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View of the town of Izola in Slovenia

Istrian Coastal Tour

From Trieste to Pula along the Adriatic Coast

8 Days / 7 Nights
Medium
View of the town of Izola in Slovenia

The Istrian Peninsula captivates visitors with its unspoiled nature, quaint coastal towns, and abundant historical sites. Lush vineyards, delightful olive groves, and the crystal-clear waters of the Adriatic create a perfect setting. Istria beckons with its distinctive fusion of Mediterranean way of life and cultural richness – embark on our eight-day cycling adventure along the coast to discover its finest gems firsthand!

Your vacation begins in Trieste, where a vibrant history has bequeathed impressive architecture. On the very first stage, you'll cross the border into Slovenia, where the Mediterranean ambiance persists along the coast and in Piran and Portorož. What's more, the following day, you'll cross borders once more, continuing your journey in Croatia.

Day 4 leads you from the medieval town of Umag to Novigrad and then to Poreč. Following that, pure enjoyment awaits on a delightful excursion or a relaxing day by the sea. Refreshed and energized, you'll tackle the final two stages effortlessly, with two true urban treasures awaiting you in Rovinj and Pula. In these beautiful city centers, you can indulge in vibrant gastronomy and explore the numerous attractions while relishing the coastal ambiance once more.

  • The impressive salt pans of Sečovlje epitomize a centuries-old tradition of salt production. The portrayal of traditional techniques intertwines with the splendor of the picturesque coastal landscape. Visitors have the opportunity to explore the salt marshes, tour the salt museum, and immerse themselves in the region's distinctive ecosystem, which is inhabited by flamingos and other bird species.
  • Warm summer evenings in Rovinj: The harbor town exudes medieval charm and is hailed as the gateway to the Istrian peninsula. Allow yourself to be captivated by the old town's winding alleyways and vibrant buildings. The Church of St. Euphemia boasts stunning vistas. Rovinj is also renowned for its thriving art scene and, naturally, for its delectable Mediterranean cuisine.
  • The ancient buildings in Pula: Roman history blends seamlessly with Mediterranean charm! The impeccably preserved amphitheater, the Arena of Pula, stands as an awe-inspiring relic of Roman antiquity. The city also boasts charming old-town alleys, historic landmarks like the Temple of Augustus, and a vibrant atmosphere.

The approximately 240-kilometer route breezes by with its magnificent views along the Istrian coast. While there are a few hills along the way, the eight-day journey is perfect for leisure cyclists. Don't forget to pack your swimsuit, as taking a dip in the sea is a must at the beaches and hidden bays along the route.

Are you looking to enjoy an active getaway without giving up on a beach vacation? Not far from the popular holiday destination of Italy, we highly recommend a cycling holiday in Croatia.

Itinerary at a glance

Individual arrival at the first hotel in Trieste.

After a few kilometres you say Good-bye to Italy. In Slovenia you cycle mostly on cycling paths through famous bathing resorts like Koper (Capodistria) and Izola (Isola d’Istria) to Piran (Pirano) or Portorož (Portorose), a spa town on the Slovenian Riviera.

For the shorter version you take the boat from Trieste to Muggia (ticket is not included) and cycle along the coast. The longer version leads you throgh "Val Rosandra" in the back country to Muggia and then along the coast to Piran/Portorôz

You pass the salt gardens of Sečovlje, where they produce sea salt on huge areas through natural evaporation, and you cycle over the border to Croatia. You cycle through the Croatian part of Istria, the biggest peninsula of the Adria, slightly hilly to Umag, which historic centre was built on the relics of a Roman colony. Enjoy a sightseeing tour in the evening through the medieval town with its narrow alleys and the beautiful city tower.

From Umag you cycle – slightly hilly – to Novigrad or Cittanova. This medieval town surrounded by a battlement wall is seated on the water mouth of Mirna. Then you cycle to Poreč, the most important coastal city on Istria’s west coast. We suggest visiting the Euphrasian Basilica, which is on the UNESCO World Heritage list.

You have the choice: either you visit by boat the Brijuni-islands or the Limski-channel, or you enjoy your day off by the sea or visit the country land of Porec.

The Brijuni-islands are twelve smaller and 2 bigger islands; the main island Veli Brijun was used by the Yugoslav statesman Tito as summer residence. Today the islands are National Park and only Veli Brijun can be visited by the public.

Going by boat to the fjord-alike Limski-channel you might be lucky and see some dolphins. The Limski-channel is National Park nature reserve and on the coast you find mussels and oyster farming.

Have a last view over the picturesque seaport on Istria’s west coast before you leave to Rovinj. Rovinji is surrounded in the west and the south west by the Adriatic Sea. Afar the high bell tower of the Euphemia Church built on the highest spot of Rovinj, greats you. Go ahead, if you would like to cycle to Zlatnirt (also known as Golden Cape), a peninsu-la, where you find a park in a nature reserve.

The last day on your „expedition“ in Istria leads you to Pula on Istria’s south west point. Pula is the oldest town of Istria and its commercial and cultural centre. Enjoy your last day of the tour amongst various ancient sights and the mighty Roman amphitheatre in the centre of Pula.

Day
08
Departure or extension

Itinerary at a glance

Discover picturesque Trieste before the tour takes you to Istria. Take a look at the salt flats of Sečovlje, visit the Euphrasius Basilica in Poreč and enjoy the sun on Croatia's beaches.

Today you will arrive and settle into your hotel in Muggia / Trieste. Spend the day strolling along the lovely promenade or visit the exquisite Miramare Castle, then enjoy a cappuccino on stunning Piazza Unita d'Italia in the town centre. If you stay in Muggia, you can sail to the city center by a city transport boat.

To begin with you can take a short visit to the coastal town of Muggia before crossing the Slovenia border and riding along the coastal cycle path through another lovely port town, Koper, and then onto the picturesque Venetian villages of Izola and Piran. Stroll through the narrow streets and visit their churches. In Piran, sip a coffee in Tartini Square amid the wonderful Venetian architecture. Visit Portorož, an affluent spa town on the Slovenian Riviera.

Today you will cycle past the vast salt pans of Sečovlje. Get there early enough to catch the beautiful morning light. From here you head across the border to Croatia and into the heart of Istria, across a slightly hilly terrain to the village of Umag. Once a Roman colony, within its town walls and across its gated drawbridge lies a town steeped in history. Take a tour through the medieval center and visit the beautiful city tower.

Once again you cycle across some low hills to Novigrad (Cittanova), another medieval walled town. As well as its rich history, Novigrad is also renowned for its gastronomy, and is listed as one of Istria’s top gourmet destinations. Next stop is Poreč, where you can visit the UNESCO listed Euphrasian Basilica, a diverse mix of baroque, Gothic and Romanesque buildings.

Spoilt for choice today: you can either take a fish picnic boat or an excursion to the Limski-channel. The fjord-alike Limski-channel is also a National Park nature reserve and on the coast you’ll find mussels and oyster farming. Simply enjoy a day off by the sea, or visit the surrounding countryside of Poreč.

Today you head to Istria’s gem. Rovinj remains one of the last true Mediterranean fishing ports. The high bell tower of the Euphemia Church built on the highest spot of Rovinj is its most noticeable feature, standing proud and dominating the view no matter which direction you approach. You can also cycle to Zlatni rt (also known as Golden Cape), a peninsula, where you’ll find a park in a nature reserve.

The last day on your “expedition” leads you to Pula on the peninsula’s southwest tip. Make a visit of the Brijuniislands - twelve smaller and 2 bigger islands; the main island Veli Brijun was used by the Yugoslav statesman Tito as a summer residence. You can also follow in the footsteps of the dinosaurs, as over 200 dinosaur footprints have been found on the island. Pula is the oldest town on Istria and its commercial and cultural centre. Enjoy your last day of the tour amongst various antiquities, including the mighty Pula Arena, the only remaining Roman amphitheatre to have four side towers with all three Roman architectural orders entirely preserved.

Day
08
Departure or extension

Route Information

Medium

The bicycle route through Istria runs slightly hilly. The tour can be combined quite well with the tours ‘Dolomites – Triest’ and ‘Villach – Grado – Trieste’.

Route Information

Medium

The bike tour through Istria is slightly hilly. Predominantly on low-traffic secondary roads, partly on bike paths and good rideable gravel roads. At city entrances and exits also on roads with more traffic.

Prices & Dates

Category: 3***- and 4****-hotels and inns

Prices per person in EUR

Services & Information

Further details about this tour

Included

  • Accommodation as already mentioned
  • Breakfast
  • Welcome briefing
  • Luggage transfer
  • Best developed route
  • Detailed travel documents 1x per room (German, English, Italian)
  • GPS data available
  • Service hotline

Optional extras

  • Return transfer by minibus every Wednesday and Saturday, costs EUR 69 per person, for the own bike additional EUR 29, reservation is necessary, payable in advance.

Arrival / Parking / Departure

  • Trieste train station
  • Trieste airport or Pula airport
  • Public car park, nor reservation possible

Things to note

  • Tourist tax, if due, is not included in the price!
  • Further important information according to the package travel law can be found here!
  • This tour is a partner tour.

Services & Information

Further details about this tour

Included

  • Accommodation as already mentioned
  • Breakfast
  • Luggage transfer (1 piece of luggage per person, max. 23 kg)
  • App for navigation and GPS-data
  • Service hotline
  • Tourist tax

Optional extras

  • Printed travel documents (German, English), costs approx. EUR 30 per package

Optional transfers

  • Trieste airport - Muggia EUR 159 per transfer (for 1-3 persons), EUR 189 per transfer (for 4-8 persons)
  • Pula airport - Muggia EUR 279 per transfer (for 1-3 persons), EUR 309 per transfer (for 4-8 persons)
  • Pula - Trieste airport EUR 329 per transfer (for 1-3 persons), EUR 379 per transfer (for 4-8 persons)
  • Pula - Trieste/Muggia EUR 269 per transfer (for 1-3 persons), EUR 289 per transfer (for 4-8 persons)
  • Reservation required, payable in advance

Arrival / Parking / Departure

  • Trieste train station
  • Trieste airport or Pula airport

Things to note

  • Tourist tax, if due, is not included in the price!
  • Minimum number of participants: 2
  • Further important information according to the package travel law can be found here!
  • This tour is a partner tour.
Stefanie Rudinger

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Stefanie Rudinger
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