Istria cycling holiday: Cycle tour of Italy, Slovenia and Croatia

Istria cycling holiday from Trieste to Pula. Join this cycle tour of Italy, Slovenia and Croatia for history and coastal towns on the sun-drenched Istria Peninsula.

This is the perfect cycle tour of Italy, Slovenia and Croatia for lovers of sun, sea and history. You begin in the former Habsburg seaport town of Trieste in Italy. After your stay there, you will cycle southwards out of Italy through Slovenia and into Croatia. Your route will take you down the sunny Istria Peninsula, through picturesque Venetian-style seaside towns, quaint little fishing villages, alongside sparkling vineyards and fertile valleys. You will stop in many fascinating medieval walled cities along the coast.

Highlights and places of interest during Istria cycling holiday:
• Trieste – old town, promenade & castle
• Istrian Hills – quaint hilltop villages
• Piran – a charming harbour town in Slovenia
• Portorož – the Slovenian Monte Carlo
• Poreč – the 6th century Euphrasia Basilica
• Brijuni islands and Limski channel
• Rovinj – the peninsula’s prime attraction
• Pula – the 6th largest arena outside Rome

Price Includes

• accommodation in hotels 3*/4* in a two-bed room with WC and shower, on a bed & breakfast basis
• luggage transfer – one piece, max 20 kg / 45 lb
• information pack including text road notes (in plain English) and corresponding maps, one per booking
• personal welcome meeting, briefing upon arrival and bike handover
• GPS data
• local tourist and other taxes
• backup service (hotline) during the Istria cycling holiday

Price Excludes

1. single room supplement 150 EUR
2. bike rental 90 EUR classic touring / trekking bikes are equipped with 21 gears, one back & side pannier per bike, one cycling odometer, one lock, one spare inner tube, one set of Allen keys and a basic puncture repair kit per couple / pair of bikes. Every additional day: 15 EUR per bike. Additional odometer 20 EUR, payable on the spot. Bike rental period starts at 9:00 on day two of the tour and ends at 18:00 on day seven. Other bike types are available upon request.
3. electric bike 210 EUR
4. helmet rental 12 EUR

What to expect

Plan for your cycle tour of Italy, Slovenia and Croatia

Day 1: Arrival in Trieste / Muggia (old southern outskirts of Trieste)
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 capoucino on stunning Piazza Unità d'Italia in the town centre. If you stay in Muggia, you can sail to the city center by a city transport boat.

Day 2: Trieste – Piran / Portorôz (approx. 30 km)
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.

Day 3: Piran – Umag (approx. 35 km)
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.

Day 4: Umag – Porec (approx. 45 km)
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.

Day 5: Porec (approx. 45 km or day off by the sea)
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.

Day 6: Porec – Rovinj (approx. 55 km)
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.

Day 7: Rovinj – Pula (approx. 40 km)
The last day on your Istria cycling holiday leads you to Pula on the peninsula’s southwest tip. Make a visit of the Brijuni-islands - 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.

Cycle tour of Italy, Slovenia and Croatia (Price of  per Person in a double room sharing):

Low season: March 20 to May 8 and September 18 to October 12, 2021: 865 EUR
High season: May 9 to September 17, 2021: 915 EUR

Istria cycling holiday: Cycle tour of Italy, Slovenia and Croatia: From €865 to €915 for 8 days

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