Trieste. A port city with the reputation of an old suitcase in the attic – full of stories, but few bother to open it. For us, it’s different. We return to Trieste almost every year. Not because we have to. Because we want to. And this year, we uncovered something truly unique – a revived legend on rails: Trieste by Opicina Tram.
Opicina Tram Came Back After Eight Years
Locals speak of the Opicina line with the same fondness usually reserved for grandparents or classic recipes. Half tram, half funicular railway – part daily commute, part nostalgic time machine. Since 2016, it had been out of service due to a collision. Eight years of silence. Until February 1, 2025, when it rumbled back to life. Our youngest family member, a passionate transport geek, was thrilled. So were we.
Ticket Trouble and the Journey Begins
We started at Piazza Dalmazia (even though the official starting point is Piazza Oberdan). We spotted the blue-and-white retro tram approaching from afar – a charming relic of another era. But our excitement quickly turned into confusion: no ticket machine, no newsstand in sight, no place to buy a ticket.
A fellow passenger saved us. “Just tap your credit card on the validator inside the tram,” he advised. Brilliant! Except… one card = one ticket. We were seven. Only six cards between us. One of us had to ride “off the record.” Which one? No idea. And thankfully, no one came to check. The fare: €1.50 per person. Bargain with a side of thrill.
The Steepest Ride in Town
The ride Trieste by Opicina Tram is just 5 km, but packed with drama. As soon as you leave the city, the track begins to climb – like a cat scaling a rooftop. A 26% gradient, 329 meters up. Here, the tram becomes a funicular, with two cars pulling against each other via support vehicles. Real-time physics for the whole family. The kids were laughing, the adults holding tight. All eyes on the view: the city and the Gulf of Trieste spread out below like a painting.
A Novel on Wheels
Inside the tram? Wooden benches, big windows, and a scent of vintage travel. All that was missing was an old man with a mustache reading Latin poetry across the aisle.
The ride lasted about 30 minutes. At the final stop, we stepped off and entered the station building. A small bar inside offered drinks – and, to our relief, return tickets. We had just under half an hour before the next tram would take us back. No breathtaking views from the top, so we took a quick walk through the sleepy village. Pine-scented air, cutlery clinking from a nearby trattoria.
Back to the City, Back in Time
The return trip was just as magical. We validated our tickets (careful – unvalidated ones are void) and departed right on schedule.
Italian Trieste by Opicina Tram won us over. Not just because we have a transport enthusiast in the family. But because it blended childhood joy, technical wonder, historical charm, and a touch of adventure. And yet, it’s still just a regular daily commute for the locals.
