Rome-Florence-Venice... where do I fit San Marino?
May 2nd, 2017, 09:44 AM
#1
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Rome-Florence-Venice... where do I fit San Marino?
I will be in Italy for 2 weeks in June and would like to pay a visit to San Marino. I understand it is a micro-country so I should be able to see it in just 1 day. My original itinerary was:
Rome 14-20
San Marino 20-21
Florence 21-26
Venice 26-29 (depart early a.m. 29)
Now that I'm looking at train tickets on Trenitalia it seems like this schedule doesn't work very well - the only Rome-Rimini train on June 20 arrives at 21:00 which is too late to catch the bus to San Marino and pretty much kills my day there, leaving just the morning/afternoon of the 21st to see anything. We *could* do this and then go to Florence in the afternoon/evening...
OR
It's possible for me to stay an extra night in Rome and go Rome-Florence on the 21st. Should I try to make San Marino a day-trip while I'm in Florence? Or go there on my way to Venice? I hesitate on the latter because that means we must have our suitcases with us in SM, whereas a day-trip means we don't need to bring anything with us.
Any advice??
Rome 14-20
San Marino 20-21
Florence 21-26
Venice 26-29 (depart early a.m. 29)
Now that I'm looking at train tickets on Trenitalia it seems like this schedule doesn't work very well - the only Rome-Rimini train on June 20 arrives at 21:00 which is too late to catch the bus to San Marino and pretty much kills my day there, leaving just the morning/afternoon of the 21st to see anything. We *could* do this and then go to Florence in the afternoon/evening...
OR
It's possible for me to stay an extra night in Rome and go Rome-Florence on the 21st. Should I try to make San Marino a day-trip while I'm in Florence? Or go there on my way to Venice? I hesitate on the latter because that means we must have our suitcases with us in SM, whereas a day-trip means we don't need to bring anything with us.
Any advice??
May 2nd, 2017, 11:00 AM
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Your itinerary makes the common mistake of double-counting your days. You have the 20th in Rome <b>and</b> in San Marino, and the 21st in San Marino </b> and Florence.
Seeing San Marino certainly wouldn't be a priority for me on a first trip to Italy, which I'm guessing yours is. Is it just the fascination of seeing a different country? Why don't you go to the Vatican? It's also a separate country, just as much as San Marino is, and actually maybe even more foreign.
San Marino doesn't look different from any other Italian city, which is what it is. They're not going to check your passport, they speak Italian, and they use the same money as the rest of Italy. I live in Le Marche, which borders San Marino; I've been there once, and never felt any impulse for a return visit. The center of the city is a big bazaar. There is a nice walking path between the three towers of the territory, and this was enjoyable but not worth 8+ hours (round trip) on train and bus.
With even less time, you could take a train from Venice to Lugano, in Switzerland, which really <b>is </b> another country. You'd have to change trains in Milan. I still wouldn't want to travel that far just to say I was in another country, but it's certainly, in my opinion, a better destination than San Marino.
Seeing San Marino certainly wouldn't be a priority for me on a first trip to Italy, which I'm guessing yours is. Is it just the fascination of seeing a different country? Why don't you go to the Vatican? It's also a separate country, just as much as San Marino is, and actually maybe even more foreign.
San Marino doesn't look different from any other Italian city, which is what it is. They're not going to check your passport, they speak Italian, and they use the same money as the rest of Italy. I live in Le Marche, which borders San Marino; I've been there once, and never felt any impulse for a return visit. The center of the city is a big bazaar. There is a nice walking path between the three towers of the territory, and this was enjoyable but not worth 8+ hours (round trip) on train and bus.
With even less time, you could take a train from Venice to Lugano, in Switzerland, which really <b>is </b> another country. You'd have to change trains in Milan. I still wouldn't want to travel that far just to say I was in another country, but it's certainly, in my opinion, a better destination than San Marino.
May 2nd, 2017, 11:20 AM
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Been there stayed overnight -really nice rustic area surrounds SMarino but I agree with bvleni and StCirq - not worth the major detour you will have to make.
The city itself is kind of tacky - overrun with day tripping Italians coming for lower cost tobacco and booze, etc.
But yes a nice town all in all at times tour buses and day trippers have gone but not exceptional.
The city itself is kind of tacky - overrun with day tripping Italians coming for lower cost tobacco and booze, etc.
But yes a nice town all in all at times tour buses and day trippers have gone but not exceptional.
May 2nd, 2017, 11:52 AM
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<i> really nice rustic area surrounds SMarino </i>
That would be mostly Le Marche, thank you.
<i> overrun with day tripping Italians coming for lower cost tobacco and booze, etc.
</i>
Not any more.
That would be mostly Le Marche, thank you.
<i> overrun with day tripping Italians coming for lower cost tobacco and booze, etc.
</i>
Not any more.
May 3rd, 2017, 07:01 AM
#6
>>>Now that I'm looking at train tickets on Trenitalia it seems like this schedule doesn't work very well - the only Rome-Rimini train on June 20 arrives at 21:00 which is too late to catch the bus to San Marino and pretty much kills my day<<<
Any train Rome/Rimini will likely kill your day because it's a 5-6 train ride that also involves changing trains. Your problem is the date you selected on Trenitalia which only shows a late afternoon Freccia train (no changes on this train). Select a date within the next 7 days and you will see all the train options.
>>>Should I try to make San Marino a day-trip while I'm in Florence? <<<
I agree with everyone else. On such a short trip, I wouldn't waste two days traveling 5-6 hours each day to spend a few hours in San Marino. Is there really something there you want to see or is it just a box you want to tick off on a list?
I would maybe take a day from Rome and a day from Florence and stay in a smaller town for a couple of days between the two. Perhaps Orvieto, Montepulciano, Siena instead of trekking out of the way to San Marino.
Any train Rome/Rimini will likely kill your day because it's a 5-6 train ride that also involves changing trains. Your problem is the date you selected on Trenitalia which only shows a late afternoon Freccia train (no changes on this train). Select a date within the next 7 days and you will see all the train options.
>>>Should I try to make San Marino a day-trip while I'm in Florence? <<<
I agree with everyone else. On such a short trip, I wouldn't waste two days traveling 5-6 hours each day to spend a few hours in San Marino. Is there really something there you want to see or is it just a box you want to tick off on a list?
I would maybe take a day from Rome and a day from Florence and stay in a smaller town for a couple of days between the two. Perhaps Orvieto, Montepulciano, Siena instead of trekking out of the way to San Marino.
