Biking main square in Portoroz, Slovenia. Touring Istria to the Adriatic through Italy, Slovenia and Croatia. Photo courtesy of the Tour Operator (TO).

Flyover in Trieste, Italy. Biking Istria to the Adriatic. Photo via Flickr:Giulio

Istria to the Adriatic

Italy, Slovenia, Croatia Bike Tours

From Trieste to Piran on the Istrian Railway Bike Path

  • This wonderful bike tour in Istria will find you pedaling through diversity, experiencing not only "Blue Istria" along the coast, but the verdant "Green Istria" inland. Your cycling adventure starts on the Italian Coast, leads into Slovenia as you meander inland, and then returns to the pristine Adriatic in Croatia.

    You will pedal the Parenzana, or Istrian Railway, an abandoned railway track that was in operation between 1902 – 1935, allowing you the pleasure of cycling on a dedicated bike path, away from vehicle traffic. Today this revitalized link that connected Trieste to Porec is known as "the route of health and friendship."

    Highlights:

    • Magical Piran
    • Grožnjan, city of art
    • Cycling immersed in nature, away from traffic
    • Green Istrian hilltowns
    • Blue Istria coastal attractions

    This tour is appropriate for families, groups of friends or individuals, and anybody who appreciates a relaxed yet active cycling vacation combined with good local food and a glass of good wine. Since the majority of the journey takes place along the coastline of the Adriatic Sea, there’s always opportunity to swim in the Adriatic!

    Two levels of accommodations are offered for this tour. You can also add van support. If you prefer to have a guide riding with you, you can include that for a supplement shared among the number in your group. For group bookings this can be a very economical option.

    Don't forget to check out all our bike tours in Italy, Slovenia, and Croatia!

  • 2017

     2 ppl4 ppl6 ppl8 ppl10 ppl
    Standard accommodations £ 1202 $ 2,074 € 1352 NOK 12619 kr 11648 $ 1,514 £ 1104 $ 1,906 € 1242 NOK 11592 kr 10700 $ 1,391 £ 1073 $ 1,852 € 1207 NOK 11265 kr 10399 $ 1,352 £ 1042 $ 1,798 € 1172 NOK 10939 kr 10097 $ 1,313 £ 1024 $ 1,767 € 1152 NOK 10752 kr 9925 $ 1,290
    Premium accommodations £ 1828 $ 3,156 € 2057 NOK 19199 kr 17722 $ 2,304 £ 1526 $ 2,634 € 1717 NOK 16025 kr 14793 $ 1,923 £ 1455 $ 2,512 € 1637 NOK 15279 kr 14103 $ 1,833 £ 1420 $ 2,450 € 1597 NOK 14905 kr 13759 $ 1,789 £ 1397 $ 2,412 € 1572 NOK 14672 kr 13543 $ 1,761
    Single supplement £ 142 $ 245 € 160 NOK 1493 kr 1378 $ 179 £ 142 $ 245 € 160 NOK 1493 kr 1378 $ 179 £ 142 $ 245 € 160 NOK 1493 kr 1378 $ 179 £ 142 $ 245 € 160 NOK 1493 kr 1378 $ 179 £ 142 $ 245 € 160 NOK 1493 kr 1378 $ 179

    extra options

    Helmet rental : £ 21 $ 37 € 24 NOK 224 kr 207 $ 27 Electric bike, standard: £ 133 $ 230 € 150 NOK 1400 kr 1292 $ 168 Electric bike, deluxe: £ 160 $ 276 € 180 NOK 1680 kr 1551 $ 202 Additional day bike rental: £ 22 $ 38 € 25 NOK 233 kr 215 $ 28 Van support (to be shared among group members) for 6 days: £ 907 $ 1,565 € 1020 NOK 9520 kr 8788 $ 1,142 Cycling guided supplement (to be shared among group members) for 6 days: £ 1056 $ 1,823 € 1188 NOK 11088 kr 10235 $ 1,331 Shuttle transfer from airport in Venice to hotel in Trieste, up to 8 people, FROM: £ 238 $ 411 € 268 NOK 2501 kr 2309 $ 300 Shuttle transfer from Piran to airport in Trieste, up to 8 people: £ 71 $ 123 € 80 NOK 747 kr 689 $ 90 Shuttle transfer from from Piran to airport in Venice, up to 8 people: £ 213 $ 368 € 240 NOK 2240 kr 2068 $ 269 GPS device (max 2 per group): £ 43 $ 74 € 48 NOK 448 kr 414 $ 54 Boat transfer on Day 2: £ 4 $ 7 € 5 NOK 42 kr 39 $ 5

    please note

    Rates are based on double occupancy.

    Information to read before you book.

    We recommend purchasing bike trip insurance.

    Please see our FAQ.

Where You’ll Stay

Standard Accommodations are three star hotels and Premium Accommodations are four star hotels.

What’s Included

  • 7 nights accommodations in booked category
  • 7 breakfasts and 7 dinners
  • Luggage transfer
  • Final transfer from Piran back to Trieste
  • *Bike rental for 6 days, includes one pannier, spare tube, and tool kit (one per group).
  • T-shirt
  • 24/7 hotline number
  • *MTB bike with front suspension, brand Dema, or if size not available, Merida, Focus, or Author

What’s Not Included

  • Lunches and other meals other than those included with package
  • All beverages with included meals
  • Arrival transfer to first hotel
  • GPS (can be booked for supplement)
  • Helmets (can be booked for supplement)
  • Cycling guide (can be booked for supplement)
  • Support vehicle (can be booked for supplement)

Istria to the Adriatic Map

TourBike
TypeBoth
SkillEasy
Length8 days
From€1352 Rates
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Tour Dates

May 13, June 10, August 5, and September 9, 2017
Special tour dates can be arranged for groups of 4 or more on request.

Skill Level

This is an easy self-guided, supported, or guided tour, that is approximately 215 km in length. The tour uses an abandoned railway track known as Parenzana which is a comfortable and safe gravel path, away from vehicle traffic.

Day-To-Day Itinerary

Istria to the Adriatic Map

Day 1: Individual arrival to Trieste
Day 2: Trieste to Piran or Portorož, 26 mi. (42 km)
Day 3: Portorož to Grožnjan, 19 mi.  (31 km)
Day 4: Grožnjan to Motovun, 20 mi. (32 km)
Day 5: Motovun to Poreč, 22.5 mi. (36 km)
Day 6: Poreč to Umag, 26 mi. (42 km)
Day 7: Umag to PIran, 20 mil. (32 km)
Day 8: PIran

*All distances are approximate.

Day 1: Individual arrival to Trieste
Arrive to your hotel in Trieste, settle in, and enjoy this seaport city with a long and complex history, lying at a crossroads influenced by Latin, Slavic, and Germanic cultures.  

Day 2: Trieste to Piran or  Portorož, 26 mi. (42 km)
For this day, you begin cycling directly from your hotel, though you will encounter traffic. You can opt to walk 10 minutes from your hotel for a 30 minute boat transfer to the small town of Muggia. If you decide on this option, your rental bikes will be wiaitng for you upon disembarkation. See pricing. Following the Slovenian coast, you cycle in to the charming  town of Piran, sitting pretty on the tip of its peninsula. In the middle of the town is Tartini Square with a monument dedicated to the great violinist and composer Giuseppe Tartini, born in Piran in 1692. Adding to the list of worthwhile places to visit is the town hall and the law-courts, the Gothic Venetian mansion, and the cathedral on an eminence, commanding a glorious panorama. You overnight in the poetically named Portorož, or Port of Roses, or in Piran, one of the most photogenic cities in the Mediterranean.

Day 3: Portorož to Grožnjan, 19 mi. (31 km)
Today, you leave the coast and head inland toward the Croatian border. The landscape changes and you experience the thickly forested Istrian hinterland dotted with ancient villages and farms.

Grožnjan, known as the city of artists, is an ancient hilltop town  and is the day's final destination. Once a dying and decaying town, in 1965 it was declared an artists' colony and was transformed into the enchanting and magical place it is today, The influx of creativity resulted in the fairy tale like atmopshere you will find here. Its history still permeates the present with ancient churches and castles, prehistoric archaeology, magnificent palaces, and many other old buildings, whose past glory have been  been recovered through restoration.

Day 4: Grožnjan to Motovun, 20 mi. (32 km)
This day continues in land with the highlight being another hilltop town, Motovun, world renowned for its beauty, history and energy! You will enjoy meandering through the labrynth of medieval streets and walking the ramparts feasting on the incredible views over the Istrian landscape.

Day 5: Motovun to Poreč, 22.5 mi. (36 km)​
Today, you return to the sea on a leisurely ride towards Poreč,  a city whose center is located on a small peninsula submerged in the sea. Its foundations were put in place during the time of the ruling Roman Empire. Today Poreč  is a hot spot for tourism.

Day 6: Poreč to Umag, 26 mi. (42 km)
Heading north now along the coast, the day's destination is Umag.The old town has the narrow, cobbled streets, so typical of the region and the coastline is full of  pretty little bays. Umag is a small town and port on the north-western coast of Istria. A place Croatians say presents ‘Croatia’s gateway to Europe’. 

Day 7: Umag to PIran, 20 mil. (32 km)
Still following the Croatian coastline, you enter Slovenia once again, approaching Portorož and Piran taking an alternate route to the one you have already cycled. This evening your will overnight in Piran, giving you more time to enjoy this seaside town.

Day 8: Piran and transfer back to Trieste Central

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