Best things to do in San Marino

11. 01. 2023

Bite-sized adventures in my Shorts channel.

What to do in San Marino? What to visit? Take inspiration from my travels.

Introduction

If you are going to visit the castle and its sights in San Marino, it is recommended to go to La Guaita first to get a season ticket. Depending on which tour you choose, you will get access to both the chosen towers and the Palazzo Pubblico.

Afterwards, I recommend going around all the towers (if you start in the morning, there aren’t many tourists) and then walking down through the basilica, the palace and the rest of the city, stopping for a good meal or drink along the way.

If you go early in the morning (at 8:00am in San Marino) and walk through San Marino as I wrote above, you will avoid the tourists in the narrow streets of the towers, the museum and then the restaurants as everyone is heading to the sights first and then to the restaurants. If you plan to go to San Marino in the summer time, you will also avoid walking around San Marino in the hot streets.

If you plan to go by car or motorbike, I’ve written a short info on parking in San Marino.

Monte Titano

At 756 metres above sea level, Monte Titanium is the highest mountain in San Marino. La Rocca, La Cesta and Montale are built on the top of this mountain. A small town is built on one side of this mountain. There is an elevator leading up from the other side.

Castello della Guaita a La Guaita - first tower

Castello della Guiata is one of the most beautiful and most visited castles in the Lazio region of Italy. It is located about 50 km east of Rome and offers a magnificent view of the surrounding countryside. The castle can be reached through the small town.

La Cesta - second tower

The La Cesta tower is one of the three towers in San Marino and is the country’s symbol and national emblem. It is located at the top of Monte Titano, the highest mountain in San Marino. The tower was built in the 13th century and served as a defensive structure. Today it is one of the most popular tourist attractions in San Marino.

Montale - thirs dower

The Montale Tower is the smallest of the three towers in San Marino. It is located on the western summit of Monte Titano at 738 m above sea level. The tower was built in the 14th century and served as a defensive structure. In 1479 the tower was destroyed and then abandoned. Although the interior of the Montale Tower is not open to the public, don’t miss the climb to this fortress tower when visiting San Marino. The tower can be reached by a paved walking trail.

Palazzo Pubblico and Piazza della Liberta

Palazzo Pubblico is a building and one of the most important monuments of San Marino. It is located in the main square Piazza della Libertà at the top of Monte Titano. It is the seat of the Captains Regent, the Council of the Great and General and the Congress of State.

Piazza della Libertà is the main square of San Marino and is located on top of Monte Titano. The square is surrounded by historic buildings, including the Palazzo Pubblico, the Basilica of San Marino and the Church of San Pietro.

Basilica di San Marino

Basilica di San Marino is one of the most popular tourist attractions in San Marino. The basilica is built in Romanesque style and has a rich history. The basilica is home to several valuable works of art, including a statue of St. Marino by Antonio Canova. The basilica is also an important pilgrimage site and is visited by thousands of tourists every year.

Il Cantone - view around San Marino

If you want to see the surroundings of San Marino, I recommend a walk to Il Cantone. There are several telescopes and you can see the whole area (even without binoculars).