Getting to San Marino from Italy is not difficult by any means, but I couldn’t find a clear-cut guide online on how to do it, so I decided to make one. I suppose you’re in the same position I was in, so, welcome to the official guide on how to get to San Marino from Italy! The easiest way to get to San Marino is from Rimini, Italy, a coastal town in Emilia Romagna. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to do it in seven easy steps.
1. Take a train to Rimini Station
Rimini is the best departing point to get to San Marino from Italy. Look up schedules on Eurail or TrenItalia. A Eurail pass is the best way to travel, not only through Italy, but through Europe.
Alternative option: If you don’t feel like navigating on your own, take a private day trip from Bologna.
2. Buy a ticket to San Marino
Directly across the street from Rimini station is a Tabaccheria. Remember- ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE STATION, not to be confused with the ticket booth right outside of the station. At the Tabbacheria, you can buy your bus tickets (round trip is 12 euro) and see the schedule. However, you can also do this directly online or on the bus. The name of the company is BONELLI BUS, and it is crucial you check the schedule ahead of time (or else you might wait upward of two hours after missing a bus by three minutes like I did).
3. Walk to the Bus
Even if you have your ticket, no one seems to tell you where to walk to actually catch the bus. Outside of the Tabaccheria, you’ll see plenty of different bus stops. To catch the right bus to San Marino, walk all the way down to the right (on the same side of the street as the TABACCHERIA) until you see Hotel Napoleon. Directly in front of the hotel is where you’ll wait for the bus.
4. Catch the Bus
Once on the bus, the ride takes about 35-45 minutess. It will stop several times, and you’ll want to ride it to the LAST STOP. The bus can feel like a long, desolate ride, and you might be wondering where on earth you are going, but spoiler alert: you’re going to San Marino, remember? Hang tight, and ride until the last stop.
5. CONGRATS! You made it to SAN MARINO!
Welcome to one of the world’s smallest countries, San Marino! You’ll know you’re there when the bus comes to a complete stop. The atmosphere around will also be evident that you’re in the city center. San Marino is a whole vibe, and it’s easy to explore in just a few hours. However, I personally wish I had spent the night there, so if you are like me and want to spend more than just an hour or two in this tiny nation, here are some hotel ideas:
- Budget option: La Grotta Hotel
- Mid-range option: Titano Suites
- Luxe option: Hotel Cesare
I also highly recommend grabbing a meal while in town. I had a glass of local wine (duh) and some bruschetta with cream of radicchio and broccoli from La Loggia, which I’d highly recommend.
6. Get Your Passport Stamped
There is no official passport check for San Marino, but if you want to get it stamped, go up to the official tourism office before 6PM and they’ll stamp it for you!
7. Catch the bus back to Italy (and don’t miss the last one)
It makes the most sense to buy a roundtrip ticket when you first purchase your ticket. The last bus back to Rimini typically departs around 8PM, so make sure you don’t miss it. Otherwise, a taxi back will be at least 50 euro. Once again, you can simply check the schedule online or at the station. Unlike most Italian trains and transportation, the San Marino busses run pretty punctually, so don’t be late!
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