Trieste’s free beach, Barcola, stretches for several kilometers with diverse sections of coastline, all the way to the park of the Miramare Castle. There is a shaded pine tree area with hipster bars, where you can even play ping-pong, or you can try out all the playgrounds with the kids. You’ll find huge rocks to jump from, but there’s also a small pebbly cove suitable for young children, right next to the park. After a dip, you can shower at the beachside showers, and at the Topolino’s, which resemble Mickey Mouse ears, you’ll find covered areas to leave your belongings and bathrooms as well. The Topolinos are numbered, so if you order pizza, the delivery person can easily find you. In the summer, there are often parties on the beach, and the nearby restaurants serve great dinners. You can reach it from the city center with number 6 bus, but it’s also a great experience to arrive by regular ferry or cycle there using a community bike, which I can use with this app. It’s difficult to find parking by car, but in the evening and early morning, it’s not impossible.
