Finding it hard to choose between Italy and Croatia this summer? Well, why choose at all? With the opening of a new train route between the two countries – taking in gorgeous views and passing through Slovenia along the way – for less than ten euro this summer, you can easily enjoy both destinations at once! Whether you’re interested in booking a vacation rental in Italy for some of your time and then hopping on the train to a holiday rental in Croatia or you’re just looking to plan a day trip to Croatia during your vacation in Italy then this is excellent news.
Part of the train line that was built over 150 years ago by the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the route leaves from the town of Villa Opicina in the comune of Trieste and passes through six stations and the country of Slovenia before finishing in Rijeka in Croatia. This route once took five hours and was closed over thirty years ago but has now been reopened for the summer 2024 season and only takes two hours.
Operated by Slovenian Railways with Stadler electric trains as part of the European SUSTANCE Interreg Central Europe project in cooperation with Croatian Railways Passenger Transport as well as an Italian project partner, the route itself is beyond picturesque travelling through lush green landscapes before heading along the coast with views over the Adriatic on the last leg of the journey.
A once daily train, it departs from Villa Opicina station at 7.50am in the morning and then continues on to Slovenia and its first stop of Sežana, just on the border. Then there are three more stops in Slovenia – Divača, Pivka, and Ilirska Bistrica – before the train arrives in Croatia and the towns of Šapjane and Opatija Matulji before arriving at its final stop at Rijeka at 9.54am. The return train back to Italy leaves from Rijeka at 6.25pm, giving those there for the day a long enough stretch in the city and those who are kicking off a Croatian leg of their holiday a nice start.
Tickets for the whole route start at just €8 each way. This is for a second class ticket, which is certainly adequate but if you are looking for a little more space and access to a table (either a folding table on the seat in front for the seats in pairs or a larger shared table for seats in groupings of four) then you can upgrade to first class for the stretch from Villa Opicina/Sežana to Šapjane for €2.70 and an additional €1.80 for the stretch from Šapjane to Rijeka. It is also possible to purchase tickets to individual stops and spend a day in any of the other towns before returning, if you choose.
However, the whole route is an impressive addition for tourists this summer – it is a convenient, comfortable, and scenic way to get from Italy to Rijeka compared to the coaches or the necessity of changing trains between countries that were the options previously available. Launched on the 24th of April 2024, it is currently only intended to run until the 30th of September 2024 but there is the possibility that the route may be continued in the future and may even go directly from Trieste some day if the trains are approved for use on Italian railways.
As it stands today, you can get to Villa Opicina to take the train by coach or taxi or by a rental car from Trieste in around 30 minutes. Construction works are ongoing on the lines so be sure to take a glance at their website for more information and potential changes to times before you head out on a trip.
So, check out our villas in Friuli-Venezia Giulia and our villas in Rijeka and enjoy one (or both!) this summer!
The current daily schedules (barring changes) is as follows:
Italy – Croatia
Villa Opicina – 7.50am
Sežana – 8.01am
Divača – 8.11am
Pivka – 8.32am
Ilirska Bistrica – 8.54am
Šapjane – 9.08am
Opatija Matulji – 9.37am
Rijeka – 9.54am
Croatia – Italy
Rijeka – 6.25pm
Opatija Matulji – 6.41pm
Šapjane – 7.07pm
Ilirska Bistrica – 7.25pm
Pivka – 7.49pm
Divača – 8.18pm
Sežana – 8.28pm
Villa Opicina – 8.40pm