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The Rilke Trail or Rilke-weg was named after the poet Rainer Maria Rilke who was a guest at the Duino Castle and was inspired to write the collection Duino Elegies. Since 1987 the path was restored and attracts plenty of walkers or simply those wanting to admire the view
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The Rilke Trail
The trail is about 2km per way and you can choose to start from either end – Sistiana or Duino. We started at Sistiana. The entrance is near the Sistiana Info Point and right at the start there are beautiful views towards Trieste.
The trail itself is suitable for families, during our walk I saw people of all ages using this trail. However since the path is sometimes rocky , strollers are not suitable to be used here. There are many viewpoint stops to admire the coast and this makes the actual walk longer ! There are benches for people to take a pause and just take in the scenery of the Gulf of Trieste. Besides this, look out for the WWII Bunkers along the way and a cave which lets you peer out through a window in the cliff face. Below is a short video of the trail.
On the other end , we walk towards the Duino Castle stealing glimpses at the viewpoint stops. Here you can admire the flora and fauna of the region.
The Rilke Trail is perfect for a half day trip or to include in your shore itinerary in Trieste for the family. Best of all it’s free to walk this trail.
How to get to Rilke Trail
By Bus from Trieste
Bus no G51 travels the route from Trieste (Autostazione) to both entrances so you can start on one end and just go one way.
SISTIANA, 54/f (SS14, hotel) – Bus Stop
DUINO (fronte civico 10, sentiero Rilke) – Bus Stop
By Car
The Rilke Trail is about 20km away from Trieste Center.
If you are there with the car – it does not really matter where you start as you would go both ways to get back to the car.
Parking is free and parking space is available at “Parcheggio – Parkirišče Rilke” at the Duino side or “
Parking Rilke Trail – Sistiana entrance” type in either one to Google Maps –
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This looks like a lovely walk, thanks for including a video as I feel like sometimes photos just don’t do a place justice! Good to know the trail is accessible by bus as I sadly can’t drive yet.
The Rilke trail is a stunning walk with some serene vistas. It’s so refreshing to take such a walk soaking in the coastal viewsviews. Also benches placed along the trail will allow people to rest and admire the coastal beauty. And the world war ll bunkers add a historic charm to the place.
The Rilke Trail sounds like an amazing path to hike whether you start at the Sistiana or Duino end. I would definitely want to get those views of Trieste. And would plan for this hike to take us longer than planned. A great way to spend a free half day.
This looks like a wonderful trail, especially that it is following the coast like. I have hiked a bit during my trips to Italy and I always appreciate a good trail to include in my itinerary. It’s also good to know that you can start at either end, but not to bring strollers here, as the terrain can be quite rocky in some parts.
Is there 1 place in Italy that’s not beautiful? Rilke trail from Sistiana looks absolutely beautiful. Good to know that it is only 2km per way. I’m always looking for shorter trails these days, because I’d like my kiddo too to join us hiking. This seems perfect. A cave which lets you peer out through a window in the cliff face? Wow! That’s awesome. WW2 bunkers is interesting addition to the landscape too.
A strenuous but enjoyable walk appears to be the Rilke Trail. Knowing that this trail is appropriate for children makes me happy. As a result, families will find this location to be a great place to bond. When I visit, I’ll undoubtedly capture the breathtaking views from every angle on camera.
The views are certainly spectacular. And 2km is quite a walkable distance. One can do it a lesiruely pace, enjoying the views and the breeze. Am now going to Google the poet’s work, Duino Elegies, to see what it was all about.
What a lovely place to enjoy the outdoors – the cliffs and the view overlooking the sea is breathtaking. It’s the perfect place to slow down a bit and enjoy every moment.
From the video, it’s great that the trail has safety measures and is accessible.
Beautiful place to enjoy the outdoors – the cliffs and the view overlooking the sea is breathtaking. It’s the perfect place to slow down a bit and enjoy every moment.
From the video, it’s great that the trail has safety measures and is accessible.
Hiking the Rilke Trail from Sistiana to Duino in Italy has got me dreaming of my next adventure to this beautiful country. The stunning views of the sea, cliffs, and castle along the way are truly breathtaking. And I love that the trail is named after a poet – how romantic! The tips about the best times to go and the moderate difficulty level are super helpful for planning my own trip. Plus, the reward of a glass of prosecco at the end sounds like the perfect way to celebrate a hike well done. Thanks for the inspo!