Marino is here.

Final Words on Things to Do in San Marino

San Marino is proof that small doesn’t mean lacking in experiences. Between its towers, museums, walking trails, and lively old town, you can fill a day or two with ease. Add in the food, shopping, and atmosphere after dark, and you’ll see why this little republic leaves such a big impression.  It’s a fabulous place to visit on its own, and as a side trip from Italy.

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