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 versions of this tour are offered. One is the Classic Self Guided Tour and the other is the Premium Self Guided Tour with 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!

Where You’ll Stay

Accommodations for this tour are either 3 or 4 star hotels or boutique accommodations depending on type of tour booked.

What’s Included

  • Classic self-guided:
  • 7 nights accommodations in 3 or 4  hotels
  • 7 breakfasts and 7 dinners
  • Luggage transfer
  • Final transfer from Piran back to Trieste
  • Bike rental
  • T-shirt
  • 24/7 hotline number
  • Premium supported
  • All of the above except accommodations are in boutique hotels
  • Dinners are 7, 5 course dinners
  • Support vehicle

What’s Not Included

  • Lunches and other meals other than those included with package
  • All beverages with included meals
  • Arrival transfer to first hotel
  • Cycling guide (this can be booked with a reservation)

TourBike
TypeBoth
SkillEasy
Length8 days
From€1245 Rates
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Tour Dates

October 15, 2016

Skill Level

This is an easy self-guided, supported, or guided tour, that is approximately 215 km in length with elevation difference of 1.670 meters. The tour uses an abandoned railway track known as Parenzana which is a comfortable and safe path, away from vehicle traffic.

Day-To-Day Itinerary

Day 1: Individual arrival to Trieste
Day 2: Trieste to Piran and 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: Montovun 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 and Portorož, 26 mi. (42 km)
Following the Slovenian coast, you cycle in to the charming  town of Piran, sitting pretty on the tip of its peninsula. Its old town boasts with its impressive old town with its adorned front-doors and windows. 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.

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 higlight 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: Montovun 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

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 cycled eaving those two cities four days ago. This everning your will overnight in Piran, giving you more time to enjoy this seaside town.

Day 8: Piran and transfer back to Trieste

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