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Almost completely surrounded by Slovenia and isolated from most of Italy, Trieste is Italian in name but multicultural at heart. This elegant coastal city has had a number of rulers since the Romans and today shows vestiges of Italian, Slavic, Jewish, Germanic, and even Greek influence. Here’s how to take in the city in one day.

Morning: Trieste’s Old Town

The best introduction to Trieste’s captivating blend of cultures is a walking or bus tour through its historic heart. Roman ruins like the Arch of Riccardo sit shoulder to shoulder with elegant Hapsburgian palaces; the Serbian Orthodox San Spiridione, the Catholic San Giusto Cathedral, and the Jewish synagogue—the second largest in Europe—all lie within a half-mile radius. Most tours stop at the main Piazza Unità d'Italia, which faces the sea, and the Borgo Teresiano neighborhood, which boasts the Grand Canal and the city’s belle époque cafes, testaments to Trieste’s historic coffee culture.

Afternoon: Miramare Castle

After lunch, make a quick jaunt north of the city to tour the Miramare Castle on the Grignano promontory, above the Gulf of Trieste. Stroll through this extravagant 19th-century confection, which was home to the Habsburg family; the sumptuous interiors are filled with original original furniture, tapestries, and decor. Then take in Miramare Park, 54 acres of grounds and botanical gardens that offer impressive views of the Adriatic Sea and are dotted with sculptures, ponds, and fountains. The castle is one of Trieste’s most popular attractions, so purchase skip-the-line tickets in advance or choose a tour with priority entry to avoid waiting outside.

Night: Unique Cuisine

End your day in Trieste by exploring the city’s singular cuisine, a reflection of its multiculturalism. Join a hands-on cooking class led by a local chef to learn how to make traditional dishes like Trieste-style goulash—a version of the classic beef stew flavored with onion, paprika, and herbs, served with polenta—or enjoy an evening cooking demonstration and 4-course dinner with wine in a local home. Finish with a nightcap in one of the city’s historic cafés: Caffè degli Specchi in Piazza Unità d'Italia is the oldest in Trieste and was frequented by writers like Joyce and Kafka; Caffè San Marco on Via Battisti has also been a local favorite since it opened in 1914.

With three days in Trieste, you can explore the historically multicultural city’s belle époque cafés, sweeping main square, and unique blend of architectural styles before setting out for day trips across the border into Slovenia or to the surrounding Italian region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia. Here’s how to spend three days in Trieste.

Day 1: Trieste

Spend your first day getting to know the city. Join a walking or bus tour through the historic center, home to Roman ruins, Hapsburgian palaces, and the grand Piazza Unità d'Italia—testaments to the city’s long history under a variety of different ruling empires and dynasties. Afterwards, tour the beautiful 19th-century Miramare Castle on the Gulf of Trieste, just north of the city: Purchase skip-the-line tickets, or take a guided tour through the castle’s lavish period interiors and the sweeping grounds and botanical gardens overlooking the Adriatic Sea. 

In the afternoon, take a deep dive into Trieste’s unique cuisine with a cooking class or a demonstration in a local home featuring dishes like Trieste-style goulash, followed by dinner. End your day with a leisurely coffee and pastry at a historic café like Caffè degli Specchi, in Piazza Unità d'Italia, or Caffè San Marco, on Via Battisti.

Day 2: Slovenia Day Trips

For centuries, Trieste was part of the country of Austria-Hungary, as was neighboring Slovenia. To fully understand the city’s culture, take a day trip across the border, where there are a number of destinations that make for easy excursions. Lake Bled, which sits in a dazzling alpine landscape, is one of the most popular. This glacial lake next to the 12th-century Bled Castle has a picturesque island with a spire-topped gothic church. Many tours combine a visit to Lake Bled with a stop in nearby Ljubljana, Slovenia’s capital city. 

Alternatively, join a tour of Predjama Castle and Postojna Cave, both located an hour from Trieste. The striking 13th-century castle was constructed on the side of a vertical cliff, inside a towering cavern, which is part of the same karst cave system as the nearby Postojna Cave. Among the largest karst caverns in the world, the Postojna Cave is so immense that it must be toured via an electric train. 

Day 3: Explore Friuli-Venezia Giulia

Trieste is the capital of Friuli-Venezia Giulia, which is known for lush, rolling countryside. Focus on these vineyard-covered hills on your final day with a wine tour in Collio, an excellent way to sample local Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir, Pinot Blanc, and Ribolla Gialla wines in cellars dating from the 12th and 13th centuries. Learn why the microclimate of this stretch between the Dolomites and the Adriatic Sea produces such unique wines, and stop for a traditional lunch. 

For those who would rather explore another city in this region, there’s Udine, which offers a beautiful medieval center peppered with a mix of architectural styles as well as squares lined with lively restaurants and cafés. Alternatively, head to the neighboring region of Veneto, and spend the day in Venice, admiring St. Mark’s Square, the Grand Canal, the Doge’s Palace, and other top attractions.

Discover the elegant and multicultural heart of Trieste, with its historic cafés, sweeping main square, and mix of historic influences. This Italian city sits just across the border from Slovenia, which also makes it a convenient base for day trips across the border. Here are some ideas for how to spend two days in Trieste.

Day 1: Trieste

**Morning:**Explore the historic center of Trieste with a walking or bus tour that hits the highlights, including Roman ruins and 19th-century Hapsburgian palaces. Stroll through the immense Piazza Unità d'Italia, which looks out over the harbor; visit the Serbian Orthodox San Spiridione, the Catholic San Giusto Cathedral, and the Jewish synagogue; and sip an espresso in the city’s belle époque cafes.

**Afternoon:**Make a short trip north of the city to tour Miramare Castle, a lavish 19th-century Hapsburg residence surrounded by acres of grounds and botanical gardens. Book skip-the-line tickets in advance or join a guided tour to admire the ornate castle interiors and the magnificent Miramare Park, which dominates the Grignano promontory above the Gulf of Trieste. 

**Night:**Discover Trieste’s unique local cuisine with a cooking class focused on preparing Trieste-style goulash—a twist on the classic beef stew, featuring onion, paprika, and herbs,  served with polenta. Alternatively, enjoy classic local dishes by joining an evening cooking demonstration in a local home followed by a 4-course traditional dinner. 

Day 2: Day Trips to Slovenia

**Morning:**Lake Bled is one of the most scenic spots in Slovenia and an easy day trip from Trieste. This glacial lake, set against a background of pristine mountain peaks, has a postcard-perfect island, a 12th-century castle, and scenic walking paths. Day trips generally include a stop in Slovenia’s capital city, Ljubljana, to view the unique local architecture.

**Afternoon:**For a geographically closer—but equally scenic—Slovenian excursion, take a tour of Predjama Castle, just an hour from Trieste. The 13th-century castle is one of the most striking attractions in Slovenia, built directly into a cave on the side of a vertical cliff. Also stop at the nearby Postojna Cave, which is one of the largest karst caverns in the world and can be toured on an electric train. 

**Night:**Trieste is one of Europe’s most important ports for coffee imports, and the city has a proud coffee culture. End your two days by relaxing at one of the historic cafés in the city center. Two favorites are Caffè degli Specchi in Piazza Unità d'Italia, the oldest in the city and a favorite haunt of Joyce and Kafka, and Caffè San Marco on Via Battisti, which has been serving since 1914.