San Marino, officially the Republic of San Marino, is a small country located inside Italy. It is situated on the slopes of Mount Titano, on the Adraiatic side of central Italy between the Emilia-Romagna and Marche regions and surrounded on all sides by the republic of Italy.

The Republic of San Marino is an independent sovereign state that has close ties to Italy, but no formal relationship with the EU. It sits within the EU customs union but is not part of the Schengen area of border-free travel. It uses the euro as its currency after striking a bilateral monetary agreement with the EU.

San Marino, although not a member of the European Union, does maintain an open border with Italy.

San Marino has no airports. The nearest airport is the Rimini Airport, which is also called Rimini-San Marino Airport `Fellini` (www.reminiairport.com) located only 15 miles from the heart of San Marino. Some of the busiest routes to Remini Airport are Amsterdam and Moscow. American travelers cannot fly direct to San Marino (Remini Airport), so a connection must be made to one of the larger European cities like Zurich, Moscow, Rome, or Copenhagen.

There are not too many transportation options for getting into San Marino from Rimini Airport. Buses make the journey between the airport and San Marino every hour. This option is the most inexpensive. There is also a car hire and taxi services found inside the terminal.

There are other airports as well that service the San Marino area:
-Ancona, 71 miles away (www.aeroportomarche.it)
-Forli, 44 miles away (www.aeroportodiforli.com)
-Bologna, 82 miles away (www.bologna-airport.it)

San Marino has no railway stations. The nearest major railway station is at Rimini. There are buses from Rimini to San Marino.

Bonelli Bus 72 runs from Rimini to San Marino daily at regular intervals with reduced service on Sundays and holidays (2018 schedule). A return ticket costs around €10, one way is around €5. The bus can be found opposite the Rimini train station, just past the Burger King. A line forms at the bus stop, so it is advisable to show up a little bit earlier to ensure enough seats remain on the bus.

Tickets can either be bought from the bus driver, or in advance at the Tourist Information Center (outside the train station) where you can also deposit your luggage for a small fee if they still have available space (around €3 per item). It`s best to buy the tickets in advance.

A14 Bologna-Ancona Motorway; Rimini Sud exit - Superstrada Rimini-San Marino SS72 dual carriageway.

A14 Bologna-Ancona Motorway; Rimini Nord exit - SP `Marecchiese` n° 258.

You should have no problems driving into San Marino. International agreements with Italy mean that the country is one of 3 associate members of the Schengen Area, so there are no border patrols.

The nation of San Marino is small, so there are only a limited number of public transportation options. There is a limited bus network operating in San Marino. However, the buses in the republic run between San Marino City and Rimini. There are more than half a dozen runs per day, and the return journey generally takes anywhere between 40 and 50 minutes. Buses stop at some 20 different destinations in San Marino and near Rimini, so tourists can use this option for getting around parts of the republic. Also, there are aerial tramways and gondola cable cars that connect the upper conurbations of San Marino to the lower urban areas.

There are no trains operating in San Marino. The closest station is found at Rimini, just 10 miles from the heart of the republic.

Car rentals are a great option for visitors who prefer to be `in charge` of their holiday and there are several rental companies available. Even vehicles from Italian-based firms, such as those found at Rimini Airport, can be driven within San Marino. Due to the fact that San Marino`s streets are limited and narrow, it is advised that only small cars be rented. This will make driving throughout the republic so much more pleasant.

Once you`re inside the walled city, it`s small enough to simply walk around. There are only a few streets on which cars are able to drive (and only if they are small cars). Be warned that almost every street in San Marino is part of a steep hill.

Taxis in San Marino are available and reliable. There are more than half a dozen taxi companies operating inside San Marino. Taxis are not that expensive, generally because they never travel far enough to clock up expensive fares.

It is easy to hail a taxi off the street, but your hotel can also call one for you.

San Marino is a safe country. Like in any other place that attracts many tourists, you should watch out for pickpockets. Always stay vigilant with your belongings, and try not to wave around flashy items that may attract crime.

Even though San Marino is not part of the European Union, it has adopted the euro as its currency. San Marino is famous for its cheap goods when compared to other parts of Europe. This is because of the tax levy the local government puts on many goods.

The climate is mild and temperate, with maximum temperatures in the high 70°s F in summer and around 15 - 20°F in winter. The most expensive time to stay and visit San Marino is the summer months. This is when tourist season is high, as the weather is favorable, but the temperature is somewhat cooler than the nearby Mediterranean coast. This is largely due to its relatively high altitude.

The winter months are also popular times to visit San Marino. The country does experience snowfall, but the temperature remains reasonably mild. This is, of course, in comparison to other areas around San Marino. Just across the border into Italy, the snow-blanketed areas are accompanied by bitterly cold temperatures, which sometimes make things uncomfortable for tourism. This is generally not the case in San Marino.

The official language in San Marino is Italian, although most shops and restaurants speak English. Russian is quite popular due to the large number of Russian tourists to the republic each year.

The Sammarinese cuisine is a reflection of the surrounding region, heavily influenced by Italian flavors and ingredients, with an emphasis on pasta dishes, fresh local produce, and plenty of local wine. Look for Piadina, a thin flatbread that is very popular. Also, make sure to try faggioli con le cotiche (bean and bacon soup) rabbit stew and torta tre monti (chocolate and hazelnut layer cake). Many visitors from surrounding Italy also come to San Marino for two famous products, the wine and the local truffles which are quite the delicacy here.

Make your meal complete with delicious locally produced wine and tilus, a truffle infused after-dinner liquor, Limoncello is also very popular. The local beer is very tasty as well. Legally you can buy or drink alcohol when you reach 16.

San Marino Nightlife means mainly dinner with family and friends and climbing the hills at night to have a spectacular view over the sea and the city. If you love to dance and party, then you can always take the bus to Rimini, located only 30 minutes away and have the time of your life in the modern clubs there. The dress code is casual and the entrance fee is quite cheap (around 10 euro). However, a nightclub in San Marino would spoil the perfect tranquility of this amazing place.

San Marino is a great place for tax-free shopping! Despite its tiny size, the country boasts hundreds of chic shops and boutiques, malls (Atlante and Azzurro) and outlets (San Marino Factory Outlet and Queen Outlet) with a wide range of electronics and clothing for men, women and children.

Shops across the country are open every day of the week, especially during the peak tourist season. San Marino is famous for several products, including ceramics, stamps, collectable coins, and iron objects. The old town center is one of the busiest places when it comes to shopping. Shops are generally stand-alone venues, located along the street.

There are several markets located in San Marino, but the largest and most famous is the Borgo Maggiore Market. It is held in the town of Borgo Maggiore, and runs from 6:00 am to 2:00 pm every Thursday. There are dozens of stalls located within the marketplace, mostly selling everyday items. Also in Borgo Maggiore is the Antique and Second Hand Market, which occurs monthly, on the third Sunday. Plenty of unique collectibles can be found inside the market.

San Marino is a very proud country and it should be viewed in this respect. It would be considered very offensive to call them `Italians` (they are referred to as Sammarinese), not that they don`t like Italians, but they are just extremely proud of their independence.

Emergency services, dial 113

This is a very healthy place. If you become ill, procedures are the same as the European Union, although serious conditions will likely see you transferred to Rimini.

There are some good medical clinics in San Marino, but if a serious medical emergency occurs, then tourists would generally be moved to a hospital in the neighboring Italian city of Rimini.