Where to Stay in Trieste: 18 Great Hotels

Best Hotels with a Sea View

I'm a sucker for a sea view so I wanted to start this list off with a bang. Since Trieste is quite hilly, a lot of places offer great sea views, not just those right along the coast. Keep in mind that the hotels I'm recommending here don't give you direct access to go swimming in the sea, just great views of it. My coastal recommendations you can find below.

Although Trieste has a rich history and an old town that certainly should be explored, one of the best parts of this beautiful city, in my opinion, is the bright blue views of the Adriatic. If you're a sucker for a view like I am, you won't want to skip these hotels.

Although the other hotels I'll mention in sections below will be kept to one specific area, this section is all about the view.

📍If you're looking for the best hotels in Trieste with a sea view, I recommend:

• Budget Stay: La Finestra Sul Mare: This 2-bedroom apartment is right on a main road near Piazza Oberdan. While not prettiest plaza in the city, it is a good one to catch a bus as most routes pass through there. From here, you'll enjoy a sweeping sea view and plenty of space for 4 adults.
• Mid-Tier Stay: Pep's Rooms by the Sea: Staying here, you'll be in a great location to not only enjoy the view but to catch your cruise or explore the rest of the city fairly easily. Located right at Audace Pier and just a few blocks from the Canal Grande.
• Luxury Stay: Savoia Excelsior Palace: Looking for the nicest hotel in Trieste? You found it at Savoia Excelsior Palace! This seafront hotel offers great views, elegant rooms, and all the amenities you could ask for during your stay. Plus, you'll be just steps from Piazza Unità d'Italia, the main square and most beautiful seafront plaza in Trieste...and maybe even all of Italy.

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Best Hotels round the Canal Grande

Canal Grande is Trieste's very own canal. While most people visiting Italy flock to Venice for their canals, we have one of our own. Before I oversell it though, it's just one canal and while cute, it lacks the romanticism of Venice.

Regardless, the Canal is centrally located in between the train station and the cruise port, which is an ideal location if you're in Trieste to catch your boat. In general, do note that the canal is one of the most touristic areas, and while seeing it is one of the best things to do in Trieste, it's not my favorite part of town.

Why? Simply because this area tends to mark up their prices and other than offering a few great photo opps of the canal itself and the James Joyce statue, isn't as beautiful as other parts of Trieste, in my opinion.

Convenient location? Yes. The best of Trieste? Not necessarily. The area between the canal and Piazza Unità d'Italia, around Corso Italia and Piazza della Borsa is really lovely though and the exception to this.

📍If you're looking for the best hotels around Canal Grande, I recommend:

• Budget Stay: Casa Pepe Rooms & Apartments: The studio apartment offered here is ideal for someone that wants the option to cook a bit without paying for a full apartment. You can expect it to be clean and just one block from the canal.
• Mid-Tier Stay: Seven Historical Suites: Also located just a few steps from the canal, this historic hotel is ideal for those who enjoy antique furniture and unique places to stay. This is another of the luxury hotels in Trieste that people love.
• Luxury Stay: The Modernist Hotel: The Modernist Hotel is located on Corso Italia and is in the best area of Trieste for shopping. The hotel is also connected to one of my favorite restaurants in Trieste, the Modernist. As the name suggests, you can expect modern furniture and stylish rooms. I highly recommend taking advantage of the delicious breakfast.

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Best Hotels in Cavana

Now you're likely wondering, if not the Canal, what is the best part of Trieste? To me, that's Cavana. This is a small neighborhood that runs a few blocks back but parallel to the coast. Most of the city looks more Austrian than Italian (thanks to its history under the Austro-Hungarian Regime) but Cavana is the exception.

It's home to colorful buildings, small alleyways, and some of the best restaurants in the city. Just know though, I'm not the only person who loves this area. It tends to be the most crowded, although compared to other places in Italy, the crowds are minimal.

This is also the area with the highest concentration of bars so if you love an early bedtime and need it to be perfectly quiet to get some rest, I suggest you try one of the sea views or coastal hotels instead.

📍If you're looking for the best hotels in Cavana, I recommend:

• Budget Stay: ControVento: This hostel sits on the edge of Cavana (just walk down Via Torino and you're there!) and is the most affordable hotel in Trieste, while still giving you a clean and comfortable place to stay. They offer shared dorms only.
• Mid-Tier Stay: Urbanauts Studios: These trendy studio apartments are located right in Cavana, the coolest and most walkable area in Trieste. This urban hotel offers funky design interiors and a cool location if you're chasing a lively neighborhood.
• Luxury Stay: Art & History Classic Apartment: Traveling to Trieste with a group or your family? This 2-bedroom apartment has plenty of space and is located in a historic building. The apartment is simple but large, clean, and with plenty of natural light.

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Best Hotels near Viale XX Settembre

Viale XX Settembre (September 20th Street) isn't an area, it's a street. This street is so well-loved in Trieste because it's the longest walking street in the city. It's full of bars, restaurants, and shops and the tree-lined walkway is very picturesque and cools down the area in the summer.

Like Cavana, this is a good area if you're wanting to be closest to any sort of nightlife. The good thing about staying in this area though is that most of the action stays on this street so the area surrounding it still stays pretty quiet.

Just know that depending on what you want to do in Trieste, the location might not be as ideal as you're further away from the coast. That being said though, XX Settembre is right off a main road so pretty much all bus numbers pass by, making it extremely well-connected.

The area between the canal and XX Settembre would be considered Trieste's city center.

📍If you're looking for the best hotels near XX Settembre, I recommend:

• Budget Stay: La Fermata del Viandante: The lofted apartments offered here aren't exactly on XX Settembre but are just a few blocks away and a great price given the amenities and location being offered.
• Mid-Tier Stay: Paduina3 Comfort Apartments: Directly off the walking street, choose between a studio, superior, or penthouse apartment based on how much space you need during your stay in Trieste. You'll love this location if you're interested in exploring the city center.
• Luxury Stay: Centro città, Terrazzo silenzioso: Just 2 blocks from the walking street, this luxury apartment is a fantastic place to stay. You'll get indoor and outdoor space, plenty of natural light and enough space to sleep up to 6 guests.

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Best Hotels near the Train Station

This is one of my least favorite areas of Trieste but is worth mentioning for those arriving late or departing early in the morning. While Trieste does have a pretty good public transportation system it doesn't run all night. It's also tough to find a taxi unless you call one in advance.

That means, the easiest way to easily arrive or depart is to stay near the train station. Just note that since Trieste is at the end of the Balkan Route, a common migratory route into Europe, most refugees arriving make camp around the train station. I'm not mentioning this for any reason except to give you a heads up.

This is by far the most convenient location for those that are using Trieste as just a stopping point or to take advantage of the great day trips but for travelers looking to really experience and enjoy Trieste, I wouldn't recommend this area.

📍If you're looking for the best hotels near the train station, I recommend:

• Budget Stay: Aquila d'Oro: You'll be just 300 meters from the train station at this hotel. The rooms are quirky, with a lot of different shapes, textures, and materials. The friendly staff is known to be extremely helpful planning your stay in Trieste.
• Mid-Tier Stay: Cosy Moods: Also just 300 meters from the train station, travelers love staying here for the comfortable interiors and breathtaking views of the gothic cathedral right next door.
• Luxury Stay: Casanova Bluelife: From here, you can use the side entrance to the train station and be there in just 2 minutes. They offer a 3 bedroom apartment with a stunning rooftop patio that offers sweeping views of Trieste. You won't want to miss the sunset here!

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Best Hotels on the Coast

Trieste is lucky enough to sit directly on the Adriatic Coast but, since it's a port city, that doesn't mean the coast is always super accessible. Yes, you can walk along the marina and the promenade that lines the shore but if you have swimming on your mind, you'll want to stay north of the city, in or around Barcola.

Barcola is Trieste's main beach and the best area to stay if you want to spend as much as possible on the coast. In the summer it's a popular destination but gets quiet early, as most people only head to the area for swimming and little else.

It's a charming area but do note that many of the bars and restaurants close down in the off season and are only open in the summer. I still recommend it for someone who wants a quiet getaway as it's really nice to walk along the shoreline but I do think it's worth a heads up as it might be too quiet.

📍If you're looking for the best hotels on the coast, I recommend:

• Budget Stay: Grand Apartment Sissi: This 1-bedroom apartment is just steps from the Barcola coast, the best place to go swimming close to the city. This apartment itself is modern and well-decorated, giving you great bang for your buck.
• Mid-Tier Stay: Trieste Sea Life: Visiting Trieste for Barcolana? If so, this would be a fantastic place to stay to watch the regatta. While set a little farther up the coast, you'll have incredible views and plenty of outdoor space to simply relax.
• Luxury Stay: Hotel Riviera & Maximilian's: Prefer to have Castle Miramare next door instead of the Trieste city center? This luxury hotel is right past the castle, offers a private beach, stunning views, and all the amenities you can ask for in a luxury stay. Here, just like at Savoia Excelsior Palace, you can expect impeccable service.

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Questions to Ask Before Booking

If you're coming from outside of Europe, these questions might seem like obvious things that would be included in a hotel in Trieste but I can assure you, you'll want to double check. From experience, not all hotels will offer the same amenities so it's best to either double check the listing or ask the hotel directly.

A few of the top questions I would ask, based on seasonality and your priorities are:

1. Do you have free wi-fi access?
2. Do the rooms have air conditioning?
3. Do the rooms have heating?
4. Do you offer free parking?
5. Is breakfast included?
6. Do you offer any transport to or from the Trieste airport?

Just a note, the average price for each room will likely change with seasonality. Since Trieste is a popular summer destinations and crowded during the weekend of Barcolana, prices tend to change to reflect that. You can get better deals on hotels in the off season.

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Which Trieste Hotel Will You Choose?

From the city center to hotels with beautiful sea views, there are a lot of wonderful places to stay in Trieste. I first recommend you narrow down which area of the city you want to stay in and from there book your perfect place.

With so many great hotels in Trieste to choose from, where will you stay?