I've got a couple of nights booked in Trieste as an extension to a Venice trip. But now I'm hearing mixed reviews of Trieste. Is it worth a day there and then perhaps a day in either Udine or exploring Slovenia? I'll be traveling with my kids and heard there were interesting castles but I'm not sure that warrants all the additional driving time and expense.

Forgot to mention...I'm booked at the Hotel Colombia - anyone familiar with it?

I was there just a couple days ago. The castles are ok, but what your kids really will love is the Grotto Gigante, the world's largest explorable cave. It's a cable car ride from Trieste. It's a nice city, and there is plenty to do in/around it for 2 days. Slovenia is too far to do as an extension. Hello from Ljubljana.

We will be traveling from Lake Bled to Piran in Slovenia this fall and expect to stop in Trieste enroute. Will this give us enough time to see much there? Would we be better advised to try to see Trieste on our way from Piran to Venice?

I loved Trieste last year. It's a wonderfully Italian town with very few tourists. I climbed up the hill to San Giusto and was rewarded with great views and an interesting castle and church. There is a fun outdoor market, nice cafes and good seafood. I stayed at Hotel Alabarda which was an amazing bargain after Venice.

I would do Trieste in a day enroute to Ljubljana. From Trieste, it is only 45 minutes (driving about 140 kph) to Ljubljana. I actually prefer Grad or Udine to Trieste. Both have more charm compared to Trieste's industrial nature.

Slovenia is absolutely beautiful and your kids may enjoy a trip to Postojna Caves, Predjama Castle (sp?) as well as Lake Bled and Bohinj. BTW, From Ljubljana to Venice, it takes about 2 hours.
Cheers from Ljubljana, too!
Jan

sandiedog: Do you have to go back to Venice, or what is your destination from Trieste? We stayed two days and nights in Trieste and that was fine, but we would also recommend doing Trieste as a day trip in route. Wander the old town, the wharf area, hike up to the castle and see the cathedral (the views from here are fabulous), have dinner (there are some very good restaurants).
Don't miss Muggia, about seven miles South of Trieste. It is an old fishing village with a marina and it's a delightful visit. Hike up to the castle and the cathedral at the top of the hill. The old homes on the way up are a delight, especially the gardens. But, what is really striking, are the views of the Gulf of Trieste from the road going up. Just spectacular.
The old village is quaint, has a pleasant center square and good cafes and restaurants with plenty of outdoor seating.
If you have to back to Venice, I would do day trips to Aguileia (if you are into roman Ruins and beautiful Roman Mosaics) and Grado, an old fishing village (the old town, not the new resort area). This would be a shorter trip. If you plan to go on to Trieste, you could do these on the way. Have a great trip