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Udine is easy to reach and easy to move around, but the practical details matter: the nearest airport is Trieste Airport (TRS) at Ronchi dei Legionari, 40 km southeast, not Venice, and the city is a rail junction for trains to Venice, Trieste and Vienna. This Udine travel tips page answers the questions travellers actually ask, from airport transfer costs to whether you can drink the tap water, and ends with three hotel recommendations. See our Udine travel guide for more detail.
Udine Travel Tips: Getting There
Trieste Airport (TRS) is the closest airport, and it is well connected: a direct Trenitalia train runs every two hours to Udine in about 32 minutes for €4 to €8, and an APT Gorizia bus (line G51) runs hourly in 58 minutes for €3 to €5. A taxi costs roughly €60 to €70 and takes 35 minutes. The alternative is Venice Marco Polo (VCE), about 120 km away, reached by train or bus in about two hours. Udine station also has direct trains to Venice (about 2 hours), Trieste (about 1 hour) and, via Tarvisio, to Villach and Vienna in Austria. See our month-by-month weather guide for more detail.
Udine Travel Tips: Getting Around
The centre is flat and compact, so you will walk almost everywhere; Piazza Libertà to the station is about 15 minutes on foot. SAF city buses cover the outer borghi and the Stadio Friuli, with a single ticket costing €1.50 and valid for 90 minutes, and the routes 4 and 10 connect the station, centre and Teatro Nuovo. Bikes can be rented from a few shops near the centre, and the city is flat enough that cycling is easy. For day trips, the train is the best option for Cividale del Friuli (30 minutes), San Daniele del Friuli and the Collio wine hills. See our best time to visit guide for more detail.
Udine Travel Tips: Money, Tipping and Visas
Italy uses the euro, and cards are accepted almost everywhere, though small osterie and market stalls prefer cash, so carry €20 to €30 in notes. Tipping is not expected, but rounding up a bill or leaving €1 to €2 for good service in a restaurant is appreciated; there is no service charge culture like the United States. Udine is in Italy’s Schengen area, so EU citizens enter freely while many non-EU passport holders need a Schengen visa, which must be arranged before travel. Tolls and motorway fuel are the main extra costs if you drive. See our events and festivals guide for more detail.
Udine Travel Tips: Safety, Food and Water
Udine is safe by Italian and European standards, and the main risks are pickpockets around the station and on crowded festival days, so keep wallets in front pockets. Tap water is safe to drink, and there are public fountains around the centre where you can refill bottles. The local specialities are frico (fried Montasio cheese and potato), prosciutto di San Daniele, cjarsons (sweet-savoury filled pasta) and gubana (a spiral cake with nuts and grappa). Most restaurants serve lunch 12:00 to 14:30 and dinner from 19:30, and kitchens close between. Read our things to do in Udine guide for where and what to eat, and the where to stay in Udine page for the city’s best areas and hotels.
Suggested Hotels in Udine
Ambassador Palace Hotel
A 4-star on Via Giosuè Carducci 46 near the station and centre, with a rooftop restaurant and fitness room, rated around 9.2 by guests. Best for couples and business travellers wanting comfort and convenience. ‘ + BL(‘https://www.booking.com/hotel/it/ambassador-palace.html’) + ‘. See our neighborhoods guide for more detail.
Astoria Hotel Italia
A central 4-star on Piazza XX Settembre 24 with a restaurant, bar and highly rated breakfast, scoring around 8.7. Best for first-time visitors who want to stay right in the historic centre. ‘ + BL(‘https://www.booking.com/hotel/it/astoria-italia.html’) + ‘
B&B Hotel Udine
A budget-friendly 3-star at Via Duino 8, about a kilometre from the centre, with clean rooms and a buffet breakfast at well below central prices. Best for budget travellers and short stays. ‘ + BL(‘https://www.booking.com/hotel/it/president-udine.html’) + ‘
