How to get to Cividale del Friuli: train, plane, car and bus

How to get to Cividale del Friuli

Cividale del Friuli, founded by Julius Caesar as Forum Iulii and a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its Lombard heritage, is a small town of immense charm, set on the river Natisone at the gateway to the Natisone Valleys. Despite its small size, it is well connected thanks to its proximity to Udine and the Slovenian border.

Getting there by train

Cividale del Friuli station is the terminus of the Udine-Cividale railway line, operated by Trenitalia. Regional trains connect Udine to Cividale in just 17-20 minutes, with frequent services throughout the day (roughly one train per hour, more frequent at peak times).

From Venice Santa Lucia, the journey involves a fast regional train to Udine (about 2 hours) and then a change for Cividale: total time about 2 hours and 30 minutes. From Trieste, you reach Udine in about 1 hour and 15 minutes, then change for Cividale.

From Milan Centrale, Frecciarossa trains reach Venice in 2 hours and 25 minutes, then continue to Udine and Cividale. Alternatively, some Frecce trains connect Milan directly to Udine in about 4 hours.

Practical tips

• Cividale station is 5 minutes' walk from the historic centre and the Devil's Bridge
• The Udine-Cividale ticket can be bought from ticket machines or online
• Evening trains are less frequent: check the last service for returning to Udine

Getting there by plane

Trieste-Friuli Venezia Giulia Airport (TRS), located in Ronchi dei Legionari, is the nearest, about 45 km away. From the airport, the APT shuttle bus reaches Trieste Centrale or Gorizia station, from where you continue by train to Udine and Cividale.

Venice Marco Polo Airport (VCE) is about 150 km away but offers many more international flights. The ATVO bus reaches Venice Mestre, then train to Udine and Cividale.

For those arriving from Central European destinations, Ljubljana Airport (LJU) in Slovenia is just 100 km away, with a fast road connection across the border.

Getting there by car

From the A23 motorway (Palmanova-Tarvisio), exit at Udine Nord and continue on the SS54 towards Cividale: about 17 km in 20 minutes. From Venice, take the A4 to Palmanova, then the A23 to Udine: about 160 km in 1 hour and 40 minutes.

From Trieste, the A4 to Palmanova and then the A23 towards Udine: about 80 km in 1 hour. From Gorizia, the provincial road crosses the Collio hills: about 30 km in 40 minutes, a very scenic route through vineyards.

From Milan, the A4 crosses the entire Po Valley to Palmanova: about 400 km in 4 hours. From Vienna and Austria, the A23 descends from the Tarvisio border to Udine: about 280 km in 3 hours.

Parking

• Piazza Diaz car park: spacious and free, 3 minutes from the centre
• Parking along the Natisone: atmospheric, near the Devil's Bridge
• The historic centre is mostly a restricted traffic zone but perimeter parking areas are close and convenient

Getting there by bus

SAF bus services connect Cividale with Udine and the Natisone Valley towns. From Udine, buses depart from the bus station and reach Cividale in about 30 minutes.

FlixBus does not serve Cividale directly but stops at Udine, from where the rail connection is fast and frequent. For those coming from Slovenia, cross-border buses connect Cividale with Kobarid (Caporetto) and the Isonzo Valley.

Getting around the town and surroundings

Cividale is a small town that can be explored entirely on foot. The Lombard Temple, the Devil's Bridge, the Cathedral and the Christian Museum are all within a few steps of each other. The medieval lanes along the Natisone are at the heart of the experience.

For exploring the Natisone Valleys and villages like Stregna, Drenchia and Pulfero, a car is necessary. Mountain roads are well maintained but narrow and winding. Slovenia is just a few kilometres away: Kobarid and the Julian Alps are reachable in under an hour.

Udine, with its museums and lively nightlife, is just 20 minutes by train and perfect for an evening out.

Discover Cividale del Friuli

Now that you know how to get there, plan your visit:

• Where to stay in Cividale del Friuli for finding the ideal accommodation between town and countryside
• What to see in Cividale del Friuli in 2 days for an itinerary between Lombards and the Natisone
• Where to eat in Cividale del Friuli to savour frico, cjarsons and Collio wines