Pordenone is the surprise of western Friuli: a lively, refined city that grew as a river port on the Noncello and is now looking ahead to 2027, when it will be Italian Capital of Culture. Its old town is one continuous drawing room of arcades and frescoed façades, and around it opens a territory rich in villages, art and nature — from the waters of the Livenza to the mountains of Piancavallo. 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 how you plan the trip: Pordenone city to experience the old town on foot, among cafés, museums and bars; western Friuli — Sacile, Spilimbergo, San Vito, Maniago and the villages — for an itinerary between art, water and mountains, with more quiet and country flavours. Let’s look at both, with the places we recommend.
Where to stay in Pordenone: the old town
The right place to sleep is the old town, which runs along Corso Vittorio Emanuele II — the old Contrada Maggiore — an arcaded street lined with palaces bearing painted façades, ending at the Town Hall with its clock tower. From here you have the museums, the Cathedral of San Marco with its tall bell tower, the cafés and the bars all within walking reach. It’s an elegant, lively area, perfect for living Pordenone the way its people do. Worth keeping in mind:
- All on foot: the Corso, the Town Hall and the Cathedral are minutes apart.
- City of culture: museums, festivals and the run-up to 2027 keep the centre lively all year.
- Handy by train: the station, on the Venice-Udine line, is close to the centre.
The addresses we choose in Pordenone:
Kalé
A well-kept guest house in the centre of Pordenone, a couple of steps from the Corso and its arcades. The convenience of staying in the heart of the city, with museums, cafés and bars all on foot. Ideal for a couple or anyone who wants to enjoy the old town slowly, returning to a welcoming space.
B&B Dante
A welcoming bed and breakfast in a central position, handy for reaching the Corso and the monuments on foot. The attentive welcome and the breakfast make it a restful base after days out and about. Suited to those after courtesy and practicality in the heart of Pordenone.
b&b Casa Livia
A bed and breakfast with a homely touch, handy for both the centre and the station, a good base for those arriving by train. A well-kept, hospitable place, ideal for a city stop or for exploring western Friuli. Perfect for those who want simplicity and a practical location.
All the properties in the city: all hotels in Pordenone →
Western Friuli: Sacile, Spilimbergo and San Vito
Around Pordenone opens a district rich in destinations. Sacile, set on the Livenza, is called “the Garden of the Serenissima” for its elegant Venetian palaces mirrored in the water. Spilimbergo is the mosaic town, home to the famous Friuli Mosaic School, with a fine medieval centre. San Vito al Tagliamento preserves towers, walls and scenic squares, while Maniago, the town of cutlery, is the gateway to Piancavallo and the Friulian Dolomites, and the village of Polcenigo, with the springs of the Livenza, is among the most beautiful in Italy.
Sleeping here is the choice for those who want an itinerary between art, water and nature, with the quiet of the countryside. The three places we recommend in the villages:
Casa Roman Italia
A holiday home in the centre of Sacile, a couple of steps from the palaces facing the Livenza. The independence of a home in the heart of the “Garden of the Serenissima”, with the water and the arcades all around. Ideal for those who want a quiet, elegant base from which to tour western Friuli.
Casa Antica Pietra Spilimbergo
A house in the medieval village of Spilimbergo, the mosaic town, with the charm of old stone. The pleasure of sleeping among the historic lanes, a couple of steps from the castle and the Mosaic School. Perfect for those who want to experience the village and use it as a base between the Tagliamento and the hills.
Palazzetto Scodellari
A carefully done residence in the old town of San Vito al Tagliamento, among towers, walls and scenic squares. The charm of a period house in the heart of the village, with space and calm. Ideal for those after a special address from which to explore western Friuli at leisure.
When to go
Spring and autumn are the best times for Pordenone and its surroundings: mild weather, lovely light and the chance to alternate the city with the villages and nature. Autumn in particular is a season rich in culture: in September Pordenone hosts its great literary festival, a much-loved event (it’s worth checking the dates before planning).
Summer is pleasant for trips along the rivers and up to Piancavallo, cool at altitude; winter is quiet in the city and opens the snow season on the Pordenone mountains. As 2027 approaches, the year as Capital of Culture, the city promises an ever-richer calendar of events: it’s worth looking into what’s on.
How to get there
Pordenone is easy to reach by train: the station is on the Venice-Udine line, a few minutes from the centre, and Sacile too is served by the same route. By car you arrive on the A28 motorway, linked to the A4; the nearest airport is Venice, with Trieste-FVG a little further.
Its position makes Pordenone a good base for western Friuli and the mountains: from here you easily climb to Piancavallo and the Friulian Dolomites, while the villages of Sacile, Spilimbergo and San Vito are a short distance away by car or train. For the full picture on airports, 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 Pordenone and western Friuli.
Which is the best area to stay in Pordenone?
The old town, along Corso Vittorio Emanuele: sleeping here you have the arcades, the frescoed palaces, the Cathedral and the museums all on foot, and it’s handy for the station. If instead you want a wider itinerary between art and nature, the villages of western Friuli — Sacile, Spilimbergo, San Vito — offer quiet, atmospheric bases a short distance away.
What is there to see in Pordenone?
The drawing room is Corso Vittorio Emanuele, with arcades and frescoed façades leading to the Town Hall and the Cathedral of San Marco, with its very tall bell tower. Don’t miss the Civic Art Museum, linked to the Renaissance painter known as “il Pordenone”. The city is Italian Capital of Culture 2027, so the offer of exhibitions and events is growing.
What is there to see in western Friuli?
A lot, in a small space: Sacile, elegant on the Livenza river; Spilimbergo, the mosaic town with its famous school; San Vito al Tagliamento with towers and squares; Maniago, the cutlery town and gateway to Piancavallo; and villages like Polcenigo, among the most beautiful in Italy, with the springs of the Livenza. A land that unites art, water and mountains.
Is Pordenone a good base for Piancavallo and the Friulian Dolomites?
Yes. Pordenone and nearby Maniago are the gateway to Piancavallo, the ski and hiking resort of the Pordenone mountains, and to the Friulian Dolomites. Sleeping on the plain you can alternate city and villages with days in the mountains, driving up with ease: an ideal combination both in summer and winter.
How do you reach Pordenone without a car?
By train, easily: the station is on the Venice-Udine line, a few minutes from the centre, with frequent connections. Sacile is on the same line too. On the spot the centre of Pordenone is entirely walkable, while for the smaller villages and the mountains a car remains the handiest option.
