How to Spend a Day in San Marino: 9 Unusual Things to Do and My Planning Tips

Is San Marino worth visiting? And can you actually fill a whole day in San Marino with interesting things to do? Definitely and definitely. If you’re traveling to Italy’s Emilia-Romagna region, you simply can’t pass up the opportunity to see Europe’s third-smallest country (even if you’ve never heard of it before)!

I went in November 2024, and I’ll tell you now: I expected nothing from what I assumed was such an insignificant microstate, but San Marino completely over-delivered and turned out to be one of the biggest surprises of my trip.

So, what is there to do in San Marino in a day?
 

With a day in San Marino, you can see all the cool highlights: explore the three iconic towers on Mount Titano, wander through the medieval alleys of San Marino City, take in the views from Palazzo Pubblico, and ride the San Marino Cable Car for another stunning perspective. If you stay for sunset, you won’t regret it! And if you have extra time, there’s even a luxury outlet mall for tax-free shopping.

With its dramatic hilltop setting, ridiculously good views (seriously, you can’t find a bad one), and well-preserved medieval fortresses, San Marino felt like a refreshing break from the Renaissance-heavy cities of Tuscany and Emilia-Romagna.

This San Marino travel guide ranks the top things to do in San Marino based on my own experience after spending three days there. But don’t worry—if you only have one day, I’ve got the perfect itinerary laid out for you.

Nighttime in San Marino—where there are more cars than people and more breathtaking views than you can count

 

How to spend 1 day in San Marino: itinerary

 

If you must explore San Marino in just one day, follow my itinerary to get the best out of your time...

• Stop 1: Guaita, the First Tower (for 30 minutes)
• Stop 2: Cesta, the Second Tower (for 1 hour, including walking time)
• Stop 3: Montale, the Third Tower (for 30 minutes, including walking time)
• Stop 4: Palazzo Pubblico (1.5 hours, including walking time)
• Stop 5: Basilica di San Marino (for 30 minutes, including walking time)
• Stop 6: San Marino Cable Car (for 1 hour, including a walk around Borgo Maggiore)
• Stop 7: San Marino Outlet Experience (for 3 hours, including driving time)
• Stop 8: La Terrazza for dinner
 

 

 

Things to do in San Marino: map

Map of the City of San Marino (Città di San Marino), pinpointing the best things to see
 

Planning to visit San Marino? Here are some bonus tips

 

• Visit San Marino in a shoulder season. Fun fact: there’s always at least one tourist in the country for every local, and the best time to go isn’t necessarily the summer because it’ll be positively heaving with other visitors.
   
• Another fun fact: San Marino is one of the few countries in the world where there are more cars than people. Public transport isn’t really a thing here, so if you want to branch out of San Marino City, you’ll need a car.
   
• But bear in mind that parking is chaotic, so make a SPECIFIC note of where you leave your vehicle.
   
• Prepare for lots of uphill walking—wear comfy shoes.
   
• You can get a souvenir San Marino passport stamp from the official tourist office. This is a consolation for the fact that there are no checks on the border with Italy.
   
• Consider combining your trip to San Marino with a trip to Ravenna! We were truly blown away by all the UNESCO World Heritage Sites; see my article on Ravenna for more fun details.
   
• Never order a cappuccino with a meal. They’re strictly for mornings.
   
• Finally, my hotel recommendation is Relais Villa Margherita, just outside of San Marino. You get an amazing view of Mount Titano from the garden. The rooms are pristine, the parking facilities are good, but the fine-dining restaurant is a bit pricey. Still, the view and location alone are worth staying for!
   
• BUT if you want to stay in San Marino proper, the moderately luxurious Grand Hotel San Marino has a formidable reputation.
   

 

Is this my favorite microstate? Quite possibly...
 

Fun fact: San Marino has an area of just 61 km² (23.6 mi²), making it smaller than the vast majority of the world’s cities. Some 34,000 people live in this tiny country, and you know what? They’re a really friendly bunch—so kind and welcoming.

This is my 9-point ranking of the top tourist attractions (and some more unusual things to explore) in San Marino. The following reviews are based completely on my judgment after having spent three days there with my girlfriend.

San Marino: tiny but mighty... 61 km² of breathtaking views, kind locals, and endless charm. Definitely a top contender for my favorite microstate

 

A funny side note is that we almost skipped out on it, which would have been a huge mistake. The rich history and the crazy views (spoiler: it’s just not possible to get a bad view in this country) reminded me a lot of Gibraltar—another rock fortress with unexpected surprises. For equal measure, you can read my article on one day in Gibraltar.

However, overall, I can’t say it’s as good as Italy. Italy’s just got so much more to offer as a vacation destination, of course. Learn more about Italy right here...

And finally, here are the best things to do in San Marino, in detail:

 

1. Try not to fall from Guaita, the First Tower of San Marino

Guaita Tower: where medieval dreams come true... Just missing a friendly dragon to complete the fantasy
 

• Price: EUR 11 (to see all the Towers and the Palazzo Pubblico)
   

When you were a kid, if you ever imagined a medieval castle protected by a huge (but friendly) dragon, Guaita is basically that. Most of the current structures date back to the 1500s, and we did witness kids losing their minds here, screaming with joy. Honestly? Same.

This is the First Tower of San Marino’s famous threesome, complete with sheer cliffs, epic stone walls, and just enough danger to maintain that fantasy-novel feel. The rock formations around the tower are insane—one side is completely chopped off like someone took a giant knife to the landscape.

Oh, and not that this is a rarity in San Marino, but the views you get from it are absolutely jaw-dropping.

Practical information: The signs are in both Italian and English, so there’s no need to guess what you’re looking at. And inside the tower, there’s a small museum with tidbits about the fortress’s history—because what’s the point in having a castle if you don’t tell its story?

Make sure you’re insured before you climb this thing

I did have one tiny complaint, though. They should really invest in some railings (I mean, they’re not exactly short of cash in San Marino). The top of the tower is mostly covered, but there are a bunch of medieval shooting holes for added “historical accuracy” (and potential to fall to your death if you're not paying attention).

Pro tip: You get the best views of the First Tower from the Second Tower. And there’s no time like the present...

 

Climbing Guaita: security specialist Jan approves of this measure! There, much safer with railings

 

2. Check out the weapons at Cesta, the Second Tower of San Marino

Step into history at Cesta Tower’s Museum of Ancient Arms, where the weapons are… well, sharp
 

• Price: EUR 11 (to see all the Towers and the Palazzo Pubblico)
   

We walked from the First Tower to the Second Tower—it only takes around five minutes, and you get even more of those stellar views along the way. (More on this trail later.)

Fun fact: The Three Towers appear on both the country’s flag and coat of arms. They’re the pride and joy of the Sammarinese, basically.

Another fun fact: Cesta is the highest point on Mount Titano (San Marino’s highest mountain) at 756 m (2480 ft). That might not sound like much, but considering it rises straight up from the sea, it actually feels pretty damn high. You'll see what I mean once you’re up there.

The view I’ve just mentioned, the one back to Guaita, is so ridiculously photogenic. With the First Tower perched dramatically on its cliff, we got to appreciate the fantasy backdrop from a whole new perspective.

And speaking of cliffs, from this height, you really get a good look at the sheer drop straight down the rock face. Fair warning: if you weren’t afraid of heights before, you might be now.

This is where you’ll also find San Marino’s most boyish museum
 

But wait! The Second Tower isn’t just another empty fortress with “imagine what life was like” plaques. Don’t miss the surprisingly good medieval weapons museum inside (though your wife or girlfriend might need convincing).

The exhibits cover everything from medieval to early modern weaponry, and the descriptions actually focus on fun facts rather than dry history. Refreshing.

There were a lot of crossbows—back in the day, they were kind of a big deal in this country. But the museum also houses a sword from the 6th century—that’s borderline prehistoric when it comes to steel weapons! I’ve been to a lot of museums, and let me tell you, finding something this old is rare.

 

First two towers? Stunning. Third tower? Meh. But the views? Always a 10/10

 

But what about the Third Tower...?

Spoiler: the Third Tower (Montale) hasn’t made it onto my ranking of the best things to do in San Marino. While the views from it are still gorgeous, it’s not accessible to the public in the same way the other two are, and to say it like it is, it’s just underwhelming.

 

 

3. Stay in San Marino after sunset

Stay after sunset, and you get the magic all to yourself
 

• Hotel recommendation: Relais Villa Margherita
 

Sure, San Marino is stunning during the day, but at night, I cannot impress you enough: it turns into pure magic. The crowds vanish, the medieval streets glow under soft, golden lights, and the whole place feels like a real-life fairy tale—the OG Disneyland.

You need to spend a night in San Marino!
 

While daylight is obviously best for the views, if you have the option, spend at least one evening here. Visiting in November, we were lucky enough to catch the Christmas decorations, which took it to another level!

Watching the sunset over Titano and then wandering the quiet, illuminated streets of San Marino City is absolutely worth your while. Plus, it feels so peaceful because all the annoying day-trippers have gone.

 

4. Ride the San Marino Cable Car

San Marino views hit differently from up here. Took the cable car and got a front-row seat to this Adriatic masterpiece
 

• Price: EUR 3
   

This is one of the more fun things to do in San Marino. (What do you mean, you’re not into medieval weaponry?!) It’ll only fill up about two minutes of your time, but here’s a tip: if you pay just EUR 10, you can take this exhilarating trip 12 times! That’s nearly half an hour’s worth of fun things to do in San Marino!

Seriously, though...
 

...the Cable Car is totally worth riding. It takes you between Borgo Maggiore at the foot of Titano and San Marino City at a mildly stomach-churning incline. The short journey certainly made me realize just how dramatic the elevation is in this microstate, especially once the Adriatic Sea suddenly appeared in view.

Practical information: The Cable Car operates from 7:45 am and stops at varying times depending on the time of year. In summer, it remains open until late in the evening.

 

5. Go shopping in San Marino to get tax discounts

Shop smart, shop San Marino. No VAT means luxury goods at a steal—because who doesn’t love a tax-free splurge?

 

Fun fact: There’s no VAT in San Marino, which is why many wealthy Italian business owners are based here. But for you and me, this means cheaper shopping!

High-ticket items can be significantly cheaper in San Marino, so it’s a great place to splurge on luxury goods—perfume, designer labels, electronics, alcohol—all the good stuff. And because it’s not as well-known as other shopping destinations, you won’t have to elbow your way through massive crowds (looking at you, Milan).

Bonus tip: If you stay overnight on Sammarinese territory, you can unlock even better deals. Many hotels offer discount cards that get you extra savings at certain shops. We stayed just outside San Marino, so no special card for us, but this is good to know if there’s ever a next time...

This isn't just the San Marino Outlet; it's the San Marino Outlet Experience
 

Somewhere these discount cards are sure to work is the shiny San Marino Outlet Experience. It’s in the northeast corner of the country on the border, attracting tax-dodging tourists from far over the hills (including us, guilty as charged). I’d bet that after the Three Towers, this place is the one they’re next proud of—it supposedly appears in every commercial break on local TV.

Fun (and good-to-know-at-this-point) fact: San Marino is one of four non-EU countries to use the euro.

 

6. Dine at La Terrazza in the City of San Marino

Autumn in San Marino means crisp air, golden leaves, and unbeatable views
 

• Opening hours: 12 pm–2:30 pm and 7 pm–10 pm daily
   

If you absolutely can’t stay overnight in San Marino, the least you can do is have dinner with the amazing views before you leave. And when it comes to San Marino restaurants, I highly recommend La Terrazza, located right in the middle of San Marino City.

Important tip: To guarantee a table by the window, you need to book online at their website, ristorante la terrazza.sm.

Is edible gold just a way of life for these people...?

My mind was blown by the hill views and fancy food, I appreciated the efficient service with a smile, and it all came at a relatively good price. My meal highlight was a golden egg. Honestly—I got one egg covered in gold, and one in truffle shavings—possibly the most bourgeois dish I’ve ever eaten. Who knew that something so precious and pretentious could be so delicious?

 

7. Explore the hiking trails near the City of San Marino

San Marino in fall and a free wind-blown hairstyle

 

This tiny country isn’t just about medieval towers and tax-free stuff; it’s also a great place for a hike. (Hey, this is my blog, after all!)

The trails around the Three Towers took us through wooded areas and rocky cliffs. I was left questioning why I hadn’t read more about this when I first Googled “What to do in San Marino”.

After our fortress-on-a-cliff experience at Guaita, we headed toward Cesta. At some point, the path turned into a proper hiking trail, winding through trees with sudden gaps in the foliage revealing ridiculous panoramic views.

The Third Tower isn't great, but the walk up to it is
 

But the stretch between Cesta and Montale is the best bit. It’s a little steeper, a little wilder, and—bonus—almost completely tourist-free! And okay, although I was harsh about the Third Tower, it's nice to get there just for the peace and quiet.

This isn’t even really a proper hike, which is good in that you don’t need any extra gear. It’s short, scenic, and packed with sweet views, making it perfect for anyone who wants to feel outdoorsy without actually putting the effort in.

 

8. Stop by the Basilica di San Marino

Basilica of Saint Marinus

 

• Opening hours: 11 am–6 pm Monday–Tuesday and Friday; 10 am–8 pm Wednesday; 10 am–6 pm Saturday; 11 am–7 pm Sunday
• Price: free
   

The San Marino Basilica is San Marino’s main church. It’s clean, it’s supported by Corinthian columns, and it’s got that perfectly symmetrical, almost-too-perfect look. To be honest, it does look like it was copy-pasted from a neoclassical architecture textbook.

Inside, the ceiling also looks too perfect, albeit severely lacking in color (we’d just been to see a load of high-saturation mosaics in Ravenna). There’s a reliquary with Saint Marinus’s bones, which is cool if you’re into that. Otherwise, it lacks the irresistible drama of an over-the-top Italian cathedral (we’d also recently seen Bologna’s San Petronio Basilica).

Do you want my advice?

Although this is one of the main tourist attractions of San Marino, don’t go out of your way to see it. It’s quite small and we were happy to stumble inside (especially because it’s free to enter), but I’ve seen much better basilicas. I came to San Marino for the towers and the views, not for a church that looks like Rome’s less ambitious cousin.

 

9. Visit the Palazzo Pubblico, San Marino’s town hall and the seat of the republic

Palazzo Pubblico, where we pretend we’re the rulers of San Marino for a day
 

• Opening hours: 9 am–5 pm Tuesday–Friday; 9 am–6 pm Saturday–Sunday
• Price: EUR 11 (includes access to all the Towers)
   

Lastly, the Palazzo Pubblico is what happens when the world’s oldest republic (established 301 CE—fun fact) decides to flex its history and importance: a building that’s quite small, but ridiculously grand-looking.

This is San Marino’s version of the Capitol Building, where the government does its thing. Imagine an elegant stone facade, a big clock tower, and enough decorative arches to remind you that this microstate takes itself seriously (even if nobody else does).

Inside, it’s part working government office, part tourist attraction, meaning you can walk through actual halls of power. Okay, so it’s not much power on a global scale, but it’s still pretty interesting. San Marino has been doing democracy for longer than your country’s existed!

What did we see? Coats of arms, official chambers, lots of historic paintings, and the Guards of the Republic. They stand outside in uniforms that look straight out of a historical drama. Is it Versailles? No. But it is a fascinating glimpse into this—dare I say—special country, and it comes with solid photo ops.
 

Do you need a visa to enter San Marino?

No, you won’t need a visa to enter San Marino, at least not unless you also need a visa to enter Italy anyway. You can only enter San Marino by road from Italy and there are no border checks.

 

Is it worth going to San Marino?

Absolutely, San Marino is worth visiting. Despite its small size, it offers fascinating history, breathtaking views, and tax-free shopping. As the world’s oldest republic, it boasts well-preserved medieval architecture, including its iconic Three Towers atop Mount Titano. The City of San Marino’s charm is bolstered by its narrow streets and panoramic landscapes. All of this makes for a memorable experience for any day-tripper or overnight visitor.

Palazzo Pubblico, where we pretend we’re the rulers of San Marino for a day

Is 1 day enough for San Marino?

Yes, one day is enough for San Marino, but an overnight stay is even better. San Marino is compact, and in one day, you can explore its Three Towers, historic streets, Palazzo Pubblico, and even fit in some tax-free shopping. However, staying the night lets you experience the magical evening atmosphere, with fewer crowds and stunning illuminated views. If you’re short of time, it’s possible to see all the best bits in one day, but for the full experience, stay longer if you can manage.

Does San Marino feel expensive?

San Marino ranks among the richest populations on the planet, despite it being the world’s fifth smallest country in area and having just 34,000 residents. One reason for this is its super low taxes. Income tax in San Marino is about a third of the EU average, which is certainly attractive to business owners and wealthy individuals.

 

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