Trieste is officially Italian, but this historic seaport juts deeply into neighboring Slovenia and has a uniquely multicultural feel. Italian and Slavic influences combine with Jewish, Austrian, and even Greek elements in the local architecture, cuisine, and dialect to form one of the most singular cities to tour in Europe. Its border location also makes it a popular base for exploring both Italian attractions—Venice and the Prosecco wine country top the list—and Slovenian highlights like Lake Bled, Ljubljana, the Postojna Cave, and the Predjama Castle.
Trieste’s historic center is walkable in about 10 minutes from the central train station, or you can grab a taxi from the queue outside. Once in the city center, you take a walking adventure to see the sights, or use the public buses. Download the Trieste Trasporti app to buy tickets and plan routes, or purchase tickets at a tabaccheria (tobacconist), edicola (newsagent), or a self-service machine near a bus stop.
Trieste may be overlooked by tourists bound for Rome, Venice, and Florence, but the city is busy in summer with Italians and cruise port tourists. And while many Italian cities still come to a standstill during August, Trieste is a place that bucks the trend. Trieste Estate is the big summer festival to watch out for, offering concerts, events, and shows from June through August. Live concerts in Piazza Unità d’Italia are a highlight.
Lovers of the written word will feel at home in Trieste, a city proud of its literary connections. Italian novelists Umberto Saba and Italo Svevo and the Irish writer and Ulysses author James Joyce—who helped Svevo get acclaim—are the literary beasts held in high esteem here, with museums, plaques, and events dedicated to them. The Joyce Museum, Sveviano Museum, Umberto Saba Antiquarian Bookshop, and Caffè San Marco are among the top literary places to visit.
