San Marino

San Marino, this tiny country completely surrounded by Italy, has a surprisingly nice vibe! We experienced this European dwarf country as one of the nicest dwarf states. The locals are proud of their own culture and have their own atmosphere that clearly distinguishes itself from their big neighbor Italy!

Together with the other European dwarf states, Andorra, Monaco, Liechtenstein and Luxembourg, San Marino is also part of the list. Malta is also included in some lists. As avid travelers who would like to add new countries to our list, San Marino should certainly not be missed. During a road trip to the Alps and Italy we visited this small country that we definitely want to visit again!

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Quick facts San Marino:

• San Marino is the oldest country in the world, the independent country has existed since the year 301.
• It is one of the richest countries in the world based on GDP.
• San Marino does not belong to the EU, but does use the Euro. It is very dependent on Italy economically and politically
• The national football team did not win until 2024, against Liechtenstein.
• San Marino is the 3rd smallest country in Europe, after Monaco and Vatican City. The 5th smallest country in the world, Tuvalu and Nauru in Oceania are even smaller.
• Mount Titano is the center of the country, where the fortified city is located.

San Marino has an incredibly long history, so it is worth a nice trip for those who are interested in how these types of countries have been able to survive over the centuries. San Marino can of course be perfectly combined with a trip through Italy. Most people come from Rimini. With a (rental) car you can also reach this small country in a short time from Bologna or Florence. It is more than worth it for a day trip, but it is even more fun to spend a night there!

Highlights San Marino:

For a small country like San Marino, it surprisingly has a lot to offer! Partly because of this, we like this country better than the other dwarf states such as Monaco and Liechtenstein. Start your journey by going to the center of the country. To the historic center of the town San Marino Citte. You can do this either on foot or by boat kabelbaan upwards. Walk to the main square, Piazza della Libertà. This beautiful square on the hill has a fantastic view over the country and is characterized by its beautiful historic buildings.

From this square you are immediately in the historic town, put a stamp in your passport at the local tourist office. They are also happy to place them for you next to other dwarf state stamps. No matter how wrong they look, go to a wrong souvenir shop. What they sell here is quite special. From mugs with infamous dictators on them to bad porn wine. It just depends on what you want to put in your home. From here you walk towards it Basilica di San Marino. This beautiful church almost looks like a Roman temple and is one of the most important places in the country. This building also has the Palazzo Pubblico to see. This government building is also where the changing of the guard can be seen.

After your visit to the historic city center, you can easily walk towards the old defensive walls of the city. The city is protected by all kinds of walls from previous conquerors. Walk towards the De La Fratta tower on Mount Titano and you have a beautiful fairytale structure on a high mountain. We thought this was one of the most beautiful places in San Marino! Buy an entrance ticket for a few euros and you can walk over the historic city walls to the 3 large towers.

San Marino, we thought it was very worthwhile to take a detour for this small country. It is certainly worthwhile for a day trip, but with an extra night you can also take it easy and feel less like a tourist. Just for fun, look up the differences in this country, its own license plates, its own post, its own police, its own everything makes these kinds of small countries extremely interesting to visit!

Practical tips San Marino:

• Although San Marino is not part of the EU, you can use your euros and your EU SIM card should work too.
• Dependent on public transport? There are frequent bus connections from Rimini.
• Prepare for a lot of climbing, especially in summer it can get very hot
• Grab a San Marinese euro coin? Save! They are worth more than their own worth.