In this blog, I will tell you everything you need to know if you are planning to spend a long weekend in Trieste. This city is the perfect destination for a long weekend city trip. Like many cities in Italy, it has a perfect mix of culture, history, a coastline with beautiful beaches, and even some hikes along the coast!
Trieste
Here is some general information about Trieste:
- It is located in the north of Italy, bathed by the Adriatic Sea.
- Trieste is really close to the Slovenia border, approximately 8km.
- It was the fourth largest city of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, after Vienna, Budapest and Prague.
- Coffee in Trieste is very important, the Illy coffee brand headquarters are located here.
Getting to Trieste
Flight + Car
The easiest way to get to Trieste is by flying to one of the nearby bigger cities like Venecia or Ljubljana. From there, you will have to rent a car and drive to Trieste from there.
- If you are flying to Venecia: It takes approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes to get to Trieste (148km).
- If you’re flying to Ljubljana: It takes approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes to get to Trieste (120km).
Flight + Bus
Flight + Train
There is also the possibility to reach Trieste from Venice by train. You can find all the information about prices and timetables on Trainline Website.
Accommodation in Trieste
There is a wide variety of accommodation available in Trieste depending on your style and budget. Our visit to Trieste was a last-minute trip so we had to find accommodation a bit further away from the city center but we were very happy with our choice. It was a small studio with everything you could need.
We stayed at the Residence Campanelle 54 and we were really happy with it.
Sightseeing in Trieste
1. Piazza dell'Unità d'Italia
This is the main square in Trieste and it is absolutely beautiful. It is the biggest square that it’s open to the sea in Europe. Its buildings, particularly the city hall are just magnificent. You will surely not want to miss this square during your visit to Trieste.
2. Piazza della Borsa
It is located right next to Piazza dell’Unità d’Italia and it used to be the economic center of Trieste in the 19th Century. It used to be the Stock Exchange of the city.
3. Canal Grande
Translate as the grand canal, it is not as impressive as the Venetian one but it is still a very cute area to visit. It is the perfect place to visit to enjoy the sunset, have dinner, or have a nice Aperol Spritz. During our visit to Trieste, we liked it so much that we came here for dinner 2 out of the 3 nights that we were in Trieste.
4. The Roman Theatre
Dating from the 1st or 2nd century AD, the Roman theatre in Trieste could host around 3000 visitors. It is located right behind the main square and just below Saint Giusto Castle.
5. Castello de San Giusto & Basilica de San Giusto
Saint Giusto Castle presides over the city of Trieste on top of the hill with the same name. You can access it either by walking up the narrow and steep little streets or by getting an elevator. If you don’t mind a bit of exercise, I recommend walking there as the streets leading up to the castle are very charming.
Next to the Castle, there is also the San Giusto Cathedral, which you can visit for free.
Day Trips from Trieste
1. Castello Miramare
8 km north of Trieste, you can visit the famous Miramare Castle. The castle was constructed in 1860 and it belonged to the archduke Ferdinand Maximilian of Habsburg.
This Castle is a must if you are visiting Trieste. You can visit both the inside of the castle (the ticket costs 10 euros/person) and the park surrounding the castle and both are absolutely fantastic. We first visited the interior of the castle and afterwards, spent a really nice afternoon walking around the gardens and relaxing.
2. Spend a Day at the Beach in Sistiana
If you are visiting Trieste during the summer months like we did, chances are temperatures will be quite high. If this is your case, you might want to spend a day enjoying the Italian sun and relaxing on one of their many beaches.
I recommend visiting Sistiana, located 20 km from Trieste, and enjoying a nice beach day there. We spent a day relaxing in Bagno Castelreggio.
Tips based on our experience there
- There is not a lot of parking space there so make sure to arrive early to ensure finding a parking spot.
- It is a pebbled beach, like most beaches in the Adriatic Sea. You might need some swim shoes.
- You can rent a sunbed and umbrella. We wanted to do this but unfortunately, all were reserved for the day. Nevertheless, there are plenty of shadow areas to avoid the sun.
3. Rilke Trail from Sistiana to Duino & Duino Castle
If you are looking for a more sporty day trip, you can walk the Rilke Trail that connects Sistiana to Duino. This trail offers amazing views along the coast. After the trail, you can complete your day with a visit to Duino Castle.
We wanted to do this trail, but the temperatures were so high during our visit to Trieste that we had to cancel it.
Map with main locations in Trieste
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