Commonists · CC BY-SA 4.0
San Marino
San Marino · RMI
A republic on a rock, older than most countries.
About
San Marino, officially the Republic of San Marino, is a landlocked country in Southern Europe, completely surrounded by Italy. Located on the northeastern slopes of the Apennine Mountains, it is the larger of two microstates within the Italian Peninsula, the other being Vatican City. San Marino is the fifth-smallest country in the world, with a land area of just over 61 square kilometres (24 sq mi) and a population of 34,042 as of 2025 which in 2026 dropped to 33,559. Its capital, the City of San Marino, sits atop Monte Titano, while its largest settlement is Dogana, in the municipality of Serravalle. San Marino claims to have been founded in AD 301 and to be the oldest extant sovereign state, and the oldest constitutional republic. It is named after Saint Marinus, a legendary stonemason from the Roman island of Rab, who is said to have fled persecution under Emperor Diocletian to have established a monastic community on Monte Titano, where he built a small chapel. The country has a rare constitutional structure: the Grand and General Council, a democratically elected legislature, selects two heads of state, the Captains Regent, every six months. They are chosen from opposing political parties, and serve concurrently with equal powers and preside over several institutions of state, including the Grand and General Council. Only the Federal Council of Switzerland follows this same structure, except with some modifications due to its immensely larger size.
Known for
- sightseeing · world class
- architecture · excellent
- historical · excellent
- tranquility · excellent
- affordability · good
Ratings reviewed by a person, not generated.
Weather through the year
- Jan44°F11d wet
- Feb48°F10d wet
- Mar52°F11d wet
- Apr58°F12d wet
- May65°F15d wet
- Jun76°F9d wet
- Jul81°F9d wet
- Aug80°F9d wet
- Sep71°F10d wet
- Oct63°F10d wet
- Nov52°F13d wet
- Dec46°F10d wet
Monthly averages from long-run climate normals. Bars compare months here, not places.
Things to do
Cook Like a Local in San Marino CountrysideFrom $113 · 5.0/5Book with Viator →
Private Walking Tour in San Marino: Historic TowersFrom $349 · 5.0/5Book with Viator →
Private San Marino Walking TourFrom $341 · 5.0/5Book with Viator →
San Marino's Three Towers: An Audio Tour of the Ancient RepublicFrom $5 · 5.0/5Book with Viator →
Private Walking Tour in San Marino: Historic TowersFrom $349 · 5.0/5Book with Viator →
Explore the World's Oldest Republic: Private San Marino TourFrom $79 · 4.9/5Book with Viator →
Tours from Viator. Prices and availability are theirs; we may earn a commission when you book.
Plan the trip
Fly into Federico Fellini International Airport (RMI), about 10 mi away.
Nearby destinations
The closest places to San Marino we have written up.