With cruise ships being banned from docking in Venice, Trieste is having its moment in the tourist spotlight and rightly so. I was so surprised with this beautiful city! Here are some reasons why you should consider a visit.
Trieste has a really unique vibe, thanks to its close proximity to Slovenia and Croatia.
The beautiful square, Piazza Unità d’Italia is the perfect place to start your visit. It’s a feast for the eyes in terms of the stunning architecture and it is thought that it is the largest European square to face the sea. Head here to people watch or see if there is an event being held. Whilst we were there the Mitteleuropean Race was on featuring over 50 classic and modern collector cars. It was so fun!
As much as I am scared of heights, I always like to see a city from above and the best place to see Trieste up high is the Castello di San Giusto. You can wander the walls for free but if you want to see the panoramic city views of Trieste, you need to pay a small fee. It is well worth it in my opinion and if you have arrived by cruise ship like me, you will be able to see if in port from up here too.
The entrance fee also gives access to the museum that holds lots of interesting and ancient artefacts that date back as far as the 16th century. There is also a lovely café within the walls where you can take the load off and admire the views from the look out points.
On your way back to the waterfront, it is worth a wander passed the beautiful Trieste Cathedral. The Gothic style building feels so different to the rest of the neo-classic style buildings of Trieste that you shouldn’t miss it.
I wasn’t expecting there to be a shopping scene in Trieste but there are some lovely items on offer! My friend bought a beautiful dress from an independent clothes store and we spent a good few hours wandering around.
Whilst wandering around, you absolutely have to enjoy a gelato! It was raining when I visited but there was no way that was putting me off a sweet treat. The stracciatella was delicious.
As we boarded the ship at the end of the day we noticed a lot of locals sat with their legs dangling off the Molo Audace Pier, enjoying time with friends and watching the sun go down. The pier extends out into the sea providing a different vantage point of the city and the Piazza Unità d’Italia. Looking out to sea you may notice a random super yacht on the horizon. It is called Sy A and belongs to a Russian billionaire. It was siezed when Russia invaded Ukraine and has been floating out at sea ever since.
Trieste is also a great base for a number of day trips. Prosecco (Prosek) originates from just outside of Trieste so a visit to the vineyards is a must, if the sparkling wine is your thing. You can also take a day tour of Ljubljana and Lake Bled, which I’d have loved to do had we more time in the area.
If you’re arriving into Trieste and were hoping to visit Venice, you can jump on a train and be there in less than two hours. You can buy train tickets for around €7 and both train stations are in the middle of the city.
At first glance I felt Trieste was very similar to Venice, but it really isn’t. They are so different in terms of culture, cuisine and style, but I’d highly recommend a visit to Trieste. It is one of the most underrated cities I’ve visited in Europe and a real hidden gem.
