San Marino, officially dubbed as the Republic of San Marino (RSM), is an ancient, landlocked country in Southern Europe, completely surrounded by Italy. It is one of the oldest and smallest republics in the world, with a rich history dating back to 301 AD, when it was founded by a Christian stonemason named Saint Marinus. The country is known for its mountainous landscape, as it sits on the slopes of Monte Titano — which dominates the nation, along with: an economy that relies heavily on tourism, banking and small-scale manufacturing, medieval architecture, tax-free shopping and panoramic views over the Italian countryside. Its capital, the City of San Marino — or locally as Città, situates high on Monte Titano. It is famous for its historic old town — a UNESCO World Heritage Site, alongside its narrow cobblestone streets, fortified walls, and three iconic towers: Guaita, Cesta and Montale — all of which served defensive purposes and are now symbols of San Marino.
Seismic hazards, landslides and extreme weather due to its mountainous terrain and Mediterranean climate.
San Marino uses a tiered penalty system for traffic/driving offences. They are split into three categories;
Repeated offences within 2 years and night-time offences can lead to higher penalties — often doubled. Common offences include the following:
Police can issue on-the-spot fines for many offences, where you would be asked to pay immediately — often part of the maximum fine — and would receive a receipt. If driving a rental, fines may also be sent to the rental company, who would charge you admin fees later on. If a fine is not paid on the spot, details of the driver, vehicle and offence will be recorded, and the fine can be sent internationally — especially via rental companies. Unpaid fines can cause issues for future travel to Italy/San Marino.
The official language of San Marino is Italian, but Romagnol (Sammarinese) is also spoken.
Despite not being a member of the European Union, the country uses the euro.
Vehicles drive on the right-hand side and overtake on the left. The minimum driving age in San Marino is 18 years, while the renting age is 21, with most rental companies would require drivers to have at least 2 years of driving experience, and would charge a 'young driver' surcharge to those under 25. UK drivers are required to carry a 1968 version of an International Driving Permit (IDP) to drive in San Marino, alongside their valid driving licence and passport.
Due to the country's mountainous terrain, roads can be narrow, steep and winding — so make sure to rent small cars, and dipped headlights must be on outside towns during the day. There are rental places in San Marino, but if you're renting a vehicle from Italy, you must inform the rental agency in advance to avoid penalties or voided insurance, as crossing borders often incurs an extra fee of €20 – €60. Driving inside the old city is restricted and parking is limited, so try to use car parks around the city, though many you must pay.
The most common fuel types in San Marino are Benzina (95 octane petrol — sometimes 98), Gasolio (diesel) and GPL (Liquefied Petroleum Gas). The country has a small but adequate number of petrol stations, mostly along main roads and near borders. Many stations offer both self-service (fai da te) and full-service (servito) options, where self-service is done at the pump, and full-service, an attendant fills your car for you, but is typically the expensive option. Card payment is widely accepted, along with cash, but some pumps require chip & PIN, and may pre-authorise payments €100 – €150. UK cards generally work, but it's not absolutely guaranteed. Always carry cash as backup.
Stations are usually open 24/7, many with staffed hours; 7am to 7pm. Late-night fuelling is available, but is typically pay-at-pump only. San Marino also has a local scheme called the SMAC Card, where it gives cashback/credit on purchases, including fuel. It is mainly for locals, but tourists can sometimes get a limited version of it.
The legal limit is 0.05% for general drivers; 0.00% (zero-tolerance) for new/professional drivers.
Mandatory for all passengers.
Children under 12 years or under 135cm must use an appropriate child restraint system (seat or booster). Children under 4 are required specific car seats, and infants that weigh under 10kg must be in a rear-facing seat with the airbag for the front seat deactived.