Trieste makes a compelling beginning to an Adriatic journey. Its café culture asks you to sit down before setting off: choose one historic café, order slowly and let the city come into focus. Then move towards the water and leave a separate half-day for Miramare, the castle shown in our photograph. Resist treating Trieste only as a transfer point. It offers a satisfying counterpoint to the smaller coastal towns further south.

A little time, well spent

  1. Give a historic café your full attention
  2. Walk from the centre to the waterfront
  3. Set aside a half-day for Miramare