Overview
Cycling the Parenzana Trail is a five-day adventure through Italy, Slovenia and (mostly) Croatia, following the 123km former railway line along the Istrian Peninsula. Starting in Trieste in Italy, and crossing the finishing line in Poreč in Croatia, this is slow travel at its most sublime. Cycle under tunnels and over bridges, over viaducts, through villages and alongside vineyards. With visits to ancient hilltop towns like Grožnjan and Motovun, and the beautiful Adriatic waterfront town of Poreč, the Parenzana is simply pedalling paradise. It is also very accessible as we can organise e-bikes for this tour.
- Cycling through the beautiful landscapes of Istria
- The historic towns of Motovun, Grožnjan, and Poreč
- Exploring the former narrow-gauge railway line Parenzana
Click to view map
Itinerary
Day 1: Trieste
Arrive in Trieste. Depending on your arrival time, you have the rest of the day to explore this Italian coastal city.
- Accommodation: Hotel Italia, Hotel B&B Trieste or similar // upgraded option: Hotel Urban, Hotel Vis a Vis or similar
Day 2: Trieste – Buje | 65km
The day starts with a welcome briefing (at 09.00) and bike fitting (if you rented a bike from us). To avoid cycling with traffic in Trieste, we suggest taking a ferry from Trieste to Muggia, departure times are: 10:10am and 11:20 (30min, tickets around 6 EUR per person + bike). The Parenzana then takes you along Piran Bay through Portorož and Lucija to the Sečovlje saltworks across the border in Slovenia. The Sečovlje Saltworks, Slovenia’s largest, are also now a nature reserve and wetland of international importance. After crossing the Slovenian-Croatian border, Parenzana will take you uphill along the trail to enjoy spectacular views. Pass by Savudrija-Salvore train station, following Parenzana through traditional villages, to reach your reach your Buje hotel.
- Cycling for the day: 65km ↑615m ↓481m
- Accommodation: Guesthouse La Parenzana in Volpija or Guesthouse Lovac in Kaldanija or similar // upgraded option: Heritage Hotel San Rocco in Brtonigla or San Servolo near Buje
Day 3: Buje – Motovun | 38km
After breakfast, join the Parenzana to cycle through magnificent rolling landscapes and luscious Istrian vineyards. It will soon become obvious why it was also known as the wine railway. Passing through several tunnels and over old bridges, there are many wonderful viewpoints between the medieval towns of Buje, Grožnjan and Motovun. Grožnjan, for example, has both superb art galleries and natural vistas. Cycle on to the village of Livade, the world’s truffle capital, where you can taste and buy some of its famous exports. Perched on a hill just ahead of Livade is the town of Motovun, your final stop for the day. Overnight in Motovun.
- Cycling for the day: 38km ↑629m ↓496m
- Accommodation: Hotel Kaštel or Villa Borgo or similar // upgraded option: Wine & Heritage Hotel Roxanich or similar
Day 4: Motovun – Poreč | 38km
Motovun (Montona in Italian) is one of the most captivating hilltop towns in the Istrian interior. The Romanesque-Gothic bell tower and 17th century St. Stephen’s church dominate the town’s centre, along with the Romanesque Municipal Palace, the largest secular building in Istria from that period. The Parenzana then takes you on to Poreč, passing through Vižinada village and many vineyards. You will also pass by Nova Vas village, where you can visit Baredine Cave. Poreč is a very special place, with cultural heritage dating back through the ages, as seen at the Roman Forum, various magnificent palaces from different historical periods and, to top it all, the famous Euphrasian Basilica (Euphrasiana).
- Cycling for the day: 38km ↑265m ↓514m
- Accommodation: Hotel Porec in Poreč or Hotel Vista in Vrsar // upgraded option: BO Hotel Palazzo or Hotel Mauro or similar in Poreč
Day 5: Departure
Departure or extension upon request.
What to expect
Accommodation
The accommodation for this trip is in 3-star hotels with en-suite facilities. All places have been carefully hand-picked by us, and their quality is regularly monitored. We have tried to choose accommodation that offers friendly service, clean and comfortable rooms and local flavour. An optional upgrade to 4-star hotels (some of them with swimming pools) is available at a supplement.
Click to view default hotels
- Hotel Italia, Hotel B&B Trieste (Trieste)
- Casa Romantica la Parenzana, Guesthouse Lovac (Buje area)
- Hotel Kaštel, Villa Borgo (Motovun)
- Hotel Porec, Hotel Vista (Porec)
Hotels are subject to availability. In case a particular hotel is fully booked for your desired dates, we will replace it with a hotel of equal value and quality level. We will provide exact accommodation details to you upon booking confirmation.
Click to view upgraded hotels
- Hotel Urban, Hotel Vis a Vis (Trieste)
- Heritage Hotel San Rocco, San Servolo (Buje area)
- Wine & Heritage Hotel Roxanich (Motovun)
- BO Hotel Palazzo, Hotel Mauro (Poreč)
Meals
Breakfast is included on all days. Lunches and dinners are generally on your own, but arrangements with accommodation can be made on the spot.
Difficulty and terrain
We recommend this itinerary to intermediate cyclists in good shape, with previous experience. We also offer the possibility of renting an e-bike. Daily cycling can reach up to 65km with some hilly sections (read more about difficulty grades).
Upon arrival, you will receive detailed travel information with route maps or overview maps, route description, tourist attractions and important telephone numbers.
When to go
This trip is available from mid-March until mid-November. The flexibility of self-guided holidays means that there are no fixed dates, and you can start your trip on any date during the season.
Croatia’s coast and islands, from Istria and Kvarner in the north through to Dalmatia in the south, are governed by a Mediterranean climate, although it is usually several degrees cooler in the northern Adriatic than in the south. In the summer, the mean temperature is between 24°C and 26°C along the coast.
Getting there
Click to view travel options
Inclusions
Included
- 4 overnights in 3-star hotels and guesthouses – private ensuite rooms
- 4 breakfasts
- Arrival info meeting with our local representative
- Information package including detailed route description (map and road instructions) and vouchers
- Luggage transport from hotel to hotel on all cycling days (One piece up to 20kg per person)
- 24/7 phone support by our local office/representative
Excluded
- Airfare and connecting land transfers
- Lunches, dinners, drinks and snacks
- Bike rental
- Travel insurance (required – get a quote online)
- Personal expenses
- Local tourist taxes and entry fees (payable on the spot)
- Any items not explicitly listed as included
Options, extras and supplements
- A supplement applies to members of a group who require a single room
- This holiday is available for solo travellers; a supplement will be charged as accommodation and luggage transfer costs are not shared (we never mix and match – solo travellers will be accommodated in single rooms)
- Private airport transfers
- Extra nights along the trail are bookable upon request
- Upgraded accommodation with a supplement
- Bike rental for days – Hardtail mountain bikes and MTB: GIANT TALON E-bikes
- GPS device rental, rear bag rental, extra days bike rental – on request
Bikes
The hardtail mountain bikes Giant Talon come in five different frame sizes and 27.5″ and 29″ wheels. Built on a lightweight ALUXX aluminium frame that features a classic hardtail design plus the balanced riding characteristics of larger diameter 29-inch wheels, Talo is a great choice for XC terrain. The frame geometry is specifically designed for its wheel size and a 100mm suspension fork. It’s a confident ride that’s perfect for ambitious riders who want to take their off-road skills to the next level.
Gears: 3×9 Shimano Alivio/Deore, chainring 22-30-40, cassette 12-36.
This bike is available in the following frame sizes:
Wheels 27.5″ – frame sizes XS and S
Wheels 29″ – frame sizes M, L, XL
Equipment: helmet, map holder, water bottle holder, saddle bag containing spare tube, tyre lever and tools, hand pump, lock.
AVAILABLE PEDALS: flat pedals, SPD pedals. Clipless pedals are available on request and with a supplement.
MTB: GIANT TALON E+ 3 – with a lightweight aluminium frame that blends classic hardtail design with modern e-bike technology, Talon E+ 29 delivers comfort and confidence on off-road terrain. Perfect for bike paths or XC trails, it features a SyncDrive Core motor system that makes those hard climbs easier and encourages you to extend your ride time. It’s designed for a 100 mm suspension fork to smooth out the bumps, and its 29-inch wheels give it a stable, balanced ride quality. The side-release EnergyPak battery is integrated into the frame and can be easily removed for charging. And the RideControl ONE control lets you adjust settings as you ride. The frame geometry is specifically designed for its wheel size and a 100mm suspension fork. Drive unit Giant SyncDrive Core, Akku Giant Energypak 400Wh and 500 Wh, side release ( 55-135km range).
Gears: Shimano M2010 9 speed, chainring 36T, cassette 11-36T
This bike is available in the following frame sizes: S, M, L
Equipment: helmet, map holder, water bottle holder, saddle bag containing spare tube, tyre lever and tools, hand pump, lock.
AVAILABLE PEDALS: flat pedals, SPD pedals. Clipless pedals are available on request and with a supplement.
Gallery
