The best beaches of Trieste are outside the city, from Miramare Castle to Duino. There are no sandy beaches near Trieste: in this part the Adriatic Sea is characterized by a stony bottom. Stones can be unpleasantly sharp, so special rubber slippers are recommended for swimming. Those who have been to Croatia will understand.
Let’s familiarize ourselves with the beaches of Trieste from east to west.
Mujah
Near the border with Slovenia there is a small town called Muggia with small and not bad beaches. These are the easternmost beaches of Italy. Next is Slovenia.
Punta Sottile
From this beach you can cross directly into Slovenia. The beach is municipal, the bottom is rocky, but there are sandy areas. There are boardwalks leading to the water.
- Price: admission to the municipal beach is free of charge.
- Infrastructure: showers, free parking, lifeguards, bars.
- How to get there from Trieste:
- By city bus no. 20 from the central station. Fare: 2 €. Tickets must be bought in advance at the tobacconists.
- By ferry from the port of Trieste for €4.35 one way; €8.15 round trip; €13 for a personalized pass for 10 trips. Tickets can be purchased on board.
Nearby is the expensive Gabriele beach: you can only stay there if you rent sunbeds (up to 20 € for two people).
City beaches of Trieste
There are two beaches just inside the city limits: Lanterna and Ausonia. They can be reached on foot from the central station in about half an hour, or take the city bus no. 8 to Via Ottaviano A. Fr. Fr. 12
On the other side of the harbor begins the beach area of Barcola, here you will find Topolini beach.
La Lanterna Central Beach (La Lanterna)
The old name of this beach is Pedocin. The only area with fine pebbles and a gentle descent into the water within the city. It is an inexpensive public beach, the oldest in Trieste. It is open all year round, but swimming is allowed from June 1 to September 30.
Lanterna has all infrastructures and one interesting feature: the beach is divided into male and female halves. On the women’s half men are allowed to enter only up to 12 years old. Women are not allowed on the men’s half at any age and under any conditions. It is the only beach in Europe with gender separation.
- Price: entrance 1 €, showers free of charge.
- Infrastructure: infirmary, parking lot, lifeguards, sun beds, umbrellas, places to rest in the shade, showers, changing cabins.
- Website: municipal beaches
Ausonia.
A stone’s throw from the central beach there is another paid beach-club on the causeway, close to the lighthouse and the town center. In the evenings, the beach turns into a nightclub. People sunbathe here on concrete platforms.
- Price: admission from 3 to 6 € depending on the season.
- Infrastructure: beach equipment, showers, cabins, lifeguards and even a beach library.
- Website: Facebook
Barcola waterfront (Barcola)
From the Victoria Lighthouse in Trieste to Miramare stretches the 5 km long Barcola promenade, which the locals use as the main beach. Along the entire promenade, there are slopes to the water, free showers and toilets, and lifeguards in some places. People sunbathe right on the promenade, in the shade of pine trees, and no one is embarrassed.
There are no sandy descents into the water, the bottom is stony. The water is accessed by ladders.
Barcola has a ferry pier from where you can leave for Grignano, Sistiana or the central port of Trieste.
Topolini.
Part of Barcola is occupied by the free Topolini beach. It’s the same concrete platforms, only they’re off the promenade. This is an option for those who don’t like strangers walking over their heads.
- Price: admission, showers and restrooms free of charge.
- Infrastructure: shower, toilet, drinking water, cafe.
- How to get there: by city bus No. 6 or 36 (summer service) or on foot.
- Website: municipal beaches
Grignano
Behind the castle of Miramare, the best beaches of Trieste begin. The beaches are less crowded and the water is turquoise, which is why the locals themselves like to call them the local Sardinia.
In the Grignano area there are two good paid beaches: for simplicity they are called «Grignano 1» and «Grignano 2».
- How to get there:
- Take city bus no. 6 to Grignano stop. The journey takes about 20 minutes.
- Take a Trenitalia train to Miramare station for 1,6 € . The journey takes 9 min.
- By ferry from Trieste to Grignano: 4,4 € for one trip. Travel time 40 min.
Sirena, Grignano 1.
A cozy family beach behind the Miramare Castle with trees along the beach to shelter in the shade. There is a city bus every 15 minutes and a regional Trenitalia train several times an hour.
The beach is equipped with two swimming pools. While children splash around in the safety pool, parents can relax a little.
- Website: Facebook group
Beach of Hotel Riviera (Grignano 2)
Expensive beach at the Riviera Hotel, where outsiders are allowed to enter. There is an elevator between the hotel and the beach.
- Price: on weekdays 10 € for entrance and sunbed, on Sat and Sun — 20 €.
- Infrastructure: umbrellas, sun beds and sofas, hot showers, bars.
- Website: Grignano 2
Portopiccolo — Sistiana (Portopiccolo — Sistiana)
The Sistiana area has always been expensive and good. In the area around Trieste it is here that you will find the cleanest sea and unspoiled landscapes. All beaches overlook the Duino Castle and the seaside town of Sistiana. There are several expensive hotels, the resort of Portopiccolo and the parking lot of private yachts. There are both paid and free beaches.
How to get to Sistiana and Portopiccolo:
- Take a Trenitalia train to Sistiana-Visogliano station for 2,85 €. The journey takes 20 minutes.
- By ferry from Trieste to Sistiana: 7 € one way. Travel time is 1 hr. 20 min.
- Take bus no. 44 to Sisitiana stop, 50 minutes.
Canovella de 'Zoppoli.
Free pebble beach near Sistiana, closer to Miramare. It is very difficult to find a parking space, so it may be easier to get there by train. Trains run every hour.
Alle Ginestre.
The next beach to the west, Alle Ginestre, is a paid and expensive beach. In high season you will have to pay 6 — 12 € for entrance to the beach and the same for parking. There are small pebbles underfoot.
- Prices: admission for adults on weekdays 6 €, on weekends 12 €
- Website: Ginestre
Barbari.
The semi-decent Barbari beach next to the luxury beach club Porto Piccolo is appreciated by locals for its quiet, free secluded area, wild and romantic. From here you have a magnificent view of the bay and of Duino. The shore is rocky and the descent to the beach is not easy, but this is compensated by the stunning sunsets. Due to the seclusion of the beach, nudists can be found here.
- How to get there: about 2.5 km walk from Sistiana.
If you’re driving, between Ginestre and Barbary, pull over at the Belvedere lookout for one of the best views of the bay.
Portopiccolo.
Luxury resort Portopiccolo is a small suburb of Sistiana with pebble beach and sun beds, swimming pools, restaurants and club program in the evenings. A night in 5* hotel or apartments on the first line costs from 250 €, apartments more simple and further from the sea — from 70 €. Luxury apartments with sea view — from 320 € per night.
However, Portopiccolo beach is accessible to all.
- Website: Facebook Portopiccolo Sistiana Beach
- How to get there: about 2.5 km walk from Sistiana
Cohiba.
A bustling, trendy stretch of Sistiana Bay, famous for the beach lounge bar of the same name. Coarse pebbles and very beautiful sunsets: the sun sets right behind Duino Castle. Not very suitable for families with children, but a favorite place for young people. Every Wednesday and Sunday, Cohiba transforms into an open-air dance floor where beach parties take place.
- Website: facebook
Castelreggio (Castelreggio)
Sistiana public beach with coarse pebbles next to the marina. The sea is clean and turquoise. There are bars and service.
- How to get there: the beach is on the side of the port of Sistiana.
Caravella.
The westernmost beach from Trieste and the closest to Duino Castle. The beaches of Venice start further away.
The rocky-pebble beach of Caravella is small but quite crowded. There are paid and free zones.
- How to get there: about 1.5 km walk from Sistiana.
- Website: Caravelle
