Between the Adriatic and the Alps, departing from Trieste, Fogliano Redipuglia and Tolmezzo
Campervan hire in Friuli Venezia Giulia opens up a compact region where everything is close at hand: the cliffs of the Gulf of Trieste, the lagoons of Grado and Marano, the Collio vineyards, then the peaks of the Carnic and Julian Alps. Our rental partners, Anywhere Campers and Blurent, offer pick-ups in Trieste, Fogliano Redipuglia and Tolmezzo, in vans as well as motorhomes.
Only a short day's drive separates the sea from the mountains: one week is enough to string together beaches, art towns and alpine lakes. The region is also a gateway to Slovenia, Austria and Venice, provided you check what the rental company allows.
Choose your departure city: the map shows where rental companies hand over their vehicles.
From Trieste, the Strada Costiera follows the cliffs of the gulf to Miramare Castle and the ruins of Duino, before dropping down to the plain. Aquileia and its basilica with Roman mosaics come before Grado, an old fishing port set on its lagoon, then Marano Lagunare and the long beaches of Lignano Sabbiadoro.
The Strada Costiera is narrow and very busy in summer: drive early in the morning, as spaces large enough for a motorhome are rare along it. The return to Trieste is quick by motorway.
From Fogliano Redipuglia, a pick-up point near Monfalcone and Gorizia, the loop links star-shaped Palmanova, Udine and its Venetian squares, San Daniele del Friuli and its ham, Cividale del Friuli and its Lombard temple, then the Collio hills around Cormons, before ending in Gorizia, a town shared with Slovenia.
The great Redipuglia war memorial, dedicated to the soldiers of the First World War, can be visited on the very first day. In the Collio, some wine estates welcome motorhomes: ask each one directly.
Tolmezzo, in the heart of Carnia, opens up the alpine valleys of the north of the region: the lake and wooden hamlets of Sauris, Forni di Sopra at the foot of the Friulian Dolomites, then Venzone, a medieval town rebuilt stone by stone after the Friuli earthquake, Tarvisio and the Fusine lakes beneath Mount Mangart.
The road to Sauris is narrow, with tunnels and tight bends: a van gets through far more easily than a large motorhome. Check snow conditions before heading up, in spring as well as in autumn.
A cross-border loop from Trieste: Gorizia, then the Soča valley in Slovenia with its emerald-green waters, Kobarid and its Great War museum, Bovec and its rafting rivers, before returning to Italy over the Predil Pass and Tarvisio, then heading down the Tagliamento valley via Venzone.
The Predil Pass climbs in hairpin bends and the Soča road narrows in places: plan short stages. In Kobarid and Bovec, riverside campsites make a good base for hiking.
The most balanced months for combining sea and mountains: swimming becomes pleasant from June in Trieste, where the water stays warm in September, and the high roads are clear for hiking. May and September are also among the wettest months, so keep a spare day in your plans.
The peak beach season: the campsites of Grado and Lignano are full and the beaches fill up with families from Italy, Austria and Germany. It is also the best time for Carnia and the Julian Alps, where the cool air makes for restful nights after a hot day on the plain.
Mild shoulder seasons on the coast, ideal for art towns, vineyards and crowd-free visits. In the mountains, snow can still complicate some passes in spring and return as early as October: keep these weeks for the plain and the coast.
Trieste enjoys a mild winter, though November is one of its rainiest months of the year. In the mountains, Tarvisio, Sella Nevea and Forni di Sopra live to the rhythm of skiing. Many coastal campsites close during this period, so favour aires that stay open all year round.
Trieste for the coast, the Karst and the Soča valley, Fogliano Redipuglia for the plain, the vineyards and the lagoons, Tolmezzo for Carnia and the Alps. Pick the one that puts your first stop less than an hour's drive away.
Enter your exact pick-up and return dates: the available vehicles appear with their current rate, any fees and the options offered by each rental company for the chosen departure point.
Look at the mileage included, the kitchen and bedding equipment, the insurance, and whether you may drive into Slovenia or Austria if your route crosses a border.
Driving licence, ID and a credit card issued in the main driver's name: check the documents the rental company requires and the handover time, especially if you arrive at Trieste airport or railway station.
This north-easterly wind sweeps down from the Karst in very violent gusts over Trieste and its gulf, especially in winter. A tall motorhome catches a lot of it: check the forecast, avoid cliff roads and viaducts during strong episodes, and do not roll out the awning.
As everywhere in Italy, the historic centres of Trieste, Udine and Gorizia include ZTLs, limited traffic zones monitored by cameras. Driving in without authorisation earns a fine sent to the rental company, which usually passes it on with a handling fee. Park on the outskirts and continue on foot or by bus.
In July and August, the A4 motorway between Venice and Trieste carries the holiday traffic heading for the beaches, Slovenia and Croatia, with long tailbacks on Saturdays. Leave early, move your transfers to weekdays or use the roads across the plain for short distances.
The Alpe Adria cycle route runs down from Tarvisio to Venzone, Udine and the Grado lagoon, often along old railway lines. In Italy, a loaded bike rack that sticks out at the rear must carry a red and white striped reflective sign: ask the rental company whether one comes with the vehicle.
Our rental partners are based in Trieste with Anywhere Campers, and in Fogliano Redipuglia and Tolmezzo with Blurent. Fogliano Redipuglia, a small town near Monfalcone and Trieste airport, is handy for a pick-up on arrival; Tolmezzo puts you right at the foot of the Carnian mountains. The exact address of each depot is given when you book.
Yes: Venice is only 116 km from Trieste as the crow flies, via the A4 motorway. It is also a departure city for our rental companies: by choosing Venice as the drop-off point in the search, you will see the one-way offers and any fees. Visit the city from the mainland, leaving the vehicle in Mestre or Fusina.
Slovenia begins on the outskirts of Trieste, Austria is a short way from Tolmezzo and Croatian Istria is reached by crossing Slovenia. Each rental company nevertheless sets its own rules: whether leaving Italy is allowed, excluded countries, extra insurance. Check them in the offer, then find out about the vignettes or electronic tolls on each country's motorways.
In the valleys of Carnia and the Julian Alps, mountain passes and old villages favour a van or campervan. For a family stay between the lagoons, the beaches and the towns of the plain, a coachbuilt motorhome brings a shower, toilet and separate beds, with few size constraints on the main roads.
One week lets you combine the Gulf of Trieste, one or two art towns and a foray into Carnia, as distances are so short. With ten days to two weeks, you can add the Soča valley, Tarvisio and the Fusine lakes, or even a stop in Venice or Istria, without long days behind the wheel.
Good and quick communication, easy to book and easy to follow all the instructions.
Cooldrive was very attentive and very responsive in all situations. We received valuable assistance in the steps to be taken. I highly recommend it.
The person answered my questions before I confirmed the booking. The van matched my order well with extras. During my trip, I had a little issue that had nothing to do with Cooldrive. I appreciated that the person took the time to call me back. No bad surprises, only good ones. Highly recommended.
A standard car licence is enough for rental vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes, which covers most of the vans and motorhomes on offer. With a licence issued outside the European Union, find out about the official translation or international permit to show in Italy, and check the age and years of driving experience the rental company requires.
Aree di sosta, parking areas reserved for motorhomes, are plentiful from the lagoon to the villages of Carnia, often with waste disposal and sometimes electricity. Coastal campsites offer more services in summer. Overnight parking outside these areas is regulated town by town: find out before settling in, especially on the coast.
On many roads in Friuli, especially in the mountains, winter equipment is compulsory during the cold season: approved winter tyres or snow chains on board. The periods and sections concerned are signposted. Check the equipment supplied by the rental company and the state of the passes before heading up to Tarvisio or Sauris.
Traffic drives on the right and dipped headlights are compulsory by day outside built-up areas. A reflective vest and a warning triangle must be on board. At toll barriers, avoid the yellow lanes reserved for electronic tags and use those accepting cards or cash. Automatic speed checks, including average-speed sections, are frequent.
Depending on the rental company, mileage is unlimited or capped per day, with a charge beyond that. In Friuli, distances remain modest, but a loop through Slovenia or a return trip to Venice quickly adds several hundred kilometres: estimate your route and compare the conditions of each offer in the search results.
For July and August, book several months ahead, at the same time as the coastal campsites, which are in high demand then. In spring and autumn, a few weeks is usually enough, except around Easter, long weekends and Italian public holidays, when Italians take to the roads too.
This small region in north-eastern Italy brings together, within a few hours' drive, what others spread over an entire country: a gulf lined with limestone cliffs, lagoons and sandy beaches, a plain dotted with Roman, Venetian and Lombard towns, wine-growing hills, then the Carnic and Julian Alps. A campervan lets you move from one to the next without changing accommodation, choosing each evening between the sea and a mountain lake.
Trieste adds an atmosphere all its own, blending Austro-Hungarian heritage, historic cafés and Slavic influences. With three departure points, on the coast, on the plain and in the mountains, and Slovenia next door, the region suits a short break as well as the start of a longer journey towards the Austrian Alps or the eastern Adriatic.
