Udine in a day
Plans for one day in Udine: the cathedral and the Tiepolo frescoes of the Diocesan Museum and the Oratorio della Purità, Casa Cavazzini, Piazza Matteotti and Via Mercatovecchio, then Piazza della Libertà, the castle on its hill and an evening drink at Caffè Contarena. Every stop has a typical visit length.
How long do you have?
Map: 1 days
Udine in 1 day
Day 1
Udine Cathedral
Gothic cathedral remodelled in the 1700s, with altarpieces by Giambattista Tiepolo and a small museum at the base of the bell tower.
Diocesan Museum and Tiepolo Galleries
The former Patriarchal Palace, where Giambattista Tiepolo's early frescoes of Old Testament stories fill the gallery, the Red Room and the staircase.
Oratorio della Purità (Tiepolo)
Small oratory beside the cathedral with a ceiling of the Assumption by Giambattista Tiepolo and monochrome wall paintings by his son Giandomenico.
Casa Cavazzini Museum of Modern Art
The city's modern and contemporary art museum in a restored palazzo, with twentieth-century Italian and American works.
Piazza Matteotti
Arcaded square also called Piazza San Giacomo, the city's lively living room, with a fountain, cafe tables and a long aperitivo tradition.
Via Mercatovecchio
Udine's elegant old shopping street, lined with porticoes, palaces and cafes, running north from Piazza della Libertà.
Piazza della Libertà
Called the most beautiful Venetian square on the mainland, with the pink-and-white Loggia del Lionello and the Loggia di San Giovanni with its clock tower.
Udine Castle
Sixteenth-century castle on the hill above the centre, home to the city's museums of art, archaeology and photography, with wide views.
Caffè Contarena
Historic Liberty-style cafe under the town hall arcade, with a gilded ceiling, a classic stop for coffee or an evening spritz.
Watch: Udine
A one-minute look at the plan: every stop, day by day, with the map.
When to go to Udine
Spring and early autumn are the best times, mild and good for walking and for trips to the hills and the coast. Summer is warm, and winters are cold and damp, with clear views of the snowy Alps on bright days. Friuli Doc, the region's food and wine festival, fills the squares in September.
Plan the rest of your trip
- Where to stay: hotels in Udine on Booking.com or Trip.com
- Skip-the-line tickets: museums and sights in Udine on Tiqets
- Tours and day trips: things to do in Udine on GetYourGuide
- Data on arrival: an eSIM for Italy from Airalo
Some of these are affiliate links: we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Tips for Udine
- The castle museums and Casa Cavazzini are closed on Mondays, and the Oratorio della Purità opens only for short spells; check the times before you plan the day.
- Do as locals do and order a tajut, a small glass of Friulian wine, in the osterie around Piazza Matteotti and Via Mercatovecchio before lunch or in the evening.
- Taste Friulian food: frico, a cake of melted cheese and potato, San Daniele ham, and cjarsons, the sweet-and-savoury filled pasta of the mountains.
- Climb to the castle from Piazza della Libertà through the Arco Bollani; the lawn on the hilltop gives views to the Alps on clear days.
- Udine is a good base for day trips by train, bus or car to Cividale del Friuli, Aquileia and Trieste.
Make it your own
Open the guide in Andiamo Places to see every stop on a map with walking directions, move places between days, check opening hours for your dates, and add your own finds. After the trip, your photos become a journal and, if you like, a printed photo book.
Guides are made with the help of AI and public sources such as Wikipedia, and may contain errors. Opening hours and prices change, so check before you go. Spotted a wrong photo, a pin in the wrong place, a missing stop or a better one? Write to andiamotravelapp@gmail.com: the e-mail opens with this guide filled in.
Photo credits
- Oratorio della Purità (Tiepolo): Mattana, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Piazza Matteotti: Herzi Pinki, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Piazza della Libertà: Sebi1, Public domain
- Udine Castle: Sebi1, Public domain
- Udine Cathedral: Aconcagua (talk), CC BY-SA 3.0
Opening hours change; check before you go. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
