Gorizia is a city that lives on the border, and draws its particular charm from it. From its Habsburg soul — it was called the “Austrian Nice” for its mild climate and gardens — through a long 20th century split by the frontier, to today, when the line that separated it from Slovenian Nova Gorica has become a symbol of union. Around it stretch the hills of the Collio, one of the homelands of Italy’s great white wines. Here you’ll find where to stay best, with the small places we choose one by one, never by hearsay.
Where to stay depends on what you’re after: Gorizia city for history, the castle and the border atmosphere, all handy and on foot; the Collio — Cormons, Capriva, San Floriano — to immerse yourself among vineyards, cellars and good food, with the countryside around you. Let’s look at both, with the places we recommend.
Gorizia: the border city
The heart of Gorizia is compact and easy to walk. The medieval castle on its hill dominates the city, with the atmospheric Borgo Castello, while below stretch the gardens, the Habsburg palaces and the main street. The city’s symbol is Piazza Transalpina, the square cut in two by the old border with Slovenia: in 2025 Gorizia and nearby Nova Gorica were the first cross-border European Capital of Culture, and the legacy of that year — the spirit of two cities now united — is still clearly felt.
Staying in the centre is the most practical choice for experiencing the city: you have the castle, the museums, the cafés and the bars within walking reach, and you cross the Slovenian border almost without noticing. Worth keeping in mind:
- All on foot: castle, Borgo Castello, gardens and main street are minutes apart.
- Two cities in one: Nova Gorica, in Slovenia, is effectively attached: you walk across.
- Handy by train: the station is close to the centre, on the line to Udine and Trieste.
The addresses we choose in Gorizia:
L’angolo di Luna
A welcoming, well-run bed and breakfast in the centre of Gorizia, handy for reaching the castle and the gardens on foot. The careful hospitality and the position make it a restful base for discovering the border city. Ideal for a couple or anyone who wants to experience Gorizia at a slow pace.
A casa di Bruna
A guest house with a homely touch in a handy position, a good base for exploring Gorizia on foot and crossing over to Nova Gorica. The friendly welcome and well-kept spaces make it suited to a quiet stay. Perfect for those after warmth and practicality in the heart of the city.
B&B Antico Fienile
A bed and breakfast with the feel of a converted barn, between city and countryside, with space and quiet. A calm base for those who want Gorizia within reach but a greener setting. Suited to those travelling by car and seeking peace after days out and about.
All the properties in the city: all hotels in Gorizia →
The Collio: the wine hills
West of Gorizia open the hills of the Collio, one of Italy’s most prestigious wine areas: here are born great whites such as Friulano, Ribolla Gialla, Malvasia and Sauvignon, in an orderly landscape of vine rows and small villages. The wine capital is Cormons, with its wine shop and the cellars around it; Capriva del Friuli and San Floriano del Collio complete a land of tastings, farm stays and views over the border.
Sleeping in the Collio is the choice for authentic wine tourism: waking among the vineyards, visiting the cellars and dining farm-to-table. A little further north, towards Udine, lies San Daniele del Friuli, home of the famous ham, a tasty trip to pair with the wine. The three places we recommend among the hills:
Villa Della Stua
A well-kept bed and breakfast in Cormons, the wine capital of the Collio, between the village and the vineyards. The position is perfect for visiting the cellars and enjoying the wine country at a slow pace, returning to a welcoming space. Ideal for a couple who want to immerse themselves in the Collio of wine.
Accademia Vine Lodge
An inn set among the vineyards of Capriva del Friuli, in the heart of the Collio, made for those who love wine and the countryside. The pleasure of sleeping among the vine rows, a couple of steps from the area’s great cellars. Perfect for a food-and-wine weekend, with the quiet of the hills all around.
GiardinidiEva B&B
A bed and breakfast among the vineyards of San Floriano del Collio, on the border, with views over the hills and a deep quiet. The ideal base for those seeking nature, silence and cellars within reach, with Gorizia a few minutes away. Perfect for a romantic escape in the green of the Collio.
When to go
Spring and autumn are the loveliest times for Gorizia and the Collio: mild weather, hills in bloom or lit by the colours of the harvest, and the chance to pair the city with tastings. Autumn in particular is the season of new wine and open cellars, with the Collio at its best. Summer is pleasant for walks among the vine rows, while winter is quiet and cosy, good for the city and its fine food.
After its year as European Capital of Culture, Gorizia and Nova Gorica remain a lively destination, with a cultural offer and events that celebrate the cross-border spirit: it’s worth a look at the calendar before you leave, as the programme changes from season to season.
How to get there
Gorizia is handy by train: the station is on the line linking Udine and Trieste, a few minutes from the centre, and nearby Nova Gorica has its own station in Slovenia, right on Piazza Transalpina. By car you arrive on the A34 motorway, linked to the A4; the Trieste-FVG airport at Ronchi dei Legionari is a little under half an hour away.
For the Collio, however, a car is the best option: the hills, cellars and villages are scattered and are best enjoyed by moving freely. From Gorizia you can also easily reach Cividale del Friuli and Udine. For the full picture on the airport, trains and roads of the region: how to get to Friuli-Venezia Giulia.
This guide is part of our grand tour of the region: discover all the destinations and areas in Where to Stay in Friuli-Venezia Giulia.
Frequently asked questions
Quick answers to the questions we’re asked most about where to stay in Gorizia and the Collio.
Which is the best area to stay in Gorizia and the Collio?
It depends on what you’re after. Central Gorizia is ideal for the city: castle, gardens, museums and the Slovenian border are all on foot. If instead you want wine and nature, the hills of the Collio — Cormons, Capriva, San Floriano — offer farm stays and B&Bs among the vineyards, perfect for wine tourism. Many sleep in the centre for convenience and devote a day to the cellars.
What is there to see in Gorizia?
The medieval castle with the Borgo Castello, the gardens and the palaces of its Habsburg soul — the city was known as the “Austrian Nice” — and above all Piazza Transalpina, on the border with Slovenia. In 2025 Gorizia and Nova Gorica were European Capital of Culture, and the atmosphere of the two cities united is today the most fascinating thing to experience on foot.
What is the Collio and what do you drink there?
The Collio is the hill area north of Gorizia, among Italy’s most prestigious for white wines. Here are produced benchmark labels such as Friulano, Ribolla Gialla, Malvasia and Sauvignon. Cormons is considered the wine capital of the area, with a wine shop and cellars around it: it’s the right place for tastings and visits among the vine rows.
Do you need a car to visit the Collio?
Yes, for the Collio a car is highly recommended: the cellars, villages and viewpoints are scattered across the hills and are best enjoyed by moving freely. Gorizia city, on the other hand, is very walkable and handy by train too. The ideal combination is to sleep in the area and devote at least a day to touring the hills.
How do you reach Gorizia without a car?
By train, comfortably: Gorizia station is on the Udine-Trieste line, a few minutes from the centre, and nearby Nova Gorica has its own station in Slovenia, on the border. The Trieste-FVG airport is about half an hour away. In the city and towards Nova Gorica you get around on foot; for the Collio, however, a car is best.
