Getting Around Udine
Udine is a compact city in the centre of the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region, and its historic core is small enough that most visitors cover the main sights on foot. The city sits on an isolated hill topped by the castle, with the principal square, Piazza della Libertà, at its heart, so the centre is naturally walkable. For anything beyond the centre, or for reaching the station and the airport, you have a choice of trains, buses and taxis.
Walking the City
Walking is the most practical way to explore Udine itself. The old town clusters around Piazza della Libertà, where you will find the Loggia del Lionello, the clock tower, the Loggia di San Giovanni and the fountain, with the cathedral and the Palazzo Patriarcale close by. The castle hill rises at the centre of the city, and paths and porticoes lead up to it, so you can move between the main monuments without needing any transport at all. Comfortable shoes are worthwhile, since the centre includes slopes and stepped routes up to the hill.
Rail
Udine has a main railway station and is well connected by train, though there is no metro or tram network in the city. Trains to Venice and Trieste run almost every hour, making the station the key hub for arrivals and day trips. The journey from Venice or Mestre takes just over an hour and a half on faster services, or around two hours on the local trains that make all the stops; Trieste is just over an hour away. One train a day runs direct to Milan, and another to Rome, otherwise you change at Venice or Mestre.
International connections are also possible by rail. Venice-bound daytime and night trains from Vienna stop at Udine, and there are regional trains from Villach in Austria. From Slovenia, one option is to take a train to Nova Gorica, walk across the border to Gorizia, and continue from Gorizia's station on one of the frequent trains from Trieste to Udine; alternatively a direct train runs from Ljubljana to Udine, leaving Ljubljana early in the morning and returning from Udine in the late afternoon, which allows a full day of sightseeing.
Buses and Other Public Transport
Beyond the rail network, local buses serve the city and its surroundings. For travel between towns in the region, buses also connect Udine with Villach and Klagenfurt in Austria.
Taxis and Ride-Hailing
Taxis are available in Udine for trips around the city and to the station or airport, and are a straightforward option when you are carrying luggage or arriving late. As with most Italian cities, it is worth confirming the fare or asking the driver to use the meter. Ride-hailing coverage in Udine is limited compared with larger European cities, so taxis and public transport are the more reliable choices.
Getting In from the Airport
Udine itself does not have its own commercial airport, so arrivals come through nearby airports and continue by road or rail. Trieste Airport, about 40 km away, has daily flights to London Stansted, Milan, Munich and Rome, plus less frequent services to Birmingham, Brussels, Valencia and other European destinations. Venice Marco Polo and Treviso, both serving Venice, are about an hour away by car or train. Ljubljana in Slovenia is less than two hours' drive from Udine.
From these airports, the train is often the most convenient link into Udine, since the city's station sits on the main Venice–Trieste line. By car, Udine is reached via the A4 and A55 motorways: roughly an hour from Trieste, an hour and a half from Venice and from Villach in Austria, and under two hours from Ljubljana.
Practical Tips
- Base yourself in or near the historic centre so the main sights, Piazza della Libertà and the castle hill are within walking distance.
- Use the train station for day trips to Venice, Trieste and beyond; services to Venice and Trieste are frequent.
- For Slovenia, consider the Nova Gorica–Gorizia border walk to pick up frequent trains toward Udine, or the direct Ljubljana service for a day trip.
- Allow extra time if you take the slower local trains, which stop more often than the faster services.
- Arrange airport transfers in advance where possible, since Udine relies on Trieste, Venice, Treviso and Ljubljana airports rather than one of its own.