From the airport to the city centre Friuli-Venezia Giulia

The airport of Friuli Venezia Giulia is located about 30 km from Trieste, in the municipality of Ronchi dei Legionari. There are two ways to reach the city center by public transportation:

Train: from the airport train station, regular trains to Trieste Centrale station. Journey time: 30 minutes. Ticket price: €4.25 (timetable at www.trenitalia.com).

Bus: the G51 bus connects to Trieste. Journey time: about 1 hour. Ticket price: 4.25 € (timetable on: www.tplfvg.it)

Arrival by train Friuli-Venezia Giulia

There are no direct trains to Trieste from France. You have to change at the Porta Garibaldi station in Milan, the terminus of the Paris-Lyon-Milan TGV. The Frecciarossa (Italian high-speed train) connects Milan to Trieste in about 4 hours, sometimes with a connection at the Venice Mestre station. Timetables and fares on www.trenitalia.com.

Arrival by boat Friuli-Venezia Giulia

There is no direct shipping line to Trieste from France. The port of Trieste is mainly connected to the cities of the Adriatic: Piran in Slovenia, Porec, Rovinj and Losinj in Croatia. Crossings are made by the shipping company Liberty Lines (libertylines.it). The Italian port of Muggia, south of Trieste, is also served daily by the Delfino Verde company (delfinoverde.it). In the high season, the company also provides connections to Barcola, Grignano and Sistiana in the Gulf of Trieste.

Public transport Friuli-Venezia Giulia

The main cities of Friuli Venezia Giulia are fairly well served by train, a convenient and inexpensive way to travel. The Italian railway company Trenitalia provides an efficient and reliable service, with trains that are quite punctual (schedules and fares: trenitalia.com). In the stations, there are almost no staff at the ticket counters and the ticket is bought at automatic machines. Don't forget to stamp it before getting on the train!

There is also a regional company, FUC (Ferrovie Udine Cividale), which operates between Udine and Cividale del Friuli (ferrovieudinecividale.it). Surprisingly, the train only stops in the small intermediate stations on request! This company also runs the cross-border line Mi.Co.Tra (Miglioramento Collegamenti Transfrontalieri) which connects Trieste to Villach (in Austria) with stops in Udine, Venzone, Carnia and Tarvisio

Where the train does not arrive, buses take over. The company TPL FVG (Trasporto Pubblico Locale Friuli Venezia Giulia) manages the entire network in the region. The website provides schedules and fares (tplfvg.it). Tickets can be purchased at bus stations in major cities (Udine, Trieste) and at tobacconists(Tabacchi) recognizable by their T-shaped sign.

Bike, scooters & co Friuli-Venezia Giulia

Lovers of cycling, Friuli-Venezia Giulia is a destination for you! The center of Trieste around piazza Unità d'Italia is well suited for cycling, as are all the cities in the plain (Udine, Pordenone...). A large part of the territory can be discovered by bicycle thanks to a well-maintained and developed network of soft roads and bicycle paths. There are several cycling itineraries in the region, such as the Ciclovia Alpe Adria which connects Salzburg in Austria to Grado on the Adriatic coast in one week, following the valleys that cross the Alps (www.alpe-adria-radweg.com). Another route, the Adriabike, follows the Adriatic coast from Ravenna to Portoroz in Slovenia, passing through Lignano Sabbiadoro, Marano Lagunare, Aquileia, Grado and Trieste.

With a driver Friuli-Venezia Giulia

All cities have their own cab company. In Trieste: Radiotaxi Trieste: +39 040 307730 (radiotaxitrieste.it). In Udine: Radiotaxi Udine: +39 0432 505858 (taxiudine.it). In Gorizia: Radiotaxi Gorizia: +39 0481 1989 (taxigorizia.com). In Pordenone: Radiotaxi Pordenone: +39 0434 368020 (taxipordenone.it).

By car Friuli-Venezia Giulia

If most of the towns are well served by train and bus, it must be said that the car offers the freedom to discover the most isolated corners of the region and to wander at will along the coast or from one mountain village to another. A few rules to follow before driving in Friuli Venezia Giulia:

Speed. The speed limit is 110 or 130 km/h on the highway, 90 km/h on the road and 50 km/h in the city.

Traffic signs. The road signs are green for the freeways(autostrade) and blue for the state roads. The signs are relatively well done and reliable.

Access. Be careful! In the majority of city centers, access is regulated. These are ZTL(zone a traffico limitato) where access is often only allowed to residents. Be particularly careful with the signs, as cameras are placed everywhere and you could be fined three months later at your home.

City. Traffic in Italy's major cities is no more problematic than in France. But traffic jams are what they are, and large cities like Trieste are no exception: in short, avoid driving in the city if possible.

Mountains. Your car should be reliable because in the mountains the slopes can be steep. Between November 15 and April 15, chains are mandatory in your vehicle. Don't hesitate to ask about the weather before setting off. Some mountain passes are only open to traffic for a few months

Parking. In Italy, parking spaces are marked with different colored stripes on the ground: yellow for residents, blue for paying customers and white for free. Parking tickets can be purchased at automatic machines, when available, or at tobacconists or newsstands in the form of a Gratta e Sosta ticket, to be placed in plain view inside your vehicle. Do not ignore these rules, as controls are frequent and severe. As an alternative, you can always use the covered parking lots.

Gasoline. Italy is unfortunately one of the European champions of the highest fuel prices.