Trieste Shopping and Districts

(Trieste, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy)

Trieste is a popular shopping destination, particularly if you're interested in antiques, leather articles, books or clothing. As well as over 4,000 shops, Trieste also boasts several large department stores and a small number of traditional markets.

Shopaholics will no doubt be delighted to discover that Trieste is home to a couple of vast shopping malls, where you can while away the hours lightening your purse.

When to Shop and Opening Hours

Department stores, shopping malls and many larger shops and boutiques in Trieste generally open seven days a week. Opening hours are usually 09:00 through until 20:00 or 21:00. Smaller shops and independent stores may have more limited opening hours. It's best to look out for these, particularly on public holidays.

Markets in Trieste have varying opening hours. The covered market operates on Monday from 08:00 to 14:00 and from Tuesday to Saturday from 08:00 to 19:00. The open-air Ponterosso Market is open from 08:00 to 17:30 from Tuesday to Saturday.

The city's boutiques can be an expensive shopping experience. However, if you're in search of a bargain, good savings can be made by visiting Trieste during the sales. These are held twice a year, at the beginning of January and again at the end of July.

Where to Shop

The Borgo Teresiano district is where most of the shops in Trieste are concentrated. This is a useful area if you're looking for clothes, shoes or everyday items. If you just want to browse and savour the atmosphere whilst shopping, the historic district of Trieste has plenty more to interest visitors.

Trieste has some famous literary connections, and so, as you'd expect, bibliophiles are particularly well-served when shopping in the city. Bookshops abound, perhaps only outdone by the number of shops selling freshly ground coffee or a coffee machine to take back home.

Antique-lovers visiting Trieste should head straight to the Piazza dell'Unità d'Italia shopping area, as this is where most of the city's antique dealers can be found. These specialize in everything from furniture and porcelain to jewellery and works of art.

The Giulia on Via Giulia and Torri d'Europa on Via Svevo are both shopping malls in Trieste and boast nearly 200 shops between them, including department stores. Bars, restaurants and cinemas are also on hand for busy shoppers who want to take a break.

Trieste has some great markets, which are well worth a visit and provide shopping at its very cheapest and best. An antiques and flea market is held on the third Sunday of the month in Cittavechhia, near the Piazza dell'Unità d'Italia. For fresh produce in Trieste, head to the Mercato di Ponterosso, held alongside the canal in the Borgo Teresiano district, or visit the covered market, Mercato Coperto, on the Via Carducci.