Liechtenstein to San Marino by Public Transport: A Four-Country Overland Adventure

Visiting Liechtenstein and San Marino may feel like two separate trips, but these two tiny microstates connect surprisingly well by public transport. We took this overland route from Vaduz to San Marino over the Swiss Alps, stopping overnight in Milan to break up the journey. From Milan, it’s a fast train to the beautiful seaside resort of Rimini – the gateway to San Marino.

The journey is scenic, easy to follow, and budget-friendly. So if you like the idea of sitting back, relaxing, and enjoying one of the most spectacular FlixBus routes in Europe – crossing four countries along the way – this trip could be for you.

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Liechtenstein to San Marino (overnight in Milan)

Itinerary and route map

• Vaduz to Milan on Flixbus (with optional overnight stop in Lugano and overnight in Milan)
• Milan to Rimini on the Train (with optional stop in Bologna)
• Rimini to San Marino on the bus

And if you’re wondering how to get to Liechtenstein in the first place, it’s an easy trip from Zurich.

Visit Vaduz, the capital of Liechtenstein

Vaduz is a small, immaculately tidy capital in the Rhine Valley, with steep mountains, a hilltop castle, and an old wooden footbridge straight into Switzerland, so you have two countries for the price of one. Compact and modern, it feels more like a small town than a bustling city, with spotless streets, quirky attractions, and picture-book Alpine scenery.

Things to do in Vaduz

Here are some highlights from this surprising microstate, and all on the itinerary map I made for you or check out my Liechtenstein country guide.

• Explore the City Centre, including Städtle, the central Street with sculptures.
• Climb up on foot or on the tourist train to Vaduz Castle
• Put one foot in Switzerland and one in Liechtenstein at the Alte Rheinbrücke
• Explore the National Museum, Stamp Museum and Art Galleries
• Spot the Red House and other striking houses and gardens on the way up to the castle
• Visit the Prince of Liechtenstein Winery
• Enjoy food and fine dining. There are several Michelin-starred restaurants if you’re fancy!

You may also want to take advantage of the free Welcome Adventure Pass if you stay overnight, or the All-Inclusive Adventure Pass, both of which offer free public transport into and around Liechtenstein, plus discounts and freebies throughout the country.

Where to stay in Vaduz

We stayed at the Schaan-Vaduz Youth Hostel, which had spotless private rooms and was nothing like a typical youth hostel. Fortunately, they had a relaxed attitude to the word ‘youth’! There’s a limited choice of hotels in Vaduz centre, with many hotels in Schaan.

Vaduz to Milan by bus

Option 1: Vaduz to Milan by FlixBus

This is the route we took. It’s direct, takes 4-5 hours and must be one of the most spectacular FlixBus routes in Europe – and I’ve taken a few! You’ll pass through eastern Switzerland, over the Alps, past the Italian Lakes, before crossing into Italy. It’s a relaxed way to travel, with none of the stop–start feel of multiple train changes.

• Buying Tickets: Tickets should be booked in advance via Flixbus. Prices for this route start at around €20 but can rise as places fill up.
• Catching the Bus: The bus leaves from the marked bus stop at the car park next to the National Football Stadium (Rheinpark Stadion), a 10-15-minute walk from the Vaduz centre.
• Bus Journey: There’s just the one service a day, leaving in the afternoon and arriving in Milan 4-5 hours later.
• Where to get off: The bus arrives at the Lampugnano bus station, on the outskirts of the city near the San Siro football stadium. There’s Lampugnano Metro (M1 – Red Line) for onward connections into the centre of Milan and to the rest of the city.

And if you have time to stop en route, Lugano is your gateway to the Italian Lakes. Yes, there’s a lot of value in this trip!

Option 2: Via the Bernina Express

If you’re travelling over the Alps, I can’t not mention the alternative: the Bernina Express. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage railway and a favourite with rail fans and lovers of all things Swiss. The route climbs higher and further east into the Alps, with genuinely spectacular scenery – but it comes at a price. Between pass options, seat reservations, multiple changes, and the cost, it’s not the simplest route to piece together, and it’s expensive. Here’s the basics:

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Visit Milan, Italy

Milan is Italy’s most overtly modern city, best known for business, fashion, opera and football. In the centre, you’ll find grand boulevards and elegant architecture, excellent shopping, and you won’t be short of options for a good meal!

Things to do in Milan

Here are some highlights, and all on the itinerary map I made for you.

• Milan Cathedral
• Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II
• Leonardo’s Last Supper Museum
• Sforzesco Castle
• Teatro alla Scala
• San Siro Stadium

Where to stay in Milan

We opted to stay close to the bus station, so landed up right next to the San Siro stadium at B&B San Siro. It’s a reliable German chain hotel we come back to time and time again, when short on ideas or value options. If you’re planning to spend more time in Milan, staying closer to the historic centre or in neighbourhoods such as Brera or Navigli makes more sense and puts the main sights within easy reach.

Milan to Rimini by train

Trains to Rimini depart from Milan Centrale and can be booked directly with Trenitalia. The journey takes from around 2 to 5 hours, depending on which train you catch and often involves a change in Bologna. Here’s the choice:

• High-speed Frecciarossa services: The fastest option. These trains are modern and comfortable, but fares are higher, especially if booked close to departure.
• InterCity Trains: These take longer and are better value, but still perfectly comfortable.

Whichever option you choose, tickets are best booked in advance to secure a place and the lowest fares.

And if you have time in your schedule, I can’t recommend stopping in Bologna highly enough. You’ll find a compact and elegant historic centre and some of the best food in Italy.

Visit Rimini, Italy

Rimini is so much more than a transport hub on the way to San Marino. We walked the city (about 8km) before our bus to San Marino. An overnight stay would have been better! Whether you stay for a few hours or make a holiday of it, Rimini offers far more than the headline-grabbing stunning beach. So don’t just rush through to catch the bus to San Marino. I’m writing up a separate guide on it.

Things to do in Rimini

Here are some highlights, and all on the itinerary map I made for you.

• Head for the beach, one of Italy’s finest, with sandy beaches and a promenade stretching for several kilometers
• Find the huge Ferris wheel and eat ice cream.
• Admire the ancient Ponte di Tiberio and the river setting in the centre of Rimini.
• Enjoy the Piazzas in the centre, cafes and excellent food
• Explore the Roman remains and the Arch of Augustus
• Visit Italy in Miniature

Where to stay in Rimini

The Napoleon Hotel is a good option next to the station and the bus stop to Rimini.

Rimini to San Marino by bus

Here are the key things to know about the bus to San Marino:

• Buying tickets: The easiest option is to buy online from Boneli Bus in advance. You can also buy tickets from authorised vendors and on the bus (subject to availability). The fare is €7 each way for the full journey.
• Catching the bus: There’s a bus stop near the main Rimini Rail station. Look for the Napoleon Hotel, which could be a good option if you do decide to stay over, to save carrying a bag further than necessary (even if it’s a light one!. There are other bus stops in Rimini for the San Marino bus. We caught the bus from a stop along the beach (seasonal), and there’s one at the Arch of Augustus, so check the Bonneli Bus website for the best option for you.
• Bus journey: This takes 54 minutes and runs regularly year-round. It’s very scenic, especially at the start as the bus navigates out of Rimini and towards the end, as you cross the border into San Marino and start climbing up Mount Tito. The coach is modern, clean, and comfortable. The passengers were a mixture of locals, day-trippers, backpackers, and people off to the San Marino Outlet Experience for duty-free shopping. The outlet shoppers left the bus at Strada Rovereta on the outskirts of San Marino. Don’t get off here if you’re planning on seeing the historic city centre; stay on a bit longer.
• Where to get off: You have two main choices. We covered both options on the way there and back. Either stay on the bus to the final stop at the lower entrance to the old town and make the final ascent into the historic centre on foot or by tourist train. Or get off the bus in Borgo Maggiore and take the cable car up into the heart of the old city.

Visit San Marino

San Marino is one of Europe’s smallest countries, and you’ll feel like you are stepping into another world. Set high on Mount Titano, the historic centre rises above the surrounding Italian countryside in a dramatic cluster of stone towers, terraces, and medieval streets, with views stretching to the Adriatic.

Many visitors treat San Marino as a quick day trip, but staying overnight is well worth it. By day, the cobblestone streets can be busy with people arriving on coach tours, but by early evening, most day-trippers have left, and it’s another world, and you can explore the little alleys and cobbled streets and enjoy the sunset in peace!

Things to do in San Marino

Here are some of the highlights. I’ve also added points of interest on the map for this itinerary.

• Visit the Public Palace of the Republic of San Marino and watch the changing of the guards.
• Explore the walls and ramparts and take in the views; the best ones are at sunset.
• Find the picture-perfect piazzas, including Piazza della Libertà and Piazza Sant’Agata.
• Wander the cobbled streets and enjoy duty-free shopping from an eclectic range of stores.
• Climb the 3 towers, Guaita, Falesia, and Montale, for the iconic view looking back to San Marino.
• Visit the museums, including one dedicated to vampires and another to medieval torture.
• Take the cable car linking the upper medieval city with Borgo Maggiore below.

→ Read my Full Guide for Things to Do in San Marino

Where to stay in San Marino

We stayed at Hostaria da Lino, right next to the cable car base station, and arrived in the medieval city via cable car. Staying in Borgo Maggiore (the lower town) turned out to be a great choice. A restaurant filled with locals, and a testament to how good the food actually was. Such a characterful place with a good breakfast too. To get back from the walled city, after dark, we took a well-lit path down the mountainside back to the hotel.

Getting to Liechtenstein

If you’re wondering how we ended up in Liechtenstein, it’s an hour and a half by train from Zurich to Sargans. From here, you can walk across the road and pick up Bus 11 for the short bus ride over the border into the centre of Vaduz.

Where to go next

Stops along the way

I’ve already mentioned Lugano as an obvious place to break the journey. If you opt for the Bernina Express route instead, you might want to stay in Chur or Tirano, or in Bologna if you’re looking for a stop between Milan and Rimini. It is a perfect choice.

Onwards from San Marino

The Emilia-Romagna region in Northern Italy is well connected with the rest of Italy, should you wish to explore further. If you’re looking to visit more microstates, it’s less than 3 hours by train from Rimini to Vatican City, and 4-5 hours from Milan to Monaco.

I hope you’ve found this itinerary useful. If you’re curious about other itinerary guides, I have more point-to-point trips. If you love this one, you may enjoy my classic mainland Greece itinerary by bus.

I’d love to hear about your experiences visiting Liechtenstein or San Marino, or to help with any questions about planning a trip. If you’re interested in reading more about Europe’s small and fascinating microstates, I also have guides on Andorra, Monaco and Vatican City.

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