How to Get to San Marino

San Marino is one of Europe’s quirkiest destinations — the fifth smallest country in the world, completely surrounded by Italy. Getting here is part of the adventure, because there’s no airport or train station within the republic itself. Every visitor arrives by road, usually starting from the Italian city of Rimini on the Adriatic coast.  It is, however, easy to get to San Marino independently. Whether you prefer public transport, driving yourself, or arranging a private transfer, the journey is straightforward. There’s no complicated planning required. In this guide on how to get to San Marino, I’ll cover each option.

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San Marino is an easy day trip on public transport if you’re staying in Florence, Rimini or Bologna, but its also easy to navigate to if you’re driving.  We drove here as part of a bigger road trip, so I’ll also cover the parking options available to you in San Marino.

Where is San Marino and How Do You Get there?

San Marino is about 25 kilometers (15.5 miles) inland from Rimini and just under 120 kilometers (74.5 miles) from Bologna. The republic of San Marino covers Monte Titano and its surrounding hills, with the historic centre looking like something out of a fairytale with its three famous towers on the top of Monte Titano.

There’s no airport or train station here and there are no border checks. The closest transport hubs are in Italy, so whether you arrive by bus, car, or transfer, you’ll start outside and enter by road. It is easy to travel here independently, and I’ve covered more details on independent travel to San Marino here.

Transport options to get to San Marino

Regardless of where you journey begins you’ll need to get to “somewhere in Italy” in order to get to San Marino. 

Getting to San Marino by Plane

There are no airports in San Marino.  The closest airports can be found in Rimini, Bologna and Ancona.    So fly to one of these airports and then take onward transport from there.  There is a small airfield (Torraccia), but its usually only used for helicopters, there’s a grass runway here.

The closest airport is Federico Fellini International Airport in nearby Rimini.  From the airport you can take a train to Rimini Central Station, or the number 9 bus which also runs into the city.  There are no buses directly to San Marino you’ll need to change. Bus number 9 takes about 25 minutes to go from the airport to Rimini,then you’ll want to get the Bonelli Bus from there to San Marino.  This takes about 55 minutes.  Or take a direct transfer from Rimini Airport to San Marino, it takes just 30 minutes. 

Bologna Guglielmo Marconi Airport is the largest airport in the Italy’s Emilia Romagna and this is where most who visit Bologna fly into.  If you are planning onward travel from San Marino, then it would make sense to rent a car from the airport.  There are public transport options, but you’ll need to go via Rimini, the bus is the cheapest option, take an airport shuttle to Rimini Train station, it takes about 90 minutes, then follow the directions to go from Rimini to San Marino.

Taking the Bus from Rimini to San Marino

The most popular way to reach San Marino is by bus from Rimini. Coaches leave from just outside Rimini’s main train station and run several times a day. The journey takes about 55 minutes, dropping you in the Borgo Maggiore area, just below the historic center.

The coaches are run by the Bonatelli company and tickets cost €7 one way. You can buy the tickets online here, directly from the driver, or at a variety of sales outlets in Rimini.  The full list of outlets is here.

While the bus will take you to the edge of the historic center of San Marino you may want to combine your journey with a trip on the San Marino Cable Car.  There are great views, and it takes you up from Borgo Maggiore into the historic center.  There are further details below on taking the cable car, which is one of the top things to do in San Marino.

The San Marino Cable Car (Funivia di San Marino)

Taking the cable car is one of the highlights of arriving in San Marino. It runs every 15 minutes from Borgo Maggiore up to the historic centre in just two minutes, there are great views, even as far as the Adriatic Sea on clear days. If you’ve got just one day in San Marino then taking the cable car is the perfect way to start (and end) your trip.

Buy your ticket at the Cable Car station, or online here.  A single ticket costs €2.80 and a return ticket is €4.50.  If you arrive by bus from Rimini, the stop is right outside the cable car station, so it’s the natural next step for most visitors.

Driving to San Marino

Driving is another straightforward way to reach San Marino. From Rimini, the journey takes around 30 minutes, and from Bologna you’ll be here in around 90 minutes. Roads are in good condition, and signage to San Marino is clear.

You can take the A14 Bologna-Ancona motorway, you’ll want the Rimini Sud toll both exit Rimini-San Marino SS72 expressway, or the Rimini Nord toll booth – SP “Marecchiese” number 258.

Parking in San Marino

There are different rules for payment of parking depending on the time of year that you visit San Marino (read here for the best time to visit).  If you’re visiting from April 1^st until September 30^th, then you’ll need to pay for parking between the hours of 08:00 until midnight.  From October 1^st until March 31^st, then parking must be paid for from 08:00 until 20:00.

A full day of parking costs €8.  If you’re staying in San Marino then this rate is reduced to €6 for each overnight stay.

There are a variety of car parks available in San Marino.  The barriers use license plate recognition.

• Parking lot P1 – piazzale Lo Stradone – Città di San Marino
• Parking lot P2A with barrier – piazzale M. Giangi – Città di San Marino
• Parking lot P2Bus with barrier – via del Voltone – Città di San Marino
• Parking lot P3 with barrier – viale J.F. Kennedy – Città di San Marino
• Parking lot P4 – viale Antonio Onofri – Città di San Marino
• Parking lot P6 with barrier – Cava Antica – Città di San Marino
• Parking lot P7 with barrier – Cava degli Umbri – Città di San Marino
• Parking lot P8 with barrier – via Piana – Città di San Marino
• Parking lot P9 multilevel with barrier – entrances via Piana and via Napoleone Bonaparte – Città di San Marino
• Parking lot P10 with barrier – via Napoleone Bonaparte – Città di San Marino
• Parking lot P11 – via Ventotto Luglio – Borgo Maggiore

There’s a map of the parking lots in San Marino here.

P9 and 10 are closest to the bottom of the cable car, so if you’re staying in Borgo Maggiore, this is where to park.  P2 also known as “Horse Parking”, as there’s a statue of a horse in the middle of the roundabout close to it is where we parked, very close to the Hotel Joli.

You’ll collect a ticket on entry to the parking lots (there is number plate recognition), and then you pay on leaving.  Don’t forget to ask at your hotel for the discounted rate.

Once you get to the outskirts of the historic center, then San Marino is pedestrianized, so you’ll need to walk and walking around the historic centre really is one of the best things to do in San Marino.

Private Transfers and Day Tours to San Marino

If you’d rather skip the logistics, private transfers and organised tours are another way to visit San Marino.  Transfers can be arranged from Bologna, Florence, or Rimini, often door-to-door. Day tours typically include a guide and transport, so you don’t need to worry about connections.

This is the most expensive option, but if you’re short on time or prefer convenience, it can be worthwhile. Have a look at options on GetYourGuide or Welcome Pickups if you’d like a stress-free journey.

Final Words on Getting to San Marino

San Marino isn’t a difficult place to get to, and to be fair you’ll likely miss the fact that you’re not in Italy and you’re moved to San Marino.  If you’re using public transport, then adding the Cable Car to your transport options is a great way to seeing some spectacular views over the countryside and it’s the perfect way to start your visit to San Marino.

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