Travel between Italy and Croatia is about to get much easier for tourists and locals alike, as a new ferry from the historic port of Trieste to the Balkan country’s coast is set to launch. From June 26, the service will connect the city with some of the most popular coastal destinations in both Croatia and Slovenia. The new route, which will run until September 1, includes stops in Piran, Poreč, Rovinj and Mali Lošinj on the island of Lošinj.
The goal is to offer a sustainable travel alternative to cars, especially during the busy summer tourist season. After an unsuccessful public tender in December 2024, the regional government initiated a negotiation process that awarded the contract to Liberty Lines, who previously operated the service until 2023. The new three-year contract, worth around 4.
5 million euros (£3.7 million), ensures international ferry connections between Trieste and the northern Adriatic. This means the summer seasons from 2025 through to 2027 will be covered, with an option to extend it to 2028.
The announcement was confirmed by Cristina Amirante, the Head of Infrastructure and Territory for the Friuli Venezia Giulia region, according to Rijeka Danas . She highlighted that this project aligns with regional strategies aimed at improving an environmentally friendly transport network. The ferry will operate daily except on Tuesdays, departing from Pier IV in Trieste.
The routes include: Trieste–Piran–Poreč–Rovinj (return); Trieste–Rovinj–.
