San Marino is an independent republic entirely surrounded by Italy, spread across the slopes of Mount Titano a short way inland from Rimini and the Adriatic coast. Its historic centre and Mount Titano, crowned by three towers, are a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and a cableway climbs from below to the old town. San Marino does not belong to the EU, so it is not covered by Roam Like at Home, and on such a small territory it pays to know which network your phone is actually using.
Key facts for San Marino
- EU roaming: not covered by Roam Like at Home
- Local networks: Iliad and WindTre (depending on the plan)
- Emergency numbers: police 112 or 113; ambulance 118; fire 115
- Embassies: British and Canadian consular help comes from Rome; check which mission covers San Marino for your nationality
Italian network or Sammarinese network?
San Marino has its own mobile operator, TIM San Marino, but phones here can also connect to Italian networks. The difference shows up on the bill. On the Sammarinese network an EU SIM is roaming outside the EU, priced by whatever tariff your operator sets for San Marino, while on an Italian network it is normally charged as Italy. Look at the network name on your screen when you arrive; if your operator does not include San Marino in its EU allowance, choose an Italian network manually or turn data roaming off on that SIM. UK and other non-EU SIMs follow their operator's own roaming terms whichever network they use.
Getting in through Italy
You can only reach San Marino through Italy, and there are no border controls on the way in, so Italy's Schengen rules are the ones that matter. British visitors need a passport issued less than 10 years before they arrive, valid for at least 3 months after they leave the Schengen area and carrying a valid Schengen entry stamp, and they can stay up to 90 days in any 180-day period across the Schengen area and San Marino. Anyone staying more than 30 days, or planning to work, must register with the Gendarmerie and get a permit of stay. Customs rules are the same as Italy's.
Medical cover: the EHIC is not accepted
The UK Foreign Office warns that neither the European Health Insurance Card nor the UK's GHIC is accepted in San Marino, so comprehensive travel and medical insurance is essential before you go. Urgent cases are treated at the San Marino state hospital, and the ambulance number is 118.
Driving, earthquakes and summer fires
British drivers must carry the 1968 international driving permit, which can only be bought in the UK, together with their licence, and hire companies often ask for a year of driving experience and a higher minimum age. Canada adds that the alcohol limit is 0.05%, smoking at the wheel is banned, and every car must carry a reflective jacket and a red warning triangle. San Marino lies in an active seismic zone, so earthquakes are possible, and bush and forest fires are common in summer: keep away from any fire zone and follow the emergency services. Street crime is very rare, though passports and money still deserve care, and there is zero tolerance of illegal drugs, with prison or a heavy fine for anyone convicted. The currency is the euro.
Getting connected
A travel eSIM installed before you leave home is working by the time you drive up from the coast. The San Marino plans connect through Iliad or WindTre, depending on the plan, with 5G where available, and a World plan also covers San Marino together with Italy and the rest of a longer route. Keep your home SIM in the phone for bank codes, but switch its data roaming off so it cannot slip onto a network that bills San Marino at non-EU rates.
Consular protection: who to call in San Marino
- Call 112 or 113 for the police, 118 for an ambulance and 115 for the fire service.
- British nationals in difficulty are helped by the British Embassy in Rome, and Canadians by the Embassy of Canada in Rome, whose consular district includes San Marino.
- Open the Telcomia app before your visit to see which embassy or consulate covers San Marino for your passport, and note its phone number.
- If your EU country has no mission responsible for San Marino, the embassy or consulate of any other EU country must assist you on the same terms as its own nationals (Article 23 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU).
- Italian is the official language.
Questions travellers ask about San Marino
Will my EU SIM work in San Marino?
Yes, but not automatically as at home, because San Marino is outside Roam Like at Home. On an Italian network you are normally charged as in Italy; on TIM San Marino your operator's own tariff for San Marino applies.
Is there a border check?
No. You can only arrive through Italy, and British visitors must carry a passport with a valid Schengen entry stamp.
Which network does a Telcomia eSIM use in San Marino?
Iliad or WindTre, depending on the plan, with 5G where available.
Does my EHIC cover treatment in San Marino?
According to the UK Foreign Office, neither the EHIC nor the GHIC is accepted, so travel with comprehensive medical insurance.
The short version
Check which network your phone shows and pick an Italian one if your operator charges for San Marino, keep your passport with its Schengen entry stamp, buy medical insurance because the EHIC is not accepted, carry the 1968 permit if you drive from the UK, and save 112 and 118.
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