A MUSICAL CASTLE
We’d checked the distance and the castle seemed achievable from our hotel. Well, Lorraine thought she could walk it, though I had my doubts if she’d survive the climb. Along the flats in the middle of town it was easy but then there came the hill and a statue of Carlo Michelstaedter, a radical Italian philosopher of Jewish extraction whose one and only work was conceived as an undergraduate thesis, but he never saw it in print because he committed suicide in 1910, aged 23.
We troll past a shop with exotic foodstuffs and can’t help but notice some bottled Buderim ginger featured in the window. Just below it was another sign on some wrapped lollies “senza zucchero zenzero AUSTRALIA”, which meant I could buy my sugar free dried ginger right here. It’s a small world.
It was slow and overly warm getting up from there but we took it easy and Castello di Gorizia came into view. Dating back to the 11th century it’s clearly the highest point for miles around.
The chapel-sized Church of Santo Spirito seems like a ticket office on the way to the main attraction. In a park on the opposite side of the road there’s a bust of Gabrielle D’Annunzio, a famous and prolific Italian writer and WWI hero who was hugely influential in the Fascist movement, inspiring Mussolini. He was noted for self-promotion.
From the 11th century Gorizia was an independent county until Austria took over in 1500 and it became a major cultural centre. It was only after the fallout from WWI, when it suffered badly, that it came to be in Italian hands. This once castle-of-the-counts has now been done up as a tourist attraction but it holds a surprise, at least for those of us who hadn’t done their homework properly.
The solid walls are much covered in plant life these days and the parapets are quite impressive from below and when you enter through the gateways the cobblestone walkways add an air of authenticity as you climb their steep angle. Only the base is original though. It went through many rebuilds from the 13th to 16th century and was bombed during WWI before being restored for the final time. The restoration is evident in the variance of the colours in the stonework.

Find Family Hotels in Gorizia

Change your mind
Book hotels with free cancellation
Treat yourself
Sign in to save 10% or more on thousands of hotels
Sign in
Be picky
Search almost a million properties worldwide

Check availability on Gorizia Family Hotels

Tonight

Tomorrow

This weekend

Next weekend

Our top choices for Gorizia family-friendly hotels

Hotel Internazionale

Gorizia

David-Joris

Family Apartment, 1 Bedroom | Living area | Flat-screen TV

Urban Homy Gorizia

Gorizia

Ibrahim

₩97,040 total

includes taxes & fees

Jan 18 - Jan 19, 2026

Grand Hotel Entourage Palazzo Strassoldo

Gorizia

Randall

₩240,965 total

includes taxes & fees

Jan 4 - Jan 5, 2026

Comfort Apartment, 2 Bedrooms, Balcony | Balcony

Agriturismo Grillo Iole

Prepotto

Zoltan

Hiša posebne sorte

Komen

Dimitri

Lokanda Devetak

Savogna d'Isonzo

"This is a hidden gem. A car is essential as the hotel is in a very pretty but rural area with no other facilities. However the hotel is absolutely first class, the rooms are spacious, airy and well appointed. The hotel restaurant is brilliant with a great selection of local dishes and on Saturday and Sunday a quaint small bar at the front of the hotel where you can sit and watch the occasional cyclist or car go by. The owning family are so helpful and made us feel so welcome "

Mark

₩259,176 total

includes taxes & fees

Jan 9 - Jan 10, 2026

Al Vecchio Glicine - Bed & Breakfast

Savogna d'Isonzo

John

Casale in Collina

Capriva del Friuli

Karl

View all properties

Top Gorizia Hotel Reviews

Astoria Hotel Italia

10/10 Excellent

"Great location, great staff, easy parking, good breakfast!"

Urban Homy Gorizia

4/10 Poor

"There is no onsite reception, just a ridiculously complicated online check-in which should remotely open the door. But I couldn't get through the garden gate even. Finally an old lady showed up who did not speak English and I don't speak Italian so we stood around for a good 25 mins before the room door miraculously unlocked. After a very late night I was woken up at 8.30 am by a cleaner who didn't speak English either but indicated I should phone the hotel operators, Everytime I tried, the phone was answered but then put down on me. Someone then phoned the cleaner and I was able to speak with the operators using that connection. They wanted a new card number which I was obliged to give even though I had no idea why the one I had used when I booked was not sufficient. It was a mess from start to finish. "

Frequently asked questions

What's Gorizia like for family-friendly vacations?

You might want to consider the budget-friendly destination of Gorizia if you've been thinking about a trip for the whole family. The castle and coffee shops are just a few things that make this the ideal place for a family vacation. Fly into Friuli Venezia Giulia Airport (TRS), which is located 10.6 mi (17 km) from the city center.

When's the best time to book a family-friendly vacation in Gorizia?

The hottest months are usually July and August with an average temp of 70°F, while the coldest months are January and February with an average of 40°F. The rainiest months in Gorizia are November, October, September, and May, with each month seeing an average of 8 inches of rainfall.

What's there to see and do with your family in Gorizia?

While you are visiting Gorizia, you might want to round up the kiddos and make time to see interesting attractions such as Weinkeller Goriska Brda and Tiare Shopping. Make sure you have lots of time for activities like Palmanova Outlet Village and Vipolže Villa.

What's the best way for us to get around Gorizia?

To see more of the larger area, hop aboard a train at Gorizia Centrale Station. Gorizia might not have very many public transportation choices so consider a car rental to maximize your time.

Explore a world of travel with Expedia

More ways to book

Book Family Hotels in Gorizia on Expedia.it

Find Family Hotels in Gorizia

Change your mind

Treat yourself

Be picky

Check availability on Gorizia Family Hotels

Our top choices for Gorizia family-friendly hotels

Hotel Internazionale

Urban Homy Gorizia

Grand Hotel Entourage Palazzo Strassoldo

Agriturismo Grillo Iole

Hiša posebne sorte

Lokanda Devetak

Al Vecchio Glicine - Bed & Breakfast

Casale in Collina

Wellba Homestead Planina

Top Gorizia Hotel Reviews

Astoria Hotel Italia

Tivoli Portopiccolo Sistiana Wellness Resort & Spa

Hotel Major

B&B Hotel Udine

Urban Homy Gorizia

Hotel Friuli

Frequently asked questions

Explore a world of travel with Expedia