24 hours in Trieste
Our top tips for how best to spend 24 hours in Trieste
Now that you’ve booked onto your MTB tour or E-MTB tour in Croatia, it’s time to start thinking about travelling to the Istrian coast starting point of Trieste on the Italian border.
We always recommend that you arrive at least one day before your adventure begins to allow for any travel or luggage delays. It’s also good to acclimatise to local time and recover from your journey before you start turning the pedals.
You’ll have a day to acclimatise and indulge in the relaxed pace of Italian life before heading over the border into Croatia, we’ve compiled a few handy tips to help you make the most of your time in Trieste.
Morning
Trieste is a bustling port city filled to the brim with culture and architecture. It’s also the home of Illy (the coffee company!) so this is a good starting point for your day. Head to the thriving Piazza Unità d’Italia and perch up at a cafe to watch the world go by.
After a nip of caffeine it’s worth taking the short walk to the Canal Grande and exploring the waterfront as well as the vast array of stunning architecture on offer – don’t forget your camera! There are plenty of museums and churches that can be accessed throughout the city if you feel the temptation.
Afternoon
Those feeling a little more adventurous can discover some of the delights a little further afield such as Miramare Castle or the landscape and nature of Carso Triestino. Trieste has a good bus service for getting around, head to the local transport company’s website for more information.
You’re in Italy. You have to take advantage of the food, and you certainly won’t struggle to find a worthy location. You could even get properly into the Italian swing of things and have an aperitivo (an early evening drink and snack). Urbanis near the piazza is a good place to start.
Evening
Italians typically have dinner pretty late, around 9pm. If you’re after a bit of atmosphere during your meal it is worth holding off… Also a little hunger isn’t a bad thing as you won’t be left hungry when eating here! Buffet da Pepi in the centre of Trieste serves up typical local cuisine and is laid back, Scabar is a bit more upmarket serving great seafood – it may be worth catching a taxi to though!
5 Local Phrases
‘Buongiorno!‘; Good morning!
‘Ciao’; Informal hello and goodbye
‘Per favore‘; Please
‘Grazie‘; Thank you
‘Parla inglese?‘; Do you speak english?
Trieste Transport Links
Trieste is a small port city and once you’re in the main hub you’ll be able to negotiate most of the city on foot. If you’re travelling to Trieste by train, bus or plane, here’s how to get to the city centre:
Train – If you arrive to Trieste by train (from Venice, for example) then luckily you’ll already be in the city centre and all our recommended hotels are only a short walk away.
Air – Trieste airport is only a few miles from the city centre and is well served by train (Trenitalia) and bus links (SAF, Flixbus) and taxi services (GoOpti). If you are arriving into Venice Marco Polo Airport you can take a GoOpti transfer or train to Trieste.
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