Europe’s ‘oasis of tranquility’ is an Italian hidden gem with flights for £33

What’s the weather like in Trieste

As you’d expect from an Italian city, Trieste has a Mediterranean climate, with warm summers and colder winters.

The best time to visit is during the summer months, from June to September, when the temperature reaches highs of 30°C in July.

It’s worth keeping in mind that the area often feels the effects of the Bora, a wind that blows from the mountains into the Gulf of Trieste – which on occasion, can get pretty gusty.

It’s said though, that the locals like the wind, because of the intense emotions it sparks – when it’s a calm day, they long for it to return.

Christmas in Trieste

Lapland isn’t the only place in Europe that comes alive at Christmas time.

Father Christmas actually arrives early in Trieste, on the night of December 5. In the days leading up to San Nicolò’s arrival, children write letters, as shop windows and cafes get prepped, with twinkling lights and decorations.

If you’re jetting off this month, you’ll catch the Christmas light switch-on in Trieste on November 29, where the town gathers together and joins in with the annual countdown.

And the city centre also plays host to Christmas markets in the main square, Piazza Unità d’Italia, from December 7 2024 to January 1 2025. Visitors can expect stalls selling crafts, decorations and local artisanal products. There’s also nativity scenes and live musical performances.

Where to stay in Trieste

Travelling in the shoulder season, in May or October, when there are fewer tourists, is a good idea if you want to grab yourself a bargain hotel stay.

Booking.com prices for a 3* hotel, rated ‘very good’ or above start from around £94 per night in September (although you can get a better deal depending on last-minute offers and specific promotions) compared to £70 in May 2025.

What to do in Trieste

Stazione Rogers is an abandoned petrol station, which swapped serving up unleaded for aperitifs, and is now a thriving cultural centre. As well as being the perfect place for sundowners overlooking the water (with DJs and live music until 2am) there’s also a space for art exhibitions, performances and gigs.

Make sure you wander through the historic centre, full of independent shops and quaint cafes. This is also the area where you can take in some of the top cultural attractions – including the cathedral and the waterfront Piazza Unità d’Italia, which is said to be modelled on Venice’s St Mark’s – but might be even more beautiful, and is the largest square overlooking the sea in Europe.

Trieste is proud of its literary heritage – James Joyce lived here while writing Ulysses, and you’ll spot the plaques signaling his various homes (he was often evicted for refusing to pay rent) across the city. There’s a Joyce museum, dedicated to the Irish writer, and the Literature Trieste Museum is also set to open this year. Or, head to a book shop and while away a few hours reading with a coffee – San Marco is a popular spot.

For views that stretch across the sea, visit the Faro della Vittoria, a lighthouse which is open to the public (for free). Each year, the Barcolana regatta, which takes place every October, sees the waters fill up with sailing boats. Tourists should also take a trip to the must-visit fairytale castle, Miramare Castle, which sits atop a rocky cliff. One tourist on TripAdvisor called it an ‘oasis of tranquility’ while another dubbed it ‘an entire fairytale package.’