Borgo Maggiore sits at the foot of Monte Titano, directly below the historic city of San Marino. It is one of the nine municipalities of the republic, and the practical entry point for most visitors arriving by road. The weekly market held here is the largest in the country.
The main reason to stop in Borgo Maggiore rather than drive straight up to the old town is the cable car. It runs from the market square up to the city center in about three minutes, saving you a winding road climb and depositing you just inside the old walls. Riding it is a pleasure in its own right: the car swings out over the hillside with a wide view across the Emilia-Romagna plain toward Rimini and the Adriatic.
The town itself is unpretentious. There are a handful of cafes and restaurants catering more to locals than tourists, which makes it a pleasant contrast to the souvenir-heavy streets above. If you want to eat a proper meal without paying old-town prices, this is the place to do it.