How to get to Udine: train, plane, car and bus

How to get to Udine

Udine, the historic capital of Friuli, is an elegant and human-scaled city that surprises visitors with its artistic richness and cultural vitality. Located in north-eastern Italy, just a few kilometres from the Austrian and Slovenian borders, it sits at a natural crossroads between the Latin and Central European worlds.

Getting to Udine by train

Udine railway station is an important node on the Venice-Trieste-Vienna line and on the route to Austria via Tarvisio.

• From Venice Santa Lucia: fast regional trains and Frecce in approximately 1 hour 45 minutes to 2 hours
• From Trieste Centrale: frequent regional trains in about 1 hour 10 minutes
• From Gorizia: regional trains in approximately 40 minutes
• From Padua: direct trains in approximately 1 hour 30 minutes
• From Bologna: Frecce with a change at Venice Mestre, approximately 3 hours
• From Rome: Frecce with a change at Venice Mestre, approximately 5 hours
• From Vienna (Hauptbahnhof): OBB trains via Villach and Tarvisio, approximately 6 hours
• From Ljubljana: direct bus or train with a change at Gorizia/Trieste

The station is about a 10-minute walk from Piazza Libertà and the castle, along Via Aquileia.

Getting to Udine by plane

The nearest airport is Trieste Airport at Ronchi dei Legionari (TRS), approximately 40 km away.

• Rail connection: Trieste Airport station on the Trieste-Udine line, direct regional trains in approximately 30-40 minutes
• APT Gorizia bus: shuttles to Gorizia station, then train to Udine
• Taxi or car hire: approximately 35 minutes' drive

Other reachable airports:

• Venice Marco Polo Airport (VCE): approximately 130 km, train connection from Venice Mestre in about 2 hours
• Treviso Canova Airport (TSF): approximately 120 km, shuttle to Venice Mestre then train
• Ljubljana Joze Pucnik Airport (LJU): approximately 130 km, useful for those arriving from Central Europe

Trieste Airport is the most convenient choice, with domestic and European flights operated by Ryanair and other carriers.

Getting to Udine by car

Udine is served by the A23 motorway (Palmanova-Tarvisio) and the A4 (Turin-Trieste).

• From Venice: A4 to Palmanova, then A23 towards Tarvisio, Udine Sud exit, approximately 130 km (1 hour 20 minutes)
• From Trieste: A4 towards Venice then A23, Udine Sud exit, approximately 75 km (50 minutes)
• From Grado and Aquileia: SS352 then SS13, approximately 40 km
• From Tarvisio (Austrian border): A23 southbound, Udine Nord exit, approximately 90 km (1 hour)
• From Gorizia: ring road and SS56, approximately 35 km (30 minutes)

The historic centre has a restricted traffic zone. Recommended car parks: Parcheggio Moretti (Piazzale Chiavris), Parcheggio Fiera, Parcheggio Partisans. Rates are affordable compared to other northern Italian cities.

Getting to Udine by bus

The bus station is located on Viale Europa Unita, near the railway station.

• FlixBus connects Udine with Milan, Rome, Florence, Bologna, Venice and European cities such as Munich, Vienna and Zagreb
• SAF Autoservizi operates provincial connections to Cividale del Friuli, Gemona, Tolmezzo, the Natisone valleys and Carnia
• Cross-border buses to Ljubljana and Klagenfurt

Getting around Udine

Urban transport is managed by SAF Autoservizi FVG.

• Urban bus network with tickets valid for 60 minutes
• The historic centre is entirely pedestrianised and can be explored on foot in under 30 minutes: Piazza Libertà, Piazza Matteotti (Piazza San Giacomo), the Castle and Via Mercatovecchio are all within easy walking distance
• Municipal bike sharing service
• To reach Cividale del Friuli (UNESCO site), a convenient regional train takes just 18 minutes

Udine is an ideal city to explore on foot. Traditional osterias, museums and frescoed squares are all concentrated in an area of just a few hundred metres.

Practical tips

International visitors should consider Trieste Airport as their main gateway: it is small, efficient and well connected by train. From Vienna, the direct train is a scenic option crossing the Carnic Alps. Udine also makes an excellent base for exploring the Collio wine region, Aquileia, Cividale and the Carnia mountains.

To plan your stay, also check our guides on where to stay in Udine, what to see in Udine in 2 days and where to eat in Udine.