San Marino claims to be the oldest Republic in the world dating back to 301A.D. Crossbowmen were once the formidable part of San Marino army and survive to this day as a ceremonial regiment of 70 volunteers. Citizens of San Marino enjoy one of the highest standards of living in the world.

Traveling info

San Marino is part of the Schengen area meaning that citizens of EU may enter the country without a visa and using only their national ID card. Many countries from the outside of the EU may also enter the Schengen area without a visa for a specific amount of time however all citizens of the non-EU or non-Schengen area must have their valid passport and may not use their national ID to travel. Citizens of certain countries require a Schengen visa in order to enter San Marino. Once the Schengen visa is acquired, holders may travel around all the European Schengen zone countries. An international driving permit is not required in San Marino and tourists may drive using their domestic driving permits. IDP may be useful especially when your domestic driving permit is written in non-Roman scripture.

Traveling hazards

Roads in San Marino are well built and well maintained. The traffic accident rate is ranked below the European average. Tourists may drive into the historic part of the city but be aware that the street up to the top is narrow and winding, becoming a one-way street up toward the historic center with a different one-way street going down. Pay close attention to what you’re doing or a lapse of attention may cause you to miss out on a place to park, which means you’ll have to go all the way down and back up again because of the one-way streets.

Environmental hazards

There are no dangerous animals in San Marino. The only natural hazard concerning San Marino is occasional earthquakes however none have to take place in San Marino in the past decade and none have exceeded the magnitude of 3.

Health hazards

There are no outbreaks of any diseases nor are there any vaccination requirements. There are however several vaccinations recommended for a safe trip. These are the routine vaccines aka MMR vaccines, hepatitis A and B and rabies vaccines. Hospitals of San Marino both public and private clinics provide excellent quality of care. Public services are free to nationals of San Marino and expats are entitled to free or reduced cost healthcare if they apply for a European Health Insurance Card. Those who can not apply for an EHIC should get private medical insurance as both public and private services for the expats can be quite expensive.
In case of an emergency dial 112.

Crime

San Marino is one of the safest places in Europe. Violent crime is virtually unheard of, however, like any other place that attracts tourists, visitors should watch out for petty crime. Pickpockets are the most common type of crime anywhere crowded however even such instances are very rare in San Marino. There is no risk of terrorist activity in San Marino. Narcotics of any sort are illegal in San Marino and are punishable by fines or jail sentences.

Summary

San Marino is a destination for those who enjoy hiking, and exploring medieval castles, museums and enjoying some of the most incredible sights in the world like views from the three towers of San Marino. Remember that planning your trip with Travset.com will give you the quickest information about nearest emergency services and will also help you purchase indispensable travel insurance for the trip of your lifetime. Please feel free to comment and share the experiences of your travels with Travset.com.

Sources

(Visa)
http://www.doyouneedvisa.com/border/San%20Marino
(Vaccinations)
https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/san-marino
(EHIC)
http://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId=559