Free walking tours in Trieste and what to see

Must-sees

Trieste is a port city in north-east Italy, on the border with Slovenia, which for centuries was the great port of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. That heritage shows in its palazzi and cafés. The centre is Piazza Unità d'Italia, open to the sea and lined with monumental buildings, and beside it the Molo Audace pier juts out for a walk over the water. Behind stretches the Borgo Teresiano, with the Canal Grande and the Serbian Orthodox church of San Spiridione.

On San Giusto hill are the cathedral and the castle, with views over the gulf, and at their feet the Roman theatre. The historic cafés, where writers such as Joyce and Svevo worked, are part of the visit. A few kilometres away, by the sea, Miramare Castle, built for Maximilian of Habsburg, has a large park. On the Karst plateau above the city you can visit the Grotta Gigante.

Free tours and guided visits

Trieste has no regular free walking tours. The city can be seen on a panoramic tour that includes Miramare Castle or on the hop-on hop-off bus. Its location also makes it a good base for trips into Slovenia: the Postojna cave and Predjama Castle, Ljubljana and Lake Bled, Lipica with the Škocjan caves, or Piran and the towns of the Slovenian coast.

How long to spend

A full day is enough for the city: Piazza Unità, the Molo Audace, the Borgo Teresiano, San Giusto hill and a historic café or two. With two days you can add Miramare and the Grotta Gigante. If you want to take a trip into Slovenia, allow a third or fourth day, as each one takes a full day or close to it.

Where to stay

The most convenient option is to stay in the centre, between Piazza Unità and the Borgo Teresiano, where there are hotels in old palazzi, apartments and guesthouses, with everything on foot and the station nearby. If you prefer the sea, the Barcola area, along the promenade towards Miramare, is quieter. On the Karst there is rural accommodation for those travelling by car.