Udine is Friuli’s elegant surprise: a compact, history-rich provincial capital that grew for centuries under Venice, and still carries the Venetian imprint of its loggias and squares in the centre. They call it “the Venice of Friuli”, a description you grasp the moment you reach Piazza Libertà. It’s a city on a human scale, with an entirely pedestrian centre, a strong culture of the osteria and good wine, and a location that makes it the ideal base for exploring central Friuli. Here you’ll find where to stay best, with the small places we choose one by one, never by hearsay.
The old town is compact and entirely walkable: from the two main squares to the castle hill, everything is minutes apart. That makes choosing where to stay in Udine simple — the pedestrian heart is almost always the right answer — and the rest comes down to the character of the place and how handy it is for the station and parking.
Where to stay in Udine: the old town
The right place to sleep is the old town, the pedestrian pocket that stretches between Piazza Libertà, the Mercatovecchio street and Piazza Matteotti. Here you have the monuments, cafés, osterie and shops on your doorstep, and reach the castle and museums in a few minutes on foot. It’s a lively but quiet-by-night area, perfect for living Udine the way its people do, between a tajut and a stroll. Worth keeping in mind:
- All on foot: the two squares, the castle and the Tiepolo frescoes are minutes apart.
- Osterie within reach: the centre is the realm of the tajut, the glass of wine among friends.
- Handy for Friuli: from the station, at the edge of the centre, everything sets off for Cividale and around.
The addresses we choose in the centre of Udine:
Oriana Homèl Udine
Apartments with their own kitchen right on Mercatovecchio, Udine’s most beautiful and central arcaded street, a couple of steps from Piazza Libertà. The convenience of staying in the city’s drawing room with the independence of a home. Ideal for those who want the absolute centre and the freedom to set their own pace.
Albergo al Vecchio Tram
A family-run hotel on Via Brenari, in the heart of the centre, a few steps from the squares and the osterie. The convenience of a proper hotel — with front desk and breakfast — in the right spot to walk everywhere. Suited to those who prefer hotel services to the apartment formula, while staying dead central.
Mercatovecchio Luxury Suites
Well-appointed suites on Via del Carbone, a step from Mercatovecchio and the two squares, with a little extra elegance. The pleasure of sleeping in the absolute centre in refined surroundings, with everything within walking reach. Perfect for a couple’s weekend or anyone after something special right in the heart of the city.
Bed & Breakfast Residenza Cuore
A welcoming bed and breakfast on Via della Cernaia, a short distance from the old town, in a quiet and handy area. The careful welcome and homely atmosphere make it a restful base after days out and about. Suited to those who want calm and courtesy while staying close to everything.
SARPI Apartment & Suite
Apartments and suites on Via Paolo Sarpi, in the centre, with well-kept spaces and a kitchen of your own for those who want independence. A practical, central option, good for families and stays of a few days. Ideal for those who love to explore on foot and return to a comfortable, personal space.
Albergo Residenza Al Teatro
A hotel on Via Pracchiuso, a short distance from the centre and the Teatro Nuovo, with the convenience of a hotel and some parking nearby. A good base for those arriving by car who still want to reach the heart of Udine on foot. Suited to those after practicality without giving up closeness to the centre.
All the properties in the city: all hotels in Udine →
What to see in Udine
The heart of Udine is Piazza Libertà, with the Gothic-Venetian Loggia del Lionello, the Loggia di San Giovanni and the clock tower with its Moors striking the hours: an ensemble that alone is worth the trip. From here you climb, through the Arco Bollani designed by Palladio, to the castle hill, home to the civic museums and offering the finest view over the city and, on clear days, the Alps.
Udine is also the city of Giambattista Tiepolo: his luminous frescoes can be admired in the Tiepolo Galleries of the Patriarchal Palace, in the Oratory of the Purità and in the Cathedral, a heritage few expect. And then there is the more convivial Udine, that of Piazza Matteotti — the real city drawing room, with its arcades and market — and of the osterie where you order a tajut, the glass of Friulian wine, perhaps with San Daniele ham and frico on the side.
When to go
Udine is enjoyable all year, but spring and autumn are the best times: mild weather, lovely light and the chance to alternate the city with trips around it. Autumn in particular is the season of new wine and food fairs, with the atmosphere of the osterie at its best; in September the city hosts its great food-and-wine festival dedicated to the flavours of Friuli (it’s worth checking the dates before planning).
Summer is pleasant but hotter and more humid on the plain, ideal if you use Udine as a base for trips to the hills and mountains; winter is quiet, perfect for museums, palaces and the indoor life of the osterie. In any season, it’s a city best enjoyed on foot.
How to get there
Udine is a handy rail hub: the station is on the Venice-Trieste line and on the branch climbing towards Tarvisio and Austria, a few minutes’ walk from the centre. By car you arrive on the A23 motorway, which links the city to Palmanova and the A4; by air the Trieste-FVG airport at Ronchi dei Legionari is about forty minutes away.
Udine’s strength is its position: from here, by train or car, you quickly reach Cividale del Friuli, the star-shaped fortress of Palmanova, San Daniele and the Collio. To pair city and wine, nearby Gorizia and the Collio are within an easy trip; for the full picture on the airport, trains and roads: 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 Udine.
Which is the best area to stay in Udine?
The old town, without doubt. It’s compact, pedestrian and gathered between Piazza Libertà, Mercatovecchio and Piazza Matteotti: sleeping here you have monuments, osterie, shops and the castle all a few minutes on foot. It’s also close to the station, handy for trips into the rest of Friuli. For Udine, the pedestrian heart is almost always the right choice.
Is Udine a good base for visiting Friuli?
Excellent. Thanks to its central position and rail hub, from Udine you easily reach Cividale del Friuli, the fortress of Palmanova, San Daniele of the ham and the hills of the Collio, often in a day. It’s the ideal base for pairing the city with trips between culture, villages and wine, getting around by train or car.
What can you see in Udine in a day?
You start from Piazza Libertà with the Loggia del Lionello, climb to the castle for the view from Palladio’s Arco Bollani, and come down towards Piazza Matteotti, the city drawing room. Don’t miss Tiepolo’s frescoes in the Patriarchal Palace and the Oratory of the Purità. Round it off, as tradition demands, with a tajut in an osteria.
Should you stay in Udine or in Cividale?
It depends on the kind of trip. Udine offers more choice of accommodation, services and connections, and is the handiest base for moving around central Friuli. Cividale del Friuli is smaller and more atmospheric, ideal for those after a UNESCO village and a slow pace. Many choose Udine as a base and visit Cividale in a day, a quarter of an hour away by train.
How do you get around Udine without a car?
Very well: the centre is entirely walkable and the station is a few minutes from the heart of the city. From there, trains reach Cividale, Palmanova and the other Friuli destinations in short times. A car mainly helps for more far-flung trips between hills and small villages, but for the city and the main connections it isn’t necessary.
