9 Beaches in & Around Trieste

1. Barcola

~15 minutes from Trieste city center

Barcola is the best area to go swimming closest to the city center. There’s practically no sand but plenty of space to lay out a towel on the concrete if you want to tan or under the pine trees if you prefer the shade. 

No matter the time of the year, a visit to Barcola is one of the best things to do in Trieste.

With the exception of a few places where you can wade in, the water here is instantly pretty deep. There are metal staircases you’ll take to walk in and out of the water. The more adventurous can clamber in and out on the big rocks placed along the shoreline.

While the water is deep, it’s really calm. There’s virtually no waves and it’s clear enough to see the bottom. If you’re not a strong swimmer, bring a float and you’ll likely feel really comfortable. If you are a good swimmer, this is the perfect place to do some laps. In the summer months I come out here a few days a week to swim and read before work. 

You can rent kayaks and paddleboards but you can’t rent any chairs or umbrellas here. Most plop down on their towel right on the ground but if you want more cushion, you’ll have to bring it yourself.

During the weekdays Barcola still gets busy but there’s still a calmness to it. You’ll always find a place to drop your stuff and get comfortable. On the weekends, I highly recommend you arrive early if you want your pick of a spot as it gets crowded quickly. Local families tend to come and spend the entire day here, arriving early and packing up late in the evening. 

Along the water there’s a promenade full of cafes and restaurants. You’ll easily be able to grab a coffee and croissant in the morning, light snacks during the day, and a full meal for lunch or dinner. 

One of the best perks about choosing Barcola as your beach for the day is that it’s easily accessible from Trieste’s city center. In the summer I recommend you take the public ferry, the Delfino Verde. You can also take the bus year-round. The bus is cheaper but the ferry is much more comfortable and offers stunning views of the city from the water. 

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2. La Lanterna Beach

In Trieste’s city center

This is the only beach in Trieste’s city center and it’s certainly the quirkiest on this list. 

I had never been to a beach that was divided between men and women until visiting La Lanterna. Yep, you read that right. There’s a wall that divides the beach in half and even has separate entrances for men and women. 

Past the wall and into the water you can intermingle but on the shore the zones are strict. Children are the only exception, where they can accompany their family members regardless of gender.

While I certainly enjoyed tanning topless without a care in the world, the beach itself is less than ideal. It’s super small and can get crowded. Since you’re in the city center the water doesn’t feel nearly as nice as it does across the bay in Barcola.

There’s a small shop here where you can buy drinks and snacks and there’s a lifeguard, something other beaches don’t offer. It’s also a sandy beach with a slow decline into the water. This makes it a nice and easy option if you’re visiting with kids. 

If you’re excited about the idea of taking a nap topless in the sun without the worry of prying eyes, give it a try. Or if you’re traveling solo with a kid or two and prefer not worrying about deep water or rocky shorelines, this is a great option.

On the other hand, for those traveling as a couple, with a group of friends, or because you want the best place to swim, I’d stick with Barcola or somewhere a bit farther outside the city. 

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Planning your trip to Trieste? Read our other guides on this city:

• 3-Day Travel Itinerary
• Best Things to Do
• Favorite Restaurants
• Best Day Trips
• Where to Stay
• Osmiza Culture

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3. Muggia’s Point

~30 minutes from Trieste’s city center 

Before you get confused, “Muggia’s Point” isn’t an exact place. Instead I’m using that to refer to the entire coastline that stretches from Muggia to the border with Slovenia. Starting off in the marina of Muggia, where you can arrive anytime of the year on the ferry from Trieste, you can walk or drive along that coastline and you’ll start seeing people settling in for a day by the water.

Like in Barcola, this area is all concrete and doesn’t offer any sandy spots until you round the corner of the point. Closer to Muggia only offers places to jump into deeper water and ladders or stairs to climb back out. The farther you get towards the point, the clearer the water gets. 

Swimming right in Muggia is similar to swimming right in Trieste - it doesn’t offer the best water. The area between Trieste and Muggia is an industrial shipping port and while I won’t say the water is dirty, it definitely gets cleaner the closer you get towards open water. 

For getting farther along the point, you can either take a bus or drive yourself. Driving yourself is easier (with the exception of finding parking mid-afternoon on Saturday) but if you want to rely on public transportation, I’d suggest taking the ferry to Muggia and then either walking or taking a bus along the coastline from there. 

Like in Barcola, you’ll find plenty of small stands selling snacks and drinks. 

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4. Liburnia Beach

~20 minutes from Trieste’s city center 

For the next few beaches on this list, we’re going to head up the coastline past Barcola. There are a number of small beaches along the coast here but the one I know best is called Liburnia Beach. 

This is a small, relatively hidden beach down a steep hill. It’s not so easy to reach and you’ll likely need to park your car near the highway and walk down. There’s no parking right at the beach but there is some closer to the entrance but you need to arrive really early to snag one of those.

There are two ways to walk down here: 1 on the street and the other on a pedestrian-only staircase. Depending on where you park, you can choose the way to walk but the staircase connects to the highway and is definitely more picturesque. 

It’s a pebbly and rocky beach so you’ll want to have either sandals that can get wet or proper water shoes. There are some small pools that form in the shallows that kids tend to enjoy playing in. 

The water doesn’t get deep quickly here and instead offers a beach-like experience, with the shore gently slopping into the water. Just swapping out sand for pebbles.

Note that there isn’t much natural shade here so you’ll either want to come in the morning, indulge in the sun, or bring your own umbrella. There are no rental services here, just a small restaurant and mini marina. 

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5. Barbary Beach FKK

~30 minutes from Trieste’s city center 

Something I didn’t know before I moved to Italy was that FKK means a nude beach. It’s something you’ll certainly want to be aware of if you decide to visit Barbary Beach. 

This one is located just a few minutes down the road from Liburnia Beach but certainly offers a different atmosphere. Like that beach, this one is a little difficult to access. You’ll either need to take the bus to Portopiccolo and walk down like we did or drive and park along the highway. There are a few trails that’ll cut you right down to the coast but sometimes can be a little tough to find.

Here you can expect to see full nudity, not just topless women. Instead of being one wide open beach, there are a number of small nooks and hidden corners, giving you a little more privacy if you prefer. 

Now that I’ve been and had the experience, I can say that it’s far more men than women and, as a woman, I wouldn’t have felt comfortable undressing if I wasn’t with Raf. Everyone was completely respectful and stayed in their own space but I can’t say for sure it would have been the same if I was by myself. 

There are no restaurants, bars, or much of anything here. You’ll need to pack in everything you’ll want for the day. 

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6. Sistiana

Sistiana is one of the most popular beaches along the coastline. It’s just a few minutes north of the nudist beach but a completely different vibe.

This is the only place that I know of that offers chair and umbrella rentals and has a more resort-like feel to it. There is Portopiccolo that sits between Sistana and Barbary but last year that beach club was closed and I can’t say with confidence it’ll be open this year. 

So, Sistana is the sure bet. Alongside the beach clubs there are also public places where you can lay down your towel and enjoy your own space. There’s also a handful of bars and restaurants around the marina.

The only thing I don’t love about Sistiana is, since it’s small, it can feel really crowded on a weekend. I’ve never visited on a weekday though so that might be a better time to visit.

In the summer, you can go to Sistiana on the Delfino Verde, the public ferry. It’s the same line that stops at Barcola. It’s a nice ride and much more enjoyable than the bus or driving yourself and dealing with parking.

If you’re an active person and would like to work up a sweat before you swim, I recommend the walking trail that connects Sistiana to Duino. The trail offers stunning sea views and isn’t too long. You could also just choose to do a portion of it since it’s out-and-back. 

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7. Grado

~1.5 hours from Trieste’s city center by ferry

Grado is another beach escape from Trieste, this one across the Gulf of Trieste. While you can certainly drive yourself, the real perk of visiting this beach instead of others nearby is the public ferry. 

Like the ferry to Barcola and Sistiana, it only runs in the summer. 

More than being just one beach, Grado is a full-on island town. There are a number of beaches along the coast here, giving you plenty of options to choose from. When we visited, we brought our dog, Bandido, so we hung out at the dog beach. This dog beach is pretty epic with plenty of pups running wild, doggie beach chairs, and even the opportunity to rent your own fenced-in area for the day. If you don’t have a dog, I would choose a beach closer to the port. 

A big thing to know about Grado and many of the beaches all along this coast from Friuli-Venezia Giulia to Emilia Romagna is that it takes ages for the water to get deep. You do get wide open sandy beaches but the water stays about knee-deep for sometimes hundreds of meters off the shore.

This makes it a great option for kids but not so great if you’re an adult looking to actually swim. 

It’s also important to mention that the water here is a bit murky and not as clear as the water near Trieste. I’d assume that’s due to the sand mixing around in the water. 

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8. Monty's Dog Beach & Bar (Slovenia)

~40 minutes from Trieste’s city center 

Now we’re going to leave Italy and head south to Slovenia. Since Trieste is so close to the border, this isn’t as dramatic of an idea as it might initially seem. There isn’t a good option to get here via public transportation so I’d recommend you rent a car and drive.

There are a number of beaches along the coast in Slovenia but Monty’s Dog Beach is a favorite. Not so much because of the water or the coast itself but because it’s another proper dog beach. Similar to the option in Grado, they’ve built an entire area that’s focused on your pup’s play time. 

Another perk to choosing this beach over another is because it’s just a few minutes outside of Piran. If you’ve never visited Piran before, it’s one of our favorite day trips from Trieste. It’s a small town but worth spending some time in. 

If you don’t have a dog or aren’t interested in a dog beach, there are other swimming spots near Piran. From afar they didn’t seem like the best beaches out there and you’d probably be better off stopping at Muggia on the way back to Trieste after your time in Piran. Although, in Piran, you can also swim. There’s a small section of concrete with a ladder and other sections with stairs to get in and out of the water. The water looked really nice and clean there. 

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9. Dog Dreams Beach (Croatia)

~1 hour from Trieste’s city center

If you have the time or want to cross over Slovenia and head to Croatia, you certainly have that option. You will need your own car though as there isn’t a great option via public transportation to get to the beaches here. 

Croatia is full of beaches so there’s more options than just Dog Dreams Beach but it was recommended by a local friend (who doesn’t even have a dog) as her favorite beach in the region for when she has a little extra time to make the drive.

She and her husband love coming down here for the day. The beach is a bit sandy and the water a little more electric than what you find in Trieste. It offers a good mix of a comfortable beach to lay around on, a sloping coastline good for dogs or kids, yet it gets deeper at a regular interval if you want to swim. 

It also has a restaurant and bar right on the shore. 

Raf and I have spent a lot of time in Croatia before we moved to Italy and while this beach is nice, the beaches in Istria (the northern section of the country) aren’t quite as good as what you find in the center and south, just to set your expectations. 

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Which Beach Will You Visit in Trieste?

Although a coastal city, Trieste isn’t home to fantastic beaches. You won’t find sandy shorelines or the electric blue water of the south. Instead, you’ll find makeshift places that work just fine to cool off. There are hidden spots, people hosting picnics on the pavement, and a laid back vibe that works just fine for the right person.

Don’t expect glamorous resorts or the Italian beaches you’ve likely seen on Pinterest but if you’re looking for clear water to go swimming, a beach where you can strip down to nothing, or plenty of options good for kids or your dog, you’ll be good to go. 

Trieste isn’t quite like the rest of the country in its history, food, or architecture, and even when it comes to its beaches.