The recently reinstated train service from Ljubljana to Trieste is probably not convenient for most travellers.
Train or bus from Ljubljana to Trieste?
Take the bus from Ljubljana to Trieste because:
- They’re far more frequent.
- They’re cheaper.
- They’re quicker.
For more detail, read on. To book Ljubljana to Trieste bus tickets, head this way.
Trains from Ljubljana to Trieste
Ljubljana and Trieste are close enough to each other to make for a fascinating twin centre holiday. The tricky part is getting between them, and that requires a bit of planning.
It is only recently that the train connection between Italy and Slovenia has been restored. If you wanted to travel from Ljubljana to Trieste ten years ago, you would have had to take a bus.
Now, there is a direct train, but you’re going to have to deal with the quirks of Trenitalia.
Unfortunately, according to the Trenitalia site, there is only one direct Ljubljana to Trieste train every day.
This is the EC134, which Trenitalia says leaves at 14.23, and arrives in Trieste at 17.16. If you want to find this, you’re going to have to put in “Lubiana” instead of Ljubljana, however.
Booking the Ljubljana to Trieste train
However, when I tried booking on the Trenitalia site, I couldn’t. The only bookable options were regional service that took over five hours and involved two changes.
Better, then, to go to Austrian train operator ÖBB, which will sell me a ticket on the EC134 service. Booking a week in advance, the tickets cost €27.60.
Ljubljana to Trieste buses
If you find one not particularly fast and not particularly cheap train per day somewhat limiting, then you may be tempted to travel from Ljubljana the old-fashioned way – by bus.
According to Busbud, there are absolutely loads of buses from Ljubljana to Trieste each day, with several operators to choose from. These include GoOpti, Flixbus, Itabus and DRD.
The bus journey from Ljubljana to Trieste takes between 1h15m and 1h30m, with the cheapest tickets costing €17.
You can check the options and prices on the Busbud site. But suffice to say, you’ve far more choice.
Another option is taking a day tour to Lake Bled and Ljubljana from Trieste.
More Italy travel
Other Italy travel articles on Planet Whitley include:
- Rome’s most ghoulish attraction – the Capuchin Crypt.
- Why Rome is a brilliant city for solo travellers.
- Is it possible to do a day trip to Verona from Venice?
- How fast is the Treviso to Trieste train?
- Guides to Verona, Siena, Treviso, Padua, Pisa and Vicenza.
