Costa dei Barbari

Costa dei Barbari is the naturist cove tucked between Sistiana and Duino, about 10 km northwest of central Trieste along the dramatic Karst coastline. Reached by a footpath down from the coastal road, its gravel-and-pebble shore has no services — bring water and shade — and it is the best-known gay-popular and clothing-optional beach in the Trieste area and the wider Friuli-Venezia Giulia region. It is informally frequented rather than officially designated, drawing a naturist and mixed LGBTQ+ crowd through the warmer months. The clear Adriatic water and cliff backdrop make the effort of the descent worthwhile.