Camping Agrituristico Carso

The surrounding countryside makes for a spectacularly scenic pedal-powered explore, or an equally pretty amble if you aren’t bringing your own bike. And, rather handily, a bus stop is right in front of the site should one not be faffed with either method… Camping Agrituristico Carso is a short drive from the sea: the seaport city of Trieste is 25 minutes’ south along the coast, with other handsome settlements such as Santa Croce Mare, Sorgenti di Aurisina and Grignano along the way. Also while journeying into Trieste, you could make another stop to see Grotta Gigante (literally ‘giant cave’) for one of its acclaimed guided tours. (Make sure to don your sturdy shoes and a cosy coat if so, because it’s a steep 500 steps on either side here and subterranean-style chilly inside.) Trieste is a smashing lesser-known Italian coastal city for urban days away from big tourist crowds: just across the bay from Venice, the city has many a handsome historic building to goggle, with two tiptop picks being the world’s tallest lighthouse, Vittoria Light on the hill of Gretta, and the cracking seafront fortress of Miramare Castle, which you can reach via a historic tram from Trieste’s centre. Also lovely is the city’s Piazza Unità d'Italia – and (top tip), it’s particularly picworthy at night.