by InTrieste
Interviews: Maurizio Marzi, General Director of Trieste Trasporti; Michele Babuder, city councilor for territorial policies; FVG councilor for environment, Fabio Scoccimarro; Elisa Lodi, Trieste’s Councilor for Public Property Policies
One of the city’s most beloved landmarks, the Tram de Opicina, is returning to service with a renewed purpose. Beginning Saturday, July 5, the historic line will offer more than just transportation—it will become an immersive storytelling experience through the new Trieste Tram Tour.
The initiative, launched by Trieste Trasporti in collaboration with the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region and the Municipality of Trieste, aims to transform the early 20th-century tram into what organizers call a “narrative vehicle,” blending local history, landscape, and identity into the daily rhythm of public transport.
“This is a journey through time—between the sea and the Carso, between history and landscape,” said Maurizio Marzi Wildauer, president of Trieste Trasporti, at the tour’s inaugural run. “Our goal is to reimagine the Tram de Opicina not just as a means of getting from point A to B, but as a way of seeing Trieste itself.”
An Iconic Route, Revisited
First inaugurated in 1902, the Opicina line is a rare example of hybrid transport: part traditional tram, part funicular, climbing gradients of up to 26 percent across a 5-kilometer route with a 329-meter elevation change. The ride offers a unique view of the city’s evolution, passing through the elegant villas of Scorcola and opening onto wide views of the Gulf of Trieste and the Carso Plateau.
Weekend Tours and Reserved Rides
Trieste Tram Tour services run every Saturday and Sunday, with scheduled departures throughout the day from the terminals at Piazza Dalmazia and Opicina. The tour follows a continuous route lasting approximately 20 minutes, with no intermediate stops.
One out of every three tram cars is dedicated to the Trieste Tram Tour experience. The remaining vehicles continue operating as part of Line 2 of the regular public transport service.
Each ticket (which costs 12 euros for tourists and 8 for residents) includes a reserved seat aboard the historic tram, access to a multilingual audio guide—available in Italian, English, German, Slovenian, and Croatian—featuring stories, facts, and anecdotes about the tram and the locations along the route, and an exclusive souvenir tote bag, available in various colors.
Departures from Trieste (Piazza Dalmazia) are scheduled at:
07:22, 08:46, 10:10, 11:34, 12:58, 14:22, 15:46, 17:10, 18:34, and 19:58.
Departures from Opicina (Trenovia Station) take place at:
07:56, 09:20, 10:44, 12:08, 13:32, 14:56, 16:20, 17:44, and 19:08.
Dedicated Fares
Children (0–9 years): Free
Single ride: €12
Single ride – Junior (10–18 years): €10
Single ride – Residents of the Municipality of Trieste: €8
Single ride – Resident Junior (10–18 years): €6
You can book your ticket here.
