Trieste to Pula by private car in about an hour and three quarters: along the Slovenian coast past Koper, into Croatian Istria and down the Istrian motorway to the city of the Roman Arena — from your Trieste hotel, the cruise terminal or Trieste Airport.
Drive from Trieste to Pula in about 1h 45m. Private transfer priced on request per vehicle, door-to-door — tell us your pickup in Trieste (hotel, Stazione Marittima or Trieste Airport), your address in Pula or a drop at Pula Airport, and whether you would like a stop in Koper, Fažana or Poreč.
Pickup from your hotel or address in Trieste, at the Stazione Marittima cruise terminal on Molo dei Bersaglieri, or at Trieste Airport (TRS). The road heads south out of the city towards the Slovenian coast.
A Schengen-internal crossing just south of Trieste. Police checks or temporary border controls may occur, so every passenger keeps a passport or national ID card at hand.
Slovenia’s port town lies right on the road south, so a coffee in its old town costs very little time.
The second Schengen-internal crossing, into Croatian Istria. Police checks or temporary border controls may occur here too; allow some flexibility in journey time.
Poreč on the west coast of Istria is a longer detour from the motorway. Fažana, the coastal town opposite the Brijuni islands just north of Pula, is an easy last stop on the coast road.
South on the Istrian A9 motorway to Pula: drop-off at your hotel or address in the city, or at Pula Airport, about 8 km from the centre, if you are flying out.
Per vehicle, not per person. Every quote includes tolls, fuel, the cross-border route, assistance with loading and unloading luggage, and child seats available on request.
Picked up and dropped off at your exact address
Cross-border route handled. Passengers remain responsible for their own passports, visas and other travel documents.
Short photo stops may be included where operationally possible
Professional, local, English-speaking driver
Trieste Airport (TRS) is at Ronchi dei Legionari, about 40 km north-west of the city. From the airport straight to Pula is about 164 km and roughly 2h 15m, so there is no need to go into Trieste first — mention the airport pickup and your flight number in your request. Airport pickups include 60 minutes of free waiting.
Pula Airport is the gateway to southern Istria: we also run Pula Airport to Rovinj and Pula Airport to Poreč transfers.
Travelling the other way? Pula to Trieste has its own page, with pickups in Pula or at Pula Airport.
Pula → Trieste →Trieste to Pula is about 119 km and crosses three countries, because Italy and Croatia share no land border. The road leaves Trieste southwards into Slovenia, runs past Koper on the short Slovenian coast, enters Croatian Istria and follows the Istrian motorway (the A9, part of the Istrian Y) south to Pula at the tip of the peninsula. Allow about an hour and three quarters without stops. This page is about the road transfer.
There is no direct train from Trieste to Pula: Pula’s railway runs north through Istria towards Slovenia, and rail journeys need changes. Direct coaches operate from Trieste bus station (Autostazione, Piazza della Libertà) to Pula; check the current timetable before travelling. A private transfer picks you up at your hotel, the cruise terminal or Trieste Airport, takes you to the door of your Pula hotel or to Pula Airport, and can stop in Koper or Fažana on the way.
You cross Italy–Slovenia and then Slovenia–Croatia. All three countries are in the Schengen area, so both crossings are Schengen-internal, but police checks or temporary border controls may occur at either. Every passenger should keep a valid passport or national ID card within reach; journey times can vary with traffic and checks.
We collect from hotels and addresses in Trieste, from the Stazione Marittima cruise terminal (Molo IV is also used by ships) and from Trieste Airport (TRS) at Ronchi dei Legionari. In Pula we drop off at your hotel or address, or at Pula Airport, about 8 km from the city.
Everything specific to this route.
About 119 km by road. The drive from Trieste to Pula takes roughly 1h 45m via Koper on the Slovenian coast and the Istrian motorway, plus any stops and time at the two borders.
There is no direct train. Pula’s railway runs north through Istria into Slovenia, so rail journeys need changes. Check the current timetable before travelling.
Yes. Direct coaches operate from Trieste bus station to Pula. Check the current timetable before travelling.
Two: Italy–Slovenia and Slovenia–Croatia, because the road crosses the Slovenian coast. Both are Schengen-internal, but police checks or temporary border controls may occur. Every passenger should carry a valid passport or national ID card.
Yes. From Trieste Airport (TRS) at Ronchi dei Legionari to Pula is about 164 km, roughly 2h 15m. Airport pickups include 60 minutes of free waiting, address pickups 15 minutes.
Yes. Koper adds about 9 minutes of driving, Fažana about 10 and Poreč about 30, plus the time you spend there. Mention the stop in your request.
This route is priced on request. We quote per vehicle, not per passenger, for your date, group and any stops, and you receive the quote in writing before anything is confirmed.
Request this transfer with your date, pickup point in Trieste, your Pula address and your group size. We reply during our working hours with a written quote per vehicle. Child seats are free on request.
More from Trieste: See all Trieste private transfers →