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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

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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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.

More Related Articles on PlanetWare.com

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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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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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?

Travels On Point

authentic culturally rich travel

30 Great Things To Do In Trieste (By An Expert!) 

Looking for things to do in Trieste? I’ve got you covered with this comprehensive list of historical sites, iconic cafes, hidden gems and more.

The seaport city of Trieste in northern Italy has wonderful things to do from the historical and cultural to nature trails and excellent Italian/Austro-Hungarian cuisine. 

I visited Trieste twice, coming back a second time within two weeks because I enjoyed it so much! It is a hidden gem in northern Italy that is often overlooked, and definitely worth visiting .

I saw (and will share with you) the historical sites, churches, canal, coffee shops and local restaurants and downtown shops .

If you are in a hurry and want a short “Best of Trieste” to-do list, here it is!

Quick List of Things to do in Trieste:

• 🚌 Hop On/Off Bus – Audio tour to see the main sights.
• 👀 See All the Main Sights – Two-hour private walking tour.
• 🍷 Prosecco Origins Wine Tour – Prosecco comes from the Karst region here!
• 🍴 Local Food Tour – No Diet Club ! – Eat like a local with locals.
• 🥘 Learn the Art of Apertivo – Learn about and eat Triestian apertivo.
• 😎 See Trieste Like a Local – Custom Private Walking Tour to your taste

30 Things To See and Do In Trieste

Trieste is not a well-known tourist destination and yet it has many things to do right in the city or very close.

This list has a variety of things to do right in the city plus couple of excellent day trips.

👉 Local Tip : If you choose to strike up a conversation with locals while discovering Trieste, you will find most speak some English and that they are friendly and eager to tell you about their specialities and the region.

1. See the Grand Plaza – Piazza Unità d’Italia

Looking out over the Adriatic Sea, Piazza Unità d’Italia is Europe’s largest sea-facing square and home to some of Trieste’s most important buildings.  I loved this plaza and returned many times.

You can’t miss it – it is right in the center on the waterfront and the main focal point of the historic center.

Here, you can admire grand architectural structures like the municipal building, marvel at the beautiful fountain, and, at night, bask in the square’s romantic luminescent glow. 

2. Walk the Historic Center

Dive into Trieste’s historic centre—think Vienna with an Italian twist!

With grand Habsburg-era buildings and charming churches, you can wander medieval streets filled with cafés and theatres. It’s a delightful Italian-Austrian blend. 

3. Admire the Serbian Orthodox Church

Near the historic centre is the Serbian Orthodox Church. This Byzantine church was established in 1748, but it wasn’t until 1751 that Empress Maria Theresa permitted Orthodox Christian religious practice. 

The church now stands as a symbol of Trieste’s religious diversity, along with the Jewish Synagogue, a Lutheran Church, and a Greek Orthodox Church. 

• Location: 📍 Via Genova 12, near the Canal Grande

4. Explore the Cathedral San Guisto

Walk up the hill of San Giusto to see the Cathedral San Guisto. Constructed in 1385, this medieval church is still operational and is the main church of Trieste.

Free to visit and filled with centuries-old art, the Cathedral San Guisto is like an architectural mixtape. It’s got all the classics: Romanesque, Gothic, and Renaissance.

You will need good walking shoes and be able to walk up a fairly steep hill. Taxis are available in the centre if you prefer to ride.

Location: 📍 Cathedral San Guisto

5. Wander the Castle San Guisto

Since you’ve already made the trek to the top of San Giusto, you’ll be close to the Castle San Guisto. The entrance fee is €5.

See the original statues of “Mikeze and Jakeze,” the two automata that mark the hours on the Town Hall bell tower.

Explore the rooms, including Giuseppe Caprin’s Sala Veneta, a meeting room adorned with a collection of weapons from the twelfth to nineteenth centuries.

Location: 📍 Castle San Guisto

6. Visit the Roman Theatre Ruins

Behind Piazza Unità d’Italia at the base of San Giusto hill is the Teatro Romano built in the 1st and 2nd centuries AD.

This Roman Theatre is still active and hosts summer concerts. Excavated in the 1930s, the amphitheatre accommodated 6,000 spectators. The theatre is free to access.

Location: 📍 Roman Theatre of Trieste

7. Admire the Canal Grande

Trieste’s Canal Grande is one of the most photographable spots in the city.

I walked by it often and noticed the different atmosphere depending on the time of day, light and wind.

 If you’re visiting Trieste during the holidays, you’ll also find a Christmas market filled with local vendors peddling traditional souvenirs. 

8. Tour the Castle Miramare

Visiting Catle Miramare is one of the most popular things to do in Triest, and well worth it. Perched on Trieste’s Gulf, the Castle Miramare is a 19th-century masterpiece nearly surrounded by the Adriatic Sea.

This extravagant manor is about 15 minutes from downtown Trieste by car or bus and has opulent interiors, lush gardens, and panoramic sea views. 

You can visit the beautiful grounds for free and get tickets to see the interior of the castle.

It is about 15 minutes north of Triest along the coastal highway. You can take a bus from the centre of town and get a ticket at the bus station.

Or take a small group tour with a private guide and hear the tragic history of Archduke Maximillian and his mad wife, this is the best option for history lovers.

👉 Get Castle Miramare private tour tickets here !

9. Stroll the Barcola Beach Promenade

A wonderful thing to do while visiting Trieste is to stroll down the Barcola Beach Promenade to take in views of the sea and Castle Miramare. While it’s not a sandy beach, the water is cold and deep, perfect for swimming in the summer. 

Trieste is known for its beaches and swimming areas that locals have been using faithfully for more than 100 years.

• Bus: Take bus no. 6 from Piazza Oberdan. A one-way ticket is €2.
• Car: 📍 Google Maps Pin

10. Visit the fascinating Opera Museum – Civico Museo Teatrale “Carlo Schmidl”

The Opera Museum vividly portrays Trieste’s rich cultural history by showcasing aspects of a period known as the Vienna of Italy . This was my favourite museum in Trieste.

Dedicated exhibits honour composers, musicians, and performances and you see up close the antique instruments, extravagant costumes, and suits of armour. 

I learned the fun fact that opera performers used to use their everyday clothing as costumes!

It is located right on the Grand Canal. For up-to-date info on tickets and hours check the website: Theatre Museum “Carlo Schmidl” .

If you like theatre, opera, music and it’s history, visiting this museum is one of the most interesting things to do in Trieste.

• Location : Right on the Canal Grande at via Rossini 4

11. Have an Espresso at the Caffè San Marco 

Caffè San Marco goes beyond mere coffee; it serves a slice of the city’s history. It is a bookstore, cafe and bar all in one.

Since 1914, it has welcomed writers, artists, and intellectuals. The atmosphere is reminiscent of old-world Trieste and definitely worth a visit.

If you want to know the ins and outs of ordering coffee in Italy, check out my post, Ordering Coffee in Italy, a Beginner’s Guide to Coffee Etiquette .

• Location : Via Cesare Battisti 23

12. Visit the Victory Lighthouse – Faro della Vittoria

Admission is free to the lighthouse and worth it for the interesting architecture and fabulous panoramic views. You climb 230 steps to the top for wonderful views of the sea and and city.

It is easily accessible by bus.

• Location : 📍 Str. del Friuli, 141

👉 For hours and information check the website. Faro della Vittoria .

13. Dine in a Local’s Home

Experience Trieste like an Italian by dining in a local’s home!

If you want an immersive and authentic experience, this one and the following two tours are unique Trieste experiences that include culture, cuisine and talking with locals.

You will have a truly local experience with a private 4-course dinner featuring recipes passed down for generations. This is one of the most authentic experiences you can have in Trieste!

Feel the warmth of Italian hospitality and take home a souvenir apron. 

👉 Check times and price here: Dine with a Local at Home! 🍷

14. Try Local Street Food – “No Diet Club”

One of the best parts of visiting Italy is trying the local cuisine!

With the aptly named “No Diet Club” tour, you’ll go with a local guide and try multiple dishes. Sample cheeses, fish, salami, pastry, coffee and more.

You’ll learn to eat like a local in Trieste and where the best places are for authentic street food. I highly recommend

👉 Grab your ticket for Unique Local Food in Trieste ! 😋

15. Learn the Art of Apertivo – Private Cooking Class

As the day winds down in Trieste, learn the art of aperitivo! In this class, you’ll learn the secrets of crafting this Italian tradition.

The private cooking workshop includes five elegant nibbles paired with a delicious glass of local wine. 

👉 Get tickets to Learn the Art of Aperitivo ! 🍴

16. Taste Authentic Italian Coffee

Trieste is the coffee capital of Italy and the Mediterranean’s main coffee harbour.

Visit Caffè degli Specchi (on the Grand Plaza) or Antico Caffè Torinese (Corso Italia 2) for authentic Italian coffee.

Once you’ve had a blend of Hausbrandt Trieste, you’ll understand why the locals in Trieste drink nearly double the amount of coffee as the rest of Italy!

Want to learn how to order coffee like a local in Italy? Check out my blog: Ordering Coffee In Italy: A Beginner’s Guide To Coffee Etiqutette 2024

17. Take a Day Trip to Ljubljana and Lake Bled

Taking day trip is an easy thing to do in Trieste since it is near two countries and many interesting areas. The next few entries are some top choices, and you can check my post, Day Trips from Trieste , for more options.

I loved my time in Ljubljana . You can easily take a day trip here from Trieste and see the old town with the iconic triple bridge, beautiful architecture and castle.

Lake Bled and its island is straight out of a fairy tale and easy to get to from Ljubljana or Trieste. The day tour below is very convenient for seeing both.

👉 Book your tickets for a Slovenian Adventure – a Day Trip from Trieste! 😎

18. Explore Slovenian Wonders – Cave and Castle

Take a half-day tour from Trieste to discover a unique Slovenian cave and Predjama Castle, built right into the rocks.

Postojna Cave is the only place in the world where you can explore a web of caves on an electric train. Next, explore the medieval Predjama Castle, perched defiantly on a 123-meter-high cliff. 

👉 Book your tickets for Postojna Cave and Predjama Castle! 🏰

19. Taste Prosecco Where It Comes From

Discover the roots of Prosecco on a day trip from Trieste. Begin in the Friuli Venezia Giulia village, where the Glera grape brings the legendary wine to life.

Uncover the region’s beauty and head to Štanjel, a medieval Karst village with cultural heritage.

👉 Book Prosecco Tasting in the Karst Region Day Tour! 🍷

For more Day Trips from Trieste, check out my blog post: 16 Great Day Trips from Trieste .

20. See Gorgeous Views on the Rilke Trail

The Rilke Trail is an easy 1.7 km path from Sistiana to Duino just outside Trieste . Dedicated to poet Rainer Maria Rilke, it’s a beautiful place overlooking gorgeous sea vistas. 

You can access the trail at Duino or Sistiana and catch a bus from Trieste or drive. It’s about a 20-minute drive to Sistiana. Park at the Info Point in Sistiana.

Or start at ‘Collegio del Mondo Unito’ in Duino, traverse a grove, and enjoy Adriatic views. Capture Duino Castle and panoramic spots, spotting Trieste, Portopiccolo, and Sistiana.

21. Shop Back in Time at Drogheria Toso

Transport yourself a century back at Drogheria Toso (Toso Store) in Trieste. Unchanged since 1906, the store’s ivory drawers, filled with oxides, clay, talc, and unique wonders remain virtually unchanged for over 100 years. 

From ostrich feather dusters to horsehair brooms, discover exclusive items in this fragrant haven of spices and traditional goods.

Location: 📍 Piazza San Giovanni 6

22. Take the Ferry To Historic Muggia

Take a scenic ferry ride from Trieste to Muggia, the southernmost municipality of Italy bordering Slovenia. A ticket there is €4,65, and a return ticket is €8,65. You can also take a bus, which is €1,25 each way. 

The ferry takes 30 minutes; the bus takes 40 minutes or drive or taxi there in about 15 minutes.

Explore Muggia Castle and Porto San Rocco Marina for incredible views. I also recommend visiting Muggia Vecchia’s Archaeological Park and the Basilica of Santa Maria Assunta.

23. Visit Museo del Mare – Maritime Museum

The Galata Museo del Mare in Genoa museum spans five floors and features interactive exhibits, ship models, and even a submarine tour. Dive into marine history with naval evolution simulations and a compelling immigration section. 

For families looking for kid-friendly activities in Trieste, Museo del Mare is a superb choice. Admission is €17 or free for children under six. 

Location: Via di Campo Marzio 3

24. Have a Coffee in the Oldest Cafe in Trieste

Step into the charm of Caffè Tommaseo , Trieste’s oldest café founded in 1825. Once named Tommaseo after Dalmatian linguist Tommaseo, it’s more than coffee—it’s a piece of history.

Sit where literary greats like Stendhal, Italo Svevo, and Claudio Magris once sat. All of whom found inspiration at Caffè Tommaseo’s tables. 

• Location : Piazza Nicolo’ Tommaseo 4/C – near the Molo Audace Pier

Related Reading: Ordering Coffee In Italy: A Beginner’s Guide To Coffee Etiqutette 2024

25. Tour the James Joyce Museum one of the best things to do in Trieste

Explore the James Joyce Museum in Trieste. Delve into the life and works of the iconic writer who once made Trieste his home.

While at Canal Grande, snap a pic with his statue on Ponte Rosso.

The best part? The entrance fee is free.

Location: Via della Madonna del Mare, 13

26. Enjoy Austro-Hungarian Desserts at Pasticceria la Bomboniera

La Bomboniera is a patisserie frozen in time since 1836.

You can try authentic Austro-Hungarian desserts, such as Rigo Jansci, Pischinger, and Sacher tortes, along with local treats like putizza cake and presnitz pastry—all baked in the original wood-fired oven.

It’s near the Grand Canal at Via Trenta Ottobre 3 .

27. Find Local Traditional Souvenirs at Tipicamente Triestino.

Bring home an authentic Trieste souvenir from Tipicamente Triestino . Founded by passionate guides Emanuela and Donata, the store is a treasure trove of local wonders, from wines and oils to literary cookies featuring Saba, Joyce, and Svevo. 

Find unique gifts like board games, jewellery, and more, capturing the spirit of Trieste’s food and art culture.

Location: Via Luigi Einaudi, 1 – near Canal Grande

28. Relax in the Rose Garden

Repurposed from the property of a psychiatric hospital, San Giovanni Park has been a vibrant public space since 1908. Home to a vast rose garden with nearly 5,000 varieties, it offers enchanting trails and terraced areas.

This is a little far from the historic center, so best to visit if you have a car.

Location : San Giovanni Park

29. Visit Museo Revoltella – Gorgeous historic palace and art

Museo Revoltella in Trieste is an art lover’s paradise housed in a historic 1858 palace. Baron Pasquale Revoltella’s 19th-century collection features modern Italian and European art, furniture, and more.

The museum’s rooftop offers a breathtaking city panorama, making it a must-visit for its artistic treasures and scenic views. Admission is €6,50.

• Location : Armondo Diaz, 27
• Cost: 8 Euro. Free the first Sunday of the month
• Website: Museo Revoltella

30. Walk the Molo Audace Pier

The Molo Audace pier in Trieste is a 200-meter walkway by Piazza Unità d’Italia. Originally 95 meters, it was extended twice after the San Carlo shipwreck. Post-World War I, it was renamed Molo Audace, honouring a warship.

Locals often walk along the pier, that has splendid views of Trieste’s waterfront and main square.

👉 Local Tip: THE BORA WIND The Bora wind that you see in the photo is magnificent and special to the people of Trieste. I experienced it with awe, not knowing it had a name and history at the time.

The Bora and the seafront on the Grand Square are two special reasons to visit Trieste, in my opinion.

Getting Around Trieste

• Walk: Trieste is easily explorable on foot. The historic center has many pedestrian-only streets and it’s a safe city, even at night. Watch for pickpockets like in any city. 
• Tourist Bus: There is a Hop-On tourist bus that costs 14 euros.
• Taxi: Available at the train station and bus station and around the town.
• Bus: Buses go everywhere in Trieste and the region. The bus station is next to the train station and about a 15-minute walk to the downtown. 
• Check times and and buy bus tickets here.

Where To Stay In Trieste

📍 Budget Option:  B&B I Filoksenia Charming with historic atmosphere. An excellent value with beautiful antiques. My favorite place to stay in Trieste. Near the train station and downtown.

📍 Mid-Range Option: Addicted to Paradise B&B.   Beautiful decor and large rooms. The breakfast is excellent. It is near the train station and walking distance to the center.

📍 Luxury Option: Savoia Excelsior Palace Trieste . A luxurious hotel once famous in the Austro-Hungarian Empire.   Elegant with sea views and located on the Grand Plaza (Piazza dell’Unita d’Italia).

Here are a few questions and answers about Trieste.

Is Trieste Italy worth visiting?

Yes! Trieste is worth visiting if you like culturally rich destinations, sea and mountains and/or beautiful architecture .

What is Trieste best known for?

The Piazza Unita del Italia in Trieste is the largest seafront plaza in Europe. I would say Trieste is equally known for its cross-cultural heritage.

Do they speak English in Trieste?

Most people speak some English.   

Is it easy to walk around Trieste?

Yes. It is easy to walk around in the historic downtown area.  

Final Thoughts – Things To Do In Trieste

Trieste is wonderful with more things to do than you might think.

Feel the Bora. Watch the water. Walk the streets. Talk to the locals. Try the coffee, wine and cuisine.

You will be glad you did. 😊

More posts related to Trieste:

Trieste Beach Guide 2024: 7 Best Beaches In & Near Trieste, Italy

Is Trieste Worth Visiting? 13 Best Reasons to Visit Trieste

Ordering Coffee In Italy: A Beginner’s Guide To Coffee Etiqutette 2024

Nancy is the owner and creator of Travels On Point blog. She has been slow-traveling like a local for 30 years and now is a semi-retired digital nomad. Nancy speaks French fluently, is learning Russian and has some Italian and Spanish. She loves history, architecture, learning about cultures and people, dancing and gardening.

The 15 Best Things to do in Trieste, Italy

Think of the best cities in Italy , and Rome , Venice , and Milan probably spring to mind. While these are all places that are definitely worth visiting, they’re nothing like Trieste. One of the forgotten Italian cities, Trieste has its own unique flair that helps it stand out from the crowd. 

The reason Trieste is so different from other Italian cities is that it was part of Austria between 1382 and 1919. Because of this, it’s home to intimidating Habsburg-style palaces, hearty Austrian dishes , and beautiful Neoclassical statues that look like they belong in Vienna . 

Whatever type of vacation you’re seeking, you’ll never be stuck for what to do in Trieste. From thought-provoking art galleries home to some of the best masterpieces on earth and museums that unveil all the secrets of Trieste’s intriguing past to wide-open spaces brimming with hiking opportunities and romantic canals that beg you to stroll alongside them, this city will win you over before the end of day one.

With so many amazing things to check out, it can take time to figure out where to begin. To help you out, we’ve put together a list of the absolute best things to do in Trieste. Add these fun activities and attractions to your Trieste bucket list, and you’re sure to have a fantastic time exploring one of the most underrated and fascinating Italian cities. 

Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase or booking through one of our links we may earn a small commission (don’t worry, it’s at no extra cost to you).

15 Fun and Unique Things to do in Trieste, Italy

1. soak up the atmosphere at canale grande .

One of the first things to do in Trieste is to take a walk along Canale Grande. This long expanse of water was created way back in 1756 and is located just north of the Piazza dell’Unità d’Italia. During its heyday, it was used as a long harbor for sailing ships. Today, it’s filled with small boats bobbing up and down and is lined with cute cafes backed by magnificent buildings. 

There’s never a bad time of day to take a walk around this area, but our favorite is in the evening. Canale Grande feels truly magical when the sun starts to set and the lights make dazzling reflections on the water. This part of the city was one of James Joyce’s favorite places. There’s a statue on one of the bridges that cross the canal in honor of his memory. 

Exploring this part of the city is the best way to feel like you’re in Venice without having to make the train journey! 

2. Step into a fairytale at Castello di Miramare

The magical palace of Castello di Miramare is where you’ll find some of the best sights in Trieste. This enchanting whitewashed residence was built for Archduke Maximilian of Austria and his wife Charlotte of Belgium between 1855 and 1860 before they became the emperor and empress of Mexico.

Perched on a cliff above the sea, Castello di Miramare boasts unbelievable views that stretch out far across the glittering ocean and over to the far-off mountains clad with thick greenery. If you visit on a bright, sunny day, you’ll struggle to believe the view you’re looking at is real. 

Step inside the palace, and you’ll discover that the interior is even more beautiful than the interior. The building features a number of grandiose rooms, each appointed with the finest furniture and best paintings. No matter which window you peek out of, you’re guaranteed amazing views. 

Get a Miramare Castle Entrance Ticket

3. Check out the ancient ruins at Teatro Romano

Trieste has a fascinating history that stretches back thousands of years, and because of this, it’s home to loads of cool artifacts from the past. The Teatro Romano is one of them that you should definitely visit. 

Whether or not you’re a fan of history, a visit to the city’s Teatro Romano is one of the coolest things to do in Trieste. This marvelous structure was completed in the first century, at the same time as the Romans were working hard to develop Tergeste.

The colossal stone theater follows the natural slope of the San Giusto Hill, so even the people in the very back seats had a great view of the stage. The highest steps and the stage are no longer there today. This is believed to be because they were originally made out of wood which rotted over the years. 

Take a look around and see if you can find the statues. They were discovered in the 1930s and are scattered throughout the theater.

4. Go underground at Grotta Gigante

If you’re looking for unique things to do in Trieste, you’ve got to check out Grotta Gigante . Located just a short drive away from the center of the city, this intriguing natural attraction is sure to leave you speechless.

Much larger than you can possibly imagine, this giant grotto is 320 feet high, 250 feet wide, and 550 feet long. Standing in the chamber, surrounded by atmospheric lighting and rock formations of all shapes and sizes, really does make you feel tiny. It’s amazing to think that something like this forms naturally, without any human intervention.

Take a walk around, and you’ll find all kinds of stalagmites and stalactites in almost every color of the rainbow. If you’ve got a good camera, you should be able to take some amazing pictures. Make sure you wrap up warm! The temperature inside Grotta Gigante never goes above 55°C.

5. Dig into a genuine melting pot with jota

When you need a break from all the exciting Trieste sightseeing, pop into a local restaurant and order a bowl of jota . This classic stew has been served all over Italy for centuries, but it’s particularly popular in this city.

The perfect thing to give you the energy to carry on exploring, jota is made with beans, potatoes, sauerkraut, olive oil, and garlic. The unusual ingredients from all over Europe may not sound like they’d work well together. But, just like Trieste itself, this local stew is a little bit of everything and a wonderful representation of Italy’s Mediterranean culture blending with the Austro-Hungarian empire. 

Osteria Bier Stube Trieste is one of the best places for authentic jota . Great big bowls of the stuff are served here alongside crunchy bread, fresh from the oven. If you’re in the mood for something else, you’ll find loads of other Italian-Austrian-Hungarian fusion comfort food on offer, too. 

6. Be wowed by the views at Castello di San Giusto

Built by the Habsburgs between the 15th and 17th centuries, Castello di San Giusto is one of the most impressive Trieste attractions. It occupies a prestigious location on the top of San Giusto Hill and was originally made to expand a medieval Venetian fortress that had replaced earlier Roman fortifications. 

You need to cross a wooden drawbridge that goes over a narrow moat to visit the castle, which is a fun little extra that really helps you get into the mood. The first thing you’ll notice is the incredible panoramas that stretch on for miles. From up here, you can see all across the city, including the Gulf of Trieste and the surrounding green mountains.

If you can manage to tear yourself away from the views, you’ll discover the fascinating inside of the castle. As you explore, you’ll find impressive displays of weapons, with some pieces dating all the way back to medieval times. You’ll also come across intricate tapestries and beautiful period furniture. 

7. Unleash your cultural side with the Trieste Film Festival

Going to the Trieste Film Festival is one of the top things to do in Trieste in winter. This annual festival (originally known as Alpe Adria Cinema) is the most important Italian festival dedicated to Eastern and Central European movies.

It’s been held around mid-January every year since 1987 and has continued to grow and expand ever since. It began at a time when the Eastern and Western countries of Europe were massively divided, and it was difficult to freely share ideas.

Thankfully, a lot has changed since then, and the film festival helps creatives interpret the transformations and promote their films that otherwise would never make it into Italy. It’s a great way for up-and-coming directors and producers to share their creations with a huge audience. 

The Trieste Film Festival marks the beginning of the city’s movie season. So if you’ve just missed it, don’t worry. It’s always followed by several other film-related events.

8. Test your photography skills at Carso Triestino

You’ll find some of the best things to see in Trieste at Carso Triestino. This part of the city is on the outskirts, close to the Val Rosana, and is home to staggeringly beautiful scenery you won’t be able to take your eyes off.

From the tree-dotted mountains and rugged outcrops to the deep lush valleys and shimmering blue ocean, this part of the city is almost too beautiful to be real. Make sure you’ve got plenty of space on your phone because you’re going to fill its memory up with photos!

There are loads of amazing hiking trails in this area that take you past stunning viewpoints you can’t get to any other way. There are also several cycling trails you can follow to take in as much scenery as possible as quickly as possible.

If you’re up for a challenge, you can even scale the main mountain, Mount Carso. It’s a grueling challenge, but you’ll be rewarded with some of the most spectacular views you’ve ever seen from the top. 

9. Fall in love with art at the Museo Civico Revoltella

When the weather takes a turn for the worse, one of the best Trieste activities is to spend a few hours at the Museo Civico Revoltella . Prominently located on the corner of the Piazza Venezia, this gallery is one of Italy’s most important museums of modern art. It boasts more than 1,000 remarkable paintings and over 800 amazing sculptures, in addition to many more drawings and prints.

The magnificent works of art are spread out across 40 rooms covering six floors. You’ll find pieces from all major art movements here, from the mid-1800s up to the modernists. 

Even if you think you know nothing about art, you’re sure to recognize some of the artists and artwork here. There are loads of pieces from significant 20th-century Italian artists, including Mario Sironi, Lucio Fontana, Giorgio Morani, and Carlo Carrà.

When you need a break from all the captivating artwork, head to the museum’s terrace. Here you can enjoy a breath of fresh air and admire the view down to the harbor. 

10. Snack on sweet strucolo de pomi

If you’ve got a sweet tooth, one of the must-do things in Trieste is to try strucolo de pomi . This delicious dessert is Italy’s answer to apfelstrudel (apple strudel). It’s made of a thin, buttery pastry that’s wrapped around an incredible combination of cinnamon apples, juicy grapes, and earthy pine nuts. 

Strucolo de pomi can be pretty filling. So unless you’re super hungry, it’s best to have it for a mid-morning or mid-afternoon snack instead of for dessert after a full meal. Order a slice with a cappuccino and you’ll be in heaven!

Because this sweet snack is so popular, you’ll find it all over Trieste, from grocery stores and bakeries to small bistros and fancy restaurants. Pasticceria La Bomboniera makes incredible strucolo de pomi . The pastry is wonderfully light and delicate, while the filling is perfectly spiced. You’ll also find plenty of other Austrian, Hungarian, and Italian desserts available here.

11. See the famous Lucy fossil at the Museo Civico di Storia Naturale

The Museo Civico di Storia Naturale is where you’ll find one of the most fun things to do in Trieste. This famous museum proudly guards Lucy, one of the most complete skeletons ever found from the early hominid species that flourished 2 to 4 million years ago. The bones you can see are from a single female who was shorter than 4 feet tall.

There are plenty of other intriguing things to see inside the museum. One of the many highlights is the remarkable fossil of a 12-foot-tall hadrosaurus which was found close to the city. It was almost entirely intact when it was discovered, so it’s a really accurate representation of what the creature looked like. 

Here you’ll also find fascinating zoological exhibits with mammals from all over the world. Take a look around, and you’ll come across all kinds of birds, amphibians, reptiles, corals, and saltwater fish.

12. Lose yourself in nature at Val Rosandra

Val Rosandra is the perfect place to escape to when you want to get away from the bustling city of Trieste and surround yourself with nature. Hidden away on the Italian-Slovenian border, Val Rosandra is a stunning valley that has been carved out of rock over the course of centuries by the Rosandra River. 

One of the very few places in Trieste where you can feel like you’re the only human on the planet, Val Rosandra is home to miles upon miles of pristine forests and rocky mountain landscapes. One of the most gorgeous parts of the green space is the spectacular 40-foot waterfall. Find yourself a good viewing point, and you’ll be able to watch as the water hurtles to the edge, tumbles down the rocks, and bursts into the river far below.

If you’re up for a challenging hike, you’ll be spoiled for choice, Val Rosandra features a number of amazing trails, the best of which start from Hervati and Bagnoli Superiore. They’re clearly marked and take you all over the lush park. 

13. Fall in love with a new genre at Science + Fiction

If you’re planning to visit the city in November, you’ve got to check out Science + Fiction . One of the best things to do in Trieste at this time of year, Science + Fiction is a mind-bending festival that originally started out as the Science Fiction Festival. In 2000, it broke off from its predecessor and became one of the most important festivals of its kind in Europe.

A huge number of famous faces have traveled from all around the world to take part in the festival, including Lamberto Bava, Pupi Avati, Carlo Rambaldi (creator of E.T. ), Joe Dante, Moebius and Enki Bilal, Terry Gilliam, Christiane Kubrick, John Landis (director of The Blues Brothers ), Dario Argento, Roger Corman, Sir Christopher Lee, and George A. Romero.

If you’re a big sci-fi fan or you just want to step out of your comfort zone and check out what you’re missing, Science + Fiction in Trieste is a great place to do it. The intense program is full of meet and greets, movie screenings, panel talks, and live performances.

14. See Napoleon’s cannon at the Cattedrale di San Giusto

Trieste is home to a number of impressive religious buildings, and Cattedrale di San Giusto is certainly one of the best. Created in the 14th century by combining one church from the 6th century and another from the 11th century, the church has a truly unique shape that makes it easy to spot.

When you visit the church, pay attention to the campanile and doorway. Here you can see parts of Roman stonework that were used when the two churches were merged. If you look carefully, you’ll also be able to spot gorgeous mosaics that date back to the 7th and 12th centuries on the altar at the end of the side aisles. 

One of the most interesting parts of the building is its bell. It was cast in 1829 out of metal from a cannon left by Napoleon. Following his orders, his troops fired cannonballs at the cathedral. You can still see some of them embedded in the façade today! 

15. Fill your plate with Trieste gnocchi

If you’re a fan of Italian food, you’ve probably had gnocchi before. But have you ever tried Trieste gnocchi? This unique version of the Mediterranean classic takes a number of different forms that you’ll rarely ever find outside Trieste.

Ordering a bowl of gnocchi di susine is one of the best things to do in Trieste when you’re in the mood for a side dish that’s a little out of the ordinary. Gnocchi di susine is made by stuffing potato-based dumplings with sweet plums. It may sound like a dessert, but it’s often served as an appetizer or a side dish with meat. 

Vecio Buffet Marascutti 1914 is an incredible place for all kinds of local dishes, including gnocchi. This traditional restaurant offers a decadent buffet loaded with all kinds of delicious eats, including some of the best gnocchi di susine you’ll find in the city. It’s served with a rich and flavor-packed meat sauce. 

There you have it! The 15 best things to do in Trieste. What’s your favorite thing to do in Trieste? 

Planning a trip to Italy? Check out our favorite books and travel guides!

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About the Author:

Nicola is a freelance writer with an insatiable hunger for travel. She swapped her home in the UK for the sunny Canary Islands when she was just 11 and she has been based there ever since. From crawling on her hands and knees inside pyramids in Egypt to swimming with baby sharks in Bali and searching (fruitlessly!) for the Northern Lights in Iceland, Nicola takes every chance she gets to explore new places. The incredible experiences she has around the world fuels her writing and inspires her to plan even more adventures for the future.

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The 17 Most Surprising Things to Do in Trieste, Italy

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The ultimate guide to visiting Trieste and all the things to do.

In May 2023, our trip didn’t go as planned and instead of visiting Tuscany, we drove to Slovenia. Of course, we had to stop by Trieste, after hearing amazing about this majestic city. Only there are so many things to do, you might feel lost. Stick around to find the best things to do in Trieste!

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Table of Contents

About Trieste

A major city in northeastern Italy is Trieste. It’s located near the border of Slovenia and lies by the Gulf of Trieste.

Trieste is a city filled with history, which you will see all around. This historic city is my favorite city in Italy!

Where to stay in Trieste?

Best beach hotel: Tre Merli Beach Hotel

Why stay here: Beautiful rooms – 2 restaurants – free wifi – room service – free parking – terrace – garden – bar – very good breakfast – entrance into the sea

Best city hotel: Aquila D’oro Trieste

Why stay here: Authentic rooms – fantastic breakfast – free wifi – air conditioning – excellent location

Best apartments: Trieste 411 – Rooms & Apartments

Why stay here: Fully equipped studio apartments – free wifi – great location

Best things to do in Trieste

Be blown away by piazza unità d’italia.

Welcome to the main square of Trieste. Surrounded by Town Hall, Palazzo del Lloyd Triestino, the Palazzo del Governo, and the Palazzo Pitteri, this square is absolutely stunning! All the historic facades and the pristine sea on the other side… It’s truly impressive!

Piazza Unità d’Italia is actually believed to be the largest sea-facing square in Europe! It was built at a time when Trieste was an important seaport for the Austro-Hungarian empire. The former name of the square was Piazza Grande , for both its size and glory.

At night, Piazza Unità d’Italia truly comes to life! It’ll be one of the most romantic sights in the city, so make sure to walk by here at night!

You should definitely stop by this spectacular square, you’ll be blown away!

And don’t forget to take a look at Piazza Della Borsa

In the same corner of the city where Piazza Unità d’Italia is located, you’ll find Piazza Della Borsa. This is another majestic square, known as the city’s economic square. The Chamber of Commerce building is actually located at the far end of the square, in a wonderful historic building with a columned entrance.

From time to time you may find a market on this square. Piazza Della Borsa is great to walk through, take photos, and sit down for a refreshing drink!

Take a photo of Canale Grande

One thing that took my attention instantly while walking through the city center, was Canale Grande. Never had I seen such a big centered canal with the bluest water filled with jellyfish!

Every Springtime, many jellyfish come to the shores of Trieste. They can be seen in the sea, and on a lucky day, you will see many jellyfish in Canale Grande. It was such a peaceful sight!

Canale Grande is very old, it has been there since the mid-1700s . It was built to allow boats to go directly into the city to unload their cargo.

Walking around the canal that’s approx. 200 meters inland, you will be amazed by spectacular views of the surrounding buildings, like the Palazzo Carciotti and the Palazzo Gopcevich.

You shouldn’t miss this picturesque place!

Admire the view at Castello di San Giusto

The “Castello di San Giusto” is a historic fortress located on San Giusto Hill, in Trieste.

The castle has a long and complex history, with its origins dating back to Roman times when it was used as a military outpost. Over the centuries, the castle underwent various modifications and expansions under different rulers and influences; that is why the castle has a very interesting architecture.

To visit this castle, you will first need to cross a wooden drawbridge across a narrow moat. In the castle itself, you can explore:

• The walls and towers
• The castle museum
• Archeological remains
• The cathedral of San Giusto
• Amazing panoramic views

Castello di San Giusto is worth visiting, if only for the views over the entire city, the Gulf of Trieste, and the surrounding hills… Make sure to stop by!

Visit the Trieste Cathedral

Of course, when visiting Trieste, you can’t miss the Trieste Cathedral, which is also known as the Cathedral of San Giusto.

The history of Trieste Cathedral dates back a while. The first religious site was built here already in the 6th century, but the current Gothic structure dates back to the early 14th century .

The impressive architecture and historic details will leave you amazed. Trieste cathedral is a place you have to visit, you won’t be disappointed!

Sip coffee at a historic café

Climbing the San Giusto hill must’ve been very exhausting. It’s time to go down into the city center again, and enjoy a well-deserved cup of coffee!

Trieste has a rich coffee culture and a history of coffee houses that have played a significant role in the city’s social and intellectual life. Trieste might even be the ‘’coffee capital’’ of Italy!

In the mid-18 th century, Trieste became a major coffee port in the Mediterranean. Trieste received beans from coffee plantations from around the world to supply coffee houses throughout the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

Most coffee houses in Trieste date back to the 19 th century ! Make sure to take a coffee break at these historic cafes:

• Caffè Tommaseo: One of the oldest coffee houses in town!
• Caffè degli Specchi: Also known as the ‘’café of mirrors’’, you find this coffee house is filled with large mirrors.
• Caffè Stella Polare: A very interesting arctic-themed coffee house, you should check it out!

Take a night’s stroll down Molo Audace

A perfect place to get some refreshing air is Molo Audace; a 130-year-old pier that extends more than 250 meters into the Adriatic! It’s a popular place amongst both locals and tourists. From this pier you can enjoy the views over the harbor, you can see Piazza Unità d’Italia, and see fish swimming around in the sea.

I loved taking a break from the city at Molo Audace, it’s the perfect place for relaxing!

Especially at night, when you will have a stunning view over the most romantically lit square in the city. Going out onto the pier with your loved one is highly recommended!

Visit the Roman Amphitheater

The Teatro Romano di Trieste is an ancient Roman amphitheater located in the city of Trieste. It was built during the 1st century AD and is considered one of the most important archaeological sites in the city.

The theater was likely used for various performances, including theatrical plays, gladiator contests, etc., and it offered space for up to 6000 spectators!

The amphitheater is free to visit and is open 24/7. I recommend checking it out!

Admire beautiful art at Museo Revoltella

There are several museums in Trieste, but Museo Revoltella is a sure favorite amongst many people.

Museo Revoltella is dedicated to showcasing modern and contemporary art, offering visitors a diverse range of artistic expressions. You’ll find a huge collection of 19 th – and 20th-century art, including more than a thousand paintings, several hundred sculptures, drawings, and prints! You will also find beautiful furniture that belonged to Baron Pasquale Revoltella.

And from the museum’s rooftop, you’ll have the greatest panorama view over the city! If you only have time for one museum, make sure it’s Museo Revoltella!

And take a break in Villa Revoltella Park

An hour’s walk inland from the city center will take you to Villa Revoltella Park. This park has been donated to the city by Pasquale Revoltella, ensuring that it will always be open to the public.

In this park, you will find a magnificent garden, a koi pond, a villa, and a church.

It’s a great break from the busy center, if you have the time for it, you should visit this wonderful garden!

Visit the Saint Spyridon Church

The Serbian Orthodox Saint Spyridon Church is one of the major points of interest in Trieste. It is named after Saint Spyridon, a revered saint in the Eastern Orthodox tradition. The church is an important religious and cultural landmark in Trieste, particularly for the Serbian community in the city.

The architecture of the Saint Spyridon Church reflects elements of the Byzantine and Eastern Orthodox architectural styles. It features a distinctive dome and ornate decorations on its exterior and interior.

This eye-catching church is open to visitors and free to enter. You should check the opening hours before visiting, as they may change at times.

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Enjoy some delicious gelato at Gelateria Zampolli

Because you can’t visit Italy and not enjoy their Gelato… It’s not a question of whether we should get some gelato, the right question would be: Where to get some Italian gelato?

And I’ve got the answer for ya!

Gelateria Zampolli is known to be the best gelateria in Trieste! With deliciously strong flavors, big scoops, and the best service, Gelateria Zampolli is a favorite in Trieste!

I (as a professional baker and ice cream taster (no joke)), LOVED Zampolli’s gelato. So check it out!

Visit the Miramare Castle

One of the biggest attractions in Trieste must be Miramare Castle (Castello di Miramare). It’s located a bit outside the city, but easily reachable by local bus or car.

Miramare Castle looks like it’s straight out of a fairytale ! Standing at the tip of a rock overlooking the Gulf of Trieste, the majestic Miramare Castle is truly a magnificent sight to see.

The castle’s architecture is a mix of Medieval, Gothic, and Renaissance elements, and was built in the mid-19th century as a summer retreat by the Habsburg Archduke Ferdinand Maximilian. The Archduke only lived here for 4 years with his family, before leaving for Mexico, where Ferdinand Maximilian was crowned, and shortly after executed.

The park around the castle is free to visit, but an entrance to the castle will set you back €12 euros. However, seeing the inside is very worth it!

See the opening hours here and get your tickets!

Take a look at the old harbor

The Old Port of Trieste, also known as the Old Harbor (Porto Vecchio), is a historic maritime area in Trieste, Italy. It holds a significant place in the city’s history as a bustling commercial and trade hub.

Porto Vecchio was the main port of the Austrian Empire when the city was part of it. The Old Harbor area is characterized by its historic buildings, warehouses, and docks that line the waterfront. These structures reflect different architectural styles and eras, showcasing the city’s evolving identity and role as a major trading port.

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.

We parked our campervan at Park Bovedo, and we walked past the old harbor and took a good look around. You can’t actually go into the old harbor, there are fences everywhere, but you can get a good look at it.

See the impressive Victory lighthouse

The “Faro della Vittoria,” also known as the Victory Lighthouse, is an iconic monument located in Trieste, Italy. It is a symbol of the city and commemorates the fallen soldiers of World War I.

This impressive landmark has a height of 68 meters and it is therefore really hard to miss. This lighthouse is amongst the tallest in the world!

The Faro della Vittoria was designed by the architect Arduino Berlam and was built between 1923 and 1927 . The lighthouse is situated on a hill overlooking the Gulf of Trieste and offers panoramic views of the city, the sea, and the surrounding landscape.

The lighthouse is accessible by car or on foot. Admission is free and has very specific opening hours, make sure to check before visiting .

Visit the Grotta Gigante

About 20 kilometers from the city center of Trieste, you’ll find the Grotta Gigante . This is one of the largest caves in the world that’s open to tourists!

The 50-minute guided tour will get you through a big part of the cave, but long not all of it. However, your jaw will drop as you take a look inside the main underground chamber, which is 98 meters high, 76 meters wide, and 167 meters long!

Grotta Gigante is definitely worth visiting. An adult ticket will cost you €15 euros , check it out here !

Go hiking in Val Rosandra

Located east of Trieste, by the border of Slovenia, there lies a magical nature reserve, called Val Rosandra. You can go hiking in this mountainous area, to many panoramic viewpoints.

There’s also a stunning blue river and a magnificent waterfall; Cascata del Torrente Rosandra. If you’re a nature lover, it’s truly worth checking this out!

The best way to get there is by car. The reserve is free to visit.

Day trips from Trieste

Seeing that Trieste is quite close to the Slovenian Border and you can also get to Croatia real quick, you can go on wonderful day trips. Let me make you a list of the best things to do in the surrounding areas.

Golden tip: Booking a day trip via GetYourGuide is often a lot cheaper than renting a car !

The vibrant capital city of Ljubljana is a magical place. With the most colorful architecture, amazing culture, and the most unique things to do! Ljubljana is only 100 kilometers from Trieste, and easily reachable by car or local transport.

You can also book an affordable tour including transport .

The dreamiest lake in Slovenia is Lake Bled. You may already have heard of it or seen some pictures. And I can tell you for sure, that Lake Bled is worth the hype.

With stunning turquoise water and a picturesque island in the middle, Lake Bled is such a peaceful place! You can row a boat to the island, walk around the lake, explore the village, and so much more!

Lake Bled is 150 kilometers from Trieste, and also easily reachable by car or public transport. You can easily combine a trip to Ljubljana with Lake Bled in one day .

Want to know more? Check out this post about things to do in Lake Bled !

Predjama Castle and Postojna Cave

A bit closer to Trieste, you’ll find Predjama Castle and the Postojna Cave. The 800-year-old Predjama Castle and Postojna Cave are somewhat the most popular things to do near Trieste!

The Predjama castle is something you’ll have never seen before! The castle has been built on a 123-meter-high cliff, set right into the mouth of a huge cave. It’s a very impressive sight to see, and definitely worth checking out!

Only a few minutes from Predjama, there’s a town called Postojna, where some of the greatest caves are located. These caves are quite popular in Slovenia and welcomes over a million visitors a year.

These 2 activities are great to combine in a day.

Slovenian coast

I’m in love with the Slovenian coast! Featuring only 3 towns; Koper, Izola, and Piran, the coast is not that big. However, it is truly magnificent! With pristine beaches in between these towns, there is a lot more to do than you might think!

Book your highly-rated tour of the Slovenian coast!

Related: How to Explore the Magnificent Coast of Slovenia – A Full Guide

A less popular place to visit on a day trip is Istria. However, it’s not far away; only an hour and a half drive to Poreč. There are a lot of things to do in Istria, like go on a guided food tour, visit one of the picturesque towns, or dive into Istria’s hidden gems !

Istria is a great choice for a day trip from Trieste!  

Practical information for visiting Trieste

If it’s your first time visiting Italy, you may need this practical information

Language and currency

The language in Italy is Italian. However, in Trieste, many people also speak English, Slovenian, or Croatian.

The currency in Italy is the Euro .

Best time to visit Trieste

Like many more places, every season suits Trieste well. In Summer , it can get very hot in this Mediterranean city and it’ll be high season, so that means more tourists and higher prices.

For the best weather and fewer tourists, April and May are perfect. September and October are also very good times to avoid the crowds.

Of course, you can visit Trieste all year round, but between November and March, you will need some thicker clothes with you, as it can get as cold as 0° C .  Rainy days are very minimal in Trieste.

How many days to see Trieste

We have only been to Trieste in one full day but felt like it was too short.

2 to 3 days in Trieste will be enough to see every hi

Final thoughts on things to do in Trieste

I hope this post sums up everything there is to do in Trieste! Will you be visiting Trieste soon? Let me know in the comments below, I’d love to hear from you!

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Is Trieste Worth Visiting?

December 27, 2020

Looking for the best things to do in Trieste, Italy? From literature to architecture and world-famous coffee, this surprising Italian city has a character all of its own.

Table of Contents

Why Visit Trieste?

Trieste is not like the rest of Italy. Perched on the border with Slovenia, it’s a mix of Italian flair and Balkan practicality. But it’s a beautiful place and one I’d highly recommend visiting.

It was winter when I arrived in Trieste. The wind carried with it the whisper of sleet and the soft scent of snow. The ground sparkled with the reflections of Christmas lights in the afternoon rain and the central square was surprisingly quiet.

I was here on my Iron Route project, a journey from Istanbul to Berlin that zig-zagged across the former Iron Curtain. And Trieste was a key part of that.

For more about that, read on to the end of the article.

In the meantime, let’s talk about some of the best things to do in Trieste.

Recommended reading: what you need to know about the Ravenna Mosaics and the surprise you’ll find in Comacchio

Where is Trieste?

Trieste is the capital of the Friuli Venezia Giulia region in northeast Italy. It sits on the border with Slovenia and used to be the main port of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. It’s just a short train ride from Venice and the main connection point from Italy to Ljubljana.

The Best Things to do in Trieste, Italy

Walk around town.

Start at the waterfront and follow the waterways in and back to the Adriatic. Climb hills. Meander in coffee shops without a plan at all. Look up at grand facades and out again to the sea. Walk the Molo Audace and transport yourself 200 metres over the water.

The best thing to do in Trieste is to explore with your feet – and with your stomach.

Inside Tip: head to the waterfront and walk around the old part of town without a plan. Coffee. Cake. Walking. All good, so good.

Piazza D’Unità D’Italia

Combining the grandeur of Vienna with that of ancient Rome, the Piazza d’Unità d’Italia throws in one more punch: one side of the square opens entirely to the Adriatic Sea.

Inside tip: visit at night.

Sapphire lights stud their way across the stone as flames from an occasional car streak across the empty velvet sky, backlit by the brilliance of a long forgotten empire.

The Adriatic looks black, dark, empty, silent. All you can hear is the sound of water touching the stone.

Caffe Tommaseo: The James Joyce Haunt

Mixing all the romance of Vienna’s coffee shops with Dublin’s literary history is the Caffe Tommaseo, a cosy spot that serves a lot of cream with its coffee.

All polished wood and cream with a smoky, old fashioned feel, it’s the exact antithesis of the bright white, ceramic tiled hipster coffee bar of today.

It opened in 1830 and claims to be Trieste’s oldest cafe still in operation.

Overlooking the sea and notching up an impressive pedigree of Italian creatives in its day, it’s one of those literary spots I love to sit and soak up some inspiration (And cake. And coffee).

Where to find it: Piazza Nicolò Tommaseo, 4, 34122 Trieste

Hike the Carso and the Grotta Gigante

The steep limestone plateau that surrounds Trieste had a grisly role in its past, as authorities purged unwanted people by throwing them into the karst.

Today, it has a happier function: as a meeting place for hiking and walking off any excess cake.

The easiest route is the Strada Napoleonica which leads to the small village of Prosecco (yes, that Prosecco, although production now takes place to the west.)

The large Grotta Gigante – or giant cave – produces stalactites and stalagmites with all the necessary razzle-dazzle, even though it lost its Guinness World Record as the world’s largest show cave to another one in France.

Inside tip : take bus no 4 from the centre to start the hike to Prosecco.

Chill Out in a Former Psychiatric Hospital

The Posto delle Fragole , or strawberry patch, is a restaurant, bar and cultural centre surrounded by parkland in Trieste. But it used to be the city’s psychiatric hospital.

Trieste was the first Italian city to end the forced incarceration of people with mental illness and students now throng here, mingling between the buttery yellow walls. In summer, I’m told concerts take place between the rose gardens.

Inside tip: bus 12 from the city centre will whiz you along to the rose gardens and park.

P-O-R-K! Stand and Eat at a Buffet

Besides the stunning waterfront architecture, the best thing for me about Trieste was understanding her history through her food. So much so, I wrote a whole article about Trieste cuisine in particular.

The switch from Austro-Hungary to Italy has never been more evident than on a plate.

And the most striking example, particularly if you’re more used to the Italian side of the menu, is the Buffet experience.

Casual yet sacrosanct, it’s a style of eating where everyone rubs shoulders with everyone else and huge hunks of ham and pork legs are sliced into mustard-rich platters. This isn’t the cured, slender, parma ham world.

It’s the chunky, juicy, slabs of meat with sauerkraut world. And it’s delicious!

Inside tip: Visit Buffet da Pepi on Via della Cassa di Risparmio, 3, 34121 Trieste for the real deal.

To the Lighthouse

To add a bit of structure to your walk, head to the lighthouse or Faro della Vittoria. The 70 metre structure has all the hallmarks of empire building and glory but it’s come to represent a symbol of liberty for the people who live here.

Although run by the navy, it’s open to the public and promises panoramic views across to Slovenia and Croatia. And it provides a view that bound families together during the political separation.

Inside tip: find the lighthouse on Gretta Hill on the foundations of Austrian fort Kressich.

The Canale Grande

You wouldn’t think it to look at it, but this impressive waterway stands on the ground of reclaimed salt marshes. Built in the 18th century, the canal was a key part of reinventing the city. And while it lacks the iconic grandeur of Venice , it gains a sense of authenticity. You won’t find Trieste crowded out with tourists.

Inside tip : look out for the James Joyce statue.

Visit the Roman Theatre

Right in the heart of Trieste lie the ruins of a Roman Theatre or the Teatro Romano. A reminder, if one were needed, that this crossroads of Europe has changed hands many times.

It’s a beautiful spot for a concert or short walk around but if you’re short on time, it may be one to skip (particularly if you’ve been to Rome lately.)

Inside tip: a spot to skip if you’re short on time and have recently had your fill of Roman ruins.

San Giusto Castle

It’s a steep old hill that leads to San Giusto Castle, as befits a spot for fortification. Even before the Romans arrived on this part of the Adriatic coast, this part of the city was involved in defence.

The current castle, built in 1468 by Austria, never needed to sully its hands with the mucky business of actual military campaigning. And so it still stands today.

Inside tip: again, save your time if needs be for the coast.

Piazza della Borsa

And so we return to the grandeur of Trieste in Piazza della Borsa, close to Piazza d’Unità d’Italia. The columns of the Chambers of Commerce. The grand facades of the square. The pedestrian area now a mix of work, play and dreamy looks back at history.

Inside tip: Pull up a chair and have a coffee. It’s not just because I’m tired. This is coffee success story “Illy’s” homeland, don’t you know?

Day Trips from Trieste

Miramare Castle

Once a royal residence, Miramare Castle juts out into the Adriatic, just ten minutes by public transport from the centre of Trieste. As a mix of stern stone and whimsical swirls, it’s an interesting look at the changing seat of power during the 19th and 20th centuries.

Did you know: during World War Two, New Zealand, British and American troops used the castle as military headquarters.

The Postojna Caves

Cross into Slovenia and delve into one of the largest caves open to visitors in the world. I’ve not used this particular tour company but have heard good things about this day trip to Postojna from Trieste.

The History of Trieste

The habsburgs.

The Habsburgs (in case, like me, you never covered any of this in school) ran and oversaw an empire that stretched from Holland to the subsequent USSR and lasted for more than 600 years.

100 years after their demise, hardly anyone knows who they are. Today’s grandchildren never knowing there was a Queen of England.

Trieste formed the Habsburgs’ 4th largest city, right behind Vienna, Budapest and Prague.

World War One began with the assassination of the heir to the Habsburg throne. And as World War One ended, so did the Habsburgs.

The Border Change

A victorious Italy moved into Trieste, Slovene names were switched to Italian and the decades that followed involved ongoing border disputes, forced Italianization, Nazi occupation, the decimation of the Jewish population and the formation of the only concentration camp on Italian soil.

Landing on the losing side once again, at the end of the Second World War, Trieste “belonged” to the Allied Forces. Its territories were split once more and within a few years it settled into the borders it uses today, snug against what used to be western Yugoslavia, and what is now 21 st century Slovenia.

And, according to Churchill’s speech in 1946, at the edge of the Iron Curtain.

“From Stettin in the Baltic to Trieste in the Adriatic, an iron curtain has descended across the Continent. ” Churchill 1946

This article forms part of a series for #ironroute, a journey by train from Istanbul to Berlin. This took place thanks to the sponsorship, freedom and encouragement of InterRail.

A version of this article was first published in 2011.

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30 thoughts on “Is Trieste Worth Visiting?”

Have you read ‘Trieste and the Meaning of Nowhere’ by Jan Morris? She often wrote about Trieste and lists it as her favourite city.

No – or at least not yet. I will add it to my list, though as the city has such an interesting past.

Agree. It’s a great read. Jan Morris also included Trieste in her 1980 book “Destinations”(Essays from Rolling Stone).

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A local’s guide to Trieste: 10 top tips

The Italian port city has blossomed from being a frontier post at the edge of the Balkans into vibrant cultural hub – with excellent seafood

• Trieste’s Barcolana regatta – in pictures

Strada Napoleonica

Discovering Trieste also means discovering The Carso, a steep limestone plateau that follows the Gulf of Trieste and the Slovenia border, is perfect for picnicking, hiking, biking (including e-biking) and rock climbing or just picnicking. There are half-a-dozen trails, but the Strada Napoleonica is the perfect introduction. Take a number 4 bus from Piazza Oberdan to the Opicina obelisk and begin a bracing 5km clifftop hike to the village of Prosecco (it gave its name to what is now one of the world’s most popular wines, though production is now concentrated 100km west in Veneto). Like all Carso hamlets it has an osmiza , a pop-up cantina serving vino for under €1 a glass. Prosecco’s Osmiza Verginella is one of the rare ones open throughout the year, with incredible views down the wild coastline. discover-trieste.it

Trattoria alla Sorgente

Trieste is excellent for seafood lovers, with the freshest produce arriving straight from the Adriatic, cooked simply and at very reasonable prices in the many traditional osterie and trattorie . With its rustic wooden tables and sunny terrace, the friendly Trattoria alla Sorgente is an excellent for lunch choice, but popular with locals, so call first to book. The abundant antipasti misti (€14), with tender octopus, plump scallops, grilled sardines and creamy baccalà is enough for two, while the creative pastas include chunky paccheri (tubes) with baby squid and cherry tomatoes. Closer to the docks are two other top addresses: the lively Osteria Istriano , for alici impanati (€10), tiny breaded anchovies, or the more elegant Trattoria Nero di Seppia , which has a chocolate panna cotta (€6.50) to die for. 2 via della Sorgente, +39 347 939 6519

Il Posto delle Fragole

Another of Trieste’s important symbols of freedom, the Posto delle Fragole (strawberry patch) is a bar, restaurant and cultural centre in the grounds of Trieste’s former psychiatric hospital, in the extensive Parco San Giovanni above the city. Some 45 years ago, this was the first Italian city to end the forced enclosure of mentally ill people, opening the hospital gates to all in the 1970s. Today students attend university courses here, and many of the distinctive pastel-yellow Liberty buildings are venues for the performing arts, cinema, a radio station ( Radio Fragola ), concerts, and late-night summer parties. The park and its famous rose gardens are easily reached on the number 12 bus from the city centre. 4 via de Pastrovich, ilpostodellefragole.eu

Stazione Rogers

Trieste comes alive in the early evening when aperitivo time kicks off, with Aperol and Campari spritz from €3 with free snacks. There are plenty of bars in the old town, but a fun offbeat address is this once-abandoned modernist petrol station – designed in 1953 by Ernesto Rogers, editor of Domus magazine and cousin of Richard Rogers. Today, instead of serving petrol, it serves alternative culture for the city, and is especially popular with Trieste’s large student population. Inside, there is a venue for performances, exhibitions and concerts, while the forecourt is a sprawling outdoor bar overlooking the marina, that stays open till 2am, with DJs and live music. 14 Riva Grumula, stazionerogers.org

Mastro Birraio

The owner of this 35-year-old pub, knowlegeable Daniele Stepancich, showcases a great selection of beer from Italy’s artisan breweries, including Zanna , made in nearby Gorizia. It has eight pumps and a huge range of bottled brews, plus tasty pub grub, from burgers and goulash to locally cured hams, salami and cheeses. Just don’t ask for wine, as this is a beer and spirits-only locale. Wine lovers should head to Enoteca Nanut , a hole-in-the-wall cantina near the canal, with over 50 wines served by the glass. 24 via Felice Venezian, on Facebook

Boat trip to Muggia

A visit to Trieste has to include a boat trip, and a good option is the Delfino Verde ferry that links Trieste and the Venetian port of Muggia. The journey only takes 20 minutes as it hugs the bay towards the frontier with Slovenia, and Muggia is a gem, with its tiny harbour filled with fishing boats. Have a drink at the local watering hole, Ai Fumi, then, further down the street, eat a classic fritto misto at Osteria al Corridoio , owned by Sabrina, whose son Mauro is the fisherman. delfinoverde.it , return trip €7.90

Bagno Alla Lanterna

At this historic public beach, there is proof that a wall does not have to divide but can actually give liberty to people. In a unique Trieste story, male and female bathers are divided by a wall at the tiny Lanterna beach, known popularly as El Pedochin. This may sound sexist and politically incorrect but I can assure you that the opposite is true. A local documentary presented at Cannes in 2016, The Last Resort , explains how the division lets bathers be themselves. Ask anyone here – teenagers, mums with kids, retired people – no one would ever get rid of the wall. The best way to understand is to come and see for yourself. Entrance is a symbolic €1, and of course there is a bar just outside where everyone has lunch or an evening aperitivo together. Molo Fratelli Bandiera 2, sport.comune.trieste.it

Piolo & Max

There is a tradition of after-dinner digestivo all over Friuli, a strong grappa or bitter herbal amaro , but two local wine buffs, Piolo and Max, have dug further into Trieste’s Hapsburg heritage to create their own unique liqueurs by infusing local grappas and fruit brandies with magical recipes of plants, herbs and spices. Like medieval alchemists, they have a workshop/laboratory cluttered with hundreds of jars and steel containers of weird and wonderful botanicals. What started off as a dare has turned into an artisanal success story, and their minuscule store and tasting bar in the town centre stocks tipples from lemon, ginger, absinthe, coriander, chilli and camomile infusions to Newtella, a light chocolate milk-based liqueur, from €10 a bottle. 11 via Felice Venezian, pioloemax.it

Da Giovanni

No one should visit Trieste without experiencing an authentic buffet , a tradition dating back to when the city was under Austrian rule. A buffet is a temple to pork, with roast hams, boiled pork loin, smoked sausage and giant mortadellas heaving on ancient marble bars. There are a dozen locales around town but Da Giovanni is a special place, where I always bring my class for a celebratory end-of-year party. Here architects and judges sit next to students and building workers at long communal tables, talking in Triestine dialect rather than Italian, and tucking into a €3.50 crusty roll of cooked ham covered with grated horseradish accompanied by a foaming beer or local wine straight from the barrel at €1 a glass. 14 via San Lazzaro, trattoriadagiovanni.com

Faro della Vittoria

Our historic lighthouse is an emotional icon for me, as when your boat turns the corner of the coastline, the sight of the it is the first sign that you are coming home. The Barcolana regatta and the Faro are inseparable, as the race begins in the waters around the lighthouse. But few visitors realise that, though it is run by the Italian navy, the lighthouse is open to the public at weekends, free of charge, including a guided tour. The panorama is exceptional, stretching across the sea to Slovenia and Croatia. This is a genuine frontier city, with a history of families divided by international borders, but today, the lighthouse has become a symbol of liberty. 141 strada del Friuli farodellavittoria.it

Mitja Gialuz is a world champion yachtsman, law professor at Trieste University and president of Trieste’s Barcolana regatta

At a glance

Getting there Ryanair flies to Trieste from Stansted. Venice’s two airports are within 150km.

When to go Spring, summer and autumn are best: winters can be windy and cold. The town holds regular festivals including a Sardine festival with live bands every night (until 19 August), and the spectacular Barcolana regatta , which attracts about 25,000 sailors each year and is celebrating its 50th year on 14 October 2018.

Stay Aria Marina is a converted palazzo in the old town with two apartments and one double from €50 room-only. Round the corner the chic Urban hotel has doubles from €96 B&B.

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Tumbling down to the Adriatic from a wild, karstic plateau and almost entirely surrounded by Slovenia, Trieste is physically and psychologically isolated from the rest of the Italian peninsula. As such, it preserves its own unique border-town culture and retains a fascinating air of fluidity encapsulated in the Triestini dialect, a strange melange of Italian, Austrian-German, Croatian and Greek.

Leave the planning to a local expert

Experience the real Trieste. Let a local expert handle the planning for you.

Attractions

Must-see attractions.

Museo Revoltella

This extraordinary house-museum was the home of wealthy Triestini merchant Pasquale Revoltella, who made his fortune in the timber industry and had a hand…

Chiesa di Santo Spiridione

Constructed from pearly white Istrian stone in 1868, the Serbian Orthodox church has a typical Byzantine style, its large central dome flanked by four…

Faro della Vittoria

Trieste’s elegant lighthouse, with its 68m-high, fluted tower and copper dome sporting a soaring Winged Victory, is perched on the Gretta Hill and worth a…

Risiera di San Sabba

This former rice-husking plant became a concentration camp in 1943 and has been a national monument and museum since the 1960s. The site commemorates the…

Borgo Teresiano

Much of the graceful city-centre area north of Corso Italia dates to the 18th-century reign of Empress Maria Theresa, including the photogenic Canal…

Piazza dell'Unità d'Italia

This vast public space – Italy's largest sea-facing piazza – is an elegant triumph of Austro-Hungarian town planning and contemporary civil pride…

This imposing and richly decorated neoclassical synagogue, built in 1912, is testament to Trieste's once significant Jewish community. Heavily damaged…

Civico Museo Sartorio

This elegant urban villa set in a large garden belonged to the haute bourgeoisie Sartorio family, who amassed a huge collection of art, ceramics and…

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Latest stories from Trieste

Oct 21, 2019 • 6 min read

Italy's northeastern outpost Trieste is finally on the map, and in 2020 will be Europe’s Capital of Science. Find out why now is the time to visit Trieste.

Oct 14, 2015 • 5 min read

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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!

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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

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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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Hi! I'm Valentina,

but you can call me Vale.

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

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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

Top attractions and things to do in trieste, a brief history of trieste, best areas to stay in trieste, best restaurants and bars in trieste, how to get around trieste, how many days do you need in trieste, best time to visit trieste, how to get to trieste, tailor-made travel itineraries for italy, created by local experts.

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From Venice to Florence: A Grand Tour of Northern Italy

From the atmospheric canals of Venice and the picturesque coastline of Cinque Terre, to the trendy designer boutiques of Milan and the Renaissance-infused streets of Florence, Northern Italy has plenty to offer. Experience it all with this comprehensive trip.

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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written by Rough Guides Editors

updated 19.09.2023

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