Where to Stay

Trieste is a small city which has only recently begun to realize its potential to attract tourism. For this reason, there are often not enough beds available in the city during peak travel seasons. This shortage generally occurs at times when exhibitions, international conferences and other frequently organized large events are hosted in the city. Places such as the Area di Ricerca (one of the largest technology parks in Europe) and the Congress Center of the Stazione Marittima beside the Piazza dell'Unità d'Italia have become points of reference for international medical, scientific and social institutions. The programs of exhibitions and meetings offered are always of the highest standard.

Finding a place to stay can therefore be easier said than done, so it is best to book in advance in order to avoid disappointment. You will be faced with a perfectly respectable choice of accommodation. This choice stems from the fact that the city has had to make adjustments in order to cope with its newfound tourist status, which has lead to the construction of a number of new, high-end hotels. It should be noted that in Trieste, (unlike in other parts of the country) there is no one area where all the most elegant hotels are to be found (such as those along the seafront on the upland plains of the Carso), nor are there hotels which are predominantly aimed at business travelers.

As far as parking facilities go, the hotels offer limited parking spaces. If you are lucky, you will be able to find a space at a parking meter along the shore. Otherwise, you should leave your car in a nearby garage. On no account should you leave your car out in the street in areas where parking may be prohibited. This is less to do with the fact that it may get stolen (crime levels are fairly low in Trieste) and more to do with the fact that you may return to find a parking ticket stuck to your windshield.

Rive Here you will be no more than a ten or fifteen minute walk from the train station, a 45-minute drive from the airport (taking the traffic into consideration) and a stone's throw from the Piazza dell'Unità d'Italia in the heart of the city. In the surrounding area, you will also find the Teatro Verdi, the splendid Cittàvecchia (historic city center), the elegant Tergesteo Gallery and many of Trieste's other tourist attractions. There are many excellent hotels in this area including the Jolly Hotel which tends to be favored by business travelers, the Savoia Excelsior on the banks of the Mandracchio (this hotel is elegant and modern, with Internet access in the rooms and fully-equipped conference rooms) and the unsurpassed Grand'Hotel Duchi d'Aosta. This is housed in a nineteenth century palace and is the only hotel which looks out directly onto the largest seaside square in Europe. It has a warm, Central European feel and an excellent restaurant. If, however you are looking for a modest room in the same picturesque part of the city, you could always try the Al Teatro which stands at the top of the Piazza Bartoli between the town hall, the historic Caffè degli Specchi and the small Trieste Stock Exchange.

Borgo Teresiano - Cittàvecchia If you move away from the sea and head inland, you will reach Borgo Teresiano and the city center. You should not expect to find large, imposing hotels around these parts. Instead, there are numerous old guest houses, most of which do not have en-suite facilities, as well as a handful of three-star hotels, such as the Milano (Via Ghega 17) which is housed in a modern building, around two hundred meters from the train station on a street which is notorious for its chaotic traffic. Then, there is the small Abbazia on Via della Geppa; it has a clean and well-designed interior with modern furnishings and a valuable collection of modern graphic art which can be found on display in its 21 rooms. In the same area, you will also find the Italia and Roma hotels.

Altopiano - Strada Costiera Once you have turned off the motorway on your way to Trieste, you will be faced with two possibilities: you can either take the coastal road which hugs the shore but is often very congested, or you can climb the upland plains behind the city and eventually make your way back down towards the sea. The latter option is considerably more convenient, but less panoramic. If you pick the former option, you will come across numerous excellent hotels including Riviera Maximilians, Hotel ai Sette Nani (in Sistiana) and the elegant and charming Greif Maria Theresa on the Viale Miramare along which the citizens of Trieste love to stroll. This five-star hotel (only a 15-minute drive from the center of Trieste) comes equipped with a swimming pool, sauna, garage, excellent restaurant and a whole host of other amenities. Although the prices are a little steep, the quality is excellent. Remaining in the Viale Miramare, if you are looking to spend a little less there is always the Ostello della Gioventù. It is a typical youth hostel but it has a location to die for: only 20 meters from the sea and 100 meters from the charming castle which was once the home of Maximilian and Charlotte of Austria. If you have chosen to take the road through the upland plains, you will come across the Daneu in Opicina which is a small, picturesque village at the gateway to the city. Daneu is a modern, recently renovated hotel with a swimming pool and other amenities. Nearby, you will also find an excellent game restaurant.

If you are here on business and you are intending to visit one of the numerous companies or institutes which have sprung up around the Area di Ricerca (which is the last motorway exit before you reach Slovenia), then you should seek accommodation in the guest quarters of the Padriciano science park, where you will perhaps be the guest of the organization with which you are dealing. Here, you will be far from the city center, but close to the drawing board.

Surrounding Areas Finally, we come to Muggia and San Dorligo. Muggia is a pretty little seaside town around thirteen kilometers from Trieste. San Dorligo is a small village at the edge of the Carso. It is home to the Rosandra hotel which is named after the enchanting valley in which is situated. Both these settlements are in the eastern corner of the province, near the Slovenian border.