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15 Best Things to Do in Trieste (Italy)

At the easternmost region of Italy, there is a small strip of land that borders with Slovenia – This is the Friuli Venezia Region and has a distinct style, culture and history that is quite different to the rest of mainland Italy. Trieste is one of the largest cities within this beautiful region and sits on the coast between the Adriatic Sea and Slovenia. Due to its proximity to other nations and regions, Trieste has been influenced over the years by various other cultures and civilizations. The city has a current population of 204,000 and is one of this richest economical places in Italy due to its extensive port and commercial shipping trade.

Trieste has been inhabited since the second millennium BC and was part of the Roman Republic. Once the Roman Empire had declined, Trieste became a free commune and then was subsequently part of the Hapsburg Empire and resisted many sieges and attacks by the Ottomans throughout the Middle Ages. Although the city saw decline during WW2, it underwent a huge economic revival in later years and its ports were developed extensively. Today, Trieste has a pleasing mix of historical buildings and Piazzas, stunning seaside locations and interesting Museums that make it a premier tourist destination in this region of Italy.

Lets explore the best things to do in Trieste :

1. Trieste Harbour

The port and harbour of Trieste is truly impressive and rightly so as it serves as the cities principal form of economy.

Practically the entire coastline next to Trieste is occupied by either the public harbour or the commercial shipping operations – These two parts of the city offer some truly fantastic and interesting sights.

Near the Piazza Venezia is the main harbour and this area is filled with beautiful yachts, sailing boats and fishing boats.

Furthermore, the port area on the south western section of the coast offers a great insight into how a busy shipping operation works – You can see large cargo ships entering the docks and being offloaded.

2. Piazza Unita Italia

This colossal square lies at the forefront of the historic old town and faces out towards the Adriatic Sea.

Due to its immense size, the Piazza Unita italia is known as the largest square situated next to the sea in Europe.

Several prestigious and important buildings line the square including the Town Hall, the Palazzo del Lloyd Triestino, the Palazzo del Governo and the Palazzo Pitteri – Each of which features a stunning design and beautiful architecture.

Aside from the buildings, there is also several impressive monuments and statues placed at various intervals in the square – In particular, the two iron sculptured columns that frame the entrance of the Piazza.

3. Canale Grande

Located in the heart of the historic old town, not far from the Piazza Unita, the Grand Canal is a small waterway that has stood since the 1700’s to allow boats direct access into the city to unload their cargo.

Approximately 200m in length, the canal stretched from the Riva Tre Novembre to the Via S. Spiridione and ends at the Piazza Sant’Antonio Nuovo and the Chiesa di Sant’Antonio Taumaturgo.

This pleasant waterway is crossed by three bridges and has numerous boats moored at each side.

Surrounding the canal is a series of fine buildings including the Palazzo Carciotti and the Palazzo Gopcevich.

Furthermore, there is a selection of restaurants and cafes with outdoor seating.

4. Trieste Roman Theatre

Trieste has a long and celebrated history and throughout the city there are various remnants of bygone eras.

One such relic is the Roman Amphitheatre that is located on the Via del Teatro Romano In the centre of the historic old town and only a stone’s throw from the Piazza Unita Italia.

This ancient structure is in a fantastic condition and the original seating and stage area is still visible together with various columns and walls.

Original statues from the theatre are now on display at one of the local museums but some are still visible at the sight.

When walking through the city of Trieste, this theatre is a must see and is a fine example of Roman architecture.

5. Castle of Saint Giusto

Located next to Trieste Cathedral, the Castle of Saint Giusto is an ancient structure that has stood for many years and is one of the cities icons.

This structure now serves as a museum and was originally created in the 15th century by the Hapsburgs.

Built on the Capitoline Hill, the castle has a commanding view over the city and has an extremely strategic location.

Today, the castle stands in fine condition and it is possible to climb up to the top of the tower for amazing panoramic views of Trieste and its ports.

Inside the main keep there is a fine display of artefacts and information about the history of the castle including military banners, coats of arms and an armory with a wide variety of ancient weaponry.

6. Cathedral of Saint Giusto

Also known as Trieste Cathedral, this church is dedicated to Saint Justus and serves as the main church of the city.

Originally constructed in 1320, the church features a Romanesque and Gothic design and the front façade has a huge circular window with a beautiful lattice design.

Inside, the church features a plethora of decoration and the archways in the main aisle are covered with coloured patterns and ornate sculptures.

Furthermore, the dome of the main altar is covered with a stunning fresco that is bursting with a myriad of bright colours.

There are also several mosaics and works of art depicting the Our Lady of the Assumption.

7. Grotta Gigante

To the north west of Trieste approximately 20 minutes by car is the Grotta Gigante.

As the name implies, the Grotte Gigante is a gigantic cave.

Its central cavern is over 100m high, 65m wide and 130m long which makes it one of the largest tourist caves in the world.

Throughout its known history, this cave has been in the Guiness Book of Records, and a 4 person hot-air balloon has even flown through it! Today, guided tours are available of this immense natural phemonenon and your tour guide will explain about its history and the various features of the cave including the stalactites and stalagmites.

If you visit this cave, ensure to take a jacket as the underground temperatures are not favourable!

8. Miramare Castle

Although not an ancient castle, this building and grounds is still a fantastic place to explore and has to be the most picturesque castle in this region of Italy.

Created in the 19th century, this castle is located approximately 15 minutes to the north west of Trieste in the small village of Grignano.

The structure itself is immensely beautiful with white-washed walls and decorative crenulations.

Furthermore, the grounds of the castle feature extensive gardens and woodland that you can explore.

Due to the position that Miramare Castle faces, the sunsets here are particularly beautiful – Looking out across the Gulf of Trieste the sun lights the sea and sky up in a beautiful display of colours.

9. Museo Del Mare

Trieste is a city that has an extensive seafaring history – For hundreds of years it has maintained a huge naval and commercial shipping port and the Gulf of Trieste has been the sight of many naval conflicts throughout history.

To understand this rich naval history, the Museo del Mare provides a wealth of information and interesting displays about how the ports and naval operations at Trieste evolved.

Here you can find a myriad of beautifully crafted model ships, cross sections of various different parts of vessels such as the hull and anchor, and also a variety of equipment salvaged from historical ships.

The Museo Del Mare is a great place to visit whilst down at the Harbor to gain and insight into the history of Trieste.

10. Carso Triestino

This area of Trieste lies in close proximity to the Val Rosana and is a fantastic place to admire the scenery and take some stunning photographs.

Various mountains, rocky outcrops, forested glens and deep valleys offer numerous hiking and cycling options.

Mount Carso is the main mountain here and it is possible to scale the peak and gain superb views of the surrounding countryside.

If you wish, you can also travel into Slovenia and visit some of the small bordering villages such as Kozina and Nasirec.

11. Molo Audace

The Molo Audace is a fascinating promenade in the heart of Trieste and sits directly next to the end of the Piazza Unita Italia.

Stretching out towards the sea for approximately 300m, this stone paved promenade allows tourists and locals alike a place to admire the coastal scenery of Trieste and even take a dip in the water if they wish.

Spread along the promenade is a series of benches and old iron mooring points.

From here you can look out to the sea, admire the extensive port system and skyline of Trieste and also take some fantastic photographs.

12. Piazza della Borsa

Located next to the Piazza Unita Italia, the Piazza dell Borsa is just as interesting and is a great place to take in the local life and enjoy a fine meal.

During the 19th century, this square actually served as the city’s economic centre and the chamber of commerce building is actually located at the far end and features a beautiful columned entrance with an ornate marble pediment.

Triangular in shape, at the end closest to the Piazza Unita, there are several restaurants and shops, whilst in the middle is a decorative statue of the sea god Neptune.

Markets and small fairs are sometimes held here and it is a great place for shopping and mingling.

13. Val Rosandra

Located on the Italian/Slovenian border, Val Rosandra is a natural valley that is cut through by the Rosandra River.

This valley is a beautiful part of the region and features some fantastic scenery, forests and mountain landscapes.

A main attraction of the valley is a 40ft waterfall that plummets over the stone cliffs down into the river below.

Starting from Bagnoli Superiore or Hervati, you can follow the trails and explore this region on foot – For the adventurous or the intrepid hiker; the Val Rosandra is the perfect place to be at one with nature.

14. Sistiana Bay

Approximately 20 minutes to the west of Trieste is the charming town of Sistiana which is a wonderful coastal resort complete with a harbour and several beautiful beaches.

Several hotels and resorts have been established here and there is also a selection of bars, restaurants and beach shops from where you can enjoy a fine meal or purchase some supplies.

The harbour is a fantastic semi-circular shape and the clear turquoise waters are simply divine.

Although the beach contains pebbles, the fine Mediterranean weather makes up for this fact and you can still comfortably sun bathe.

If you want to escape from the city, Sistiana Bay offers the perfect retreat.

15. Eat a fine Italian Pizza at the Al Barattolo Restaurant

Trieste has an abundance of fine restaurants, but no such finer establishment than the Al Barattolo that is located next to the Grande Canal and the Piazza Sant’Antonio Nuovo.

If you are looking for a delicious and authentic Italian Pizza then this is the place to go! Pizzas here are freshly prepared and cooked and you can choose from a variety of different toppings including the fan favourite Pepperoni.

Aside from Pizza, Al Barattolo also serves a variety of seafood dishes and has a wonderful selection of complimentary wine.

15 Best Things to Do in Trieste (Italy):

• Trieste Harbour
• Piazza Unita Italia
• Canale Grande
• Trieste Roman Theatre
• Castle of Saint Giusto
• Cathedral of Saint Giusto
• Grotta Gigante
• Miramare Castle
• Museo Del Mare
• Carso Triestino
• Molo Audace
• Piazza della Borsa
• Val Rosandra
• Sistiana Bay
• Eat a fine Italian Pizza at the Al Barattolo Restaurant

17 Top-Rated Attractions & Things to Do in Trieste

Written by Barbara Radcliffe Rogers Updated Dec 23, 2023 We may earn a commission from affiliate links ( )

The first thing you notice about Trieste may be how little it looks like Italy. There's a good reason: from 1382 until 1919 it was part of Austria.

You'll notice bits of all this history in Trieste's colorful mix of people, languages, cuisines, attractions, and architecture, and other attractions, and it is the last of these that will strike you first. Grand buildings in traditional Habsburg style that would be at home in Vienna stand between those in Neoclassical, Baroque, Art Nouveau, and other styles, punctuated by a few remains of the Roman city of Tergeste.

All these arrange themselves in a near-perfect setting of broad streets and squares facing the Adriatic. At the heart of this is the Canale Grande , a wide basin that extends into the city and reflects the colors of elegant buildings that line its banks. The most important places to visit are in this busy central area. As you explore Trieste, be sure to stop and enjoy its lively café scene.

Plan your days of sightseeing in and around the city with our list of top attractions and things to do in Trieste.

See also: Where to Stay in Trieste

1. Piazza dell'Unità d'Italia

2. castello di miramare, 3. castello di san giusto, 4. museum riseria di san sabba, 5. museo revoltella, 6. stroll along the molo audace and harbor, 7. cattedrale di san giusto, 8. canale grande and san spiridione, 9. savor trieste's coffee culture, 10. take a day trip to lake bled and ljubljana, 11. teatro romano (roman theater), 12. see the panorama from faro della vittoria, 13. explore the grotta gigante, 14. take a day trip to predjama castle and postojna cave, 15. museo civico di storia naturale (museum of natural history), 16. museo del mare (maritime museum), 17. explore gorizia on a day trip, where to stay in trieste for sightseeing.

The largest square in the older part of Trieste is the Piazza dell'Unità d'Italia, facing onto the harbor. On its north side is the Palazzo del Governo (1904), on the south side, the massive 1882 palazzo of Lloyd Triestino, a shipping line founded in 1836 as the Austrian Lloyd company.

On the east side, the 1876 Palazzo del Municipio (City Hall) completes the square in late 19th-century harmony. Northeast of the Piazza dell'Unità d'Italia, the Teatro Verdi faces the water. For good views of the town and harbor, cross to the Molo Audace , the pier opposite the theater.

For more information on the best places to visit, stop in the Trieste tourism information office, located in the piazza.

This white fairy-tale palace was built for Archduke Maximilian of Austria and his wife Charlotte of Belgium in 1855-60, before they went off to become (briefly) emperor and empress of Mexico. It stands above the sea, with views artfully framed by almost every window in its sumptuously decorated and furnished rooms.

Along with the interior, tour the terraced gardens in the park for even more magnificent views over the Adriatic. The 54-acre grounds, designed by the archduke himself and now protected as the Parco Marino di Miramare , are filled with tropical and exotic trees and plants.

Address: Viale Miramare, Trieste

Crowning San Giusto Hill is the castle, built by the Habsburgs in the 15th to 17th centuries to enlarge a medieval Venetian fortress that replaced earlier Roman fortifications. Enter the castle over a wooden drawbridge across a narrow moat to explore its vaulted halls and climb to its ramparts.

The views are panoramic, covering the city, the Gulf of Trieste, and the surrounding hills. Inside the castle are displays of weapons from medieval times to the 19th-century, as well as furniture and tapestries; the Lapidario Tergestino contains 130 Roman stone finds from the city, including statues from the amphitheater.

Halfway up Castle Hill, at Piazza San Silvestro, stop to admire the Baroque interior of the 17th-century Jesuit church of Santa Maria Maggiore .

Address: Piazza della Cattedrale 3, Trieste

Touching, often heartbreaking mementos and documentation that recall the horrors of the Nazi occupation of Trieste fill this former rice processing factory that became a concentration camp during World War II.

Here, the Nazi police carried out their systematic killing of partisans, political prisoners, and Jews, as well as processing other detainees before deportation to concentration camps in the Reich. Property confiscated from Jewish families in Italy, Croatia, and Slovenia was stored here, as well.

Visitors interested in World War II history might also want to look into the tours of the underground shelters built by the Germans to protect the German governor and army and select civilians from bombing raids in the latter days of the war. Known as Kleine Berlin (Little Berlin), this network of shelters is not a museum, but tours are conducted once a month by volunteers. Consult the tourist office for information.

Address: Via Giovanni Palatucci, 5, 34148 Trieste

At the corner of the Piazza Venezia, the Museo Revoltella is one of Italy's major museums of modern art, with more than a thousand paintings and 800 sculptures, as well as prints and drawings. Its six floors and 40 rooms cover all the major movements from the mid-1800s through to the modernists.

The collections include works by nearly all the most significant names in 20th-century Italian art: Carlo Carrà, Giorgio Morandi, Lucio Fontana, and Mario Sironi among them - and it is fitting that the renovation of the adjacent Brunner Palace, completed in 1991, was designed by the preeminent Italian architect Carlo Scarpa. There is a beautiful view of the harbor from the museum's terrace.

Address: Via Armando Diaz, 27, 34123 Trieste TS, Italy

Trieste spreads around and above its harbor like a giant amphitheater with the Adriatic as its stage. Wide boulevards run along its perimeter connecting the four piers and long breakwater of the old port of Punta Franco Vecchio on the north with the Campo Marzio station and the Punto Franco Nuovo (New Free Port) and large shipyards to the south.

Along the harbor are a succession of large squares and the Canale Grande . Tourists join locals to catch the breeze and watch the sunset from the long Molo Audace , a pier that extends more than 250 meters into the Adriatic. There are beautiful views of the city from here, too.

Several tourist attractions are along the harbor, including an aquarium, railway museum, and the maritime museum. The harbor is always your best landmark if you lose your way.

The cathedral of San Giusto was formed in the 14th century by combining two churches from the 6th and 11th centuries. On the right was the church of San Giusto and on the left, Santa Maria; their side aisles were combined to make the cathedral's central aisle (the nave).

Along with the two churches, bits of Roman stonework were recycled into the building - look for them in the doorway and the campanile. Look also for the excellent mosaic work from the 7th and 12th centuries in the altars at the end of the side aisles. To fully appreciate them, you can activate the lights for a '1 coin.

In the cathedral are the tombs of eight House of Bourbon claimants to the Spanish throne, who were promoted by the Carlist movement. You may hear another note of European history ring out here, as the cathedral bell was cast in 1829 from a cannon left by Napoleon.

His troops had fired cannon balls at the cathedral, some of which you can still see imbedded high on the façade. Outside are the remains of the second-century Roman forum and a first-century temple.

Address: Piazza Cattedrale 2, Trieste

North of Piazza dell'Unità d'Italia is the Canale Grande (1756), a long harbor formerly used by sailing ships, and now filled with small boats. Cafés line the wide walkways at either side, and behind them stand beautifully maintained buildings.

Relax or stroll here at any time of day, but be sure to return in the evening, when the lights and reflections shimmer on the water. The area was a favorite of James Joyce, who lived in Trieste from 1904 to 1915. He is commemorated by a statue on one of the bridges across the Canale Grande.

The canal was once longer, but the upper end was filled in to create Piazza Sant'Antonio. Above the square stands Trieste's largest church, the Neoclassical Sant'Antonio, built in 1849. To the right is the Serbian Orthodox church of San Spiridione , built in 1868 and reminiscent of Byzantine-style Eastern churches.

Along with frescoes and paintings, the church contains four outstanding early 19th-century Russian icons in the iconostasis, covered in gold and silver. The large silver candelabrum in front of the iconostasis was a gift of a Romanov Grand Duke.

Trieste's position as the main port for trade with the East also made it the Mediterranean's main coffee port, a position it still holds today. One of Italy's biggest coffee brands is based here, and coffee is a way of life.

Trieste is considered Italy's coffee capital , and its café scene rivals that of even Vienna. All along the seafront and in almost every piazza, café tables spill out into the street, and they seem to be perpetually full. Unlike other Italian cities, where coffee is usually downed at a bar, in Trieste it's all about sitting down and savoring it.

Cafés are the center of social life. Become a part of the local scene by spending time in one — or several — of these. And go inside, even if the weather is beautiful outside. The cafés are elegantly decorated bastions of leisurely living, and worthy of a place on your sightseeing agenda.

Sink into a red leather chair at Caffè degli Specchi, overlooking Piazza Unità d'Italia since the early 1800s, or the nearby and equally historic Caffè Tommaseo . Order a caffelatte , the Trieste term for a cappuccino, and enjoy some people watching.

One of the most idyllic spots in neighboring Slovenia, Lake Bled, is only about 100 kilometers from Trieste. The beautiful, clear glacial lake sits under a background of a mountain range, with a pretty village along its wooded shore and a postcard-perfect island set in its center.

The island rises to a beautiful spired Gothic church. Swans swim in the lake, and walking paths lead along its shore from the village, where the 12th-century Bled Castle perches atop a steep 130-meter cliff above the lake.

Although you can get here by bus via the capital city of Ljubljana , itself worthy of a visit for its unique architectural heritage, the easiest way is to combine the two attractions on the seven-hour Lake Bled and Ljubljana Tour from Trieste . After a pickup from your hotel or the harbor and a ride through the Slovenian countryside, you'll explore Ljubljana on a guided walking tour, seeing Ljubljana Cathedral, Prešeren Square , the Town Hall, Triple Bridge, Shoemakers' Bridge, and other landmarks. From here, you'll travel to Lake Bled, where there's plenty of time to walk along the shore and explore the village.

Leave the "modern" elegance of Trieste's waterfront and follow the broad Via del Teatro Romano southeast from Piazza dell'Unità d'Italia to the Roman theater, built in the first century AD, when the Romans were busy developing Tergeste at the orders of Emperor Octavius.

The stone theater uses the slope of the San Giusto hill as its base, and the upper steps and the stage were probably made of wood. You can see some of the statues that adorned the theater, which was brought to light in the 1930s, in the Castello San Giusto .

Several other tourist attractions are on this hill, which is the old city of Trieste, with narrow winding streets and venerable buildings, quite a contrast to the Austrian-Hungarian part of the city below. It's a nice place to stroll, and if you're wondering where to eat in Trieste, you'll find a number of restaurants and cafes here.

Both a monument and a working lighthouse, Faro della Vittoria was built after World War I, commemorating those who had died at sea during the war, and celebrating Trieste's joining the Kingdom of Italy following its long occupation by the Austrian Empire.

The location, too, has symbolic significance, as the lighthouse stands on the foundations of an important former Austrian fort. Atop the lighthouse, a seven-meter-tall statue of the Winged Victory holds a raised torch in one hand, a laurel branch in the other.

Below, standing against the base of the tower is an 8.6-meter statue representing an unknown Seaman, also created by sculptor Giovanni Meyer. Below the statue is the anchor of the destroyer Audace, commemorating the historic entry of the first Italian ship in Trieste.

The lighthouse is often open to visitors, who are treated to panoramic views of the harbor, the city, and the Adriatic Coast.

Address: Str. del Friuli 141, Trieste

The 50-minute guided tour of this karst cave, about 20 kilometers from the city center, cannot possibly show you all of it. But you'll be impressed as you stand inside the main underground chamber, which is 98 meters high, 76 meters wide, and 167 meters long.

This and other galleries you'll see are studded with stalactites and stalagmites in all sorts of colors and convoluted shapes. Until 2010, the Guinness Book of Records listed Grotta Gigante as the largest cave in the world that's open for tourists, but the record was broken with the opening of La Verna cave in southwest France.

Bring a jacket, as the temperature inside never goes above 55 degrees.

Location: Borgo Grotta Gigante 42, Sgonico, Trieste

Only a few minutes apart, and 48 kilometers from the city center in neighboring Slovenia, the 800-year-old Predjama Castle and Postojna Cave are among the most popular places to visit near Trieste.

Close to the pretty little village of Predjama, the castle is an amazing sight, built high on a vertical 123-meter-high cliff, set right into the mouth of a giant cave. So good a defensive position was this that it withstood a siege of more than a year, thanks to an underground water source and supply tunnels inside the network of caves.

Part of the same karst cave system, the nearby Postojna Cave is one of the world's largest karst caverns and the only one of its size that can be toured on an electric train. The tour takes you on a route through a web of tunnels, passages, and fantastic galleries filled with a variety of diverse features and amazing colors.

A convenient way to see both these attractions is on the five-hour Postojna Cave and Predjama Castle from Trieste tour , which includes guided visits and entrance fees to both these attractions and pickup from your Trieste hotel.

The prize of this excellent museum has to be the fossil of a 3.6-meter-long hadrosaurus found near Trieste, almost entirely intact and anatomically connected. Its other paleontology exhibits are worthwhile, and there is a section on the evolution of hominids (humans and their fossil ancestors), with the skull of the Man from Mompaderno, which was found in Istria in the late 1800s. Along with the fossils themselves are casts of important fossil hominids, including the famous "Lucy."

The zoological exhibits show mammals from all over the world, as well as fresh and saltwater fish, corals, reptiles, amphibians, and birds. There is a good mineral collection and a large exhibit on local plants and those from elsewhere in Italy and the Adriatic.

Address: Via dei Tominz 4, Trieste

Ship models, many of them works of art in themselves, make up much of the collection in the Museo del Mare , which focuses on the sailing ships of the Adriatic and Tyrrhenian Sea, as well as fishing craft through the ages. Along with beautifully crafted models of sailing ships are intricately detailed models of some of the most prestigious cruise liners in history, commissioned to convince shipping companies to invest.

The exhibits are not all models. There is one of only two known examples in the world of the "zopolo," an ancient dugout canoe used in the Mediterranean, and made by hollowing out a single log. A highlight is the collection of ancient nautical instruments, showing ancient cross-staffs, and the original wireless key used by Guglielmo Marconi.

Even rowing gets a nod, with the boat that delivered the first Olympic gold in the sport.

Address: Via Campo Marzio 5, Trieste

The old town of Gorizia was part of Austria until 1918 and was largely destroyed in the First World War. In 1947, the eastern suburbs were transferred to what was then Yugoslavia, and are now part of Slovenia, known as Nova Gorica. At the foot of the castle hill is the triangular Piazza della Vittoria , with the 17th-century Jesuit church of Sant'Ignazio.

South of this is the Gorizia Cathedral, whose origins are 14th century, but which was completely rebuilt in 1927. Notice especially, the angels on the ceiling of St. Acathius' Chapel, painted in the mid-15th or early 16th century. The cathedral treasury contains gold and silver works of the 12th to 14th centuries.

Address: Piazza del Duomo, Gorizia

We recommend these highly rated hotels in Trieste close to the city's top sites:

• Starhotels Savoia Excelsior Palace : The grand luxury hotel has bay views from its spacious and elegantly decorated guest rooms. These have marble bathrooms, and the fitness center has a sauna and offers spa services.
• NH Trieste : With mid-range pricing and a great location, the hotel has a modern décor and helpful front desk staff. Breakfast is included in the rate.
• Hotel Residence L'Albero Nascosto : The 3-star boutique hotel is furnished with antiques and serves excellent espresso.
• Nuovo Albergo Centro : This owner-run budget hotel has a bright décor and comfortable beds. Guests can choose between rooms with private or shared baths.

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Places to Visit near Trieste: This far eastern corner of Italy, known as the Friuli-Venezia Giulia, is still one of Italy's secrets, stretching northeast from Venice through scenic foothills into the ski resorts of the Dolomite Alps . Even closer to Trieste, heading south through a narrow strip of Slovenia are the Adriatic beaches and historic cities of Croatia .

In and around Venice: Trieste is only a two-hour train ride from Venice, where you could spend days exploring St. Mark's Basilica , the palaces along the Grand Canal or gliding through Venice on a gondola. After exploring the attractions in Venice , you'll find plenty of nearby adventures in our list of top day trips from Venice .

Italian Vacation Ideas: Visitors who enjoyed exploring the lovely seaside gardens at Miramare can find other beautiful gardens in Italy , and if thoughts of Adriatic beaches appeal, refer to our list of Italy's best beach resorts . For insider advice on seeing the top attractions in Italy , whether traveling by train, bus, or car (even by boat), see Plan Your Trip to Italy: Top Itineraries.

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A unique atmosphere can be felt in trieste, as a border town, a melting pot of at least three cultures: latin, slavic and german.

It has a retro flavour of its own, between historic literary cafés and monuments from the past as an important city of the Habsburg Empire. Trieste is the ideal destination for those who love locations rich in a complex and troubled history that has bewitched, harboured, and nurtured writers and other intellectuals. The environment is diverse, with an international outlook. A place to be experienced at least once in a lifetime. 

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Discovering Trieste, a border city with an international soul

Trieste is truly on the fringes of many things: three different cultural settings, a meeting of the East and West, the sea and the inland area with a thousand histories, encounters, and conflicts. A true gateway, a city of transition, far away from the big crowds. Its many events which took place within its borders and its alternating fortunes as a key strategic point have profoundly influenced it. Italo Svevo was born here, and the name already says a lot about the mixture of styles.

A unique atmosphere can be felt in Trieste, as a border town, a melting pot of at least three cultures: Latin, Slavic and German. It has a retro flavour of its own, between historic literary cafés and monuments from the past as an important city of the Habsburg Empire. Trieste is the ideal destination for those who love locations rich in a complex and troubled history that has bewitched, harboured, and nurtured writers and other intellectuals. The environment is diverse, with an international outlook. A place to be experienced at least once in a lifetime.

Elegant villages and natural beauty An elegant city in Friuli Venezia Giulia, Pordenone encompasses a quiet historic centre rich in historical and artistic beauty. Stroll down Corso Vittorio Emanuele in the shadow of the arcades, among the longest in Europe. Stop for a coffee in Piazza Cavour, the heart of city life, and admire the facades of the Palazzo Comunale and St Mark's Cathedral. It is impossible not to notice its Gothic-style bell tower, a full 72 metres high. On the outskirts of Pordenone, visit some of the most beautiful villages in northern Italy, such as Sacile, on the Livenza river, and Polcenigo, surrounded by greenery. In San Vito al Tagliamento you can admire what remains of the medieval village, such as the moat and the frescoed castle. For a relaxing moment away from the city, head for Lake Barcis. This corner of paradise, set in the Friulian Dolomites Natural Park, is the perfect place for those who enjoy sports such as sailing, surfing and canoeing, as well as hiking and mountain biking. And lastly, to enjoy typical Friulian cuisine, try the Frico with polenta and salami with vinegar: truly traditional flavours.

From the Alps to the sea, exploring mosaics and Baroque villas Views of the Carnic Alps, villages on gentle slopes, historic villas, lakes and forests, Roman and Lombard ruins and the golden beaches of Lignano Sabbiadoro: all this and more lies in the province of Udine, in the heart of Friuli-Venezia Giulia. Walking through the historic centre of the capital, which branches out around the castle, you will find the Loggia del Lionello, the Clock Tower, the works of Tiepolo and the Tina Modotti Gallery, dedicated to the great photographer who was born here. Immersed in a large park is the Baroque-style Villa Manin, the residence of the last doge of Venice. You can admire nature is at its best in the thousand-year-old Tarvisio forest, in Val d’Arzino and by Lake Cornino. Don’t miss the villages of Spilimbergo, with its splendid 15th-century Palazzo Dipinto, San Daniele del Friuli, to taste its famous prosciutto, the star fort of Palmanova, and Cividale del Friuli, with its Lombard ruins and the famous Devil’s Bridge. If you love fortresses, we recommend visiting Villalta Castle. To dive into history, head for Aquileia, a very well-preserved Roman city. You’re sure to love the archaeological museum, the Roman Forum, and the Basilica of Santa Maria Assunta, with its mosaic floor and the Crypt of Frescoes.

The “city in the trenches” on the border between the Latin and Slavic worlds A melting pot of Romance, Slavic and Germanic cultures on the border with Slovenia, Gorizia has several historical sites. We recommend visiting the Castle, an 11th-century fortification subsequently extended in the 17th century, and the Palazzo Coronini Cronberg in the town centre, in the old village of Grafenberg. Surrounded by a picturesque, romantic park, the building has 15 furnished rooms. To understand the spirit of this “city in the trenches”, visit the Museum of the Great War of Gorizia, in the evocative basements of the 16th-century Dornberg and Tasso Houses. It offers an invaluable testimony to the war events of 1917, covering the defeat at Caporetto, the victory on the Piave and finally the Italian-Austrian armistice of 1918. Three kilometres from the city is the Luciano Viatori botanical garden, also called the Azalea Garden, as 500 varieties of azaleas flourish there, alongside rhododendrons, rare roses, camellias and magnolias. The garden is easy to explore thanks to a well-designed system of paths and wooden walkways, for an enchanting hour-long walk. The ideal time to visit is in spring, between March and June, when the flowers bloom.

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Plan Your Trip to Trieste: Best of Trieste Tourism

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27 Best Things to Do in Trieste, Italy (PLUS Map, BEST Tours & Day Trips)

From italy's largest cave to coastline castles with epic sea views, here are the best things to do in trieste.

The City of Wind, Vienna by the Sea, and the City of Coffee are just a few expressions used to describe Trieste. Gorgeous, aristocratic, and distinctively cosmopolitan, this small city in the far northeastern corner of Italy checks all the boxes for curious travellers. While Trieste may not be at the top of your Italy bucket list, reading this guide on the best things to do in Trieste , you’ll see why it’s a real gem to explore.

Trieste is a charming port city and the capital of the region Friuli Venezia Giulia. Located just 8 km (5 mi) from Slovenia and 30 km (19 mi) from Croatia, Trieste is beautifully framed by a landscape of cliffs, karstic plateaus, and lush greenery. Plus, it boasts a border-town character that makes it truly unique.

The thing with Trieste is that it’s quite different from the image of Italy you are used to, and that alone makes it worth visiting! The city wasn’t always Italian. In fact, Trieste spent most of its history under the Habsburgs and the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Six hundred years to be precise: from the late 14th to the early 20th centuries, with some brief interruptions in between.

To help you plan your trip to Trieste, I’ve written a guide to the best hotels in Trieste plus this comprehensive guide on the best things to do in Trieste which includes everything from a city map to top city tours and recommended day trips.

Let’s go and experience the best things to do in Trieste! Andiamo! (Let’s go!)

Map of the best things to do in Trieste

Watch my video on the best things to do in trieste.

A brief history of Trieste

Inhabited since the 2nd millennium BC, Trieste developed with the Romans who founded a Military settlement in the 1st century BC to control the area and push out the Celtics and prevent invasions from barbarians on the other side of the alps.

The settlement was built on top of the hill, a strategic position chosen for its view of the area and coastline. Once safe, it became a colony and people began moving here from all around. There was a Roman Basilica, forum (the Roman version of a piazza or marketplace with shops), a temple, and a theatre.

I say Roman Basilica, but it’s not the kind of church you think of nowadays. A Roman Basilica was a public building where officials met and did business and enforced the law. Many centuries later, the Basilica of the Roman empire was used as an architectural module when Christianity was introduced and churches were built.

Later the area of Trieste fell under Byzantine and Frankish rule. Then, in the 12th century, it became a free municipality, but when its autonomy was threatened, the city placed itself under the protection of Leopold III of Austria in 1382. This marked the beginning of its long relationship with the Habsburgs.

Fast forward to 1719, the Hapsburg Empire declared Trieste a free port and spared no money to develop the city. After all, it was the only maritime gateway of its land-locked territories. During this time, Trieste blossomed as a key trading center, welcoming merchants and entrepreneurs from all over the Mediterranean and soon the city became a favourite destination of artists.

Until 1918 the Hapsburg monarchy was one of the Great Powers of Europe and Trieste was its most important seaport. At the beginning of the 20th century, Trieste became a major center of the irredentism (ee·ruh·den·tuh·zm) movement, which sought to annex to Italy all the lands that were not included in the unified Italian Kingdom although historically Italian. After the fall of the Hapsburg Empire after WWI and the end of the Nazi occupation following WWII, Trieste lived for a few years as an independent state under the protection of the UN before being officially annexed to Italy in 1954.

Today, this intricate patchwork of rulers, cultures, and people that shaped Trieste’s history is everywhere you look – from its varied architectural styles to its multi-faith soul and a truly unique culinary identity.

Why is it called Trieste?

Giovannin Ponterosso Fountain in Piazza del Ponterosso

The name “Trieste: is derived from its ancient name “Tergeste”. Even though the Romans settled here, its name isn’t entirely Latin. Instead, it gives us a clue to the pre-Roman origins of the city, in the last phase of the local prehistory, and its economical importance.

One theory is that the place name “Tergeste” comes from “Ter” meaning three and “Egeste” meaning “to build” or” erect”, suggesting that the city was rebuilt three times. Another theory is that “Trg” comes from the Slavic language and means “square” or “market”, while “este” means “city” in Old Venetian, hence it could mean “market-city”.

Nowadays, Trieste goes by many names: “ Città della Barcolana ” (City of the Barcolana, a historic international sailing regatta) , “ Città della bora ” (City of the Bora, referring to the northerly to north-easterly katabatic wind), “ Città del vento ” (City of Wind), “ Vienna by the Sea ” and “ City of Coffee ” are just a few expressions used to describe Trieste.

Want to learn all about the city’s history while seeing the sights? Join the same private Trieste walking tour I did with the lovely Sonia.

How to visit trieste and travel around.

Download the FVG Mobile app

Trieste Airport is about 35km from the city and offers direct connections to 14 destinations in Italy and Europe, including Rome, London, and Frankfurt. Travelling by train is a great alternative, with daily high-speed connections to main Italian cities through Trenitalia and Italo . Trenitalia also has trains running between Trieste and Ljubljana. As for cars, while it’s true they allow you to maximise your time, you also have to be aware of the numerous Limited Traffic Zones (ZTL) located in the city.

Trieste is best explored on foot as it’s pretty compact and easy to navigate, plus most of the top sights are within easy walking distance. There’s a convenient bus network with single tickets starting at €1.35. For this, I recommend downloading the TPL FVG app so you can easily purchase single journey or daily tickets instead of having to hunt down a Tabacchiera every time. Bicycles can be rented through the city’s handy bike-sharing scheme (rides under 30 minutes are free). Finally, a ferry service ensures connections within the Gulf of Trieste.

27 Top things to do in Trieste

When it comes to tourist attractions, Trieste has many activities to enjoy. With its rich history and maritime tradition, the city’s attractions include anything from visually stunning architecture to culturally fascinating sights.

Below, I have gathered the best things to do in Trieste with tips and information that will help you plan your city break. It’s a good mix of top attractions and a few hidden gems. You’ll also find a Google map highlighting all the locations. Save this for later!

1. Take a tour of Miramare Castle

There’s no doubt that the Miramare Castle is on everyone’s bucket list of things to do in Trieste, and for good reason. Although it lacks the ancient history you’d expect from a castle (it dates from the mid-1800s), this white fairy-tale palace is a real beauty. So much so that it’s often listed among Italy’s most beautiful castles.

The Miramare Castle sits on a cliff overlooking the sea and boasts an eclectic blend of Gothic, Medieval and Renaissance styles, in line with the fashion of the time. Rooms dazzle with their sumptuous furnishings, while the 22-hectare park outside is filled with woodland and exotic trees. Plus, the castle’s unique location makes sunsets here a real treat.

Don’t miss: reach the castle with a ferry boat to admire the castle in all its beauty from the sea. The line is called Delfino verde and operates in the summer months from the quay near the aquarium. Timetables are available here .

Join this experience that combines a panoramic tour of Trieste and Miramare Castle. The price includes transportation and admission to the castle.

2. Arco di Riccardo

The “Arco di Riccardo” is one of the most important monuments in Trieste. Made of white stone from the cave of Aurisina it stands around 7 meters high. Dating from 33 BC, the arch is said to be a Roman gate in the city walls when the emperor Augusto established the Roman colony Tergeste . The gate was located along the main roman way that connect the sea to the hills.

The origins of its name are debated but there are several prevalent theories. The Riccardo , or Richard, might refer to English king Richard I the Lionheart, who was said to have been a captive in Trieste while on his way back north. Another theory is that it originates from the word cardo , which was the name of one of the two main roads of the Roman settlements and finally some refer to the term ricario , the name of a medieval courthouse, located in the area.

A local legend refers to the transformation of the name Carlo Magno , to whom the arch was dedicated after his passage on his return from his belligerent victories in neighbouring Istria. The truth? I guess we’ll never know for sure!

3. Visit the Duino Castle

Nestled on a promontory overlooking the Gulf of Trieste, just north of the city, this beautiful historic residence predates the Miramare Castle by about five centuries. It’s owned by the Princes of Torre and Tasso, who have played hosts to great artists and illustrious personalities over the years. These include Empress Sissi, Paul Valery, Gabriele D’Annunzio, and Reiner Maria Rilke, who wrote some of his most famous lyrical poems here.

Planted firmly on the last rock spur of the Carso high above the Gulf of Trieste, Duino Castle is not just another stately home. An unusual case in Italy, and far more interesting, it that it is still the residence of the princely family of Torre e Tasso.

Despite the devastation of the First World War and the depredations of the Second, the Castle still boats artistic masterpieces and rare historical relics. Overlooking vast horizons of the sea are its gardens, with their romantic avenues embellished with period statues and objects and panoramic terraces. The owners have decided to open the gardens and most of their Castle home to the public for tours, conferences, concerts, gala dinners and other events.

Set out over a number of levels, the gardens display multi-coloured beds and cascades of all types of flowers, forming attractive splashes of colour amid the classical Meditteranean vegetation and acting as a backdrop for a wealth of status and an old well decorated with the family coat of arms.

The Castle itself is a solid composite construction dominated by a 16th-century tower which holds intact a structure whose origins go back 2,000 years, as witnessed by the commemorative stone placed there in the 3rd century to mark a visit by Emperor Diocletian.

It was around this tower, on the ruins of a Roman military outpost, that building started on the present Castle in the 14th century. Its location was not far from that of its ancient forerunner, which is traditionally thought to have been dedicated to the worship of the Sun god and has been given the romantic name “The White Lady”.

There are about 20 rooms to visit, filled with precious artworks and period pieces. The visit also includes the bunker that the Germans built when they occupied the castle during WWII.

Rilke trail

Don’t miss: Take a panoramic walk along the Rilke trail. Named after the great German poet, it’s a stunning 2km coastal path connecting the castle to the bay of Sistiana.

4. Explore the Giant Cave (Grotta Gigante)

Located on the Trieste plateau ( Altopiano Triestino ) which covers an area of about 200 square kilometres (77 sq mi) there are 2,760 caves of various sizes on the Italy side of the border and 180 of them were inhabited by prehistoric man. The most famous is the Grotta Gigante (meaning “Giant Cave:), a name which says it all! Grotta Gigante is the largest tourist cave in the world, with a single cavity large enough to contain St Peter’s in Rome!

The cave started forming over 10 million years ago when two rivers diverged and formed this giant cavity underground. Today you can visit this space by taking 500 steps down and following a 167m pathway before winding up the other side of the cavity via 500 more steps.

During your visit, don’t miss the cave’s biggest stalagmite which stands 12 metres tall and is 150,000 years old and is still active! This means that it’s still growing at a formula pace of 1mm every 10-15 years!

Grotta Gigante biggest stalagmite

As you take the steps leading back up, see if you can spot the original steel cable ladders’ with wooden steps. It’s scary to think these were used in the early days of the cave’s exploration when it was discovered in the 1800s while searching for a solution to water shortages.

You can visit the Giant Cave and Duino Castle from Trieste on this guided half-day tour.

Don’t miss: get an adrenaline rush with a speleo expedition (the scientific study or exploration of caves) that goes 252 meters deep into a secret cave system. For further information, visit grottagigante.it

5. Experience Trieste’s coffee culture at a historic café

Caffè Torinese

During that time, an impressive amount of cafés were built, becoming a place for artists and intellectuals to socialize and find inspiration. Kafka, Freud, and Svevo all had their favourite café in Trieste, and it is said that James Joice came up with the idea for Ulysses while drinking cappuccino in Trieste. Caffè San Marco , Caffè Tommaseo, Caffè Torinese , and Caffè degli Specchi are among the best coffeehouses in Trieste to choose from.

Don’t miss: The locals use a coffee terminology that’s unique to the city. The espresso in Trieste is called a nero , the coffee with milk is called a capo , and the cappuccino is a caffelatte . Brush up on your Italian and learn how to order food and drink in Italian .

6. Indulge in a traditional dessert at Pasticceria La Bomboniera

Each display case is filled with homemade cakes all baked in their original wood-fired oven, the only one of its kind in Italy. Choose from the following:

• Torta Rigojancsi – A traditional Hungarian cube-shaped chocolate sponge cake and chocolate cream pastry named after a famous Hungarian violinist Jansci Rigò.
• Pischinger – A cake consisting of layers of thin wafers and chocolate filling.
• Torta Sacher – A chocolate cake, or torte of Austrian origin, invented by Franz Sacher in 1832 for Prince Metternich in Vienna.
• Torta Linzer – Named after the city of Linz in Australia, this traditional Austrian pastry is topped with fruit preserves and sliced nuts with a lattice design on top.
• Presnitz – The most famous is the Presnitz, a circular-shaped strudel made with pastry dough and filled with a mix of hazelnuts, walnuts, almonds, pinenuts, prunes, dried figs, dried apricots, raisins, eggs, sugar, cinnamon, cloves, a touch of dark chocolate, and sometimes also with coffee and rum or marsala. As the story goes, the circular design of the cake is said to have had an inscription that read “ se giri il mondo, ritorna qui” (“if you travel around the world, come back here”)

Other items to look out for are Jewish marzipan desserts, “fave dei morti” almond biscuits, and white and brown chequerboard mandorlati almond biscuits. The list goes on!

7. Go to the beach in Trieste

Barcola Beach at sunset

There’s nothing like going to the beach in Trieste. Not just for the beautiful landscapes, but also for the unique character of some of its most popular lidos.

For a real local experience, El Pedocin beach on the Lantern Pier is a local institution and still has a wall separating the men’s and women’s parts – the only one of its kind in Italy.

Another popular beach in Trieste is Barcola , a stretch of concrete (yep, no sand!) backed by pine trees. The same goes for Topolini , where ten semicircular terraces are a favorite among the city’s youth.

Another summer highlight in the city is Ausonia , a beach club from the 1930s complete with a pool, trampolines, and a terrace restaurant. There’s also a pretty beach called Sticco on the way to Miramare Castle. It’s got crystal clear water and retro changing booths.

If you’re travelling with your furry friend, you might want to check out Fido Lido , which offers dog-friendly facilities on Trieste’s outskirts.

Don’t miss: If you’re looking for a beach getaway outside of the city, Sistiana is a great option. About 20 minutes west of Trieste, it has beaches lapped by turquoise water, a pretty harbour, and many shops and restaurants.

8. Visit the Civic Museum of Natural History (Museo di Storia Naturale)

If you visit Trieste with kids or simply love dinosaurs, then the city’s Civic Museum of Natural History should definitely be on your sightseeing list. It’s located just outside the historic center and has 4 million finds gathered over a century. These include the largest and most complete dinosaur discovered in Italy: an impressive 3.6 meter-long Tethyshadros insularis named Antonio which was found almost intact near Trieste.

Among the most interesting exhibits inside the museum ia a section on the evolution of hominids, a zoological room with mammals from all over the world, and a space filled with imposing skeletons of sea animals including Carlotta, a 5.4-meter-long white shark.

Don’t miss: look for the human jaw from over 6,400 years ago in which you can see a dental filling made with beeswax, which represents the world’s oldest example of dental care!

For further information, visit museostorianaturaletrieste.it

9. Marvel at the sheer beauty of Piazza dell’Unità d’Italia

This piazza showcases a striking mix of prestigious buildings that are a photographer’s delight. There’s the City Hall with its beautiful clock tower topped by the statues of two Moors, and the Palace of the Government with its Art Nouveau facade. Also not to miss are the Palazzo del Lloyd Triestino, a shipping line founded in 1836, and the Grand’Hotel Duchi d’Aosta which looks straight out of a Wes Anderson film.

At this time, Trieste was the most international city in Italy, with its cosmopolitan and frontier soul. It also had one of the largest Jewish communities in the country. That day Mussolini wanted the major international newspapers in Trieste to spread his message about the “enemy”, the necessary solutions and the new “separation policy” that he believed everyone needed to hear loud and clear.

Don’t miss: Beautiful by day, Piazza Unità d’Italia shines at night when warm lighting illuminates its magnificent buildings, creating something magical.

10. Go for a sunset passeggiata along Molo Audace

Next to Piazza Unità d’Italia, the Molo Audace promenade is really beautiful and one of the must-see places in Trieste. Stretching for more than 250 meters into the Adriatic Sea, it’s a great spot for a passeggiata (Italian for ‘stroll’) in the early morning or after dark.

The promenade is lined with benches where locals seat to chat, read the newspaper, or simply soak up the gorgeous views of the coastal scenery that stretch as far as the Miramare Castle on clear days. On summer evenings, it’s not unusual to stumble upon great street music performances.

Don’t miss: Molo Audace is a prime spot to admire the boats taking part in the Barcolana in October, the largest sailing regatta.

11. Travel back in time at Trieste Roman Theatre (Teatro Romano di Trieste)

In the Middle Ages, it was hidden by the houses that were built over it. 2,000 years later is was excavated and restored in 1938 and today is still the site of shows and artistic events.

The location is quite scenic, situated at the foot of the San Giusto hill it provided a natural setting for the amphitheatre. The structure, mostly made of masonry, is still in great shape, with the original stage and seating areas still visible along with a variety of columns. The original ornamental statues are on display at the Civic Museum of History and Art in the Castle of San Giusto.

12. Discover Piazza della Borsa

Piazza della Borsa is a great place to shop and meet people. There are lots of restaurants and boutiques, and sometimes small fairs and markets are held here. In the center of the piazza stands Neptune’s fountain, once used by locals for washing clothes.

Casa Bartoli

Don’t miss: Among the palaces that line Piazza della Borsa, Casa Bartoli is the most famous liberty-style building in Trieste. It is also known as the Green House due to the colour of the floral decorations on the main facade.

13. Explore San Giusto Castle

Overlooking the city from the top of the San Giusto Hill, this castle deserves a spot on the list of what to do in Trieste for its history and collections. It was built by the Habsburgs between the 15th and 17th centuries, with interventions also by the Republic of Venice when it regained rule over Trieste in the early 16th century.

After a scenic entrance via a wooden drawbridge, you can explore its beautiful vaulted halls and climb up the ramparts for some of the best views of Trieste and its gulf. There are also some museums displaying ancient weapons, rich tapestries and statues from the Roman amphitheatre.

Don’t miss: on your way to the castle, stop at Piazza San Silvestro to admire the beautiful Baroque interior of the 17th-century Church of Santa Maria Maggiore.

For further information, visit castellodisangiustotrieste.it

14. Visit the Cathedral of San Giusto

Next to the castle, the Cathedral of San Giusto is Trieste’s most important religious building. Its current look comes from the aggregation of two churches back in the 14th century and the result is architecturally impressive. There’s a beautiful Gothic rose window adorning the brick facade while a statue of San Giusto stands above the entrance to the bell tower.

The interior features beautiful mosaics dating from the 12th-13th centuries and frescoes depicting stories of the saint. You can also see traces of 5th-century mosaic flooring, while the cathedral bell was cast from a cannonball left by Napoleon.

Don’t miss: You can climb up the bell tower for great views of Trieste and close-ups of the five enormous bells that toll the hours.

15. Stand on the steps of Giants at the Giant’s Stairway (Scala dei Giganti)

Located between Piazza Goldoni and Via del Monte, Scala dei Giganti, is a steep and stately stairway that connects the heart of Trieste with the archaeological site on San Giusto Hill. Built in 1970, Scala dei Giganti was designed by the Berlams, a well-known Triestine family of architects. Designed in a neoclassical style, it features a double stairway, niches and statues, and a large fountain. From the top of the hill, the tree-lined path frames a wonderful view over the city of Trieste.

16. Snap a postcard picture at Trieste’s Grand Canal

The Grand Canal in Trieste isn’t as grand as Venice’s , but it’s certainly worth more than a look while you’re in town. It’s near Piazza Unità d’Italia,in the heart of the historic old town, where it was built in the mid-1700s so that boats could unload their cargo directly into the city.

This spot is just so pretty: it has cute little boats moored at both sides and is surrounded by elegant buildings with the St. Spyridon Serbian Orthodox Church peeking out. Surely, one of the best Instagrammable places in Trieste. Additionally, it hosts various events all year long, including the Christmas markets.

Don’t miss: On one of the bridges across the Grand Canal, there’s a statue of James Joyce, who lived in Trieste in 1904-1915 and loved this area.

17. Admire the glorious Victory Lighthouse (Faro della Vittoria)

Standing high on a hill overlooking the Gulf of Trieste, is Faro della Vittoria or Victory Lighthouse, a symbol of Trieste.At a height of 223 feet (68 m) it is one of the tallest lighthouses in the world. It’s both graceful and formidable, matching the motivations for its erection. It was built in the 1920s to celebrate the inclusion of Trieste into the Kingdom of Italy after the long occupation by the Austrian Empire, but also to honour those who died at sea during WWI.

The lighthouse is still working and is often open to visitors. The climb up the viewing gallery is via some 300 steps, but there’s also a lift. Once at the top, you’re rewarded with stunning panoramic views of the city and the coast, and the Gulf of Trieste.

Don’t miss: Look for the anchor at the base of the statue of the Unknown Seaman. It commemorates the historic entry of the first Italian ship into Trieste, called Audace which translates to audacious .

For more information, visit https://www.farodellavittoria.it/

18. Explore a gloomy chapter of local history at Risiera di San Sabba

Being a border territory, Trieste had its fair share of dark moments, but the worst came with the Nazi occupation in 1943-1945. The prime testimony of the horrors the city experienced in those years is the Risiera di San Sabba, a former rice-husking factory (hence the name, Risiera in Italian) that turned into a concentration camp during WWII.

The Nazi regime killed an estimated 3,000 political prisoners at the Risiera di San Sabba, and thousands more were deported to larger concentration camps, mainly Auschwitz.

In Italy, there were only two concentration camps; Trieste was the only one with a crematorium. In the 1970s, it became a civic museum with a permanent exhibition about the Nazi crimes in the region.

One of the rooms you can visit is called “ La sala delle croci “(Hall of crosses). Originally divided into floors, on the third floor lived Jewish prisoners that were later deported to Germany. On the second floor were political suspects and on the ground floor were those who worked in the tailor and cobbler workshops.

I think it’s important that everyone visits a historical monument such as this. It definitely makes all those history lessons at school more tangible and deepens one’s awareness of what happened. It’s hard to imagine that all this happened not that long ago and in the lifetime of our grandparents.

Visiting Risiera di San Sabba is free and takes just a 20 minutes bus ride from the city centre.

Don’t miss: The local tourist office organises monthly tours of Little Berlin, a network of underground shelters built by the Nazis to protect themselves from bombing raids.

For further information, visit risierasansabba.it

19. Browse Revoltella Civic Museum – one of Italy’s major modern art museums

The majority of the collection, as well as one of the buildings occupied by the museum, were bequeathed to the city by Pasquale Revoltella, an entrepreneur who played a crucial role in the opening of the Suez Canal. Artists showcased in its 40 rooms include Mario Sironi, Francesco Hayez, Lucio Fontana, and Giorgio De Chirico.

Don’t miss: During your visit head to the museum’s rooftop terrace which is open to the public for views over the harbour. In the evening, during August, there’s even a bar where you can enjoy the views as the sun goes down.

For further information, visit museorevoltella.it

20. Visit one of Europe’s largest Synagogues

The Jewish community in Trieste has roots in the 13th century, but most arrived in the city during the Empire period, engaging in trade and banking. This grand synagogue is the second largest Jewish temple (holding 1500 people) in Europe after the one in Budapest (which holds 1200 people but is larger in size) and stands as a testament to the cultural importance of the Jewish community to Trieste.

You can visit the synagogue as part of a 60-90 minute guided tour where you’ll learn about the history of the Jewish community of Trieste from the Middle Ages all the way up to the present day. To join a tour, booking is essential and can be organised via the Trieste Ebraica website.

Don’t miss: Located between Piazza della Borsa and the Roman Theater and close to Piazza Unità d’Italia is the old Jewish ghetto. Enjoy the magical atmosphere while browsing through its antique shops and second-hand bookstores.

21. See the Saint Spyridon Church

The church was built in the second half of the 19th century after Empress Maria Theresa granted them the right to establish their own religious community. Today, it’s one of the best places to see in Trieste to learn more about the local Orthodox Serbian community, which is the largest in Italy. It boasts all the distinctive architectural traits of Eastern churches, with interiors covered in beautiful frescoes and glittering mosaics.

Don’t miss: Listening to the vesper chants performed by the church’s 24-member choir is pure magic.

22. Explore the Civic Sea Museum (Civico Museo del Mare)

Documenting the city’s extensive naval heritage, the Civic Sea Museum is a must-see in Trieste. Its collection is so rich, that it’s ranked among the most important maritime exhibitions in the Mediterranean. There’s a particular focus on the history of Lloyd Triestino, the shipping company which greatly contributed to making Trieste the flourishing port of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

The exhibition features documents, model ships and period equipment. They all provide insights into the evolution of the maritime industry as well as life aboard prestigious cruise liners. The collection also includes rare pieces like the zopolo , an ancient canoe carved from a single log, and even the radio technical equipment on the laboratory ship on which Guglielmo Marconi conducted most of the experiments.

Don’t miss: Look for the small key that Marconi used to switch on the Sydney Town Hall on 26 March 1930, at 11:03, by sending a radio signal from Genoa to Australia.

For further information, visit museodelmaretrieste.it

23. Relax with a view at Pier The Roof with sea terrace

Divided into three areas offering different food & wine concepts, you can come here any time of day for something special. For something casual and informal, head to the outdoor café on the ground floor for breakfast,  an aperitif and choose from an à la carte menu.

During summer you can relax at the lounge bar on the upper floor. Here DJ sets help you unwind as you sink into one of their large poufs or beach chairs while nursing one of their many cocktails. When it comes to mealtime, their fish-based menu offers typical Trieste dishes with some international forays.

24. The best gelato you’ll ever eat at OGGI Gelato

“It tastes like real melon!” – Me, two seconds after sampling an OGGI gelato.

Located behind Viale XX Settembre lined with restaurants popular with young locals, OGGI Gelato makes high-quality gelato on-site each day. Using only seasonal ingredients, evrey flavour tastes as if you’re eating the actual food itself. The flavours are so rich and creamy that I had to go back twice. 

There is an open kitchen where you can see the magic happen from the ingredients fruit being washed, cut and prepared to the gelato machine swirling all the ingredients together. Flavour change often, giving you a good excuse for a return visit.

25. Put your apron on for a fun cooking class

Trieste’s landmarks are enough to keep you busy for days, but why not go further and enhance your visit with a first-hand cooking experience? Considering the city’s unique history and location, the local cuisine has taken on layers of influences from every culture that settled there, making cooking classes all the more interesting.

There’s a lot of seafood in local kitchens, and also meat that’s based on Mittel European traditions. The first courses are tasty and varied (a must-eat is the jota soup), and the desserts are reputed to be among Europe’s finest.

Don’t miss: For a taste of authentic local cuisine, try one of the city’s typical buffet . An institution in Trieste, these eateries specialise in Triestine comfort food like boiled meats cooked in a traditional pot called “caldaia”.

Want to attend a cooking class in Trieste and dazzle family and friends back home? Then I recommend booking this fabulous Pasta and Tiramisu class !

26. take a day trip.

Trieste is a great destination on its own, but if you’ve got extra time on your hands, a day trip is a great way to explore a bit of Friuli Venezia Giulia. Regional highlights include the Roman archaeological site of Aquileia, the beautiful beaches of Grado, Gorizia’s scenic old town, and mini-Venice Muggia.

If you like hiking and cycling, then exploring the Carso Triestino is one of the best things to do in Trieste. It’s a rock plateau of great naturalistic importance that the city shares with southwestern Slovenia, offering plenty of trails. This area is also home to Val Rosandra, a large nature reserve with a 40ft waterfall.

Neighbouring Slovenia is another popular destination from Trieste, offering fairy-tale landscapes and postcard-perfect villages to explore. You could combine a tour of its vibrant capital city with a visit to the country’s famous lake on this Lake Bled and Ljubljana guided tour from Trieste . Or you can explore one of Slovenia’s largest cave systems and an amazing cave-built castle on a 5-hour Postojna Cave and Predjama Castle from Trieste .

27. Take a day trip to Lake Bled and Ljubljana

If you go by public transport it will take you almost 5 hours just to reach Lake Bled from Trieste or 2.5 hrs to reach Ljubljana. On this tour, it only takes a little over an hour to reach your first stop, the stunning Lake Bled with a small island floating in the middle.

Called Bled Island, (Blejski otok), the island has several buildings, the main one being the pilgrimage church dedicated to the Assumption of Mary, built in its current form near the end of the 17th century. The church frequently hosts weddings where traditionally it is considered good luck for the groom to carry his bride up the steps on the day of their wedding before ringing the bell and making a wish inside the church.

The traditional transportation to Bled Island is a wooden boat known as a pletna. The word pletna is borrowed from Bavarian German Plätten, meaning ‘flat-bottomed boat’. Some sources claim the pletna was used in Lake Bled as early as 1150 AD, but most historians date the first boats to 1590 AD. Similar in shape to Italian gondolas in Venice , a pletna seats 20 passengers.

While you’re here you have to try the area’s culinary speciality, a cream pastry called kremšnita or cremeschnitte , which was designated a protected dish of designated origin in 2016 by the Slovene government. Also known as vanilla slice or custard slice, kremšnita is a custard and chantilly cream cake dessert commonly associated with the former Austro-Hungarian Monarchy.

After an hour of wandering around the lake, it’s time to head to the capital for a short guided tour of the historical centre before enjoying some free time.

To find out more about this guided tour I joined, you can check availability and book your tour here.

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• 1 Understand
• 3.1 By plane
• 3.4 By train
• 4.1 On foot
• 4.2 By public transport
• 5.2 Museums
• 5.3 Natural wonders
• 5.4 Places of worship
• 8.1.1 In the centre
• 8.1.2 Around the Piazza Unità d'Italia
• 8.1.3 At the marina
• 8.2 Mid-range
• 8.3 Splurge
• 10.1 Budget
• 10.2 Mid-range
• 10.3 Splurge
• 11 Stay safe
• 13.1 Consulates

Trieste ( Triest in German, Trst in Slovenian and Croatian) is a city in North-East Italy that was once a very influential and powerful centre of politics, literature, music, art and culture under Austrian-Hungarian dominion.

Today, Trieste is often forgotten as tourists head off to bigger Italian cities like Rome , Milan, and Trieste's archrival Venice . But those tourists miss out on a very charming and underestimated city, with a quiet and lovely almost Eastern European atmosphere, several pubs and cafes, some stunning architecture and a beautiful sea view. It was also, for a while, the residence of the famous Irish writer, James Joyce.

Understand [ edit ]

Trieste is the capital of the autonomous region of Friuli Venezia Giulia and has about 200,000 inhabitants (2023). It is at the crossroads of several commercial and cultural flows: German middle Europe to the north, Slavic masses and the Balkans to the east, Italy and then Latin countries to the west and the Mediterranean Sea to the south.

Its artistic and cultural heritage is linked to its singular "border town" location. You can find some old Roman architecture (a small theatre near the sea, a nice arch into old city and an interesting Roman museum), Austrian empire architecture across the city centre (similar to stuff you can find in Vienna ) and a nice atmosphere of metissage of Mediterranean styles, as Trieste was a very important port during the 18th century.

Talk [ edit ]

The region of Friuli Venezia Giulia is officially quadrilingual (Italian, Slovene, Friulian, and German). Signs are often only in Italian in Trieste, as the city is generally Italian speaking and the local dialect (a form of the Venetian language) is called Triestine. Surrounding villages and towns are often inhabited by mostly Slovene speakers. Residents, and those working in the city, can easily find free courses to learn Italian, Slovene, German, English and many other languages. When walking around Trieste, you will also likely hear Croatian / Serbian , Romanian, and Albanian, mainly from immigrant populations (most immigrants in Trieste come from the Balkans and Romania) and people who visit the city on brief shopping trips.

Get in [ edit ]

By plane [ edit ].

A small regional airport hosting flights from various Italian and European cities. The airport is just off the A4 Trieste- Venice motorway ( Redipuglia exit ). Long and short-stay car parks are available. Transport options include:

• Bus number 51, run by APT , runs to the airport from Trieste's bus station (next to the railway station). Weekdays buses leave at 5 minutes and 35 minutes past the hour. On Sundays the service is every 1 to 2 hours. The bus takes about 55 minutes. Tickets can be purchased at city bus/coach stations or at the airport: in the Arrivals Hall, with an automatic machine for self-ticketing and at the Post Office.
• ''Trieste Airport'' Railway Station is in front of the airport. The station is on the Trieste-Venice railway line, 25 minutes ride from Trieste. Tickets can be purchased at the airport railway station or online .
• Taxis are available outside the Arrivals Hall from 08:00 to 00:00. Taxi fare to Trieste is around €70 and takes 30-35 minutes.

Nearest major airports are Venice Marco Polo & Venice Treviso . From either airport, take the Fly Bus - express service to Mestre railway station (€10) and get on the regional train from Mestre railway station to Trieste Central Station (2 hours, €14-29).

Other nearby airports (less than 2 hours from Trieste by private or public transport) include Ljubljana (Slovenia), and Pula & Rijeka (both in Croatia). The more adventurous and leisurely travelers can also use Zagreb Airport (Croatia), Klagenfurt (Austria), and Verona (Italy), all of which can be reached by car.

By bus [ edit ]

Local routes include Udine , Grado and San Candido/Innichen .

At the 45.65708 13.771 2 Trieste coach station , bus and coach connections to several European countries, including Slovenia ( Izola - Isola, Koper - Capodistria, Ljubljana , Piran - Pirano, Portorož - Portorose, Postojna - Postumia, Sežana - Sesana), Croatia ( Dubrovnik , Poreč - Parenzo, Pula - Pola, Opatija - Abbazia, Rijeka - Fiume, Rovinj - Rovigno, Split - Spalato, Zadar - Zara) and Serbia ( Belgrade - Belgrado) are available. Connections to Germany and Austria are available via Flixbus.

By car [ edit ]

A4 Venice -Trieste, toll-gate Monfalcone-Lisert, exit point "Sistiana" (SS 14 "Costiera"). The town is 24 km from the motorway.

SS 202 Triestina: Motorway A4, toll-gate Lisert, Carso Plateau, Opicina, Padriciano, Trieste

SS 15 Via Flavia: Koper ( Slovenia ) - Rabuiese border

SS 58, Carniola highway: Ljubljana (Slovenia) - Fernetti border - Opicina, where the highway joins to SS 202, Trieste

By train [ edit ]

Lots of trains from Venice and Udine , InterCity trains from Rome and Florence , FrecciaBianca from Milan and Torino at the Central Railway Station. If you arrive by train, the last 15 minutes of travel you have a beautiful sight, because the railway goes along the sea and if the weather is good it should be very striking.

As of the summer of 2021, direct rail service to/from Slovenia and Austria have been restored; it is now possible to travel by train from Ljubljana and Vienna to Trieste. There are two daily trains from Ljubljana and one or two trains per day from Vienna, allowing further connections from central and eastern Europe.

Get around [ edit ]

On foot [ edit ]

Like most of Europe, a stroll through the town to admire its ancient architecture is a very popular activity. You get to travel at your own pace and even get some coffee along the way. Trieste is not particularly big and if you do not have luggage with you there is no need to take a bus.

By public transport [ edit ]

Trieste has a network of buses running on a strict schedule. This can often be checked on the web . Routes are very frequent through the day but rarer after 21:00 in the evening, on Sundays and holidays. Strikes occasionally affect buses but Trieste is a small city and most places of interest can easily be reached on foot.

Single tickets cost €1.25 each, and can be bought from tobacconists and from machines which are found at some of the busier bus stops. Tickets are valid for 60 minutes and allow unlimited change of routes within that time. Daily tickets for unlimited trips, cost €3.10 and are valid until midnight. Once on board, the tickets must be validated using the machines which stamp the time of first use. A fine for not having a validated ticket is €70 and there are often inspections on lines 6 and 36.

For a small extra fee (€2-4) you can get unlimited bus and tram service with your FVG Card , which can be purchased at the Trieste tourist office in Piazza Unita d'Italia.

See [ edit ]

Unlike many other Italian cities, Trieste's all-inclusive tourist pass is well worth the price. The FVG Card can be purchased at the tourist center in Piazza Unita, and includes free access to nearly all the major attractions in the Trieste area, and many in other nearby cities. €18 for 48 hours, €21 for 72 hours, and €29 for 7 days.

Sights [ edit ]

• 45.64827 13.76749 1 Città Vecchia ( Old Town ). Trieste boasts an extensive old town: there are many very narrow and crooked streets with typical medieval houses. Nearly the entire area is closed to traffic.  
• 45.65021 13.76759 2 The Austrian Quarter . Half of the city was built under Austrian-Hungarian dominion, so there are a lot of palaces that resemble Vienna. An iconic place of this quarter is the majestic Piazza Unità (Unity Square), which is Europe's largest sea-front square. The most present architecture styles are Neoclassical, Art Nouveau, Eclectic, and Baroque.  

• 45.64686 13.77286 3 San Giusto - Cathedral and Castle . A walk on the castle ramparts and bastions gives a complete panorama of the city of Trieste, its hills and the sea.  
• Capitoline Temple
• Church of San Giovanni
• San Michele al Carnale
• Roman forum and civic building
• Castle of San Giusto
• Park of Remembrance World War I commemorative park,
• Lapidary Garden . Contains Roman and Medieval relics discovered in Trieste. In it stands a Cenotaph to the archaeologist Johann Winckelmann, father of neoclassicism, who died in Trieste in 1769.

• 45.70253 13.71245 4 Miramare Castle . This historic 19th-century castle is a 20-minute trip from Piazza Oberdan on the #6 bus.  
• Maximilian's Chambers and those of his consort, Carlota of Belgium; the guest rooms; the information room telling the history of the Castle and the Park's construction.
• Duke Amadeo of Aosta's apartment with furnishings from the 1930s in the Rationalist style.
• Throne Room
• The park offers the public a chance for an interesting stroll among botanical species and an important collection of sculptures dotted along its numerous paths.
• The Stables , a building which was restored and is now used for temporary exhibitions;
• The Old Greenhouses
• Little Castle containing the seat of the Direction of the Natural Marine Reserve of Miramare and a small number of aquariums
• 45.6492 13.7717 5 The Roman Theatre . Trieste or Tergeste, which probably dates back to the prehistoric period, was enclosed by walls built in 33-32 BC on Emperor Octavius’s orders. The city developed greatly during the 1st and 2nd century AD. The Roman Theatre lies at the foot of the San Giusto hill, and faces the sea. The construction partially exploits the gentle slope of the hill, and most of the construction work is in stone. The topmost portion of the amphitheatre steps and the stage were presumably made of wood. The statues that adorned the theatre (which was brought to light in the 1930s) are now preserved at the Town Museum. Three inscriptions from the Trajan period mention a certain Q. Petronius Modestus, a person who was closely connected with the development of the theatre, which was erected during the second half of the 1st century.  
• 45.647771 13.76884 7 Arco di Riccardo . An Augustan gate built in the Roman walls in 33 AD. It stands in Piazzetta Barbacan, in the narrow streets of the old town.  
• 45.65233 13.77165 8 Canal Grande . Trieste's beautiful grand canal, just up the street from Piazza Unità. Step onto the bridge to pose with a bronze statue of James Joyce, one of Trieste's many iconic statues that walk the streets instead of standing on pedestals.  

Museums [ edit ]

• 45.64712 13.76334 9 Museo Revoltella , Via Diaz 27 . This museum was donated to the city in 1869 by Baron Pasquale Revoltella, a great patron of the arts who liked to surround himself with precious and avant-garde works. In a building restored and extended by architect Carlo Scarpa, the museum today houses one of Italy’s finest collections of 19th-century, modern and contemporary art.  
• 45.64601 13.77179 10 [dead link] Museo di Storia, Arte e Orto Lapidario ( Museum of History and Art and Lapidary Garden ), Piazza della Cattedrale, 1 Trieste . Tu-Su 09:00-18:00 . Archaeological, historical and art collections. Prehistoric and protohuman findings of local origin; Roman and medieval sculptures and epigraphs. Egyptian, Greek, Roman and pre-Roman antiques. Numismatic collection. Photograph and book libraries. €5, €3 reduced .  
• 45.64011 13.80043 11 Museo di Storia Naturale . Zoological, botanical, geological, palaeontological and mineralogical collections. Vivarium. Specialised scientific library.  
• 45.64919 13.77475 12 Museo della Comunità Ebraica di Trieste "Carlo e Vera Wagner" ( "Carlo e Vera Wagner" Museum of the Jewish Community of Trieste ). Collection of ritual art of the Jewish community of Trieste, mainly silverware and fabrics.  
• 45.62072 13.78925 13 Museo della Risiera di San Sabba ( Risiera di San Sabba Museum ). A national monument - a testimonial of the only Nazi extermination camp in Italy.  
• 45.64638 13.75523 14 Railway Museum Trieste Campo Marzio . Closed since July 18, 2017 for restoration. . Housed in the former railhouse, the museum features drawings, models and fullsized train engines and railcars as well as horse-drawn trams from Trieste's past. ( updated Jan 2019 )
• 45.64626 13.76323 15 Museo Sartorio , Largo Papa Giovanni XXIII, 1 , ☏ +39 040 301479 . Tu-Su 10:00-18:00 . Art collections donated to the city by the Sartorio family. Paintings from the 19th and 20th centuries; sculptures; sketches by Giambattista Tiepolo. Full: €6; reduced: €4 .  
• 45.6443 13.76095 16 Museo della Bora , Via Belpoggio, 9 , [email protected] . Open by email reservation . A small museum dedicated to Bora and wind in Trieste. By donation . ( updated Jul 2023 )

Natural wonders [ edit ]

• 45.709919 13.764572 17 Grotta Gigante ( 15 km by city bus #42. Two wide parking lots are available on the outside. ). This giant cave claims to be the biggest tourist cave in the world (since 1997 in the Guinness Book of Records). The enormous hall is 107 m high, 280 m long and 65 m wide. The multi-lingual guided tour takes about 45 minutes. You can also visit the Museum of Speleology is near the cave and besides the various speleological, geological and paleontological finds it also includes some valuable archeological pieces and a poster collection of the cave.  

Places of worship [ edit ]

• 45.65149 13.77334 18 Saint Spyridon Church ( Serbian Orthodox Church of St. Spyridon ), 9, Via San Spiridione . Tu-Sa 09:00-12:00, 17:00-20:00; F 09:00-12:00 .  

Do [ edit ]

• 45.6522 13.76638 1 Molo Audace . The long pier across from Piazza Unica d'Italia. An amazing place to relax and watch the sunset.  
• The Karst ( Kras in Slovene, Carso in Italian ). The limestone plateau above the city on both sides of the border. It is ideal for walking and offers excellent views of the Gulf of Trieste, coastal areas of Slovenia, and northern Croatia. Many of the villages in the Karst are majority-Slovene speaking areas. The principal town in the Karst is Opicina.  

• 45.67966 13.78084 2 Strada Vicentina ( Tram #2 to Obelisco station, or take a bus ). A pedestrian road stretching from Opicina to Prosecco, about 6km long. The views are superb.  

• Barcola . Trieste's concrete, sandless beach just south of Miramare. You can sunbathe here.  
• Sailing with Discover Friuli , ☏ +39 339 7245055 , [email protected] . This tour agency offers half-day and full-day sailboat cruises around the Gulf of Trieste, with great views of Duino, Miramare, and the surrounding landscape from the sea. €100-234 depending on length/group size .  
• 45.70235 13.71709 3 Snorkeling in Miramare , V.le Miramare, 345 ( In Miramare Castle Park ). From the Marine Biodiversity Centre, BioMA arranges diving and snorkeling activities in the Miramare Marine Protected Area and around Gulf of Trieste. ( updated Jul 2023 )

Buy [ edit ]

During the 1970s and 1980s Trieste was the number one shopping destination for tourists from Yugoslavia.

• Ghetto and Piazza Unità. for Biedermeier and Liberty furniture, Bohemian glassware and Austrian silverware, and other fine antiques.
• Glassworks from France and Venice.
• Prints and antique engravings as well as books, postcards, and historical photographs.

Eat [ edit ]

The cuisine of Trieste reflects the living traditions of the many populations that have passed through the city over the centuries. In the city's restaurants, called "buffets", you can find delicious examples of the local Austrian and Slavic tradition.

• Caldaia Traditional dish of boiled pork.
• Jota a soup prepared with pork, potatoes, cabbage, and finely-ground beans
• Gnocchi in the style of Austrian dumplings, made with everything from ham to stuffed with plums.
• Brodetto Fish soup
• Risotto Creamy rice dish
• Sardoni in savor flavored pilchards
• Salads common favorites here include chicory and rocket (arugula)
• Bruscandoli
• Farmers of the plateau who had been allowed by an imperial decree to sell their own products during a period of 8 days, organized the so-called osmizze , where it is possible to taste local wines and products, such as Monrupino's tabor cheese and honey from San Dorligo.
• The pastry shops in Trieste offer delicious local varieties of the most famous Austrian cakes: Sacher torte, krapfen, strucolo cotto and strucolo de pomi (local varieties of strudel), chiffeletti (cookies made with flour, eggs and potatoes and fried in oil)
• During Easter you can taste the pinza, a sweet leavened bread that many women still prepare at home and take to the bakery to be cooked. Richer variants of this are the titola, decorated with a hard-boiled egg, putizza and presnitz. Fritole, pancakes stuffed and fried in oil and fave, small round cookies made with almonds and aromas are typical during Carnival.

Budget [ edit ]

In the centre [ edit ].

• 45.652794 13.775016 1 Pizzeria la Napa XXX Ottobre , Via Trenta Ottobre, 11 . Great place for a quick stop for pizza. Excellent pizza mainly take away but there are a few tables to eat it also on site. There are two types of dough, you should try them. ( updated Aug 2022 )
• 45.65168 13.779436 2 La Caveja , Viale XX Settembre, 13 . A good selection of wraps. The best piadina! Big portions and nice ambient in the street. ( updated Aug 2022 )
• 45.65192 13.780001 3 La Piadineria , Viale XX Settembre, 18 . Great piadina. Excellent for a quick and hearty lunch. The dough of the piadina is great. ( updated Aug 2022 )
• 45.65085 13.780418 4 Desideri e Auguri Da Marino's , Via Ruggero Timeus, 9 . Excellent little Italian restaurant. The food is like homemade. The best place to have a good meal with dishes that are as alternative as they are delicious. Very friendly owner, quiet and welcoming environment. ( updated Aug 2022 )
• 45.650326 13.780379 5 Trattoria Alla Gioconda , Via Scipio Slataper, 12/c . Family owned trattoria with fresh fish traditionally prepared. Genuine dishes, seasoned with the simplicity of the past to enhance the natural flavor. Generous portions. The owner is very kind. Very casual and optimal quality-to-price ratio. ( updated Aug 2022 )

Around the Piazza Unità d'Italia [ edit ]

• 45.649603 13.769126 6 Orange-ini , Via Malcanton, 4 . Great for a quick lunch a stone's throw from the square. Arancine are good and have a lot of variety of ingredients. Amazing cannoli freshly prepared. Very informal environment suitable for a quick lunch or a night snack. Possible to consume at the tables outside or take away. Rapidity and smile distinguish this culinary corner of Sicily in the heart of Trieste. ( updated Aug 2022 )
• 45.650726 13.769118 7 La Piadineria , Piazza Giuseppe Verdi . Quick place to stop in and get some relatively healthy food. Outdoor seating is available. The piadina dough is very good. Good ingredients in general. Excellent choice of flavors. There is another branch of La Piadineria in Via del Ponte, 9/B ( updated Aug 2022 )

At the marina [ edit ]

• 45.648502 13.766129 8 Trattoria Citta Di Pisino , Via Alberto Boccardi, 7 . Trattoria with a characteristic atmosphere, with home cooking, simple but good dishes, fast service. Cucinadomaca is recommended. As soon as you enter, you are catapulted 60/70 years back, typical Triestine cuisine in a vintage setting. ( updated Aug 2022 )
• 45.646758 13.765763 9 La Pizza di Cittavecchia Trieste , Via dei Crociferi, 1/C . Great pizza and friendly, The service efficient. It's nice to get away from the crowds outside and find this place with a more local feel. ( updated Aug 2022 )
• 45.645133 13.759003 10 Marina Turkish Kebab e Pizza , Via, Riva Grumula, 8a . Excellent food and service. Friendly, nice and yummy. ( updated Aug 2022 )

Mid-range [ edit ]

• 45.651916 13.773981 11 Al Barattolo , Piazza S. Antonio Nuovo 2 . Considering that this restaurant is right at the Grand Canale, it has very moderate prices (and of course a beautiful view). ( updated Aug 2022 )
• 45.647334 13.767278 12 [dead link] Antica Trattoria Le Barettine ( Le Barettine ), Via del Bastione, 3 , ☏ +39 040 3229528 , +39 348 4780518 (Mobile) , [email protected] . M Tu 19:30-23:00; Th-Su 12:30-15:00, 19:30-23:00 . Italian seafood restaurant, huge wine collection, in Trieste's historical city center. €30-50 (April 2014) . ( updated Aug 2022 )
• 45.646769 13.764366 13 Buffet da Siora Rosa , Piazza Hortis 3 , ☏ +39 040 301460 . Tu-Sa 08:00-21:30 . One of Trieste's oldest family-owned restaurants operating since before World War II, serving typical Triestine cuisine. Particularly famous for their proscuitto cotto: cooked ham served with piquant mustard and horseradish. €10-25 per person (June 2014) . ( updated Aug 2022 )
• In the first little alley to the left of the Piazza Unità d'Italia, leading towards the hill, there are several small pasta restaurants and bistros.

Splurge [ edit ]

• 45.648587 13.765253 14 Ristorante Al Bagatto , Via Luigi Cadorna, 7 . ( updated Aug 2022 )
• 45.646991 13.763522 15 Celestino , Via Armando Diaz, 24 . ( updated Aug 2022 )

Drink [ edit ]

Some local specialties include:

• Frambua - from framboise - mint and tamarind
• Terrano wine other popular local wines include the Rosso, Malvasia, and the white Vitovska Garganja.

Coffee [ edit ]

Coffee has been an important part of Trieste since the 1700s. Some of the most famous caffè , known as much for their famous patrons as their food and drink, include:

• Caffè Tommaseo , Riva 3 Novembre .  
• Caffè San Marco , via Battisti, 18 . Open since 1914, San Marco is as popular with today's students and tourists as it was in the days of Saba and Giotti.  
• Caffè Torinese , Corso Italia, 2 . Perfectly preserved gem from the 19th century.  
• Caffè Pasticceria Pirona . One of the few remaining petesserias (cake shop that also sells coffee and liqueur, as well as beverages made from) to have retained its Viennese charm. One of its most devoted customers was none other than James Joyce.  
• Caffè degli Specchi , Piazza Unità d'Italia .  
• Chocolat , via Cavana 15 . It's a must for hot chocolate in wintertime and chocolate icecream in summertime.  

Locals usually enjoy coffee at the bar in the form of a capo in B , a small cappuccino (kind of like a macchiato but with a but more milk and foam) served in a glass cup. This is a unique kind of coffee only served in Trieste.

Sleep [ edit ]

The helpful tourist information in Piazza Unita can provide you with a list of accommodation and will even make bookings for you. They also have free maps.

• 45.70052 13.72364 1 The Tergeste Youth Hostel , Viale Miramare, 331 ( Take line 36 from Oberdan Square to Grignano. Journey takes between 10 and 20 minutes depending on traffic and passes the railway tracks and beach of Barcola. Get off at the Miramare junction, two minutes walk to the hostel. ), ☏ +39 040 224102 , [email protected] . 74 beds, restaurant indoors and a snack-bar and restaurant on the panoramic terrace. The youth hostel is easily reached by bus. It has a fantastic location with the Adriatic Sea just a few metres in front of it.  
• 45.77482 13.62441 2 [dead link] B&B Adria , Sistiana, 59/V , ☏ +39 328 09 77 182 , [email protected] . Close to the Castle Duino, the Rilke Promenade above the Natural reserve of Duino's Cliffs, very good connections with public transport to airport and downtown. Staff is very friendly and helpful. Double rooms min/max €22/24 per person/night, breakfast is included .  
• 45.64767 13.76689 3 Hotel Porta Cavana , Via Felice Venezian, 14 , ☏ +39 04030 1313 , [email protected] . Close to the beautiful Piazza Unità, its rooms have a CD-player, and cable TV. Staff are friendly and speak English. Singles/doubles min/max €36 - 130 .  
• 45.65568 13.77337 4 Hotel Roma , Via Ghega 7 , ☏ +39 040 370040 , [email protected] . 3-star hotel in the centre. 19th-century building, hotel bar and even business facilities.  
• 45.65496 13.77118 5 NH Jolly Trieste , Corso Cavour 7 , ☏ +39 040 7600055 .  
• Hotel Al Ponte , viale Trieste 124, Gradisca , ☏ +39 0481 961116 .  
• 45.650418 13.774055 6 DoubleTree by Hilton Trieste , Piazza della Repubblica, 1 , ☏ +39-040-9712950 , [email protected] . Check-in: 15:00 , check-out: 12:00 . A 4-star hotel that has 125 rooms and suites, 6 meeting rooms, spa centre, fitness centre, a restaurant and a bar. $120 . ( updated Jul 2020 )
• 45.68036 13.75428 7 Greif Maria Theresia , Viale Miramare 109 , ☏ +39 040 410115 . Elegant hotel few minutes by car from the centre, with indoor swimming pool. €120-250 .  

Stay safe [ edit ]

Trieste has long been Italy's safest city (possibly due to being a border city and, therefore, formerly being full of border police and other security services), and according to an increasing number of reports, the city ranks among the safest in Europe. There are very few problems with regards to walking the streets at night, taking taxis or pickpocketing. Obviously, normal precautions should be taken and like elsewhere in Italy be careful of drivers who tend to think that they own the road.

Partially as a result of its geographic location, Trieste finds itself smacked in the middle of many migrant routes from the middle east to the rest of Europe, and the main railway station has made headlines for attracting hordes of dodgy and suspicious-looking individuals. Simply avoiding eye-contact and looking sure about where you're going is enough to avoid trouble.

Work [ edit ]

Despite being a mid-sized Italian city, Trieste has one of Italy's strongest economies, and one can quickly notice the relative affluence of locals compared to other parts of Italy. Some world-famous companies like Illy (coffee) and Generali (insurance) come from Trieste. Speakers of Italian or Slovene or German should find work easily in Trieste. The city has a lot of science parks which employ scientists from all over the world and communication at these centres is usually in English. There are also a few English language schools which employ native speakers.

Cope [ edit ]

Consulates [ edit ], go next [ edit ].

• Across the countryside you can find small beautiful farms where you will find beautiful different kinds of home-made salami, cheese and ham, and a characteristic red wine. Along the Riviera (Muggia, Sistiana, Duino) you can find some nice places to sleep, too.
• The pretty island of Grado just to the west makes a good half-day boat trip (return ticket €6) [1] .
• Venice and Ljubljana are also major nearby destinations.
• Skocjan Caves in Slovenia is a few minutes from Bassovica, one of the suburbs above Trieste.
• The Slovenian coastal cities of Koper and Piran are about 30 minutes away (1 hour by bus) and make a great day trip. Buses depart from the bus station (€5.30 one way). The twin cities of Gorizia (in Italy) and Nova Gorica (in Slovenia) are around 45 minutes by train from Trieste. From Nova Gorica it's easy to take a connecting train to Lake Bled or other parts of the Slovenian Alps.
• During the summer months there are daily ferries to Piran (Slovenia) and Porec , Rovinj and Pula in Croatia costing around €40 for a return ticket. The Croatian cities in Istria are all accessible from Trieste by car in little over an hour. Trips to Austria (2 hours by car, 3 hours by train) are possible from Trieste via either Udine or Nova Gorica

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29 Best Things to See in Trieste, Italy

by Ryan | Mar 7, 2023 | Italy , Trieste

What Are the Best Things to See in Trieste?

Trieste , located on a thin strip of Italy sandwiched between Slovenia and the Adriatic Sea, has many distinct attributes for visitors to explore. If you’re interested in architecture, the best things to see in Trieste are:

• Unity of Italy Square
• Trieste City Hall
• Trieste Cathedral
• Palazzo del Lloyd Triestino
• Church of Santa Maria Maggiore
• Palazzo Carciotti
• Prefettura di Trieste
• Palazzo della Borsa Vecchia
• Serbian Orthodox Church of San Spiridione

Evangelical Lutheran Church

• Main Post Office Building
• Palazzo Stratti
• Palazzo del Tergesteo

Trieste Synagogue

• Roman Theatre of Trieste
• Terni-Smolars House

Neogothic Palace

• Salone degli Incanti
• Palazzo Gopcevich
• Bartoli House
• Greek Orthodox Church of Saint Nicholas
• San Silvestro Basilica

Ex Lighthouse La Lanterna

• Church of Sant’Antonio Nuovo
• San Giusto Castle
• Eataly Trieste
• Fountain of the Four Continents
• Richard’s Arch
• Statue of James Joyce

We spent all of November visiting the sights in Trieste . Based on our experience, we compiled this list of the best things to see.

If you don’t have a month to explore, you can follow our suggested  Trieste Walking Tour and easily see all the best sights on our list in one day.

This website contains affiliate links that may earn us a small commission at no additional cost to you.

Best Things to See in Trieste

aka Piazza Unità d’Italia

aka Town Hall aka Palazzo del Municipio di Trieste aka Palazzo Cheba (meaning “cage”) aka Palazzo Sipario (meaning “curtain” because it hid the Old City)

The tower dominates the façade with the clock and two Moors, Mikeze and Jakeze, who ring out the hours.

The building houses the offices of the Municipality of Trieste.

aka Cattedrale di San Giusto Martire

The first religious building on the site was built in the 6th century using part of an existing structure. Two  basilicas  were built on the ruins of the old church between the 9th and 11th centuries. In the 14th century, the two basilicas were joined by demolishing one  nave  of each basilica and constructing an asymmetrical façade with a  Gothic   rose window .

The two lateral apses are decorated with mosaics from the 12th and 13th-century Veneto-Byzantine schools. The central apse is from 1932. The central nave’s wrought-iron chandelier, donated by the Habsburgs, was initially intended for the Throne Room in Castello di Miramare.

aka Palace of the Regional Government aka Palazzo of Lloyd Austriaco

The building was completed in 1883 for the Lloyd Austriaco company, one of the oldest maritime businesses in the city. The two fountains on either side of the façade symbolize freshwater (Thetis) and saltwater (Venus), the two liquid kingdoms on which Lloyd’s fortune was based.

Since 1991 the building has been the seat of the Presidency of the Regional Council of Friuli Venezia Giulia.

aka Church of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary aka the Baroque Church of the Jesuits

The church of Santa Maria Maggiore church was built by the Jesuits in the 17th century but has been managed by the  Franciscan s since 1922. The church is at the foot of the San Giusto hill near the B asilica of Christ the Savior  (formerly the Basilica of San Silvestro).

Palazzo Carciotti, the home of the Greek merchant Demetrio Carciotti, is a jewel of neoclassical architecture designed by Matteo Pertsch. The palace includes the main house, sixteen apartments, and eighteen warehouses. The dome, topped by the Napoleonic eagle, served as an astronomical observatory. The sculptures of the deities are the work of Antonio Bosa, a pupil of Canova.

aka Prefecture aka Government Palace aka Palazzo della Luogotenenza Austriaca

Formerly the Palazzo della Luogotenenza, this is the most recent building in the square. Its Byzantine-style golden mosaics glitter at sunset. The mosaics originally depicted the Austrian double-headed eagles, but were replaced in 1919 with the crosses of Savoy.

The building is now the seat of the Prefecture, the Commissariat of the Government of Trieste.

aka Palazzo of the Old Stock Exchange aka the Old Stock Exchange Building

Today, the building is Trieste’s Chamber of Commerce. Similar to the nearby Fountain of the Four Continents, the statues across the front are allegories of the four known continents. On the roof are other sculptures representing the Danube, Trieste, Minerva, and Neptune.

A giant sundial using a camera obscura traces a golden ellipse inside the building. The work of the famous watchmaker Antonio Sebastianutti was used to synchronize ships’ chronometers. In 2010, a second sundial, with fossils, was mounted on the exterior sandstone floor.

The floor plan is a Greek cross surmounted by a large dome and four small Byzantine domes. Among the colorful mosaics, frescoes, and icons covered with precious stones, a silver lamp donated by Pavel Romanov, Tsar Paul I of Russia, stands out. The façade is partly covered with stone from the quarries of Santa Croce and Brioni.

aka Lutheran Evangelical Church ( Luternasko Evangeličanska Cerkev )

One of the many effects of the Free Port regime in Trieste was a strong presence of German merchants and administrators in the city, so much so that the Augsburg (or Augustan) Confession Evangelical Community was already legally constituted by 1778. The church, consecrated in 1874, was designed in Neogothic style by the architect Zimmermann of Wroclaw.

aka   Palazzo delle Poste Trieste

The majestic Palazzo delle Poste, the main post office, is an eclectic 1894 work by the Viennese architect Friedrich Selz. It now occupies the area of ancient salt pans on which the previous Customs building had been erected. The Mitteleuropa Postal and Telegraph Museum is on the ground floor, the only one in Italy.

The palace is a quadrilateral that occupies the entire block, following the model of Austrian administrative buildings. The main façade is decorated with statues representing Navigation, Railway, Commerce, Viticulture, Agriculture, and Industry.

aka   Casa Stratti

Once the home of the Greek merchant Niccolò Stratti, the building is now owned by Assicurazioni Generali. The historic   Caffè degli Specchi   is located on the ground floor.

At the top of the façade, a sculptural group celebrates the city of Trieste, progress, and commerce.

aka Tergesteo Palace

The Tergesteo Palace is an important building in Trieste.   The ground floor is a  shopping arcade , while the upper floors have been   offices and residential apartments since its inauguration. It was originally home to the Trieste stock exchange.

A neoclassical palazzo from the mid-19th century, traversed by a cross-shaped glassed-in arcade.   The original  iron and glass  ceiling of the gallery was demolished and replaced with a glass block structure during restoration ending in 1957.  The original roof of the gallery was restored in 2011.

The sculptures on the main façades represent Commerce, Industry, and Navigation. In the center stands the figure representing Trieste as Tethys, the goddess of the sea.

aka Israelitic Synagogue and Temple

The synagogue, one of the largest in Europe, replaced the four small preexisting ones.  Today it is recognized as one of the most important places of worship for Jews in Europe.

Roman Theater of Trieste

The Roman ruins scattered throughout the city are popular tourist attractions. The most impressive is the Roman Theater. The Teatro Romano was built outside the walls, in an area by the sea at the time. It could accommodate more than 6,000 spectators. In the Middle Ages, it was buried by the houses that were built over it. After nearly 2,000 years, it was excavated and restored in 1938. Today, it is still the site of shows and artistic events during the summer months.

In addition to the theater, you can find a variety of Roman ruins in the square in front of the castle. Additionally, near the cathedral, you can walk among the remains of the ancient Roman basilica. These well-preserved ruins provide a glimpse into Trieste’s history and are a fascinating sight for history enthusiasts.

If Roman ruins are your thing, then Aquileia is a must-visit destination near Trieste. Located just a 45-minute drive from Trieste, t his ancient Roman settlement, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site, is known for its remarkable archaeological ruins.

aka   Casa Terni Smolars

This Art Nouveau building has a large round window surrounded by female figures. The windows, balconies, railings, a pensile loggia, and a protruding cornice dominated by a dome are just some of the many elements that attract attention to this building and that change floor by floor.

aka Palazzo Neogotico

The neogothic-style palace was built at the far end of the seafront in the heart of the Borgo Giuseppino.

aka Santa Maria del Guato (a reference to the size of the vaults and the tower that resembles a bell tower, see it as a basilica dedicated to the guato, the goby, a very common fish in the gulf)

Fish auctions ( incanti ) were once held in the old fish market, which is now home to events and temporary exhibitions. It has a tower that once distributed seawater to the fish counters and today supplies the tanks for the adjoining Civic Marine Aquarium of Trieste.

Inaugurated in 1850, the residence of the Serbian shipowner Spiridione Gopcevich shows a façade with yellow and red motifs inspired by the Palazzo Ducale in Venice and architectural decorations that recall the history of the Serbian people. Today it houses the Carlo Schmidl Theatre Museum.

The building is one of the first and most important examples of Eclecticism in Trieste; indeed, Giovanni Berlam was one of the first Triestine architects to work with a variety of different historic architectural styles.

The Bartoli House is one of the city’s best-known and most famous Art Nouveau buildings. It was designed by Max Fabiani, a Mitteleuropa architect, and pupil of Otto Wagner at the Vienna Polytechnic. A cascade of leaves between the windows and elegant glass and cast-iron balconies dominate the façade.

aka   Greek Orthodox Church of San Nicolò

Inside are two large canvases by Cesare Dell’Acqua, Maximilian of Habsburg’s favorite painter, and an engraved silver iconostasis illuminated by the lights and colors of sunset.

Basilica di San Silvestro  aka Basilica of Christ the Savior

This is the oldest place of worship in Trieste. In 1784, after the closure of many Catholic churches imposed by the Austrian Emperor Joseph II, it was sold to the Helvetic community, which now manages it with the Waldensians.

Popular belief has it that the church stands on the foundations of the birthplace of the early martyrs Euphemia and Thecla.

The bell tower may have been built for defensive purposes in medieval times. The layout has no apse.

The old lighthouse of Trieste is situated on the Molo Fratelli Bandiera, 9 where maritime signals existed in Roman times.

The unpainted white stone lighthouse was ordered by Carlo Zinzendorf and designed by the architect Matteo Pertsch. It was constructed in 1830 and went into active use in 1833. T he lighthouse is a 31 m (102 ft) round stone tower with a lantern and gallery, rising from a circular 2-story stone building intended for military defense. The Ex Lighthouse La Lanterna has been inactive since 1969.

The Victory Lighthouse ( Faro della Vittoria ) is now the working lighthouse in Trieste. Completed in 1927, this lighthouse stands 223 feet tall and offers a breathtaking panoramic view of the city and coastline. It commemorates those who lost their lives at sea during World War I. The Faro della Vittoria is the best place for panoramic views of the harbor.

Church of Sant'Antonio Nuovo

The largest church in the city. It stands on a square, also known as Sant’Antonio Nuovo, at the end of the Grand Canal.

Castle of Saint Giusto aka   Castello di San Giusto

The initial core of the Castle, the so-called Casa del Capitano, was incorporated into the triangular fortress, and differently shaped bastions of the Rotondo, Lalio, and Fiorito were added over the centuries. It was opened to the public in 1936 after extensive restoration.

Today, the Castle is one of the hubs of the city’s cultural life, hosting various museums. During the summer, it becomes the venue for outdoor shows and concerts.

Antico Magazzina Vini

aka The Ancient Wine Warehouse aka Eataly Trieste

Inaugurated in 1902, the building once stored the barrels from Istria and Dalmatia, kept at a constant temperature by what was then an innovative watering system. Completely renovated and equipped with a spectacular view of the Gulf of Trieste , since 2017 it has been the home to Eataly Trieste .

The Fountain of Four Continents was created from 1751 to 1754 by the famous sculptor Giovanni Battista Mazzoleni. The fountain symbolizes the four then-known parts of the world: Europe, Asia, Africa, and America.

Richard's Arch

Arco di Riccardo

This is one of the Roman city’s gates that was built as a way to the monumental area of ​​the hill of San Giusto.

At the beginning of the 20th century, it was the main thoroughfare of a densely-populated area of ​​taverns and meeting places. The arch was partly uncovered by excavations conducted in 1913 and separated from the houses on one side.

The Irish writer James Joyce (1882-1941) arrived in Trieste in 1904 with his partner Nora. The couple moved often and, for a short time, lived on Piazza Ponterosso on the third floor of the building that now houses the cafè of the same name. The statue by Nino Spagnoli was placed here in 2004.

The fruit and vegetable market once held on this spot is perhaps remembered in a passage from the prose poem Giacomo Joyce, set in Trieste: “The sellers offer on their altars the first fruits: greenflecked lemons, jewelled cherries, shameful peaches with torn leaves.”

If you’re still on the fence after reading about the 29 best things to see, check out “ Is Trieste Worth Visiting .” We review a long list of factors you should consider before reserving a room and booking your flight.

Trieste Walking Tour

If you only have one day in Trieste, we suggest visiting the recommended sites in the following order:

• Richard’s Arch
• Lutheran Evangelical Church

Following the suggested route will take you past 26 of the 29 Best Things to See in Trieste and much of the Old Town! The only sights omitted are the Trieste Synagogue, Neogothic Palace, and the Ex Lighthouse Lanterna. All three are worth visiting, but they are somewhat out of the way from others on the list.

Depending on your level of urgency, it will take approximately 3 1/2 hours to complete the walking tour. This estimate allows time to stop for photos and take a peak inside the churches (along with an occasional drink of water). But it does not include tours of the attractions or lunch at Eataly.

Map of Things to See in Trieste

Our suggested Trieste Walking Tour starts and ends at the Unity of Italy Square. Along the way, you will see many interesting architectural buildings and pass through much of the Old Town.

The first part of the tour starts in the Unity of Italy Square, passes through the Piazza della Borsa, then by the Roman Theatre and up San Giusto Hill to the Trieste Cathedral and the Castle of San Giusto. After you’ve taken in the sights, you’ll descend through historic neighborhoods down to Eataly Trieste where you’ll have the chance to get a snack.

When you get to Eataly Trieste you’re past the halfway mark. Eataly is located in a historic building and has many local food (and wine) products for sale. This would be a great place to get lunch or a snack before you finish the tour.

The second part of the tour takes you down the promenade near the pier ( Molo Audace ) and past numerous churches and palaces around the Canale Grande and back to the Unity of Italy Square.

If you’re up for seeing a little more of Trieste, we recommend the tour of historic cafes . This tour will take you to many beautiful cafes and some new areas of Trieste. Note: if you take this tour, you should visit the Trieste Synagogue after an espresso at the Caffè San Marco .

City Tours in Trieste

Want to learn about Trieste’s history with a guide? Book a highly-rated city tour!

Trieste Travel Tips

What is the best time to visit trieste.

The time of the year with good weather and fewer crowds is often referred to as the shoulder season. The shoulder season in Trieste is March, April, October, and November. For many, this is the best time of the year to visit.

How to get to Trieste?

If you fly into Trieste Airport , you can get to the historic city center by train, taxi, or bus. If you can walk to your accommodation from the train station with your luggage, I recommend taking the train. There is a train station at the airport, and it is an easy journey to Trieste Centrale Station.

If you need door-to-door service, then a taxi from the airport to the front door of your hotel is best. To arrange a taxi or  private transfer, we recommend  GetTransfer .

Where to stay in Trieste?

There are many great places to stay in Trieste. For the best experience, we recommend staying near the Piazza Unita d’ Italia (the castle marker on the map below). Northeast of the castle marker is a great area with historic churches, cafes, the canal, and many restaurants.  Southwest of the castle marker is a beautiful area with older churches and buildings, small shops, restaurants, and cafes.

Here’s an interactive map with hotel and apartment options that can be filtered to meet your needs. Select your travel dates to get specific availability and prices.

Book your stay now!

Best Cellular for a Trieste visit?

Do you need cellular data during your trip and don’t want to pay for roaming? We use eSIMs from Airalo during our travel and highly recommend them. They are cheap, easy to set up, and allow you to leave your primary sim card in your phone (so you don’t lose it). Click below for more info.

FAQs About Things to See in Trieste

What is trieste best known for.

Trieste is best known for its history, diverse culture, and stunning waterfront. Located in northeastern Italy, Trieste has a unique blend of Italian, Slovenian, and Austrian influences. It was once an important port city of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and has a fascinating mix of architectural styles, including neoclassical, baroque, and art nouveau. Trieste is also famous for its coffee culture and is home to several historic cafes where literary figures such as James Joyce used to gather. The city’s waterfront promenade offers beautiful views of the Adriatic Sea and is a popular spot for locals and tourists alike. Additionally, Trieste hosts the annual Barcolana Regatta, one of the largest sailing races in the world.

What is unique from Trieste?

Trieste is unique among Italian cities due to its location in northeastern Italy. Significantly, its cultural and historical heritage blends Italian, Austrian, and Slovenian influences due to its location near the border of these countries. Trieste also has a unique geographical position as it sits on the Adriatic Sea and is surrounded by beautiful hills and mountains.

Additionally, one of the most unique and popular things to see near Trieste is the Grotta Gigante, the largest tourist cave in the world. Located about 30 minutes from the city center, this colossal single cavern is several million years old and is truly impressive. With its central cavern being over 320 ft. high, 200 ft. wide, and 420 ft. long, it offers a breathtaking experience for visitors. Exploring this karst cave on a guided tour allows you to witness its grandeur firsthand, although it’s important to note that even a 50-minute tour cannot cover all of its wonders.

If you’re a cave or nature enthusiast, the Postojna Cave, located only 48 kilometers from the Trieste city center in neighboring Slovenia, i s a popular attraction for visitors. The Postojna Cave is known for its stunning underground formations and unique ecosystem. Visitors can take guided tours through the cave system and marvel at the beauty of stalactites, stalagmites, and other geological wonders.

Is Trieste a beautiful city?

Piazza Unità d’Italia , Trieste’s main square, is undeniably beautiful. The square and nearby Miramare Castle , along with its large park, goes a long way to making Trieste a beautiful city.

Is Trieste in Italy worth visiting?

Trieste in Italy is definitely worth visiting! This beautiful city offers a unique blend of Italian, Austrian, and Slovenian influences, resulting in a cultural and architectural heritage. Trieste is known for its stunning waterfront promenade, historic buildings such as Miramare Castle, and vibrant café culture. Additionally, the city boasts several museums, including the Revoltella Museum and the Museo del Mare (Maritime Museum), which offer fascinating insights into Trieste’s history and maritime traditions. Whether you’re strolling through the charming streets of the old town or exploring the nearby Karst region with its caves and vineyards, Trieste has something to offer every visitor. So if you’re looking for a destination off the beaten path that combines history, culture, and natural beauty, Trieste should definitely be on your travel list!

What food is Trieste Famous for?

How many days do i need in trieste.

The number of days you need in Trieste depends on your personal preferences and the activities you plan to do. Trieste is a beautiful city with many attractions, such as Piazza Unità d’Italia, Trieste Cathedral, and the nearby Miramare Castle .

If you want to fully immerse yourself in the city and visit all the major attractions, we recommend spending at least 2-3 days in Trieste. However, if you prefer a more condensed itinerary, it’s possible to see the city’s highlights in a single day. Ultimately, it’s up to you to decide how much time you want to dedicate to your visit and what activities you prioritize.

How do you spend a day in Trieste?

Trieste is a beautiful city with many attractions and activities to offer. Here’s a suggested itinerary for spending a day in Trieste:

• Start your day with a coffee or cappuccino at one of Trieste’s historic cafes.
• Visit Piazza Unità d’Italia, the main square in the heart of the city, which is a must-see attraction. Take in the stunning sea views and surrounding architecture.
• Take a leisurely stroll along the waterfront promenade, known as the Rive, where you can enjoy scenic views of the Adriatic Sea, and stop by the large Eataly store to learn all about Italian foods.
• Enjoy a leisurely lunch at a local trattoria, where you can savor traditional Italian dishes and local specialties.
• Explore the historic center of Trieste, wandering through its narrow streets and admiring the historical buildings and landmarks, such as the Cathedral of San Giusto.
• Stop by a wine bar for a glass of local wine while enjoying small bites.
• A great way to end the day is a walk along the Molo Audace pier. This is the perfect place to catch a breathtaking sunset over the sea.
• For dinner, explore Trieste’s diverse culinary scene. Choose from seafood restaurants, pizza places, or traditional Trattorias offering regional dishes.

Remember, this is just one way to spend a day in Trieste. Feel free to adjust it based on your interests and preferences. Enjoy your visit to Trieste and make the most of your time exploring this charming city.

Is Trieste Worth a Day Trip?

Trieste is well worth a day trip because it is very different from other parts of Italy. Much of the city was built when it was part of the Austro-Hungary Empire. This fact is reflected in the architecture and the food.

Do they speak English in Trieste?

Is it safe to travel to trieste, what region is trieste in.

Trieste is located in the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region of Italy. Friuli-Venezia Giulia is in northeastern Italy with Slovenia to the east, Austria to the north. the Veneto region to the west, and the Adriatic Sea to the south.

Where is Trieste?

Trieste, located on the Adriatic Sea in the northeast corner of Italy, is situated right at the border with Slovenia, with Ljubljana (Slovenia’s capital) less than 60 miles away from Trieste. Other popular cities nearby include Venice, Milan, and Bologna. If you’re planning a trip to Italy or exploring neighboring countries like Slovenia or Croatia, Trieste is definitely worth a visit.

How Far Is Trieste from Venice?

Valentina's Travel Guide

Where to find everything you need to plan your next vacation

How to Plan a Trip to Trieste for the First Time

Updated: Sep 9, 2023

If you plan to visit the beautiful city of Trieste , you are in the right place. In this article, I will give you all the tips & info you need to know before starting to plan your trip to Trieste, one of the most beautiful cities in Italy .

Trieste is my home town, so I know a lot about it, from when to visit Trieste to enjoy the most of it, how to move around Trieste ( the city center is walkable so no need to use any transport, but I'll give you info about them too anyway ), how to visit Trieste if you have only one day, what to see and do and where and what to eat .

After all, what is a trip without tasting all the local food? ( This is one of the main reasons I travel; is it yours too? )

Trieste is a beautiful destination spot, and its demand is growing ( maybe thanks to all my articles? Well, it's my hometown, and I obviously wish everyone would visit it ).

The question is: Do you want to know everything about how to plan a trip to Trieste? Well, that’s exactly what you will learn in this article. Make sure to read it till the end!

So, let's start planning your trip to Trieste!

Please sit back, relax, get a cup of coffee ( or a hibiscus tea, my favorite ), and let me help you plan the best trip to Trieste!

*This post contains affiliate links. I receive commissions for purchases made through those links at no extra cost to you. Please understand that I have experience with all of these companies, and I recommend them because they are helpful and valuable, not because of the small commissions I make if you decide to buy something.

Is Trieste worth visiting?

It's absolutely worth visiting Trieste in Italy, and I'm not saying it only because I grew up in Trieste.

Trieste is a beautiful city with stunning Adriatic sea views from the main square, Piazza Unita' d'Italia, from the top of the hill at San Giusto Castle, or from the long promenade called Barcola.

Trieste will surprise you with its intense Bora wind, sweeping you from your feet and making you fly like Mary Poppins ( don't worry, it doesn't blow every day ).

In Trieste, you will find delicious fresh fish and local cuisine made of Italian and Austro-Hungarian recipes.

What is Trieste Italy known for?

Trieste is a mix of cultures that create a wonderful city full of stunning buildings, hospitable locals, delicious wines, relaxed atmospheres, unmissable museums, and much more for travelers who can't wait to explore and learn everything about it.

Obviously, I am biased about Trieste because it is my hometown. But if you don't believe me, you must check out my " The most complete guide of Trieste " to see if my words are true ( they are, and you will thank me for all the info I will give you ).

If you are visiting Trieste because you will embark on a cruise starting from my beautiful city, take advantage of the opportunity to visit Trieste for at least one day.

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How many days in Trieste is enough?

Trieste city center is pretty small so if you have only one day to explore it, you can easily see the main attraction in Trieste.

If you wish to visit some museums in Trieste, like the San Giusto Castle , the beautiful Miramare Castle , the Revoltella museums with all its antiques, and the museum dedicated to the life of the famous writer James Joice , you will need at least three days in Trieste. There are many things to do in Trieste .

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Don't forget there are plenty of beautiful places to visit around Trieste, like the Giant Cave , the Collio region where to drink delicious wine, and also many other cities in Italy, like a day trip to Venice , to Slovenia's capital Ljubljana or the small fisherman's town of Piran ( also in Slovenia ).

There are plenty of stunning destinations to see during a day trip from Trieste , so before deciding how many days to spend in this incredible city, have a look at what to do in Trieste to make a list of all the places you wish to see and activities you want to do and to all the fabulous day trips from Trieste.

There are so many things to do and places to see you will stay longer than you thought.

Embaring a cruise that start in trieste?

Check out these helpful articles I wrote for you:

28 Top-rated Hotels near Trieste Cruise Port

The Ultimate Trieste Cruise Port Guide

How to Visit Trieste in One Day

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

Essential things to know about visiting Trieste

Booking an accommodation in Trieste

How to get to trieste, cost of visiting trieste, how to move around trieste, drinking and eating out in trieste, shopping and souvenirs in trieste, is trieste safe, tours and activities in trieste.

Important telephone numbers

If you like this article, share it with your friends; maybe someone you know is planning to visit Trieste.

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How to plan a trip to Trieste like a pro

Essential things about visiting Trieste

What is the time zone in trieste.

Trieste, Italy, is in the Central European Time Zone, GMT +1. Italy observes daylight-saving in summer, advancing time by 1 hour to GMT +2. The changes happen on the last Saturday of March and October.

What is the best time to visit Trieste?

Trieste can be visited in every season, it depends on what you wish to get from your vacation in Trieste. There are always plenty of things to see and do in Trieste in every season. If you want to enjoy sunny days without the crowds of tourists, April, May, and September are the perfect months.

If you want to spend some time on one of Trieste's beaches, June, July, and August are your months, but be aware that Trieste can be very hot during summer, with the highest temperature reaching 38°/100F, so not so pleasant for walking all day.

If you wish to visit Trieste on a budget, months like October, November, and March could be perfect.

I would honestly avoid visiting Trieste in December ( unless you want to see the Trieste Christmas markets ), January, and February when the Bora wind is at its peak, and it can rain or snow the whole day.

What is the language spoken in Trieste?

The main language spoken in Trieste is Italian. Most locals speak the Trieste dialect, called "Triestino." In Trieste, there is a mix of cultures with people from Greece, Austria, Slovenia, and Serbia.

Wish to learn some sentences in Italian before your trip to Italy? Check out Duolingo , the free app I use to learn a new language.

What is the currency used in Trieste?

Trieste is in Italy, so the currency used is Euro.

Is it easy to find ATMs in Trieste?

You can find ATMs very easily in Trieste. Remember that many ATMs in Italy are inside the bank, so if you need to withdraw money when the bank is closed, you will need a card with a magnetic stripe to enter the bank's ATM.

Which credit cards to use in Trieste?

Almost all credit cards are accepted in Trieste. Having a Visa or Mastercard would be better because American Express or Discover might not be accepted everywhere. Remember to ALWAYS have some cash with you when in Trieste. Not every place accepts a card payment, and many shops have a minimum spend of € 5-10.

When traveling, I always use my Revolut Card , the best pre-paid travel card to use abroad! Learn here about Revolut !

Do I need vaccinations to visit Trieste?

You do not need to get any vaccinations to visit Trieste in Italy. But if you prefer to check it out, you can always consult the Vaccination Requirements for Italy.

Do I need Travel insurance to visit Trieste?

You cannot leave home for a trip without booking a good travel insurance!

I always get my travel insurance on VisitorsCoverage for short trips up to a few weeks, while SafetyWings is the best travel insurance for longer trips.

Is there a Visa Requirement to visit Trieste, Italy?

If you come from outside Europe, you might need to apply for a Visa to visit Italy . Check on Italy Visa requirements to make sure to apply for it as soon as you book your flight ticket!

What are the Voltage and adaptors needed in Trieste?

The standard voltage used in Trieste is 220-240 volts, with most sockets using European plugs of the two round-pin varieties. If you come from outside Europe, your appliances will require a voltage converter and plug adaptor to function properly.

If you frequently travel to Europe and need to use hair styling tools, purchasing a travel hair dryer and a travel curling iron is recommended so you will always have them for your next adventures!

Is it easy to find Wifi in Trieste?

You will find free wifi in Trieste in most bars and restaurants, all hotels, and on some new buses.

If you wish to always have data with you to be able to connect with your family and friends or to post your pictures on your social media, I advise you to purchase an eSim Card for Italy , as I always do when I visit my family in Trieste.

Are there any luggage storages in Trieste?

If you arrive in Trieste too early for check-in or cannot leave your luggage at your accommodation after your check-out and want to explore the city during these free hours, you can always leave your luggage at a Luggage Storage in Trieste .

When traveling, remember to always use an anti-theft backpack ( see that one I use here ) to keep your valuables safe, a TSA-approved cable luggage lock for your luggage, and please never forget to add to all your bags luggage tags ( I just bought these ones for me and Lajos ).

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Trieste is a very popular city so you will find accommodations for every budget. Check out my best hotels in the city center ( and near the cruise port ) to chose the right accommodation for your next adventure, to be right in the middle of the city, only a short walk from all the most famous sights, or the top rated accommodations in Trieste for every budget.

You can reach Trieste by flying to Trieste Airport, which is well-connected to many European capitals and other Italian cities ( see flight connections from your airport ).

You have multiple options for transportation from Trieste Airport to the Port of Trieste Cruise Terminal.

By taxi: One of the most convenient ways is to take a taxi or arrange a private transfer . Taxis are readily available outside the Trieste airport terminal. The journey to the cruise port costs €60 and takes approximately 30 minutes, depending on traffic.

By bus: Alternatively, you can opt for a shuttle service , which provides a cost-effective and hassle-free transfer between the airport and the cruise port. These shuttle services operate regularly, offering comfortable transportation for passengers with luggage to Trieste Autostazione ( bus station ) or Trieste Cruise Port.

By train: A train stops at Trieste Airport thrice per hour and will take you to Trieste Centrale Train Station. See train schedules from Trieste Airport to Trieste Centrale here .

You are in luck, like always, and in my Trieste Cruise Port Guide , I have a complete guide on how to reach the Trieste city center from every airport in the region and even from Treviso and Venice Airports.

Read it now or bookmark it for later!

I hope you will always have a safe flight and never have to experience a flight delay, but in case it happens, Airhelp and Compensair are the websites I used when I had a flight delay and asked for some compensation.

Check them out!

Is Trieste expensive to visit?

Trieste is becoming a very popular Italian destination, but you can visit it with any budget, thanks to the info and tips I provide in my Trieste Travel Guide .

There are plenty of hotels for every type of traveler, from hostels where to meet other young travelers, budget hotels with breakfast included right in Trieste's old town, some gorgeous Boutique Hotels to visit the city in style, and some pretty new luxury hotels to have the vacation of your dreams.

Looking for the perfect hotel in Trieste?

I can help you with that, see the best hotels in Trieste city center for every budget!

Is Trieste Italy walkable?

Trieste city center is pretty small so you can easily visit it just by walking around. Only to reach San Giusto Castle you will have to walk up a hill, but you can always catch the bus 24.

Visit Trieste by bus:

Trieste has a dense bus network that is well-connected in every ward. See Trieste bus tickets prices .

If you prefer to move by bus around Trieste, remember you can pay for your ticket on the bus with a debit/credit card and see bus routes on your Google Maps.

If you want to explore the area around Trieste, renting a car to move freely is the best solution.

Hire a Taxi in Trieste:

Trieste taxis have a metered kilometer rate. The first click of the taximeter device is valid for the first 83.3 meters: € 3.50

For each subsequent 83.3 meters: € 0.10. It is pretty affordable, and in case you cannot find one straight away, call them at Trieste Radio Taxi (0039-30-77-30), and someone will come to pick you up, or they will tell you where to find the closest one.

If you don't speak Italian and prefer an app, download Radio Taxi Trieste .

Travel Tip: Do you see those two letters on the taxi's back window? ( see picture above ). AP means this taxi accepts card payments.

Move outside Trieste by Ferry:

There is a lovely way to visit the charming sea village of Muggia or get to Barcola, Grignano, and Sistiana for a swim or just a walk along the waterfront.

You can catch the Delfino Verde ferry on the left side of the Stazione Marittima (Molo dei Bersaglieri 3, 34123 Trieste) check out time schedule and prices here.

If you like my content, remember that I covered many destinations worldwide, and I keep adding more content weekly. So, let's keep in touch. SUBSCRIBE TO MY FREE VIP AREA to receive weekly updates about new destinations. Let's become friends!

What food is Trieste famous for?

One of the most famous dishes in Trieste is the soup Jota, made with sauer krauts, potatoes, beans, and pork meat, and it is Lajos's favorite I make it for him every winter.

Trieste offers many local dishes, from Austro-Hungarian to classic Italian dishes to delicious fresh fish that local chefs prepare dayly in the local restaurants.

There are also many local cakes you will love to taste, like the Pinza, Presnitz, Putizza, and much more. Read all the local food you have to try in Trieste !

Are tap water and food safe in Trieste?

Drinking water in Trieste from taps is safe, mainly because the water comes from the Alps and is very pure and tasty. You can bring your reusable water bottle and refill it at any fountains you can find around the city.

Honestly, Trieste has so much delicious food to offer that the only problem you will have is that your stomach needs to be bigger to eat everything you wish.

Food and drinks prices in Trieste:

Prices may vary from bar to restaurant also from where the place is located if near a famous, and tourist spot or a bit further, but these are the approximate prices for the most common foods and drinks in Trieste:

In Trieste supermarkets:

Bottle 1.5 L water: around 0.40-0.50 Euro

Beer 0.33 L: approximately 1.50 Euro

Bottle of Wine: 5-10 Euro

In a Trieste Bar:

Coffee-latte: 1.50 Euro

A glass of 0.5 L Beer: around 1.50-2.00 Euro

A bottle of wine: 12-20 Euro

Coke in a can: Around 2.00-2.50 Euro

A glass of wine: Around 3.50-6.00 Euro

At a Restaurant in Trieste:

Restaurant on a budget per person: Around € 15

Restaurant medium-range per person: Around € 30-40

Fine dining Restaurant per person: From € 80

There are many food activities to enjoy in Trieste, from cooking classes , to local Aperitivo to wine tastings tours , there is something for everyone to enjoy the Italian food like every travelers wish to do when visiting Italy.

Tipping guide in Trieste:

A gratuity of 10-20% in Italian restaurants is often added to the bill, so check that you still need to pay the tip before you add more to your payment.

If not, a 10-15% tip is encouraged, mostly in tourist places. The tip should reflect the customer service you received, so it is up to you to decide how much to give.

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If you love shopping, Trieste will surprise you with many shops of the best Italian clothes, shoes and anything else you might want to buy.

The most famous shopping streets in Trieste are Corso Italia, via Mazzini, via San Nicolò, via Roma, via Carducci, and via Battisti.

There are many things to buy in Trieste as a souvenir for yourself or a gift for your family and friends. Read my what to buy in Trieste article to learn everything about the best handmade items and local food to purchase in Trieste.

Is Trieste safe for a solo woman traveler?

Trieste is pretty safe during the day with tourists and locals around the streets; the only thing you must worry about are pickpockets that, unfortunately, can be present in every tourist city.

So I advise having with you an antitheft purse or an antitheft backpack . Prudence is never enough when you are far from home, even in the safest place in the world.​

Overnight I advise a solo woman traveler to keep her guard up at all times because bad things can happen anywhere, anytime, to anybody, so please take safety first.

During my solo travels, I always contacted local ladies through travel Facebook groups, and I have been lucky to meet people who took me around and showed me their city, so I felt pretty safe being out late in the evening because I wasn't alone.

In Trieste, there is a wide range of activities to choose from. You can take a walking tour of the city center , to explore its rich history and architecture.

If you're a wine lover, you can also book a wine-tasting tour in Trieste or discover the flavors of the Collio region . To taste the local cuisine, you can have an aperitivo with a local and try the delicious delicacies and wines.

If you prefer a more personalized experience, you can opt for a private guided tour of the city . Additionally, guided day trips are available to nearby destinations that are just a few hours away, allowing you to explore even more wonderful places.

Important telephone numbers in Trieste

European Emergency Number 112 ( they will direct you to the number you need )

General Emergency 113

Police ( polizia )

Financial Police ( guardia di finanza ) 117

Medical Emergency ( emergenza medica ) 118

Fire Brigade ( vigili del fuoco ) 115

Forest Fire Brigade ( guardia forestale ) 1515

Coast Guard ( guardian costiera ) 1530

Road Assistance ( soccorso stradale ) 803116 from an Italian phone and 800 116 800 from a foreign mobile.

Before you go...

If you're planning a trip to Trieste, it's important to plan ahead and book everything in advance to ensure you have the best experience.

Trieste is becoming increasingly popular among both Italians and foreigners, and this makes me very proud of my beautiful hometown, but it's best to secure your accommodations, activities, and transportation early to avoid any sold-out situations ( being a super-organized traveler means plan as much as possible in advance ).

By following my tips and gathering all the necessary information I wrote in this article, you'll be well-prepared for your trip to Trieste.

Don't forget to read my other articles about Trieste:

The complete Trieste travel guide

Where to eat local in Trieste

What are the local dishes in Trieste

Best accommodations in the heart of Trieste

What are the top-rated hotels in Trieste for every budget

Best tours and activities to do in Trieste

Best gifts and souvenirs from Trieste

Unmissable day trips only 2 hours from Trieste

The complete Trieste cruise port guide

How to spend one dy in Trieste

Your super-organized travel blogger

Xoxo Valentina

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Trieste Food Guide: 45 Delicious Food and Drinks to Try in Trieste

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I'm an Italian with a passion for well-planned travels and food.

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What to do in Trieste, our favorite city in Italy

Last Updated on 3rd October 2019 by Sarah and Justin

Italy is home to quite a few popular tourist destinations. But our favorite city in Italy is one you may have never heard of: Trieste. Honestly, we didn’t know much about it before visiting either. But once we did, we were hooked. It’s a truly unique city due to its history and location, and that shows in its architecture, its food, and its general vibe. So we’re here to tell you what to do in Trieste including:

• Things to do in Trieste including the city’s top attractions

Day trips from Trieste

• Trieste restaurants, bars, and our favorite gelato spots of course!

Hopefully after reading, you’ll understand why Trieste is our favorite city in Italy.

About Trieste, Italy

Trieste is not listed on most Italy itineraries because of its location. It’s in Northern Italy, but just barely. Tucked in the corner of the Adriatic Sea, right on the border of Slovenia, it’s definitely not the easiest place to get from other Italian tourist destinations. It’s about two hours from Venice by train, so it doesn’t make for the best day trip. And besides, there’s so much to see and do in Trieste, you’ll definitely want to stay a night (or a week!).

Trieste has an interesting history. Settlement in the area can be traced back to the 3rd millennium BCE. By the 2nd century it was part of the Roman Republic. And its name, Tergeste, was recorded by Julius Caesar.

Many years later, after centuries of fighting (as a free city) with Venice, Trieste asked for protection and support from the Duke of Austria. Trieste was a very important city during the centuries that followed. Due to its position and its port, it benefited from an influx of wealthy, international merchants and entrepreneurs.

In the early 19th century, Trieste was a popular place for artists and writers. The city is well known for being a beloved haunt of James Joyce who lived and wrote there for more than a decade.

After WWI, Trieste became part of Italy. After WWII, Trieste was split in two with one zone (A) under allied rule and one zone (B) governed by Yugoslavia. Zone A was annexed with Italy in 1954 and the border issues around Zone B were settled in 1975.

At present, Trieste is the capital of the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region of Italy. This is, also interestingly, an autonomous region meaning it is granted a special status and constitution.

Sources:  https://www.britannica.com/place/Trieste-Italy Accessed 12 March 2019. https://www.ictp.it/visit-ictp/about-trieste/triestehistory.aspx Accessed 12 March 2019. http://www.museojoycetrieste.it/english/the-trieste-of-james-joyce/ Accessed 12 March 2019.

Things to do in trieste.

We first visited Trieste on a trip to Northern Italy. We knew next to nothing about it, but fell in love. We loved it so much, in fact, that when we were planning the final leg of our trip around the world , we made it a priority to get back. So over the course of two trips, we spent a total of five days in Trieste.

As you can imagine from reading the city’s history, there is so much to do in Trieste. Although the center is small enough to see on foot, it’s chock full of sights from stately Austrian-era buildings or to ancient Roman ruins.

Piazza Unità d’Italia

Piazza Unità d’Italia is the heart of Trieste. It’s considered the largest sea-facing city square in Europe, which is kind of a funny distinction. Lined with massive, ornate white buildings on the three non-sea-facing sides, it does feel large and quite impressive.

Off the piazza, there’s a pier leading out into the Adriatic Sea which is a beautiful spot to relax and watch the sunset.

Teatro Romano

Right smack in the middle of the city are the ruins of an ancient Roman amphitheater (Teatro Romano). It’s thought to have been built in the middle of the 1st century CE. The theater is set just a couple blocks back from the Piazza Unità d’Italia, and at the bottom of San Giusto hill.

In our opinion, the coolest thing about these roman ruins are that they’re just right in the middle of the modern city. We’re more accustomed to seeing ancient ruins off in their own special area. Not these. Surrounded by residential buildings, there’s even a supermarket right next door (where we of course went shopping).

For the archaeology buffs out there, check out this cool self-guided tour of the city’s sites .

San Giusto Hill

There are more Roman ruins, and more incredible views, to be seen from the top of San Giusto Hill. It’s the location of the oldest known settlement in the city. It’s also the location of the impressive San Giusto Castle, which was built around the time Trieste came under Austria’s control and protection. Fortunately, the castle never saw much military activity so survived pretty much in tact. The Roman ruins are outside the castle and make for an interesting contrast. The whole place is quite cool, and will take you an hour or so to explore. The views from the top are especially nice (even on a somewhat foggy day like we had). San Giusto Cathedral also sits atop the hill. And there’s a museum and an armory to check out too.

We took public bus 24 up to the top of the hill and walked back down to the center (catching a view of the Roman theater which sits at the bottom).

Walking and wandering

As we often make clear in our blog posts, we truly love walking and wandering around cities. Trieste is a great place to do that since it offers quite a variety of things to look at.

There’s a big canal called, fittingly the Grand Canal. At the end is the impressive Church of Sant’Antonio Taumaturgo. It stands behind a piazza of the same name, which often hosts food markets. Along the way is also the beautiful Serbian Orthodox Church, the Temple of Holy Trinity and Saint Spyridon. And on the Ponte Rosso, is a famous statue of James Joyce.

With hills all around, a peek down a side street can offer an interesting perspective. There are also really big beautiful buildings you may not expect. And of course, there’s the water, with its gorgeous, relaxing views (especially at sunset).

The feel of the city is very different from other Italian cities we’ve visited, but that’s what makes it unique and why we love it.

Museums in Trieste

The Revoltella Museum is half 19th century palace, half modern art museum. It’s a unique place to visit and there is an extraordinary amount of art present. You could easily spend several hours there. The museum also has a nice outdoor space with great views where they serve aperitivo.

We didn’t make it to any other museums in Trieste, but there are quite a few. Some of the more unique places to visit include the Joyce Museum (about the writer), the Museum of Oriental Art (which features a collection of Japanese prints), and Science Centre Immaginario Scientifico (an interactive, multimedia science museum which would be fun for children).

You can read more about all the museums in Trieste here .

Miramare Castle

Miramare Castle is technically still in Trieste, but a trip there will take you outside the city center and transport you to a different era. It’s only about a half hour outside the city and it’s absolutely, definitely, 100% something you want to see on a trip to Trieste. The castle itself is gorgeous. It was built from 1856 to 1860 by Ferdinand Maximilian of Hapsburg. We visited in November, and the fall colors contrasted beautifully with the bright white castle.

The surrounding grounds and views are pretty special as well. The castle is set right on the Gulf of Trieste. A forest lies behind it, which is fun to explore. On the walk down from the castle to the main road (where the bus stops), you can enjoy some really great views of the water and area.

It takes about 20 minutes to get to Miramare Castle to Trieste by train, and about 40 minutes by bus (6 or 36).

Another short trip out of the city is to Opicina. When we first visited, we took a cool tram ride (which turned into a funicular at its steepest stretch) to the Obelisk stop. Unfortunately, when we visited this year, the tram was closed, so we didn’t get to make the trip again. It’s actually still closed (as of March 2019). But there is a bus you can take there instead. Once you get to Opicina, there is a lovely view of the city. And there’s a walk you can take to the bubbly wine’s namesake, Prosecco (once a village, now a suburb of the city).

Trieste restaurants, bars, and of course gelato

Baracca E Burattini

When we visited Trieste for the first time it was as part of a Northern Italy trip where we visited four other cities, including Bologna. Bologna is known for its food, but our most delicious, memorable meal was at a small restaurant in Trieste. Baracca E Burattini is a homey, laid back restaurant with amazing food. Of course we returned this year and weren’t disappointed. Our favorite dishes were fried zucchini flowers, served with prosciutto and mozzarella, and their homemade pastas, including a unique and tasty pumpkin lasagna.

Trieste is also known for its buffets, which have an Eastern European influence. On our last visit, we had a great, big, ridiculously cheap meal at one of them. Siora Rosa is in guide books and recommended by most hotels, so it gets busy, but it’s the opposite of touristy. The staff is really friendly and helpful since there are so many different things to order. Our plates were filled with vegetables, heavy delicious pasta, and ham that reminded us of Prague .

Osteria Marise

Osteria Marise is a tiny bit more upscale and modern, but still has homey pasta dishes you hope to eat in Italy. They also had really tasty fish.

There are a gazillion gelato shops throughout Trieste. Our favorites are Gelateria Marco (behind the Piazza Unità d’Italia, near the Roman Theater) and Gelateria Zampolli (close to the main train station, with a ridiculously large selection).

Aperitivo in Città Vecchia

If you want to enjoy a spritz or something else with your aperitivo, you can hit up one of the bigger spots near the Piazza Unità d’Italia or make your way over to the old town (Città Vecchia). It’s a cool neighborhood to explore with its small winding streets, pretty buildings, and in some places, no cars. There are a ton of bars to just pop into for aperitivo, so walk around and see what appeals to you.

Gran Malabar

The Friuli-Venezia Giulia region of Italy is also well-known for its wine (remember we said Prosecco was nearby?). We didn’t know anything about it before visiting Trieste, so it was fun to learn about and taste. And fortunately, we really enjoyed what we tasted. While we didn’t have the chance to do any wine tasting outside the city, we didn’t feel like we missed out too much given all that’s on offer in the city’s restaurants.

Gran Malabar is the best place in Trieste to try these local wines, especially during aperitivo. We did most of our wine tasting here, along with tasty salumi. It’s a super local spot, with everyone just hanging out, chatting, and (of course) enjoying the wine.

Mastro Birraio

Our number one, can’t miss spot in Trieste, however, is… a beer bar. We said Trieste was a unique place! Mastro Birraio is one of the best beer bars we’ve been to in the world. The owner, Daniele, is a super friendly guy who loves giving recommendations (for beer and his city). They have an awesome selection of bottles from all over the world. And on tap, he features a local brewery, Zanna, which has beers made from Slovenian hops. It made such a big impression on us during our first visit, we couldn’t wait to return.

Hotels in Trieste

When we first visited Trieste, we decided to spend the money to stay at the most centrally located hotel, the  Savoia Excelsior Palace , which is right next to the Piazza Unità d’Italia. We had a big cushy room, with its own atrium! The breakfast buffet was massive and absolutely delicious and, as we ate, we were treated to a view of the water through the breakfast room’s floor to ceiling windows. We paid about $130 per night and definitely got more than our money’s worth.

This year, however, we were operating on a slightly different budget. So we opted to stay at the less pricey B&B, Rooms Boutique Carducci . A small, family-run place, it’s a 10-minute walk from the main train station and even closer to the Canal Grande. Our room was small, but clean and airy. We enjoyed the typical European-style breakfast with meat and cheese and fruit and veg, but especially the fresh croissants our proprietors bought every morning. And it was only around $80 per night.

<< Book a stay in Trieste now >>

A great mix of Italy and Eastern Europe, Trieste is such a unique, delicious, and lovely city. It’s definitely a place we can see ourselves coming back to.

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Sarah and Justin

48 thoughts on “ what to do in trieste, our favorite city in italy ”.

Lovely post. I usually avoid going to museum on my trips but this sounds like a fun itinerary. thanks for sharing 🙂

What a great guide! I love Italy, but haven’t been tk Trieste yet!

Wow, I’ve never heard of Trieste but now I want to go! Great guide and beautiful photos! I’m saving this so I can hopefully visit one day 🙂

Omnoomnomnom!!! The food looks so good. And it is a great guide, I’d love to visit Trieste. The sunset looks gorgeous!

Oh ho I miss Trieste! Your post took me right back on those beautiful streets, sitting on the Molo Audace eating pizza and drinking wine. In my opinion you managed to create the perfect Trieste guide 🙂

Seems like you know the city well so we’re glad we did it justice!

I have a friend who goes to Trieste at least 5-6 times each year: he loves it that much! I’ll definitely have to visit!

Oh, last time I was in the area – a few years ago – I had to choose between Koper and Trieste for a short stop and went with Koper. I really loved it but now, after reading your post, I have a hint of regret that I didn’t do both 🙈

Wow! I love Italy and have been twice from North to South but I had not heard of this city! It looks lovely! I enjoy great food and interesting architecture! And I love Prosecco so it would be cool to visit there!

It’s definitely off the main Italy tourist track, but that’s one of the reasons we love it so much!

Stunning pics! I once took the train from Milan to Trieste on my way to Croatia and seeing all this sure makes me regret that I didn’t explore the town before heading off to Croatia. Next time!

I love Italy and definitely want to see more cities. Trieste sounds wonderful. I would love to visit the castle and also the modern art museum. The food looks delicious too! Pinned for future reference.

My boyfriend was born in Trieste but then relocated to Rome. We have been there together only once, but I seriously loved his hometown. He wants to take me back again, and I hope this will happen soon because we had only been there for one full day and didn’t even make it to Miramare. There’s still so much for me to sse there and I would love to see more.

Yes definitely go! It’s a relatively small city, but chock full of a lot to see. Jealous you have that connection to the city!

I adore Trieste. It’s one of those places you visit and immediately think, “I could move here.” Unfortunately I missed Miramare Castle when I was there, so I’ve gotta go back — and I didn’t realize there were so many other day trips you could do!

That’s how we felt too. We loved almost everywhere we visited in Italy, but definitely felt most at home here. Miramare was beautiful and definitely a reason to return1

Agree you know the city very well! I have wanted to visit Trieste for a long time. Not sure if you are familiar with the Moon Guides. Long time ago, I bought their guide to Italy and they had Trieste as one of their top picks in the city. Since that, I have been intrigued by the city. Everything looks so beautiful. Thanks for sharing your expertise.

Just amazed at what you have captured here. I have never heard of Trieste. It’s funny that it looks as though you had an amazing time in a great town but when I see “trieste” I think of Sad in Spanish. lol I think I will add this to my list of places to visit

The areas along borders seem to have such varied influences, it’s really interesting! And Trieste has such grand architecture and so much to see, do and eat!

Trieste is an area I’ve seen popping up a lot on blogs and social media lately, but one I’ve never visited in all my trips to Italy! Perhaps I should change that =)

Great to read some info on this city – I don’t know much about it at all. Miramare Castle looks stunning. Bookmarking this for when I’m in the area. Also: walking to Prosecco. That sounds like something I definitely have to do.

I’ve never heard of Trieste, until now! Looks like a beautiful place. The picture of the sunset you took is stunning.

I’ve never been to this part of Italy, but it looks just as beautiful as the rest of the country! I love Italy so much and would love to explore more of it. I’ll be saving this post!

Wow this great! Ive never been to this part of Italy and now I want to.

Love seaside cities! I haven’t been to Italy yet and it seems there’s so much beauty to explore…thanks for sharing 🙂

How have I never heard of Trieste before? What a beautiful hidden gem! I’d love to explore Miramare Castle and gorge on some of that ravioli. Added to the bucket list!

And our Italy list just keeps on growing! Such gorgeous photos! That castle is so charming!

What a beautiful place to visit. I feel guilty now that I only know the name because of the treaty that was signed there and named for it, I knew nothing about the city itself. It looks like there’s plenty to enjoy, the roman theatre, castle and beautiful sea views, not to mention just walking about enjoying the city itself.

Those walks down from the main part of the castle make this trip seem absolutely worth it.. totally gorgeous!

The images of Miramare Castle and Opicina look amazing. I recently moved to Italy and this has convinced me I need to go to Trieste.

Thank you! Where do you live in Italy? It’s a pretty easy country to get around by train 🙂

I live 40 minutes south of Florence. In Valdarno. It’s very country 🙂

Oh wow it looks so amazing! I’ve been to Italy before but not to Trieste, definitely will have to add this to my bucket list! Amazing pictures!

What a great informative post! I’ve been wanting to visit Trieste for a while now so I’m bookmarking it! 🙂 Loved your photos too! Thanks for sharing!

Great pictures. We love Italy! We find ourselves going back there again and again. I will definitely be adding this city to our list. Thanks for sharing!

Trieste is definitely on my list! It’s such a neat location geographically. Thanks for all this great information! I’m dreaming about the food buffets haha

The castles.. the food… I love it! I haven’t explored Italy yet at all, so it’s fun to read about new and different places.

Wow! Triste is stunning a so rich with history! I visited Venice a few years back and it was incredible. Looks like I’ll need to take another trip to Italy!

During what month did you go? It looks like it is cold and less touristy. Which is what I prefer. 🙂 (The less touristy crowds) Great post. Very informative. Love the food pictures!

The first time we visited in November, so the colder looking pictures. It actually wasn’t that cold – there were people sunbathing in bathing suits along the sea! It was really really foggy then. This year, we were there in April. It was sunnier but still chilly. So yeah I guess both times we visited weren’t in the main tourist season. That’s when we prefer our holidays too.

Thanks for the great guide! I’m still yet to go to Italy but it’s nice to hear about the lesser talked about spots too – it looks just as beautiful.

Great entry! Glad you enjoyed our city – check out our guide on BestofTrieste.com – we’re on FB & Twitter too!

Ah, it’s all about the images. Your pictures really make Italy look glorious. I miss the country so much, I’ve last visited in March. Trieste looks epic if you ask me!

What a beautiful little city! I had never heard of Trieste before but it is now on my list for the next time I get to Italy! It is everything I want in a place I visit!

Looks lovely! I feel like all Italian cities have got similar vibes with beautiful colourful houses, narrow streets and of course Italian food. We’ve just recently visited Verona & Venice and I’m very keen to explore the rest of Italy as I am a big fan of Italian culture!

I love Italy but haven’t been to Trieste yet. It looks like a gorgeus city to visit with so many things to do. Thanks for sharing!

That lake looks incredible though! What a great guide. I can’t wait to go back to Italy and will definitely save this for when I go!

There are so many great cities in Italy… can’t believe I haven’t been to Trieste yet. The architecture, cable cars, and food all look so good!

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Travel | 36 hours in trieste, italy.

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Travel | 36 Hours

36 hours in trieste, italy.

By SETH SHERWOOD AUG. 29, 2017

A distinctive Adriatic experience awaits in this Old World city, with its broad, breezy plazas, coffeehouses and cozy seafood restaurants. Related Article

Trieste is famous for its cold, gale-force Bora wind, and indeed, all manner of creatures and people have blown through the seaside city in Italy’s far northeast, next to the Slovenian border. Dinosaurs and Neanderthals once roamed the limestone hills of the Karst region, and legend holds that Jason and the Argonauts sailed in with the Golden Fleece. Empires breezed in, too, notably the Roman and the Byzantine. But it was centuries of Austrian rule that left the most enduring mark. The House of Hapsburg built much of Trieste’s regal core and left a permanent mark on its gastronomy — evinced by the beer, sauerkraut and strudel on many restaurant menus. The winds also brought James Joyce, who lived intermittently in the city in the early 20th century. But Trieste is hardly a gusty relic. A new high-tech photography museum, an expanding night life area and a fancy new nearby marina,  Portopiccolo , join the Old World churches, picturesque piazzas, sumptuous palazzo-museums, classic Austrian coffeehouses and cozy seafood restaurants to create a distinctive Adriatic experience.

Explore the map and find things to do in Trieste.

1) 5 P.M. Time Travel

Your crash course in history begins at the Roman amphitheater on Via del Teatro Romano. From there, ascend the staircase and steep streets to the hilltop  Castello di San Giusto  (admission, 3 euros, about $3.50). Built from the 1400s to 1600s on the site of the former Roman settlement, the fortress offers panoramic vistas of the city and sea. More views await inside the complex’s new attraction, the  Alinari Image Museum  (AIM). Opened in 2016, the museum uses technology: wall projections, touch-screen panels, virtual reality installations, 3-D films, computers and even traditional photographs — to envelop visitors in Trieste’s past. Spectral music ensures full sensory immersion. Admission, 8 euros.

2) 8 P.M. Fish School

Expect to learn some salty new vocabulary at Alla Sorgente, a rustic seafood restaurant with stone walls and wooden tables. In lieu of a menu, the matron of the house tells you (in Italian) the dishes. You might hear talk of capesante (scallops) or orata (sea bream), to say nothing of triglia (mullet) — recently served cold with thyme and vinegar-marinated leeks — or the fantastic house-made spaghetti with tiny clams and tomato chunks. Three courses cost about 40 euros a person.

3) 10 P.M. Liquor Lane

A bar for every thirst awaits on Via Torino, a surging strip of night life on a stony pedestrian street. A restaurant and juice bar by day,  Draw  is a vast space adorned with vintage bric-a-brac, from bicycles to suitcases-turned-tables. An older vibe suffuses  Mor , a small room with antique globes, lanterns and clocks that serves artisanal booze and clever cocktails, including the Rye-N-Air (8 euros), a smooth riff on the Manhattan.

4) 10 A.M. White Market

Soap opera magazines, olive oil, Pugliese peppers, shoelaces, bouquets, old circus clown paintings, faded postcards, ginger-apple jam and that vintage Doris Day album: You can now strike these items from your shopping list. All are on offer at the Mercato Coperto , a two-level space from the 1930s with touches of Art Deco. Downstairs, the pungent smells of regional bounty emanate from produce stands, fishmongers and flower stalls. Upstairs, you’ll find a riot of secondhand furniture, electronics, housewares and collectibles.

5) Noon; Antiques and Art

Museo Revoltella  is vivid proof that Italian art continued to thrive after the Renaissance. The upper floors of the museum — three combined historical palazzi — display 19th- and 20th-century Italian painters (and a few expatriated foreigners) who might not be household names, but whose works are worthy of awe: Giorgio Belloni’s moody nature scenes, Vito Timmel’s radiant characters and Edgardo Sambo’s melancholy nude women. The opulent historical rooms of the lower floors are a treasure of decorative arts, from the vast ballroom to the ornate library, lined with leather-bound volumes. Admission, 7 euros.

6) 2 P.M. Ham Session

A cannon-size mortadella greets visitors to  Trattoria da Giovanni , a decades-old, wood-lined restaurant. All day, locals crowd the counter for slices from this monster or from an endless succession of fresh-cooked pink hams, which the bartenders slide into thick rolls with shaved horseradish and mustard. Grab an outdoor table and order from the chalkboard menu, which might include local treats like jota (a hearty soup that usually includes beans, potatoes and pork), or lush, sweet sauerkraut topped with plump sausages, roasted pork chunks and succulent pig’s tongue. A glass of malbec, served from a wooden cask, and a slice of strudel complete your Triestino tasting. Lunch for two costs around 20 to 30 euros.

7) 4 P.M. Grappa and Gowns

Some of the most compelling shops in Trieste line Via Felice Venezian. The eponymous proprietors of  La Piccola Bottega Spiritosa di Piolo & Max  distill artisanal vermouth, grappa, absinthe and divinterrano — a sweet concoction of wine, fruit juice, cinnamon and other ingredients — as well as additional boozy elixirs that they sell in their boutique. The delicacies at  Delikatessen Modernariato & Collezionismo  are mostly vintage furniture and design, including anatomy posters and industrial lamps. And whether you’re seeking a thimble collection, Olivetti typewriters or just a simple bust of King Tut, the dusty treasure trove known as  Il Mondo di Didy  can help.

8) 6 P.M. Trieste Tradition

A predinner aperitivo is a ritual here, and the Piazza Cavana area offers some of the friendliest stops for a glass and a bite. A subtle maritime theme pervades  Al Ciketo , a new spot lined with distressed wooden boards from old ships and metal lampshades made from paint cans. The tasty cicchetti (snacks, 1 euro) — bread topped with salami, codfish spread, mortadella and the like — pair nicely with a glass of the warm, smooth local red blend from the Sancin winery (3.50 euros). Bigger and brighter, Life is a favorite for its free buffet — cold pasta, roasted vegetables, Parmesan cheese — and Hugo cocktails (white wine, sparkling water, elderflower juice, mint, lime; 4 euros).

9) 8 P.M. Trieste Two Ways

Experimental or traditional?  Pepenero Pepebianco , a vaulted contemporary restaurant decorated in autumnal tones, sends local ingredients down both culinary paths. The adventurous trail gives an Asian touch to artichoke (fried and served with burrata foam) and red tuna (served with sesame seeds and apricot-ginger sauce), while jazzing up scallops (courtesy of black cabbage and smoked goose ham) and mussel soup (with candied tomato, seaweed and coriander). For a more classic taste of Trieste, potato gnocchi get a meaty infusion from stewed veal tail and crunch from chopped asparagus. Pistachio gelato is an earthy coda. A three-course dinner for two costs about 100 euros.

10) 10 P.M. Spirits in the Night

Stepping into  Antico Caffè Torinese  is like stepping into 1919 — the year of the cafe’s birth — thanks to the dark wood paneling, marble counter and chandelier. Now run by a young team, the cafe is also an ace cocktail bar where you can sip a sweet-sour-herbal Americano (6 euros) while flipping through books like “Trieste Romantica.” Spring ahead in time at  Urbanis , whose glamorous-gaudy decorative mix seems plucked from 1980s Soho in New York: gold tables, shimmery gold cushions, mosaic floor, Art Deco lamps. The lengthy cocktail menu is state of the art, however. In addition to classics, famous and obscure, you can sample the sublime house Vini Vidi Vici (Laphroaig Scotch, Pineau des Charentes-fortified wine, and bitters; 13.50 euros), which comes in a large chalice filled with a carved, gemlike ice cube: a drink to honor a conqueror (or console the vanquished).

11) 10 A.M. Trieste, Unfiltered

No one has an excuse to be tired in Trieste. The city is the headquarters of the coffee company Illycaffè, and historical coffee houses dot the streets. For views, none beats  Caffè degli Specchi , a 19th-century specimen on the Piazza Unità d’Italia, said to be the largest seaside square in Europe. Ringed by ornate palazzi, the outdoor tables overlook the Adriatic and the 18th-century Fountain of the Four Continents. For internal ambiance, slide into the banquettes of the voluminous, cathedral-like  Caffè San Marco . Built in 1914, the soaring bookstore-cafe has marble tables, and bronze coffee leaves ring the ceiling. Coffee fills the menu, too, from smooth cappuccino (2.50 euros) to Viennese coffee heaped with whipped cream and cinnamon (2.50 euros).

12) Noon; Austrian Aristocrats

The glory of the Hapsburgs lives eternally at  Miramare Castle . Built by Archduke Ferdinand Maximilian, the seaside Gothic Revival structure of white Istrian stone feels like a museum of 19th-century craftsmanship. Moving through luxurious bedrooms, ballrooms and dining halls, you find wondrously painted ceilings, exquisite marquetry furnishings, silk wallpaper and chiseled ivory chests. But the real star is the sea, which enters every room through tall windows. The gift shop provides an ongoing Trieste education, courtesy of books by James Joyce and the travel writer Jan Morris, whose account of the city is “Trieste and the Meaning of Nowhere.” Admission, 10 euros.

In the heart of the city,  Palazzo Talenti 1907  (Via Saverio Mercadante 1) has 35 minimalist-modern apartments in various sizes with white walls, gray fabrics, full bathrooms and well-appointed kitchens. Studios start at 90 euros a night.

With a new owner and look since last year, the simple and cozy 12-room  Hotel all’Arco  (Piazzetta San Silvestro 4;  hotelallarco.com ) is located on a quiet street next to trendy Piazza Barbacan. Doubles from 60 euros.

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25 Wonderful Things to Do in Trieste, Italy

Located right at the border with Slovenia , Trieste is one of the most interesting cities to visit in Italy. For centuries the place was at the crossroads, under different rules and influences that created a peculiar cosmopolitan city and its unique vibe that visitors can enjoy today.

But still, not that many people visit Trieste (in comparison with other popular destinations in the area) and I believe they miss a lot.

I’ve been to Trieste twice and I know I will be returning there in the future again as the city is pretty amazing and I couldn’t get enough of its stunning architecture, distinctive atmosphere, and all the amazing things to do in Trieste.

If you plan a trip to Trieste I put together this Trieste guide that will help you enjoy the city to the fullest.

Planning a trip to Trieste?

Here are the highly-rated hotels, tours, and services recommended for your trip:

Accomodation:

• Boutique Hotel Albero Nascosto (9.2/10)
• Residence Theresia (8.5/10)
• 9 stanze – Boutique Rooms (9.2/10)

Tours and activities:

• Experience Trieste
• Prosecco’s Roots & the Karst Region
• Postojna Cave & Predjama Castle from Trieste

Internet: Stay connected with Airalo eSim card – click here to get yours!

Insurance: Get insured for your trip to Italy with SafetyWing

Car rental: Compare prices and find the best deals on rental cars in Italy on Discover Cars .

Table of Contents

Where is Trieste

Trieste, the city of over 200 thousand inhabitants and the capital of the Friuli Venezia Giulia region, is located in the very north-east corner of Italy, literally right at the border with Slovenia.

The nearest capital is Ljubljana (the capital of Slovenia) which is less than 100 km away from Trieste. Other “nearby” popular cities include Venice (160 km away), Milan (400 km away) or Bologna (300 km away).

Why visit Trieste

Trieste is probably the most cosmopolitan and multicultural city in Italy.

Even if the first settlements in the area date back to ancient times (and you still can find numerous remnants of those in the city), most of Trieste’s history is connected with Austria. During the Habsburg rule, Trieste was the main port of the Austrian empire, its window to the world. Many of the grand Trieste monuments are from that era and are a perfect testimony to the times of prosperity.

Trieste became part of Italy only in the 20th century and the city you can visit today is this unique blend of different cultures and influences. The city is packed with monuments and attractions but is also a good base to explore more of the Friuli Venezia Giulia region as well as nearby Slovenia .

But one of the best things about Trieste is its cosmopolitan, distinctive vibe that is so different from the rest of Italy.

How to get to Trieste

Trieste is easily reachable from numerous destinations in Italy, as well as from abroad.

There are frequent direct trains from Udine and Venice as well as fast trains from Rome, Florence, Milan, and Turin. There are also daily direct connections with Slovenia and Austria ( Vienna ).

You can also reach Triest by bus from some places in Italy as well as from Slovenia (including Koper which is just 25 km away) and Croatia (mostly Istria ).

Trieste also has its own international airport with flights from both Italian and European airports.

How many days for visiting Trieste

If you want to see the city properly you need at least two days in Trieste. This way you can also see attractions located a bit away from the center and enjoy the amazing local cafe culture.

Add some extra days for day trips from Trieste as there are a few really fine places to visit nearby.

How to get around Trieste

You can reach all the centrally located attractions on foot and well, wandering around is actually one of the best things to do in Trieste.

If you need to get to places a bit further away you can use the public transport system with frequent buses covering the whole city. The fare is 1,25€, the tickets can be bought from kiosks or machines and need to be validated when entering the bus.

You can also use the hop-on-hop-off bus that will take you to all the best Trieste attractions – click here for details and to get the ticket.

Things to do in Trieste

And now, without any further ado, let’s talk about the best things to do in Trieste, in no particular order.

Stop for a drink in a historical cafe

Before you start a proper Trieste sightseeing, sit down in one of the many historical cafes to soak in the atmosphere of the city and its history.

Trieste is known for the unique cafe culture that is a bit different than in the rest of Italy. Here cafes are a testimony of the Habsburg past since the city was the main harbor in Austria-Hungary, the window to the world, and the first entry point of coffee brought to the empire from all over the world (Austria-Hungary was known for its amazing cafe culture).

Today, many historical cafes are a reminder of that times. In fact, coffee consumption is twice as high as the average number in Italy and the locals have their own slang when ordering coffee (i.e. “Capo in B” is “cappuccino”).

The first cafe was opened in 1768 and since then many cafes appeared in the city. Some of them have their own coffee brands and blends and you can wander from one cafe to another and try different drinks everywhere. Many historical cafes have also a beautiful vintage interior that makes spending time there even more relaxing.

Some of the best and most important historical cafes in Triest are Caffè San Marco, Caffè degli Specchi, Caffè Tommaseo, or Antico Caffè Torinese.

Marvel at the stunning Piazza Unità d’Italia

The main square of Trieste, Piazza Unità d’Italia, is also where you will find the most spectacular architecture in the city. As soon as you stop at the square, your jaw will surely drop at all the beauty around.

Located between the seaside and the castle hill, Piazza Unità d’Italia was built during the Austria-Hungary rule and it is still believed to be the largest European square facing the sea.

The most important institutions in the city are located here: the city’s municipal building, the Prefecture of Trieste, and the former head office of Italia Marittima, just to name a few. They all are placed in stunning old palaces, which facades are packed with details.

Piazza Unità d’Italia is a real architectural gem of the city, I spent so much time looking at the buildings and admiring their beauty. The square is often used for various events (which was sadly the case when I visited hence I couldn’t fully grasp it) and is one of the Triest top places to visit, to observe the people and to enjoy the city’s vibe.

You can learn more about Piazza Unità d’Italia as well as about other important places in Trieste and its Habsburg past on the highly-rated tour – click here for details and to book the place.

See the picturesque Canal Grande

One of the most picturesque (and Instagrammable) places to visit in Trieste is Canal Grande, located halfway between the train station and Piazza Unità d’Italia.

It dates back to the mid-18th century and was built to help the boats delivering goods arrive closer to the center to unload. Originally, the canal was even longer than today, reaching past the church of Sant’Antonio (that is now a very distinctive spot in the city’s scenery).

Buildings along the canal include churches and palaces and are among the most interesting you can find in Trieste, most of them dating to the first half of the 19th century. There are also a few bridges that help cross the canal and some interesting statues, like James Joyce.

Canal Grande is yet another of Trieste’s highlights that you shouldn’t miss!

Admire the panorama of Trieste from Castello di San Giusto

The best place to admire the impressive panorama of Trieste is Castello di San Giusto, located a short uphill walk from the center of the city.

The first fortified settlement here was built already in ancient Roman times but the castle we can visit today dates back to the 16th century. When visiting the castle you can see an interesting collection of ancient artifacts but the main reason to come here is for the panorama of Trieste.

From the fortification walls and bastions, you can admire the breathtaking vista of the whole city, that’s where you can fully appreciate the beauty and greatness of Trieste. It’s definitely worth paying the small entrance fee to see this view!

Admire the beautiful Trieste waterfront

Trieste waterfront is one of the best places in the city for a leisure stroll. It seems like no one is in hurry here, everyone seems to enjoy to the laid-back vibe of the place.

That’s also where you will find some of the most impressive buildings in Trieste and some fancy palaces that are a true testimony of the wealth and importance of the city.

The only downside of the waterfront for me was that there were not enough benches around as I would have gladly sat down there to enjoy the place more.

Visit Museo Revoltella

If you have time to visit only one museum in Trieste, it must be Museo Revoltella.

This collection of modern art is located in the beautiful palace from 1858 as well as neighboring buildings. Museo Revoltella is home to the collection of art (including Italian and European artists), furniture, and other items left by Baron Pasquale Revoltella at the end of the 19th century.

Besides art and stunning interiors, you can also admire a beautiful panorama of the city from the museum’s rooftop.

Relax in Villa Revoltella Park

Another place worth visiting in Trieste that is connected to the Revoltella family is the Villa Revoltella Park, located on the hill on the outskirts of the city. It is named after Pasquale Revoltella who, in his will, donated the park to the city, ensuring that it will always be open to the public.

The green oasis is a perfect escape from the hustle and bustle of the city. It is divided into three parts and besides the beautiful garden, you can also find there a church and a chalet residence.

Witness the past at Teatro Romano

Right in the heart of Trieste, you can find probably the best testimony of the city’s great past – the Roman Theater. The ruins date back to the 1st or 2nd century AD and the theater could fit around 3500 spectators in its glory times.

For centuries it was hidden by the newer buildings in the city and it was brought to light only in 1938 (although its existence has been known since 1814). You can find the Roman Theater at the side of Via del Teatro Romano, not far from the Piazza Unità d’Italia.

Even if these are only ruins, the place is still impressive, especially in these modern surroundings. All the old artifacts that were found on site are kept in the museum in Castello di San Giusto.

Visit Trieste Cathedral

When visiting Trieste Castle don’t miss the Cathedral, located just a few steps away. The first religious site was built here already in the 6th century, but the current Romanesque/Gothic structure dates back to the early 14th century.

Even if the building isn’t very rich in decoration, it still is very impressed with the old elements (such as the original mosaic floor) from the time when the church was completed.

At the end of the 19th century, the cathedral was granted the title of the basilica minor, which significantly increased its rank.

Be amazed by jellyfish

Each year in springtime many jellyfish arrive on the shores near Trieste but when I visited the city in early May 2022 the waters in the center (including the Canal Grande) were literally packed with these creatures. And not small ones but giant jellyfishes that could as well be seen in the aquarium.

I was mesmerized, never seen so much maritime beauty in the wild (although in the middle of the big city).

When you visit Trieste in the springtime, be sure to check the surrounding waters for jellyfish too as they surely are amazing! There might not be such an invasion as I witnessed but even one or two of these water animals can be fascinating.

Stroll down Molo Audace

One of the most popular places for a stroll in Trieste is Molo Audace pier, extending over 200 meters into the sea, not far from Piazza Unità d’Italia.

It was built in the place where the San Carlo ship sunk at the end of the 18th century originally the pier was 95 meters long, extended to the current shape during two reconstructions. At first, it was named after the said ship but after World War 1 the locals started calling the place Molo Audace, after the warship with the same name that arrived at Trieste harbor.

Today the pier is a busy spot where locals walk around or hang out with friends. You should definitely stroll Molo Audace too as you can admire a beautiful panorama of the Trieste waterfront and the main square from there.

Peep into the Old Harbour

Trieste has one of the largest and most important harbors on the Adriatic Sea. It was also the main port of the Austrian Empire when the city was part of it.

There is a part of the harbor that dates back to these times, currently closed to the public but you can still peep into it from the nearby parking lot.

The Old Harbour in Trieste was built between 1868 and 1887. There are several large buildings that still wear all signs as well as the old railway line with some rusty trains.

This must be a wonderful place for some urbex exploration but unfortunately, I didn’t find any way to get it (although I didn’t look close enough, I admit).

I’m not sure what the city’s plans are for this area but I hope that even after a possible reconstruction the Old Harbour will keep its vintage charm as it has now.

Admire the stunning architecture

One of the things I enjoyed the most about Trieste is the stunning architecture in the central part of the city. It’s a peculiar mix of influences from Austria and Italy as well as, thanks to its important port, from all over the world. Some of the incredible buildings reminded me of a few grand structures in Madrid or South America.

The most impressive buildings are located along the waterfront, with numerous palaces and buildings of public use, but even if you go a bit away from the seaside, the architecture still can impress.

When wandering around it’s worth looking up a bit to spot fine details of houses built in art nouveau, eclectic or neoclassic styles – they will help you to appreciate Trieste’s architecture even more.

Visit Miramare Castle

One of the biggest Trieste attractions, Miramare Castle, is located a bit away from the center but is easily reachable by public transport (trains and buses).

This beautiful and majestic castle was built in the mid-19th century right on the shore of the Adriatic Sea, for Archduke Ferdinand Maximilian Habsburg (a younger brother of Franz Joseph, the Emperor of Austria). The castle is surrounded by an equally beautiful park with rare and exotic plants and trees that were brought from all over the world here by the Archduke himself.

Miramare Castle was a favorite home of the Archduke and his wife but they could live here only for 4 years, before leaving for Mexico where Ferdinand Maximilian was crowned and shortly after executed. According to the legend, the devastated ghost of his wife still wanders around the park.

When visiting the castle, it’s worth going inside too to see the original interiors that are a perfect example of the 19th-century aristocratic lifestyle.

Say hello to Sissi

The most beloved ruler in Austrian history, Empress Elisabeth known also as Sissi, is until today a popular figure, known by people beyond the region of Central Europe . There were numerous movies and books telling the story of her life (and more are soon to come).

When traveling around the former Habsburg Empire you will easily spot memorabilia dedicated to Sissi and her husband, emperor Franz Joseph. And Trieste is no different.

Across the train station, at Piazza Della Liberta, you will find a fairly modest monument dedicated to the Empress, with just one word, “Elisabetta”. Originally it was erected in that place in 1912 but removed nine years later and for most of the 20th century, it was kept in storage, returning to its original spot only in 1997.

See the impressive lighthouse

One of the most recognizable Trieste landmarks, visible from most parts of the city, is the Victory Lighthouse. Even if it is located a bit away from the center, it’s really hard to miss it.

The impressive lighthouse, with a height of 68 meters, is among the tallest lighthouses in the world. At first, it was planned to build the lighthouse near Pula in current Croatia but eventually Trieste and Gretta hill was chosen due to their perfect height and solid foundations of the former Austrian fort.

The lighthouse was opened in 1927 and is still working today. The place is dedicated to those who died at the sea during WW1 and commemorates the Italian victory.

It is possible to visit the Victory Lighthouse but opening times are rather limited so better check them in advance.

See Roman ruins next to the castle

When visiting the castle don’t miss the Roman ruins displayed on the square in front of it. There are fairly many of them, of different kinds, shapes, and conditions. They date back to ancient times when Trieste was known as the Roman colony of Tergeste and are yet another testimony of the long history of the city.

Wandering around the ruins and checking all the details can give you a great sense of the old times.

Find the Roman arch

On the way up to the castle, turn into one of the backstreets to find the ancient Roman Arco di Riccardo. The impressive structure dates most likely to the 1st century AD, to the times of Tergeste as it was the gate in the city walls back then.

What makes it special is the surrounding – the arch is located on a small square, surrounded by modern buildings. It creates a big contrast between old and new and is a symbolical bridge between Trieste’s ancient and recent history.

See beautiful churches

While Trieste cathedral is the most impressive of the sacral buildings in the city, there are more interesting churches that are worth seeing.

One of the most characteristic Trieste landmarks is the New Church of Saint Antonio, located at the end of the Grand Canale. Dating back to the mid-18th century, this is one of the largest churches in Trieste, designed in the neoclassical style.

Next to it, you will find Saint Spyridon Church, the Serbian Orthodox church from the mid-19th century. This beautiful building doesn’t really fit the area but is a great testimony of the multicultural past of Trieste.

On the way to the castle, don’t miss the Parish Church of Santa Maria Maggiore from the 17th century, beautiful both outside and inside.

These are only a few of the beautiful churches you can find in Trieste. There are more of them, each special and worth visiting in its own way.

Go for a tram ride

The tram line in Trieste is among the most unique ones in the world and every fan of public transport can’t miss it. The line was opened in 1902 and connects central Trieste (Piazza Oberdan) with the village Villa Opicina in the hills above the city.

What makes this tram line unique is the mix between a typical tram and a funicular, in the more steep parts of the line. Still today you can use the tram car with the number “1” (or “401”) which was used when the line was opened and is the oldest tram that is used in Europe.

After the 2016 accident trams were suspended but after locals’ petition, they are back in use and are a great, unique attraction to add to your Trieste itinerary.

Try local food

Like everywhere in Italy, the food in Trieste is excellent. What makes it unique is the blend of influences from all over the region and a mix of Austrian, Italian and Slovenian cuisine.

When visiting Trieste be sure to try some of its local dishes, especially jota (a stew), chifeletti (a dough-like mixture of mashed potatoes, flour, butter, and eggs), gulasch alla Triestina (a local variation of the Hungarian goulash minutes the peppers), and – for the dessert – Strucolo de pomi (the local apfelstrudel).

There are many restaurants all over the city, mostly family-owned, so no matter which one you choose, you should expect an exquisite culinary experience.

Visit Grotto Gigante

One of the places that you can’t miss when visiting Trieste is Grotto Gigante, located just outside of the city.

This spectacular cave was included in the 1995 Guinness Book of Records as the world’s largest show cave (in 2010 the record was broken by the cave in France) and that already is the reason itself to visit this wonder of nature.

The central part of the cave is 107 m high, 65 m wide and 130 m long and its grandness surely can make your jaw drop. When planning your trip to Grotto Gigante be sure to take some warmer clothes with you as the inside temperature is around 11C.

See Trieste synagogue

The Trieste synagogue was built between 1908 and 1912 when the city was still under Austrian rule. It was designed to serve the local Jewish community and replaced four smaller synagogues operating in the city. The synagogue was closed in 1942 and later devastated by Nazis but never fully destroyed.

What makes the synagogue in Trieste special is the peculiar mix of architectural styles which were supposed to connect the ancient Holy Land with the modern-day Roman and Habsburg empires.

The synagogue is open to the public and it’s worth visiting it inside too to see its beautiful interior.

Admire the monumental Santuario di Monte Grosso

When looking at the panorama of Trieste, you will quickly spot the monumental triangular building, located on the hills above the city, on mount Grisa. That’s Santuario di Monte Grosso, built between 1963 and 1965.

The shape of the building is supposed to resemble the letter “M”, the symbol of Mary, the mother of Jesus. This is the most impressive example of brutalist architecture in Trieste and one of the most amazing churches ever built in that style.

From the church, you can admire the stunning panorama of the Bay of Trieste and the Adriatic Sea.

Go for day trips

Due to its location, Trieste can be a great base to explore area and go for day trips not only within Italy but also abroad, to Slovenia and Croatia .

Some of the best places you can easily visit from Trieste include Gorizia, Udine, Muggia, or Aquileia.

If you don’t mind venturing a bit abroad then Slovenia is literally a stone’s throw away from Trieste and since both countries are in the Schengen you won’t even notice the border. Some of the best places to visit in Slovenia , such as Koper and Piran on the seaside, Skocjan Caves , Postojna Cave , or Ljubljana , are easily reachable from Trieste as a day trip.

You can even go to the Istria region in Croatia (although that’s not in the Schengen zone anymore so you need to go through passport control at the border).

Here are some recommended day trips from Trieste that you can book:

• Lake Bled and Ljubljana Tour
• Postojna Cave & Predjama Castle
• Piran and Slovenia Coast Tour from Trieste
• Trieste: History of Prosecco and the Karst Region
• Lipica Stud Farm and Škocjan Caves from Trieste

Final thoughts on visiting Trieste

I honestly can’t recommend visiting Trieste enough. The city is vibrant, has its own unique charm, is full of history and beautiful architecture and attractions, and offers more than just monuments. Being in Trieste is simply pleasant and it’s really not hard to enjoy and fall for this place.

While I think Trieste itself is a perfect destination for the city break, I know it’s not exactly on the main tourist routes. But if you are visiting Slovenia or Venice do yourself a favor and include Trieste in your itinerary. I can guarantee you won’t be disappointed!

Travel Resources

Below you can find the brands I trust and use when planning trips:

• You can find the best accommodation options at Booking . They have many discounts and excellent customer service. Click here to look for the place to stay in Trieste
• I recommend joining organized tours to get to know the place better and to visit more places during your trip. You can find a great selection of tours at Viator or Get Your Guide .
• To always stay connected I use Airalo eSim cards – click here to get yours!
• For transportation and booking tickets online , I usually use 12Go or Omio
• Looking for the airport pickup ? Check Welcome Pickups!
• Never travel without travel insurance , you never know what might happen and better safe than sorry. You can check the insurance policy for Italy here.
• If you plan to rent a car during your trip to Italy check Discover Cars to compare prices and find the best deals
• Make sure to have the offline map always installed on your phone, they can save you so many troubles. I always use the free app Maps.Me .

For the end I left a few announcements that might interest you:

• Sign up to my newsletter or follow me on Bloglovin to get updates about the new posts
• Join my Facebook group about Eastern Europe, the Balkans and former USSR and connect with fellow travellers and enthusiasts of these regions – just click here!
• I’ve included a few handy links of services and products I personally like and use so you can plan your own trip to Italy too. They are often affiliate links. This means I will get a small commission if you book/purchase anything through my links, at no extra costs for you. Thank you!

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Morten Krogh

Can u swim in the harbour/city center?

not really, I haven’t seen any beach in the center

Jacinthe Tremblay

Trieste looks very nice and we’re looking forward to visit it. My friend and I are planning to fly to Trieste from Canada, stay few days and then we need to go to Motovun in Croatia (Montona in Italian). Would you recommend that we travel by train or by bus? Would you recommend places to stay downtown? We would appreciate your recommendations . Thank you!

I think the only way to get to Motovun is by bus, there are direct connections from Trieste to Istria you can take (I used it too, it was a fine trip). In Trieste I stayed in the center in this place Residence Theresia and I can definitely recommend that. Trieste is amazing, I’m sure you will enjoy it! Have a great trip!

Another inspiring post Kami. I am researching this year’s Interrail trip and rail works mean I have to relook at my route. That led me to Trieste and searching for things to see and do. As always, when I saw Kami, I knew I would find what I was looking for. I was thinking two nights, but it looks like there is a lot more to Trieste than I thought and I might stay for three nights. Thanks Kami.

Thank you so much for your kind words! Trieste is amazing, it’s such a pleasant city, I’m sure you will enjoy it!

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Why Trieste will be Italy’s next big destination

Oct 21, 2019 • 6 min read

Trieste's Canal Grande at sunrise © Filippo Ferraro / Shutterstock

For years Trieste  has laboured beneath its reputation for melancholy. Twenty years ago, travel writer Jan Morris called it the ultimate “nowhere-place”: an Italian city suspended in a vanished Austro-Hungarian past surrounded on all sides by Slovenia , Croatia and the Adriatic Sea. But borders aren’t where things end, they are where they begin, and Trieste is finally on the radar.

A Capital of Science

Trieste’s location at the top of the Adriatic has always defined it. It was invented as a port town and turbo-charged its fortunes after Austrian Emperor Charles VI declared its port “free” in 1719. The old port is also key to the city’s vigorous revival. Slowly abandoned after World War I, the 600,000 sq metres of prime waterfront is now being renovated and will be the centrepiece of events in 2020 when Trieste becomes Europe’s Capital of Science. At its heart there will be a Museum of the Sea, and from 27 June to 11 July the city’s theatres and public spaces will hum with imaginative shows, exhibitions and activities as part of a Science in the City Festival .

Trieste: a city for everybody

Trieste is the polyglot capital of the northeastern Italian province of Friuli Venezia Giulia. From 1380 to World War I it was under Hapsburg rule and provided a gateway to the world for all of central Europe. Take a stroll around town and within 30 minutes you’ll pass the Serbian Orthodox San Spiridone church , the Catholic church of Sant’Antonio Taumaturgo , the Greek Orthodox San Nicolò and one of the largest synagogues in Europe. Even the Triestine dialect incorporates traces of German, Italian, Slovene, Greek and Croatian.

As the jewel in the Austro-Hungarian Empire’s crown, the city fostered diversity, keen to attract wealthy immigrants. If you want to see just how wealthy they were pay a visit to the Museo Revoltella , the dazzling mansion of Pasquale Revoltella, a timber merchant who helped finance the Suez Canal, and who spent much of his money supporting local artists. His legacy was so large that the museum continues to augment the collection which now occupies two adjoining palaces taking up most of a city block.

The architecture of Empires

Despite being home to only 200,000 people, Trieste has the gravitas of a capital city and the architecture to match. There’s a 1st-century Roman theatre in the city centre, which now hosts summer concerts. Up above, the San Giusto Cathedral and adjoining Hapsburg castle are built on top of Roman ruins and are filled with Byzantine mosaics and Baroque frescoes. A tight medieval core tumbles down the surrounding hillside through what was the Jewish Ghetto to the Borgo Teresiano, the “new” quarter that bears the name of Hapsburg empress Maria Teresa.

She ordered its construction on salt flats around 1740 and at a stroke transformed Trieste into a modern metropolis. Its elegant boulevards and squares are punctuated with grand theatres like Teatro Verdi and fin-de-siècle cafes, such as Caffè San Marco , now celebrating its 105th year, and Caffè degli Specchi , a hall of mirrors with front row seats on the city’s monumental centrepiece, Piazza Unità d’Italia .

As European empires rose and fell, Trieste found itself on the frontline of history, most notably in two World Wars, which left the city its art deco lighthouse, the Faro della Vittoria , the monumental Fascist university on the Scoglietto hill, and the Nazi concentration camp at the old rice mill, Risiera di San Sabba , which now houses a haunting museum. In the wake of those horrifying years, Antonio Santin, Bishop of Trieste and Koper (in Slovenia), built the extraordinary Brutalist Temple of Monte Grisa as a reminder of the essential peace and unity among people.

Cosmopolitan dining and drinking

It’s impossible to talk about Trieste’s melange of cultures without mentioning food. Sure, there are superb Italian restaurants here, including the newly minted Michelin-starred Harry’s Piccolo , set in the 700-year-old Grand Hotel Duchi d’Aosta. But Austrian and Slovenian influences are just as strong. Everywhere you go you’ll encounter “buffets”, dark inviting taverns that originally served fast food to sailors and dockers. Lunch here on jota (a Triestino stew made of sauerkraut, beans, potatoes and sausage) or tender hunks of roast pork served with kren (freshly grated horseradish). Da Siora Rosa and Buffet Rudy are two of the best.

These days in Trieste, it feels like everything old is new again. The city’s thriving coffee culture ( Trieste is Italy’s biggest consumer ) and heritage Austrian brew pubs segue neatly with the contemporary craze for craft beer and cult coffee. Likewise, Piolo e Max have re-invented the regional tradition of after-dinner digestivo, by infusing local grappas and bitters with fragrant botanicals. Even the city’s signature aperitivo, the “hugo” (a blend of Tyrolean elderflower, Italian Prosecco, mint and lime), feels like a smarter and more sophisticated take on the splashy orange Aperol spritz. Try one on the rooftop of The Pier , a bar perched on top of the San Giusto yacht club. 

Discovering Trieste means getting out of town

Triestini are the first to admit that they have an enviable quality of life, and this quality benefits travellers, too. You can spend weeks here, launching off on the Delfino Verde ferry to the Venetian fishing port of Muggia or the sandy, barrier island of Grado. You can take the bus to Bagnoli and cycle up the Val Rosandra along the old railway line from Trieste to Draga Sant’Elia in Slovenia. Or, you can head in the other direction to the Duino Castle and hike along the coastal cliffs where poet Rainer Maria Rilke found inspiration for his Elegies. City lidos like the Bagno Marino Lanterna provide daily dips, or escape to the 10km-long waterfront promenade of Barcola for late-afternoon swims and fried fish suppers.

There’s diving, too, with the World Wildlife Fund in the Miramare Marine Reserve , just beneath the candy-coloured Castello di Miramare . Or discover the vineyards on the pock-marked karst plateau, where world-class vintners such as Skerk and Zidarich create outstanding natural wines. The Strada Napoleonica hiking trail traces a path along the plateau between osmize (pop-up farm restaurants) where you can stop for wine tastings with views over the city.

It is these easy pleasures, plus the ever-present view of the bright blue bay, that hold the real magic of Trieste. Like many before you, you might find yourself staying longer than you planned.

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One Day in Trieste Itinerary: How to Spend the Perfect 24 Hours in Trieste

Last Updated on May 6, 2024 by gregor

Introduction: Welcome to Trieste, a charming city located in northeastern Italy near the border with Slovenia. With its rich history, vibrant culture, and stunning coastal scenery, Trieste is a hidden gem waiting to be explored. In this blog post, I’ll guide you through the perfect itinerary for spending one day in Trieste, ensuring you make the most of your limited time in this captivating city. So let’s dive right in!

Trieste in One Day – Best Trieste Sightseeing Tips

Why visit trieste in italy.

• Immerse yourself in a blend of Italian, Austrian, and Slovenian cultures
• Discover a city with a fascinating history and architectural wonders
• Experience breathtaking coastal landscapes and panoramic views
• Indulge in delicious coffee and local cuisine
• Explore the literary heritage of Trieste, the city of writers

Where is Trieste Located in the Adriatic Sea?

Trieste is situated on the Adriatic Sea, in the northeastern part of Italy, near the Slovenian border. Its strategic location has shaped its unique cultural identity over the centuries.

The Best Time to Visit Trieste in Italy:

The ideal time to visit Trieste is during the spring (April to June) and autumn (September to October) when the weather is pleasant, and tourist crowds are relatively smaller. However, Trieste’s mild climate allows for enjoyable visits throughout the year.

Plan your Trip to Trieste?

• 🏨 Find the perfect accommodation on  Booking.com
• 🎡 Book the Best Guided Tour on  GetYourGuide
• 😍 Get more emotions from your trip with  Tripadvisor
• 🚘 Rent a car on  Rentalcars
• ✈️ Buy the cheapest flight tickets with  WayAway
• 🚂 🚌 ✈️ Best prices for Train, Buses, Cars, Ferries, and flights Omio

Tips for Visiting Trieste for One Day:

• Start your day early to make the most of your time.
• Wear comfortable shoes for exploring the city’s hilly streets.
• Carry a map or use a navigation app to navigate easily.
• Learn a few basic Italian phrases to enhance your interactions with locals.
• Keep a light jacket or sweater handy, as the weather can be unpredictable.

How to Get to Trieste in Italy:

By Air: Fly into Trieste – Friuli Venezia Giulia Airport, which offers connections to major European cities.

By Train: Trieste is well-connected by train, with direct connections to Venice, Milan, and other major Italian cities.

By Car: Trieste is easily accessible by car, and there are several parking options available in the city.

By Bus: Several bus companies operate routes to Trieste from neighboring cities and countries.

The Best Things To Do in Trieste – Top Attractions in Trieste

Read the BLOG POST about 35 Best Things to Do in Trieste here 👇

• 35 BEST THINGS TO DO IN TRIESTE (ITALY) TOP ATTRACTIONS

Piazza Unità d’Italia:

Start your day at the heart of Trieste by visiting Piazza Unità d’Italia. This expansive seafront square is one of the largest in Europe and serves as a vibrant gathering place for locals and visitors alike. Marvel at the grandeur of the square, surrounded by stunning architecture, elegant cafes, and historic buildings. Take a moment to soak in the atmosphere and enjoy the view of the sea.

Castello di Miramare (Miramare Castle)

A visit to Miramare Castle is a must when in Trieste. This picturesque castle, located on the Gulf of Trieste, offers a captivating blend of history and natural beauty. Explore the castle’s opulent rooms, adorned with period furnishings and artwork, and wander through the enchanting gardens overlooking the Adriatic Sea. The combination of the castle’s architecture, stunning views, and lush greenery creates a truly memorable experience.

• View of Miramare Castle with the sea behind.
• Contact Details: V.le Miramare, 34151 Trieste TS, Italien
• +39 040 224143
• Tickets:  Miramare Castle Skip-the-Line Entrance Ticket

Castello di San Giusto

Perched on a hill overlooking the city, Castello di San Giusto is a medieval castle that offers panoramic views of Trieste. Immerse yourself in the city’s history as you explore the castle’s towers, ramparts, and courtyards. Inside the castle, you’ll find the Museo Archeologico, which displays artifacts from Roman and medieval times. Don’t miss the chance to climb the tower for an even more breathtaking view of Trieste and its surroundings.

Trieste Cathedral

Make a stop at Trieste Cathedral, also known as the Cathedral of San Giusto. This impressive cathedral dates back to the 14th century and showcases a mix of architectural styles, including Gothic, Romanesque, and Byzantine influences. Step inside to admire the intricate details of the interior, including beautiful frescoes, sculptures, and religious artwork. Take a moment of quiet reflection in this serene and historic setting.

Teatro Romano

Delve into the city’s ancient past at the Teatro Romano, the remains of an ancient Roman theater. This archaeological site offers a glimpse into Trieste’s Roman history and allows you to imagine the theatrical performances that once took place here. Walk among the ruins, admire the preserved architectural elements, and learn about the theater’s significance in ancient times.

Museo Revoltella:

Art enthusiasts should not miss a visit to Museo Revoltella, a contemporary art museum housed in a magnificent 19th-century palace. This museum showcases a wide range of modern and contemporary art, including paintings, sculptures, and installations. Explore the diverse collection as you wander through the galleries and appreciate the creativity and innovation of the exhibited works. The museum also hosts temporary exhibitions, providing a dynamic and ever-changing experience for visitors.

Canal Grande, Molo Audace and Pier

Take a leisurely stroll along Canal Grande, a charming canal that winds through the city center. Admire the colorful buildings that line its banks, which reflect in the calm waters, creating a picturesque scene. This area is bustling with activity, with lively cafes, shops, and restaurants where you can stop for a refreshment or a bite to eat. Enjoy the relaxed ambiance as you soak up the atmosphere and capture some memorable photos.

Coffee Culture

Trieste is renowned for its coffee culture, and no visit is complete without experiencing it firsthand. Visit historic cafes like Caffè San Marco or Caffè Tommaseo to immerse yourself in Trieste’s rich coffee tradition. Enjoy a cup of freshly brewed coffee, savor the aroma, and indulge in a delectable pastry. These iconic cafes have been serving locals and intellectuals for generations, making them ideal places to soak up the city’s cultural heritage.

One Day in Trieste Itinerary:

Follow this detailed itinerary to make the most of your day and create lasting memories in Trieste.

8:00 AM – Breakfast and Coffee: Start your day at one of Trieste’s historic cafes, such as Caffè degli Specchi or Caffè Tommaseo, where you can indulge in a traditional Italian breakfast. Savor a freshly brewed cup of coffee and enjoy a buttery croissant or a local pastry.

9:00 AM – Piazza Unità d’Italia: Head towards Piazza Unità d’Italia, the main square and the heart of Trieste. Marvel at its grandeur and spaciousness, as it is one of the largest seafront squares in Europe. Take a moment to soak in the atmosphere and admire the impressive architecture surrounding the square.

9:30 AM – Trieste Cathedral: Make your way to Trieste Cathedral, also known as the Cathedral of San Giusto. This beautiful cathedral dates back to the 14th century and features a mix of architectural styles. Step inside and appreciate the stunning interior, adorned with intricate details and religious artwork.

10:30 AM – Miramare Castle: Take a short bus ride or taxi to Miramare Castle, a magnificent white castle situated on the Gulf of Trieste. Explore the castle’s opulent rooms, stroll through its lush gardens, and enjoy panoramic views of the Adriatic Sea. Don’t forget to take a moment to capture the breathtaking scenery.

12:00 PM – Canal Grande: Head back to the city center and take a leisurely walk along the Canal Grande. Admire the colorful buildings, charming bridges, and vibrant atmosphere. This picturesque canal offers a perfect backdrop for some memorable photos. Consider stopping at one of the waterfront cafes for a quick snack or refreshment.

1:00 PM – Lunch: It’s time to satisfy your taste buds with a delicious lunch. Trieste is renowned for its seafood specialties, so find a traditional trattoria or seafood restaurant to experience the flavors of the Adriatic Sea. Indulge in fresh seafood pasta, grilled fish, or the local specialty, brodetto (fish stew).

2:30 PM – Castello di San Giusto: After a satisfying meal, make your way to Castello di San Giusto, a medieval castle perched on a hill overlooking the city. Take a pleasant walk uphill or hop on the funicular to reach the castle. Explore the castle’s towers, ramparts, and the Archaeological Museum housed within its walls. Don’t miss the panoramic views of Trieste from the castle’s vantage points.

4:00 PM – Literary Trail: Trieste has a rich literary heritage, being the hometown of renowned writers such as James Joyce and Italo Svevo. Embark on a literary trail and visit locations associated with these literary figures. Explore the James Joyce Museum or stroll through the streets that inspired their works, immersing yourself in the city’s literary ambiance.

5:30 PM – Museo Revoltella: Head to Museo Revoltella, a contemporary art museum located in a striking 19th-century palace. Wander through the museum’s galleries and admire the impressive collection of modern and contemporary art. The museum also hosts temporary exhibitions that showcase various art forms and perspectives.

7:00 PM – Aperitivo and Sunset: As evening approaches, make your way to one of Trieste’s trendy bars or cafes for an aperitivo, a pre-dinner drink accompanied by a selection of appetizers. Sip on a refreshing Spritz or a local wine while enjoying the relaxed ambiance and mingling with locals. Find a spot with a view of the sunset, perhaps along the waterfront or atop a panoramic terrace, and witness the breathtaking colors painting the sky as the day comes to a close.

8:30 PM – Dinner: For dinner, explore Trieste’s culinary scene and treat yourself to a memorable dining experience. Choose from a variety of restaurants offering both traditional regional cuisine and international flavors. Whether you prefer fresh seafood, hearty pasta dishes, or mouthwatering meat options, Trieste has something to satisfy every palate. Pair your meal with a glass of local Friulian wine to complement the flavors. Night

10:00 PM – Nightlife: After dinner, experience the vibrant nightlife of Trieste. The city offers a range of options, from cozy wine bars and lively pubs to chic cocktail lounges and trendy clubs. Explore the lively streets and follow the sounds of music to find a spot that suits your style. Dance the night away, enjoy live music, or simply relax with a drink in hand, immersing yourself in the city’s vibrant energy.

12:00 AM – Midnight Stroll: Take a leisurely stroll through the enchanting streets of Trieste under the moonlight. Allow yourself to get lost in the charming alleys, discover hidden corners, and soak in the romantic atmosphere. Trieste’s illuminated landmarks and the calmness of the late-night hours create a magical ambiance that is perfect for an unforgettable midnight walk.

1:00 AM – Rest and Relaxation: As the day comes to an end, it’s time to find your comfortable accommodation for a well-deserved rest. Trieste offers a range of options to suit different budgets and preferences, from luxurious hotels to cozy guesthouses and boutique accommodations. Choose a place that meets your needs and enjoy a restful night’s sleep, dreaming about the wonderful experiences you had in Trieste.

Remember, this itinerary is just a suggestion to help you make the most of your day in Trieste. Feel free to modify it according to your interests and preferences. Trieste is a city full of surprises, and every corner holds something special waiting to be discovered. Enjoy your day in Trieste and create memories that will last a lifetime!

Map of One Day in Trieste Itinerary:

To make your exploration easier, here’s a map highlighting the key attractions and landmarks mentioned in the itinerary. You can find it in our blog post.

Getting Around Trieste for One Day:

Trieste is a walkable city, and most of the attractions in the city center can be reached on foot. However, if you prefer public transportation, the city has an efficient bus network that covers the main areas of interest. You can purchase a daily pass or individual tickets from kiosks or on-board.

Where to Stay in Trieste for One Night:

If you plan to stay overnight, there are several accommodation options to suit different budgets and preferences. The city center offers a range of hotels, from luxurious establishments to cozy bed and breakfasts. Consider staying near Piazza Unità d’Italia or along the waterfront for convenient access to the main attractions.

If You Have Two Days in Trieste or More:

If you have additional time, consider taking a day trip to nearby destinations like the picturesque town of Piran in Slovenia or the enchanting Grotta Gigante, one of the world’s largest tourist caves. These excursions will add diversity to your Trieste experience and provide further insight into the region’s beauty.

Day Trips from Trieste:

• Postojna Cave and Predjama Castle: Explore the stunning underground world of Postojna Cave and visit the medieval Predjama Castle, perched on a cliff overlooking the surrounding countryside. These attractions are easily accessible from Trieste and offer a unique and memorable experience.
• Muggia: Visit the charming town of Muggia, located just a short ferry ride from Trieste. Stroll through its narrow streets, admire the colorful houses, and relax in the cozy cafes along the waterfront.
• Duino Castle: Embark on a journey to Duino Castle, situated on a cliff overlooking the Gulf of Trieste. Explore the castle’s grand rooms, walk along the scenic paths, and take in the breathtaking views of the Adriatic Sea.
• Škocjan Caves: Venture into the underground wonders of the Škocjan Caves, a UNESCO World Heritage site located in Slovenia. Marvel at the vast chambers, dramatic stalactites, and an underground river that has carved its way through the limestone landscape.

Day Trip from Trieste to Lake Bled and Ljubljana in Slovenia

If you’re looking for a beautiful day trip from Trieste, Slovenia is the perfect place to go. Lake Bled and Ljubljana are both stunning destinations that are definitely worth a visit. The drive from Trieste to Lake Bled is about two hours, and from there it’s only another hour to Ljubljana. So pack a picnic lunch and enjoy a day of exploring!

Information & Tickets:

•   Ljubljana and Bled Lake: Full–Day Bus Tour from Trieste

Best Trieste Tours:

Joining a guided tour can enhance your experience and provide valuable insights into the city’s history and culture. Consider taking a walking tour of the city center, a food tour to sample local delicacies, or a boat tour to explore the coastline and nearby islands.

I always use GetYourGuide to book activities and attractions while traveling through Europe. You can search through over 200 Trieste attractions on their website here 👇

Should I Buy Travel Insurance for Trieste?

While travel insurance is not mandatory, it is highly recommended to protect yourself against any unforeseen circumstances. Travel insurance can provide coverage for medical emergencies, trip cancellations, lost baggage, and other unexpected events. It ensures peace of mind during your visit to Trieste.

✅ Don’t forget to book insurance for the trip. It is easy to do online via  Visitors Coverage .

Other One Day in a City Itineraries:

If you enjoy exploring cities in a day, check out our other blog posts featuring one-day itineraries for different destinations. Discover how to make the most of your limited time in other captivating cities around the world.

Check out some more One Day Itineraries from the most popular cities in Europe! 👇

• One Day in Vienna
• One Day in Salzburg
• One Day in Hallstatt
• One Day in Budapest
• One Day in Bratislava
• One Day in Ljubljana
• One Day in Milan
• One Day in Dubrovnik

3 Mistakes I Made the First Time I Visited Trieste:

• Underestimating the hilly terrain: Trieste has its fair share of slopes and staircases, so be prepared with comfortable footwear and be ready for some uphill walks.
• Skipping local specialties: On my first visit, I missed out on trying some of the unique dishes and pastries that Trieste is known for. Don’t make the same mistake and indulge in the local cuisine.
• Not exploring beyond the city center: While the city center is beautiful, I missed out on the stunning coastal areas and nearby attractions. Take the time to venture beyond the city center and explore the diverse landscapes surrounding Trieste.

Conclusion:

Trieste offers a perfect blend of history, culture, and natural beauty, making it an ideal destination for a one-day visit. By following this itinerary, you’ll have a memorable experience exploring the city’s highlights, indulging in local cuisine, and taking in the captivating atmosphere. So pack your bags, get ready to immerse yourself in the charm of Trieste, and create unforgettable memories in this hidden gem of northeastern Italy.

Frequently Asked FAQs

The best time to visit Trieste is during the summer months from June to August when the weather is warm and sunny. However, Trieste is worth visiting at any time of the year.

Trieste is located in the Friuli Venezia Giulia region of Northern Italy and can be reached by bus, train, or car. The city also has a small airport that serves flights from other cities in Italy and Europe.

On day 3 in Trieste, you can visit the Antico Caffè Torinese, take a walk in the Piazza Unità d’Italia, climb to the top of the Faro della Vittoria, and explore the Museo Revoltella.

The best day trip to take from Trieste is to the nearby town of Duino, which is known for its beautiful castle and stunning views over the Gulf of Trieste.

On day 2 in Trieste, you can visit Miramare Castle, take a stroll in the Riserva Naturale della Val Rosandra, explore the Trieste Town Hall, and visit the Serbian Orthodox Church of Saints Cyril and Methodius.

Some of the best things to see in Trieste include the Cattedrale di San Giusto, Roman Theater of Trieste, Miramare Castle, and the Piazza Unità d’Italia, which is the largest sea-facing square in Europe.

The Gulf of Trieste is a body of water that is located between Italy and Slovenia. It is an arm of the Adriatic Sea and stretches from Duino to the Istrian peninsula. It is known for its beautiful scenery and is a popular spot for sailing and boating.

Trieste has a rich history that dates back to ancient times. It was once a part of the Roman Empire and was an important trading center for the Venetian Republic in the Middle Ages. It has also been under the rule of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and was occupied by Nazi Germany during World War II.

On day 1 in Trieste, you should visit the Cattedrale di San Giusto, Roman Theater of Trieste, and Arco di Riccardo. You can also take a walk along the waterfront and explore the city center.

Some of the best places to visit in Trieste include Cattedrale di San Giusto, Roman Theater of Trieste, Arco di Riccardo, Serbian Orthodox Church of Saints Cyril and Methodius, and Antico Caffè Torinese.

Trieste is known for its location in a thin strip of Italy that is sandwiched between Slovenia and the Adriatic Sea. It is located in the Friuli Venezia Giulia region of Northern Italy and is the capital of the Friuli Venezia Giulia region.

To fully explore Trieste and its surroundings, it’s recommended to spend at least two to three days. This will allow you to delve deeper into the city’s history, visit nearby attractions like the Postojna Cave in Slovenia, and enjoy a more relaxed pace.

While one day is not enough to fully explore all that Trieste has to offer, it is sufficient to get a taste of the city’s highlights and immerse yourself in its unique atmosphere. You’ll be able to visit the main attractions, enjoy local cuisine, and experience the charm of this captivating city.

On average, a budget traveler can expect to spend around €100-€150 per day, including meals, transportation, and attractions. However, this can vary depending on your preferences and spending habits.

Trieste is relatively affordable compared to other popular Italian destinations. Prices for accommodations, meals, and attractions are generally reasonable, making it an excellent choice for budget-conscious travelers.

Trieste offers a delightful culinary experience, blending Italian and Central European flavors. Don’t miss the opportunity to try local delicacies such as cevapcici (grilled minced meat), burek (pastry filled with cheese or meat), and delicious pastries like presnitz or putizza. Pair your meal with a glass of local wine or aperitivo.

Hotel Niederreiter, Maria Alm in Austria

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I took the train to Trieste – here’s my guide

Next stop in our series marking the rail pass’s 50th birthday is the Italian city of Trieste, where literary past meets cosmopolitan present – and everyone goes to the seaside

G randiose buildings, coffeehouse culture and a central square big enough to parade a small army in … there’s a reason this city at the end of the Adriatic is called “little Vienna by the sea”. Since the 14th century, when it asked the House of Habsburg for protection from the covetous reach of Venice, Trieste has spent more time as an Austrian city than as an Italian one. The imposing facades were built during its heyday as a major seaport of the Austro-Hungarian empire, and even today the mittel-Europeans who come here on holiday can’t help but feel at home.

There’s little shipping trade left – on the waterfront beyond that huge square, Piazza Unità d’Italia, cruise ships look down benignly on the swaying masts of tiny pleasure yachts – but what remains reveals another Austrian legacy. For 300 years, Trieste has been where the bulk of Italy’s green (unroasted) coffee beans arrive, and it’s rumoured that Triestini drink twice as much of the brew as their countrymen. They certainly like to linger over it, in contrast to the rest of the country’s standup espresso habit. All day long you’ll see people chatting over a capo in b (a mini cappuccino in a glass) in the central Borgo Teresiano area, named after the empress under whose reign many of its now-pedestrianised streets and squares were built.

But it’s not all strudel and Viennese waltzes; this is a place whose long and diverse history begins at the foot of its hill, where the ruins of a Roman amphitheatre hint at this coast’s importance to Julius Caesar. A steepish climb through the old town leads to the medieval stone fortress and cathedral, and the view over rooftops is a reminder of the unusual religious freedoms Trieste enjoyed before the first world war: the multiple domes of one of the largest synagogues in Europe, the winking gold mosaics of the Serbian orthodox church, and the white towers of the Greek one.

That multiculturalism is finally re-emerging: Slovenia’s entry into the EU is helping to reintegrate the Slovene-speaking community, which was a major part of the city’s demographic before fascism, and which still dominates the Karst plateau that overlooks the city. These green limestone hills have become a foodie destination in their own right, thanks to the wine, ham and cheese produced here, and which make their appearance in Trieste’s buzzing wine bars at aperitivo hour.

The streets of this mercantile city offer plenty of good shopping, and the presence of the university has fostered a strong market in rare and secondhand books. The former Jewish ghetto, behind Piazza della Borsa, hosts a wonderful collection of antique shops, while the once-seedy alleys of Cavana’s historic red-light district (frequented by a certain James Joyce back in the day) are abuzz with bars, restaurants and evening strollers.

Where to eat and drink

Of the coffeehouses, Caffè Degli Specchi is the best-known, spreading magisterially across Piazza Unità, where customers wait to be ushered past its red rope . Its owners, the Faggiotto family, have two more worth seeing – Caffè Tommaseo near the seafront, which hosts regular concerts, and Pasticceria La Bomboniera , past the Canal Grande, which showcases a heart-stopping selection of cakes, pastries and chocolates. And if you think the rich interior of Antico Caffè Torinese resembles an early ocean liner, that’s because that was the designer’s day job. During the day it’s a patisserie selling presnitz – the spiral Triestine pastry stuffed with nuts, currants and rum – and brioche-like pinza ; by night it’s an elegant backdrop for cocktails.

For more substantial meals, buffet restaurants still serve the dishes fishermen and quayworkers used to eat mid-morning when they finished work. Alongside traditional sausage and boiled pork dishes, Buffet da Siora Rosa (which celebrated its 100th anniversary last year) also has plenty of meat-free classics, from stewed cuttlefish or gnocchi stuffed with plums to jota , the local bean soup. Hostaria Malcanton , a few steps from Piazza Unità, specialises in fish and seafood fried to perfection, or combined with seasonal vegetables in mouthwatering pasta dishes. There’s a more experimental spirit at Ristorante Ai Fiori , whose tasting menu includes octopus with barbecue sauce, creamy peas and taro chips.

You may not expect a “sports bar” to be the best place in the city for wine, but the cave-like interior of Osteria da Marino , festooned with rugby memorabilia, is a cosy place to sample more than 700 varieties, including those made from the glera grape, also known as prosecco, from the nearby village of the same name. Farms and vineyards on the Karst hills east of the city are allowed to sell their produce direct from their doors for just a few weeks each year. These establishments are called osmize , and website osmize.com shows which are open on any given day.

Trieste is proud of its literary connections – as well as Joyce, poets and novelists from Rilke to Stendhal spent time here – and salon-style conversation lives on at Caffè San Marco , whose high ceilings have nurtured lofty ideas since 1914. Its gorgeous bookshop is as big a draw as the food in its restaurant, and it remains a meeting place for local intelligentsia, visiting professors and more, presided over by charismatic owner Alexandros Delithanassis .

Trieste’s most revered authors are Umberto Saba, Italo Svevo and Svevo’s best buddy, Joyce, who stayed, drank and wrote here either side of the first world war. Plaques all over town document Joyce’s various living quarters (he was frequently kicked out for failing to pay rent) and an increasingly impressive Bloomsday festival is held each June – in 2022 it runs to seven days (12-18 June), incorporating readings, film showings and even Irish breakfasts. Meanwhile, the new Literature Museum of Trieste will open later this year in the newly renovated city library, incorporating the city’s Joyce and Svevo collections.

For a taste of life less rackety, Museo Revoltella is the fin de siecle collection of art and artefacts bequeathed to the city by socialite Pasquale Revoltella and on display in his former home, or Teatro Verdi , the city’s opera house and symbol of its bourgeois charm.

Outdoor space

North of the centre, past the train station, is the suburb of Barcola, whose waterfront doubles as Trieste’s beach. Don’t be fooled, there’s no hint of sand – whatever isn’t pebble is concrete. That doesn’t stop Triestini coming here at every opportunity, for an early morning dip, a lunchtime tanning session or an after-work chillout.

Fare il bagno is an integral part of the local culture and everyone has their favourite spot for a dip. There’s the pine grove with its rare shade, one of the topolini (semi-circular platforms over the prom), and even a popular nudist stretch. In October the sea bristles with sails as over a thousand boats congregate for Trieste’s annual regatta , the Barcolana.

On a promontory at the far end are the fairytale white turrets of Miramare castle, built in 1860 by Archduke Ferdinand Maximilian, brother of the Austrian emperor. He lived, with his wife, Charlotte of Belgium, in his romantic dreamhouse for only three years before he was executed in Mexico; today, the interiors and the extensive gardens are immaculately preserved. The 54-acre park is one of Trieste’s finest public spaces, open every day and easily reachable by bus. The waters around the castle are a marine reserve protected by the WWF , which offers guided snorkelling and scuba diving tours.

Where to stay

Trieste’s architecture lends its hotels a certain hauteur. Its buildings were built to inspire awe, not cosiness: the Double Tree, which opened in 2020 in a former insurance building, is a perfect example, with outsize staircases, soaring ceilings, marble columns and classical statues. Just round the corner, the Modernist Hotel (doubles from €128 room-only) offers a boutique feel in a 19th-century palazzo built by one of the city’s foremost philanthropists, physician Gregorio Ananian. Its lobby bar (open to the public) has an enticing mid-century feel, and guests wake each morning to a rousing quote from Proust, Eliot or some other 20th-century genius painted on their ceiling.

Travel pass provided by Interrail – prices from €185 (for four days’ travel within a month) . The trip was provided by Turismo Friuli Venezia Giulia

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Framed by green hills and white limestone cliffs, Trieste looks out over the blue Adriatic, offering an idyllic panorama from its hilltop citadel, at least when the galeforce bora winds aren’t blasting you off the seafront. But in any weather, there’s a distinct atmosphere of grandeur with a cosmopolitan twist.

The best travel tips for visiting Trieste

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The city’s main squares are adorned with spectacular Neoclassical buildings, and the much-photographed canal, clustered with open-air cafés, is a reminder that, just like Venice and its lagoon, this city has enjoyed a glorious seafaring past, too.

Like so many ports in Europe , there is a certain seediness here, particularly evident in some areas around the train station, although in recent years the city has been spruced up. The heart of modern Trieste is in the grid-like streets of the Borgo Teresiano, but no visit would be complete without a climb to the top of its hill, San Giusto, named for its patron saint and with the best views for kilometres around.

Treiest, Italy / Shutterstock

From Grotta Gigante, one of the largest accessible caves in the world to the panoramic views of the city from San Giusto, here are the best things to do in Trieste.

#1 Take in Trieste from the castle atop the San Giusto

Take in a panoramic view of this elegant and atmospheric maritime city. No visit would be complete without a climb to the top of its hill, San Giusto, named for its patron saint and with the best views for kilometres around.

The Cathedral of San Giusto, also known as the Trieste Cathedral, is a Romanesque-style church dating back to the 14th century. Its location atop the hill provides panoramic views of the city and the Adriatic Sea.

View of St. Giusto Castle at sunset in Trieste © Shutterstock

#2 Visit One of the largest accessible caves in the world

The Grotta Gigante is the Carso’s main tourist attraction, and with good reason: it’s one of the largest accessible caves in the world. At 98m high by 76 m wide, the cave is large enough that the dome of St Peter’s would fit comfortably inside. It’s a steady 11°C inside, so bring warm clothes.

The cave is impressive in scale and, like most of the caves in the Carso, was created by the erosive action of a river, in this case the Timavo, which sank deeper and deeper underground before changing course (the cave is now dry). The fantastically shaped stalactites and stalagmites were formed by deposits of calcium carbonate and colourful metal oxides.

#3 See Aquileia’s glorious mosaic pavements

The glorious fourth-century mosaic pavements rank among the most important monuments of early Christendom. Bordered by the Tagliamento in the west and the Isonzo in the east, the triangle of flatlands west of Trieste and south of Udine seems unpromising territory for a visitor – mile upon mile of maize fields, streams, market gardens and newish villages.

Aquileia was once the Roman capital of Friuli and is the most important archeological site in northern Italy. These unremarkable fields have yielded a wealth of Roman remains, while the glorious basilica here ranks among the most important monuments of early Christendom.

Bird and symbol mosaics inside Basilica di Aquileia in Italy © Shutterstock

#4 Explore Laguna di Grado on a boat

Hop on a boat and explore the lagoon, stopping off at one of the islands for a delicious fish or seafood lunch. Covering approximately ninety square kilometres, the Laguna di Grado is home to a myriad of canals and islands that can be visited by boat.

The islands were once inhabited for months at a time by fishermen who travelled to Grado on Saturdays to stock up on supplies, and the lagoon is dotted with their casoni, traditional houses built with mud and reeds. After World War I most migrated to the city, and only three or four families live in the lagoon today, though a number of fishermen have kept their casoni and use them as second homes.

#5 Gawp at the classic Venetian architecture of Udine’s Piazza della Libertà

The central piazza of the provincial capital is a perfect example of classic Venetian architecture. The place to start any exploration of Udine is at the foot of the hill, in the gorgeous Piazza della Libertà, a square whose architectural ensemble is matched by few cities in Italy.

Here, the fifteenth-century Palazzo del Comune is a homage to the Palazzo Ducale in Venice, and the clock tower facing the palazzo, built in 1527, similarly has a Venetian model – the lion on the facade and the bronze Moors who strike the hours on top of the tower are references to the Torre dell’Orologio in Piazza San Marco. All Udine’s points of interest are about a fifteen-minute stroll from the piazza.

Udine’s Piazza della Libertà © Shutterstock

#6 Sample some of the world’s finest prosciutto at San Daniele del Friuli

Just over 20km northwest of Udine, the picturesque town of San Daniele del Friuli produces some of the world’s finest prosciutto thanks to the local microclimate that assists with the ham’s ageing process.

You can visit one of the town’s many prosciuttifici for a tour round the processing plant and to sample some ham, or enjoy delicious cold cuts at one of the many prosciutterie in town; the Osteria Ai Bintars, at Via Trento Trieste 67, is one of the best. The four-day culinary festival Aria di Festa (last weekend of June) celebrates the highly prized prosciutto as well as other regional sweet and savoury products.

Prosciutto aside, the deconsecrated Chiesa di Sant’Antonio Abate, Via Garibaldi 12/A, is home to a stunning cycle of Renaissance frescoes, considered to be the most beautiful of the region.

#7 Visit Cividale del Friuli, one of the most beautiful towns in the region

Some 17 km east of Udine, the UNESCO World Heritage Centre of Cividale del Friuli is a well-preserved mediaeval gem and one of the most beautiful towns in the area. Visitors are drawn to its dramatic setting, perched over the Natisone River, and to its art treasures.

The town has ancient roots, having been founded in 50 BC by Julius Caesar at the picturesque point where the Natisone River valley opens into the plain. In the sixth century AD it became the capital of the first Lombard duchy, and in the eighth century the Patriarch of Aquileia moved here, inaugurating Cividale’s most prosperous period. It has been the main commercial centre of the Natisone Valley for two hundred years.

Strolling around town is a pleasure, the pace of life leisurely and unhurried, with the historic centre lying between the train and coach stations, within the oval ring bisected by Via Carlo Alberto and Corso Mazzini.

RoughGuides tip: Planning a trip to Italy? Check our itineraries and perhaps our local experts in Italy can help you!

Cividale del Friuli, Italy milosk50/shutterstock

Trieste has a rich history dating back to the third millennium BC, and was once visited by Jason and the Argonauts. Integrated into the Roman Republic in 178 BC, the city, then called Tergeste, boasts Roman ruins. Despite these ancient roots, most of its architecture is from its golden age under Austrian rule. Empress Maria Theresa heavily invested in the city, making it the Habsburg Empire's sole seaport and briefly outshining Venice.

After being annexed to Italy in 1918, Trieste faced upheaval. Mussolini suppressed its ethnic diversity, particularly targeting the Slovene community. Lying between Latin and Slavic cultures, the city has long been politically turbulent. It was a hub for Italian irredentism, a nationalist movement aiming to reclaim Austrian lands. During WWII, it was occupied by Germans and later became a “Free Territory” under Allied administration. In 1954, it was split between Italy and Yugoslavia.

The definitive border was only settled in 1975, leaving Trieste in Italy but its hinterland, Istria, in Yugoslavia. This division led to massive migrations, with large Italian populations leaving Istria. The Slovene majority around Trieste found themselves marginalized as Italians dominated. Over the last sixty years, however, both groups have intermingled, making Trieste a multicultural Italian city.

James Joyce in Trieste

From 1905 to 1915, and again in 1919–20, James Joyce and his wife Nora lived in Trieste. After staying at Piazza Ponterosso 3 for a month, they moved to the third-floor flat at Via San Nicolò 30. He supported himself by teaching English at the Berlitz school where his most famous pupil was the Italian writer Italo Svevo.

While living here he wrote The Dubliners and A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man and started work on Ulysses. He lived a somewhat peripatetic life and you can visit his many homes and old haunts by picking up the walking-tour guide from the tourist office. After staying at Piazza Ponterosso 3 for a month, the Joyces moved to a third-floor flat at Via San Nicolò 30.

There’s a plaque in Via San Nicolò, and one at Via Bramante 4, quoting the postcard Joyce despatched in 1915 to his brother Stanislaus, whose Irredentist sympathies had landed him in an Austrian internment camp. The postcard announced that the first chapter of Ulysses was finished. Don’t miss the wry bronze statue of the writer, strolling bemusedly across the little canal bridge of Via Roma.

The Grotta Gigante is a giant cave on the Italian side of the Trieste Karst (Carso) © Shutterstock

Trieste offers some surprisingly good value high-end hotels, especially at the weekend. Here’s where to stay.

Centro Storico

The historic centre is a prime location for accommodation with some lovely hotels around Piazza Unità d'Italia, plus plenty of great B&Bs.

Città Nuova (New City)

Just north of the historic centre, there is a small clutch of excellent budget hotels close to Giardino di Piazza della Libertà and near to the train station.

A little back from the city centre, this residential neighbourhood hugs the coast and has a clutch of decent midrange hotels with seaviews.

Browse the best hotels in Trieste.

Trieste has a huge range of good-value restaurants and a couple of great spots for both aperitivo and late night drinks.

Viale XX Settembre

The best area to head to eat is pedestrian-only Viale XX Settembre, known as the Acquedotto (“aqueduct”), where citizens stroll in the evening.

Via C. Battisti

East of Sant’Antonio, Via C. Battisti is good for food shops and some great terrance restaurants.

Ghetto, Piazza Borsa and Via Torino

These lively areas are packed with happening bars that are ideal for late-night drinking.

Prosciutto di San Daniele PDO, the dry-cured ham from the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region © Shutterstock

Most visitors walk around Trieste but the city has a number convenient transportation options for getting around.

Useful bus services include #30, which connects the train station with Via Roma and the waterfront; #24, which goes to/from Castello di San Giusto; and #6 which links Trieste bus station with Miramare.

There are very few places to park in Trieste and the streets are congested. If you come with a car leave it in your hotel car park or use the waterfront public parking.

You should dedicate at least 2 to 3 days to Trieste. That’s enough time to check out the city's highlights, including iconic attractions such as Piazza Unità d'Italia, the Castle of San Giusto, and the Roman Theatre. It also allows you to wander its charming historic centre and savour some incredible local cuisine.

Extending your stay to 3 days is enough time for an in-depth exploration of Trieste's cultural higlights such as the Museo Revoltella and the Museo d'Arte Orientale. Don't miss the opportunity to take in the panoramic vistas from Miramare Castle and unwind along Barcola waterfront.

Trieste, Italy, ©Shutterstock

Trieste enjoys a mild Mediterranean climate, characterised by warm summers and relatively mild winters, making it an appealing destination year-round.

For those who prefer pleasant weather and outdoor activities, the best time to visit Trieste is during the spring and autumn months, from April to June and September to October. During these seasons, the temperatures are comfortable, and the city is less crowded with tourists. Spring brings blooming flowers and vibrant greenery, while autumn offers colorful foliage, creating picturesque scenery for exploration.

Summer, from July to August, is a popular time to visit due to the warm weather, making it ideal for enjoying the city's waterfront and beaches. However, summers are hot and crowded, and hotel prices can be higher.

Find out more about the best time to visit Italy .

The airport is at Ronchi dei Legionari, 40km northwest of the city, connected to the city centre by regular trains (every 15– 30min although there can be gaps of up to two hours).

Trieste’s Piazza Libertà bus station is right by the train station. Destinations Duino (hourly; 30min–1hr); Grado (14 daily; 1hr–1hr 30min); Monfalcone (for Aquileia and Grado; hourly; 45min).

This is an enjoyable way to travel to coastal resorts such as Grado, though most services are infrequent and summertime only.

Plan your trip to Trieste with our guide book to Italy .

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Trieste Estate 2024: A Summer of Art and Entertainment

Sissa opens its doors: bridging science and society in trieste, bradley jaden kicks off international tour at politeama rossetti in trieste, severe weather alert: rain and thunderstorms hit friuli venezia giulia, shoreline struggles: barcola’s restoration efforts face summer uncertainty, bishop of trieste’s heartfelt letter celebrates the unwavering strength of motherhood, echoes of resilience: remembering the friuli earthquake of 1976, the 1976 friuli earthquake: a defining event in italy’s seismic history, crossing borders: exploring trieste’s multicultural heritage with ‘care parole’, librinfesta dominates ronchi dei legionari with diverse literary events, trieste’s literary kaleidoscope: cultural encounters at ubik bookstore, globesity: a tale of science, intrigue, and the battle for health, a celtic evening beneath trieste: irish melodies at the speleovivarium, sistiana bay: base club experience unveils season opener, trieste’s accessible museum project unveils unique nature walk, gratitude quotes to uplift and inspire you this sunday afternoon, beating the winter blues in trieste, embracing the new year: daring greatly, “what if…” saying “yes” instead of “no”, exploring antarctica: tales from the national antarctic museum, nobel laureate giorgio parisi to speak at units centenary event, trieste workshop aims to empower climate scientists from developing nations, exploring the physics of coffee at trieste’s 2024 science and comma…, augustin hadelich to enchant trieste with unique violin performance, seaside exposed: a poetic gaze behind vacation escapades, a night of theatrical splendor: ferzan ozpetek’s “magnificent presence” takes center…, art exhibition unveiling: paolo ferluga’s “postcards from a suspended city”, trieste municipality revolutionizes tourist tax procedures ahead of summer season.

by InTrieste

Beginning June 1st, the Municipality of Trieste will introduce a streamlined process for managing the contentious “Tourist Tax”. In a bid to simplify and expedite the payment of the stay tax, municipal authorities have unveiled a new online portal designed to facilitate the issuance of necessary credentials.

This development marks a significant departure from the traditional bureaucratic hurdles associated with the tax, which has long been a subject of debate among residents and visitors alike. Under the revamped system, property owners engaging in tourist accommodations or operating lodging establishments such as hotels, residences, vacation rentals, and bed and breakfasts will benefit from a more efficient application process.

Gone are the days of cumbersome paperwork and lengthy waits. Through the innovative “Tourist tax” portal, stakeholders will now have direct access to the credentials required for reporting and remitting the stay tax. Leveraging modern technology, the portal promises a seamless experience, eliminating the need for manual form submissions.

The move underscores the Municipality’s commitment to enhancing the tourism landscape while addressing the administrative burdens faced by both businesses and travelers. With the implementation of these new measures, authorities aim to foster a more welcoming and hassle-free environment for all those who choose to visit Trieste.

As the June 1st deadline approaches, anticipation mounts among residents and industry stakeholders eager to embrace this latest initiative. Indeed, with the promise of a smoother process on the horizon, Trieste looks set to solidify its position as a premier destination for travelers seeking both charm and efficiency.

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One train, three countries and a £7 ticket: Europe’s newest rail trip

Have a mini interrail adventure through italy, slovenia and croatia on an affordable route that takes in the adriatic’s aristocratic history.

I ’m riding a Slovenian train from Italy to Croatia, on a line built by the Austro-Hungarian Empire 150 years ago. Back then railroading Viennese royalty could breakfast in Trieste, shoot Slovenian game for lunch, then catch a show in a theatre decorated by Gustav Klimt in Rijeka, Croatia. A five-hour version of the route continued into the 1980s.

Now, after more than 30 years, the line between the port cities of Trieste and Rijeka was reinstated to run until late September, with a view to operating long term. It’s now a two-hour dash across three countries that costs £7. But since Croatia joined the Schengen zone last year you can hop on, hop off at any of eight Italian, Slovenian or Croatian stations on the new route. I chose to travel over a long weekend, buying a new ticket from the conductor for a few euros each leg. I was one of the first passengers.

My journey started in Trieste. Until 1918 the Italian city was the principal port of the Austrian Habsburg monarchy. The port ran like clockwork to import coffee beans from the Ottoman Empire to perk up the Austro-Hungarians. Trieste remains a regular Vienna-on-Sea. Locals pause punctiliously at zebra crossings. Triestini are still thought to sip more coffee than the inhabitants of any other Italian city.

At Antico Caffè Torinese I go local by ordering a capo in B (a heart-starting cappuccino in a bicchiere , or glass). This grand Trieste establishment stocks a zany selection of liqueurs forgotten in newer cafés: amaro d’erbe made with iris and mugwort; infuso di rabarbaro powered by rhubarb and a high alcohol content. However, café patrons wear blue jeans and puffer jackets rather than stylish Italian garb — this is Mitteleuropa meets the Med.

Outside the café I ride a bus to Miramare Castle, Trieste’s Habsburg must-see. The neo-gothic mansion was built by charismatic Archduke Ferdinand Maximilian, the spare-heir to Emperor Franz Joseph, who ruled the empire until 1916. The castle’s Aztec eagle motifs hint at the Habsburg’s global gallivanting, which climaxed in Maximilian becoming emperor of Mexico — where he was eventually executed by a firing squad.

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I stay at funky new hotel the Modernist. Imagine a stylish Italian escape meticulously run by Austrians — perfect (B&B doubles from £103; themodernisthotel.eu). James Joyce wrote and drank around the corner during the final days of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and once reflected: “[Trieste] was a ramshackle affair but it was charming, gay.” Habsburg machinations would result in Joyce’s departure in 1915, when the empire’s twin ports of Trieste and Rijeka became divided by politics. I’ll cross that former Cold War border tomorrow.

On day two I board the 7.50am train to Rijeka from a small station in the ritzy northern Trieste suburb of Villa Opicina, a ten-minute cab ride from Trieste’s main station. En route I savour a breakfast box prepared by the Modernist: a child’s fantasy consisting of one cake, three biscuits, two fruit yoghurts and a brownie. At 8am my phone pings as I cross mobile networks into Slovenia and gaze out from the new train’s picture windows. Drystone walls are razor straight. Rows of winter cabbages stand to attention. Unlike in Italy, everything is organised just so.

At 8.54am I alight at the charming Slovenian town Ilirska Bistrica, which has been governed by five regimes since 1918: the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Italy, the German Reich, Yugoslavia and now Slovenia. During the interwar period Ilirska Bistrica’s Italian overlords built 60 miles of tarmacked forest roads. These have been turned into cycle tracks in Slovenia’s most bike-mad town. I navigate them on one of the eight ebikes for rent from the tourist office in the town’s centre (£22 a day; visitilirskabistrica.si). The topography is Austria for softies: a green sheen of forest ringed by the snow-dusted Julian Alps, plus mossy streams that could double as a screensaver.

I pedal my ebike past some of the town’s 40 watermills. They once milled flour for the Austrians and sliced wood to box up Italian lemons. Ilirska Bistrica (population about 4,500) has always been international. I sample the town’s signature dish of sauerkraut, introduced by French engineers who helped to build the railway for the Austrians in the 1870s, before pedalling over to the honey producer Andrej Bergoc and the floral artist Sonja Prosen’s freshly renovated 18th-century cottage Belakapa (one night’s self-catering for six from £171; belakapa.si).

The couple give me their homestay’s honey-tasting experience (£34pp). It starts with sparkling honey wine and Slovenian sheep cheese that Bergoc traded for several jars. The highlight is the honey degustation. I try my host’s linden honey (menthol, chewy) and chestnut honey (spicy, smoky) chased by three shots of apple-honey liqueur, before settling into a sweet sleep. The next morning Bergoc makes me an omelette with his hens’ eggs and asparagus plucked from his garden. If only all Airbnbs were like this.

The next day, I board the new train at 8.55am. For 40 minutes we barrel through plum blossom and poppies before punching through a tunnel onto Croatia’s sunny coast. Opatija-Matulji railway station is choked in bougainvillea and has its own rose garden and vegetable plot. Plus a wooden swing from which to enjoy the sun-licked, clickety-click mise en place. I’m betting the adjoining resort of Opatija is fabulous.

And it is. Fifteen years after the train line arrived in 1873, 85 grand hotels and villas graced this rococo resort. These include the Heritage Hotel Imperial, where I check in. The Imperial has an imposing staircase wide enough for a hussar to gallop a horse up, and a ballroom (now the breakfast room) ceiling of Sistine complexity. At the turn of the 20th century hotel staff hailed from across the Austro-Hungarian Empire: Prague, Lviv, Krakow, Sarajevo. Last month several new staff arrived from the Philippines and Nepal (B&B doubles from £99; liburnia.hr).

To get my bearings I hike the seven-mile Lungomare seafront promenade. It’s a gorgeous symphony of Austrian architecture, Italian peacocking and Croatian coast. Greenfinches serenade the trail. Terraces edge towards the Adriatic carrying the scent of jasmine, iris and rose. This is Croatia’s answer to Capri or Cannes.

Lunch is fancy. Restaurant Bevanda could cater for an oligarch’s daughter’s wedding. Vast window panes overlook a shimmering Adriatic. I start with a tartare of Opatija’s famous prawns drawn from the Kvarner Gulf. Anchovies that taste like seaside jerky and octopus as crunchy as seafood chips follow. Just offshore, tuna hunt sardines that jump from the water. Seafood doesn’t get fresher.

The next morning only a ten-minute journey remains along the new train line. At 9.37am we meander to Rijeka like a clinking voyeur, past balcony breakfasters and laptop-tappers. Rijeka’s seafront railway station looks like a Habsburg wedding cake, built to impose. I arrive to witness a marathon, an outdoor jazz festival and a superyacht leaving port. Trieste’s twin brother is buzzing.

I visit the Sugar Palace opposite the station first. The former headquarters of the city’s sugar refinery is now a museum that shows — using blocks of sugarloaf, ocean liner models and fin de siècle fashions — how the port became Vienna’s window on the world. Nearby hotels such as the Lloyd and the Europa welcomed wealthy migrants, including the newsman Joseph Pulitzer and the inventor Nikola Tesla, who took ships directly to the New World from Rijeka.

My accommodation is even more central. Botel was once an Adriatic ferry that served Mali Losinj, an island that tempts across the bay. It has been sympathetically converted into a floating hotel with wooden panelling, exposed engines and deckchairs on the roof (room-only doubles from £83; botelmarina.com).

On my final morning I’m up early. Rijeka’s fish market looks like a Viennese palace filled with gilthead bream, clams of all sizes and swordfish spears. Michael Palin called it a “cathedral of fish”. This architectural wonder was completed in 1916. Two years later the polyglot Austro-Hungarian Empire was a train wreck. Its motto of “indivisibiliter ac inseparabiliter” (indivisible and inseparable) was sliced like the train tracks from Rijeka onwards. Miklos Horthy, the vice-admiral of the empire’s navy, who had attended naval academy in Rijeka, became the leader of land-locked Hungary.

There’s time for one last lunch. Since 1885 Conca d’Oro has served local fish in an alleyway frescoed with portraits of city figures. My waiter Dominik Mihic tells me how wasabi and sesame oil have infiltrated the city’s salty soul. A seafood platter that might cost £100 in London is £30 here, and could fill a family with carpaccio of octopus and prosciutto-style dried tuna. I’d love to lie down on the pine-scented beaches of Sablicevo, a 20-minute walk from Rijeka city centre, but I have a train to catch. On the 6.25pm to Trieste the sun sets on Slovenian hills and Italian villas. The aristocratic Adriatic is back on track. Tristan Rutherford travelled as a guest of the Croatia National Tourist Board ( croatia.hr ), Belakapa and the Modernist. Trains run daily in both directions from Trieste to Rijeka from £7 one-way (tickets bought on board). Fly or take the train to Trieste

Where to stay in Rijeka

1. hilton rijeka costabella beach resort & spa.

A 15-minute cab ride from downtown, this is Rijeka’s prime address. It’s the resort with it all: a 43m-long infinity pool, private (pebble) beach, kids’ club (ages 4-12) and six restaurants. The biggie is the Michelin-starred Nebo (tasting menu £125; neborijeka.com), which elevates local amberjack and shellfish with foraged asparagus and heirloom apple varieties. Rooms including suites and two-bedroom family apartments are contemporary: the Costabella opened in 2020 to coincide with Rijeka’s Capital of Culture celebrations. Most rooms enjoy a thumping panorama over Croatia’s Istria peninsula. Saltwater fiends can try wakeboarding, flyboarding or paddleboard yoga on the calm Kvarner Bay out front. Details B&B doubles from £135 (hilton.com)

2. Old Town Inn

This vintage charmer is just off Korzo, Rijeka’s buzziest boulevard. Built in the 19th century, stone arches frame the foyer, while vaulted brick ceilings grace the guesthouse’s fancier rooms. The Old Town Inn is individual and highly rated — but petite. Some of the clean, white en suite showers are shaped to fit slanting ceilings. Steep steps mean the hotel, welcoming though it is, is not accessible to all. Details Room-only doubles from £54 (oldtown.rest)

No accommodation captures Rijeka’s salty soul like Botel. Built in the 1930s, this former ferry chugged to nearby islands including Silba and Mali Losinj until 2007. It is now reincarnated as a floating hotel with exposed engine parts and steep naval staircases. The location is unsurpassed: slap bang in the centre of this port city. One, two, three and four-person rooms are basic and bright. Most have portholes that peep out onto yachts anchored alongside. The best part? Botel’s alfresco bar on the stern. Sink a flinty malvasia white wine or local Pan Zlatni lager on tap. Details Room-only doubles from £66 (botelmarina.com)

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With friction: Notes on approaching travel with humility, a visit to Trieste, and getting to know Ljubljana a little more deeply (Part II)

• May 14, 2024
• 5 minute read

Like most people, all of my travels today are mediated by the trillion-dollar industry of tourism that seeks to package experience like a gift basket. The savvy present-day traveler likely browses through countless The Best One-Day Itinerary! articles and videos that essentially promise the most efficient travel plan. It is not unlike the supposed best strategies for all-you-can-eat buffets: Avoid bread and pasta and bottomless fizzy drinks, go for the expensive meats and cheese, take short walking breaks, and always have plenty of dessert — that’s how to make the most out of it! Never mind what you actually want to eat (which, in my case, is always noodles or pasta). The objective is not satiation of hunger but the satisfaction of an abstract sense of value for money.

It is hard not to be driven by this impulse when traveling is an incredibly costly affair. One Saturday, Michael and I took the bus to the coastal town of Trieste, Italy. From Ljubljana, the trip is only an hour and fifteen, though the border inspection delayed us by another 45 minutes. Running through my mind was the thought that, after that day trip, I may never be in this town again. Why wouldn’t I want to see and do everything I possibly can while there? So, we tried: pasta and Italian wine for lunch (a must in Italy, right?), the Miramare Castle by the Adriatic Sea, the Cathedral of San Giusto, the ruins of a Roman theater, the Sant’Antonio Taumaturgo, espresso and a carsolina at Caffè Stella Polare (once frequented by James Joyce, who used to live in Trieste), pasta and Italian wine for dinner (again), sunset at the Piazza dell’Unita d’Italia, and a negroni at the town’s oldest café to end the evening. Still, by the end of it, my feet sore and my heart full, all the sightseeing can still feel inadequate. There is always another monument to visit, a restaurant with an equally interesting menu, a beautiful trail to hike. Was it not miraculous enough that I, born and raised in the Philippines and a resident of a small town in central Texas currently doing a residency in Ljubljana, found myself in a lovely town in the Mediterranean? Every time, this monster of greed must be slain.

There is little mystery left in travel. Thanks to the accessibility of comprehensive travel guides, translation apps, and detailed maps, travel has largely become frictionless — but to what end? We are, as I said , the result of countless collisions, but what happens when the space between each possible moment of fusion or repulsion has virtually disappeared?

In Inclusions: Aesthetics of the Capitalocene , Nicolas Bourriaud writes: “As it happens, contemporary humanity’s shortage of the faraway coincides with an industrialization of travel that has made the exotic commonplace. In fact, we all practice ethnology daily: our contact with the elsewhere occurs through social networks—a far cry from the explorer missioned by an institute and equipped with expertise.” This “shortage of the faraway” in travel blurs the line between the real (the actual lived experience of being in a new place) and the simulation (the realistic multimedia content about the place). That I felt a sense of recognition upon arriving at Prešeren Square for the first time, thanks to all the photos and virtual tours available online, set off some alarm bells.

I do not lament the technological innovations that have allowed travel to be easier and more affordable — I depend on them! — but I genuinely wonder how they refract the lens with which I see a new world. A quick self-inspection: Beneath the desire to meticulously curate a trip lurks the idea of imposing on a place how exactly I want it to be rather than seeing it, and myself, for what it is. There is no pure culture, I say, and yet in planning my travels I am drawn to “hidden gems” and “authentic” experiences peddled like secret treasures. Its exploitative undertone does not go unmissed.

I inherited a love for travel from my parents who, early on, strove to take us to domestic and international trips whenever they could. Hong Kong was my first overseas trip. I will never forget the sheer awe I, as a six-year-old, felt when the plane landed. After an hour of sitting inside a massive machine that made my ears hurt, I am somehow now in a strange, foreign place with people that do not look like me nor speak my language? The feel of colder winds, the unusual smell of the streets, the signs in Cantonese I couldn’t read — everything was uncomfortable; exhilarating.

It is, if anything, that sense of wonder I wish to revive in myself in a world that leaves very little space for mystery. Acknowledging my position as a visitor, an other, how do I visit a new city as though meeting a stranger, rather than as a product to consume? With the inevitable exchange that comes with meeting versus the one-sidedness of consumption, how do I exercise my subjectivity with responsibility? How do I bring myself in this new world?

I have no definite answers, only leads: with eyes open and my feet on the ground. Without fear of friction.

On the walk home one evening, I caught a group of musicians busking at the Cobbler’s Bridge. I stopped and joined the other spectators leaning against the railing opposite the lively quintet. By now, Michael was back in Texas, so I was in a faraway city by myself, surrounded by strangers from all over the world, listening to a jazzy rendition of Stand By Me at twilight as the Ljubljanica flowed its quiet, ancient course beneath me. I thought of the countless fleeting interactions I’ve had since being here, and how I will be forever changed by those handful of minutes: the owner of the quiet restaurant in Trieste who spoke no English but served Michael and I with warmth and one of the most memorable meals of our visit, the German stranger I ended up having lunch with thanks to an order mix-up, the man who stopped by my table to compliment my penmanship, fellow Filipino traveler Valerie who complimented my outfit, the ticket agent at the bus station who gave me a discount on what was an unexpectedly expensive international fare. Standing in the midst of it all, I was moved to tears by sheer disbelief, amazement — yes, right there, in public. I am somehow in a strange, foreign place with people that do not look like me nor speak my language — because of poetry? In his alternative guide to the city, Marko Pogačnik described the Cobbler’s Bridge as a temple. An invisible roof, he sensed, joined the pillars that rose on either sides of the bridge to create a kind of sacred space. At that moment, I knew exactly what he meant.

May we meet each other where we are, Ljubljana.

About the author

My name is Lian. I am a writer from Manila currently based in a small town in central Texas. These days, my time is split between working full-time at a local museum; writing poetry, this newsletter, and the occasional freelance project; tending to my tiny home, which includes weekly sourdough baking and exploring new recipes almost every day, and; dreaming of the woman I want to now and eventually become.

Lian Sing@semperfemina

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NEWS... BUT NOT AS YOU KNOW IT

This is the cheapest week to book flights for your 2024 summer getaway

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It’s that time of year when we start dreaming of cocktails on the beach – but it’s no secret that holidays are expensive, and we’re always on the hunt for a bargain .

Now, new research has revealed the cheapest week to travel – and you might want to start packing your bags.

The best week to book a flight to Europe on a budget is between 23 June and 29 June.

Travel experts, Kayak , analysed average return flight prices for each week of summer , from anywhere in the UK to destinations in Europe, and the rest of the world. 

And, it pays to travel in ‘shoulder season’, when popular tourist hotspots are a little quieter.

According to their data, if you travel in that last week of June, you could save an average of £73 per person on flights compared to other dates during the summer .

Return flights around Europe during the last week of June are on average just £205, compared with £278 in the week beginning 22 July, and £261 if you wanted to travel in August.

If the end of June feels a little too soon – and not nearly enough time to get that holiday wardrobe sorted – never fear. September is also a wallet-friendly month, when return flights from the UK to Europe are around £209.

If you’re looking to travel further afield, the best weeks to travel outside of Europe are again at the start and end of the season.

Need some travel inspo? Head to the Italian hidden-gem city of Trieste

Hop across the Adriatic sea from  Venice  and you’ll find Trieste , a unique border town that you’ve probably never heard of – but one you’re going to want to add to your city-break hit list.

Ever since neighbouring Slovenia’s popularity began to boom with travellers, tourism has picked up in the Italian town. There’s now a thriving foodie and arts scene, and the uber cool hotel chain, 25hours, is set to open in Trieste next year. Not to mention, its stunning.

‘A beautiful place both during the day and at night but it never feels crowded or overrun. Simply stunning,’ wrote one TripAdvisor reviewer. While a second described it as ‘so serene and beautiful’.

There’s lots to do in the literary town (that once counted James Joyce as a resident). For views that stretch across the sea, visit the Faro della Vittoria, a lighthouse which is open to the public (for free), and head to the must-visit fairytale castle, Miramare Castle, which sits atop a rocky cliff.

For a more quirky stop, Stazione Rogers is an abandoned petrol station, which swapped serving up unleaded for aperitifs, and is now a thriving cultural centre. As well as being the perfect place for sundowners overlooking the water (with DJs and live music until 2am) there’s also a space for art exhibitions, performances and gigs.

And make sure you get a seat at a restaurant serving up a buffets – a tradition which harks back to when the city was under Austrian rule. Think cured meats, smoked sausages and cheese. It’s said you haven’t really been to Trieste unless you’ve indulged at a buffet.

Kayak found that flight prices to the rest of the world are a whopping £300 cheaper in early June and September than if you chose to travel in July.

The travel site also found that Brits are heading East, with the most searched travel destination from the UK being Bangkok in Thailand.

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Meanwhile, the hottest trending destinations in Europe are Dusseldorf, Munich and Cologne in Germany – likely due to football fans heading to the continent for the Euros.

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