Long-distance hikes in Trieste

Across the Alps from south to north: the Yellow Trail of the Via Alpina leads through landscapes rich in contrasts from the Italian Adriatic to the Dolomites and the Austrian Central Alps to Oberstdorf in the Allgäu.

The longest long-distance hiking trail in the world is getting a revival – on the Sentiero Italia, Italy shows itself in all its diversity. With stamina and a lot of wanderlust, you will get to the most beautiful places in the country!

Long-distance hiking trail from the eternal ice of the Großglockner over the original Slovenia to the Italian Adriatic Sea

Internationally renowned long-distance hiking trail from Italy via Slovenia, Austria, Germany, Liechtenstein, Switzerland and France to Monaco.

The Alpe-Adria Trail, which is signposted from start to finish, is a varied 750-km-long voyage of exploration that traverses the borders of three countries – Austria, Italy and Slovenia – and three cultures. It runs from the foothills of the majestic Grossglockner Mountain to the azure Adriatic Sea. With views of a superb variety of natural wonders, alpine aquatic adventures and fascinating animal and plant life, it wends its way around lakes, streams and rivers, until it reaches its goal: the Adriatic Sea. A practical benefit: The Alpe-Adria Trail Booking Centre is ready to help you organise the individual tour you want and make it happen.

With great anticipation of the Adriatic Sea, we set off on the last stage of the Alpe Adria Trail, which will finally lead the tireless hikers to the end point in Muggia.

This “sparkling” stage from Duino to Prosecco including the Trieste karst is an area that has a lot to offer in terms of its landscape, nature and history. It is a stony, harsh high plateau whose vegetation, fauna and inhabitants have had to adapt. The view from the edge of the karst high plain over the gulf of Trieste is particularly charming. Further into the interior of the karst, the landscape is characterised by fertile red soils, small villages and oak forests.  

On this stage we are greeted for the first time by the much longed-for Adriatic. Here, in the region around Gradisca, the River Isonzo is of special historical significance. The rough yet charming karst landscape dominates the entire course of the route until it drops steeply to the sea at the magical Duino, on the trail of the famous poet Rainer Maria Rilke.

In a region where Miramare Castle is reflected in the sea which is whipped by the bora, you can enjoy a glass of wine Teran with some prosciutto from the Karst, and look forward to seeing the snow white Lipizzan horses. On the way from Prosecco towards Lipica you can visit the Cave Vilenica, which is the oldest tourist cave in Europe. A few kilometres away are the Škocjan caves, the first Slovene attraction enlisted as a part of the UNESCO world natural heritage, which are also a treat for every hiker on the stage from Prosecco to Lipica. In Italy, close to Trieste, there is also the Giant Cave (Grotta Gigante), a Karst cave with the biggest open space in the world, also listed in the Guinnes World Records.

The penultimate tour of Alpe Adria Trail starts in Lipica in Slovenia, brings to the karstplateau along the Hills Kokoš and Veliko Gradišče and ends in Bagnoli della Rosandra, at the suburbs of Trieste, where you can smell the parfume of the sea. The Lipica Stud Farm has amazing historical tree-lined lanes where you can admire the pure-bred Lipizzaner horses. You can make a small detour and visit the Cave Vilenica, which is the oldest tourist cave in Europe, pass the Hill Kokoš towards the beautiful Val Rosandra (Dolina Glinščice), a nature reserve marked by its natural and cultural beauties, a hihlight of this Tour. From there the Karst dives slowly to the coast. On your way, you can stop at one of the many homesteads offering accomodation and local Karst culinary specialities.