Trieste Centrale (Trieste)

A somewhat odd feature of Trieste Centrale is the distance between the binari (the tracks/platforms) which the trains arrive at and depart from; and the main street entrance at the front of the station.
Despite not being a particularly busy station, Trieste Centrale, has three departure halls, so when you’re making your way to and from a train, just keep walking ahead, you will eventually reach the train, or the exit.

Though those with an interest in architecture won’t mind having to navigate Trieste Centrale, as it is a strong contender for the accolade of Italy’s most beautiful station.
The main entrance hall, which was opened in 1878, lives up to its original name of ‘The Royal Hall’ and it feels more akin to a palace than a station.

Trieste Centrale is also akin to ta microcosm of Italian railway history, as the parts of the stations that the trains use, encapsulate the art-deco styling of the majority of Italian’s major stations.
The station is also a monument to a bygone era of rail travel, for many of the parts of the station date from its function as a frontier station, when it was the gateway between Italy and the Balkans, as it was a key stopover on The Simplon-Orient Express route.

Trieste Centrale is on the northern edge of Trieste city centre, the heart of the city is within 15 minutes on foot from the station and it’s a pleasant flat walk.
As you exit the station, a charming square, the ‘Piazza della Liberta’ will be in front of you, head for the bottom right corner and exit the square on the street named ‘Via Benvenuto Cellini’.

Follow this street as it bends to the left, cross the street to the take the first right on to ‘Via Roma’ and then walk ahead of you, within 10 mins you’ll be crossing the canal on the ‘Ponte Rosso’ on the other side of which is the city centre.

The ferries to Muggia and to Sistiana via Barcola and Grignano depart from the Bersaglieri pier – which on Google Maps is the FER 99101.

Bus lines 8 (direction Valmaura), 24 (direction S. Giusto) and 30 (direction Via Locchi) link Trieste Centrale to the ferry terminal – take the bus to the ‘Palacongressi’ stop’, which is just after the view of the Piazza Unita d’Italia – the town square on the water front, which you will see on the left.
So these bus lines will also take you to the old town area.

If you don’t want to take a bus or taxi, it will take around 15 – 20 mins to walk to the ferry terminal from Trieste Centrale.

In 2018 a smart new railway station was opened at Trieste Fruili Venezia Guila Airport and most of the Regionale trains to and from Trieste Centrale call there, but there can be a gaps of around an hour between departures.
The train journey takes just under 30 minutes.

The historic tramway which makes a spectacular journey up the hills above the city and provides the public transport link between Trieste and the centre of Vila Opicina is currently closed, but if it does re-open this year, the closest stop to Trieste Centrale is on Piazza Oberdan, a 10 min walk from the station on Via Chega – head over to the left hand side of the square in front of the station and walk straight ahead.