Istria: Triest – Pula

Gorgeous Mediterranean Scenery

In 8 days from Trieste to Pula

If you love beautiful coastlines with hidden beaches, Mediterranean food and ancient treasures, this bike tour is the right place for you. Discover the beauties of the sunny peninsula in the Mediterranean. Start in the northeast of Italy in Trieste, roam the narrow coastline of Slovenia and then let yourself be pampered by Istria for 5 days. Look forward to picturesque fishing villages, ancient sites on karst hills, lovely vineyards and green valleys. Discover hidden bays and secluded beaches that invite you to sunbathe. Marvel at the old town of Porec (world cultural heritage), the amphitheater in Pula and the Augustus temple, built by the Romans in the 1st century .. In the evening, enjoy fish and seafood, delicious vegetables prepared with aromatic spices and fine olive oil. You are served with freshly baked bread and a delicious white wine made from Malvazija grapes.
 

1. day Arrival Triest

Look forward to Trieste on the border with Slovenia, stroll through the Piazza dell'Unita, along the Grand Canal and visit the historic coffee house San Marco.

2. day Triest - Piran/ Portorôz 35 - 65 km

You only cycle a few kilometers in Italy, then you are already on the border with Slovenia. Most of the time you cycle along the Slovenian Riviera on a very well-developed cycle path. Take a nice break in the seaside resorts of Koper and Izola and enjoy a delicious capuccino or a refreshing bath. You have a lot of time today for the short but very nice stage. You stay overnight in the coastal town of Piran or in the spa town of Portoro ?. Those who would like to cycle longer can choose the route through the hilly hinterland through the Val Rosandra.

3. day Piran/ Portorôz - Umag/ Novigrad 35 - 60 km

Today you can discover the salt marshes of Secovlje, where sea salt is extracted from huge areas through natural evaporation. Then you cycle across the border to Croatia. Look forward to the Croatian part of Istria. You roll up and down to Umag, whose beautiful old town was built on the remains of a Roman settlement. In the evening, enjoy a tour of the medieval city with its narrow, intertwined streets and the beautiful city tower.

4. day Umag/ Novigrad - Porec 20 - 40 km

What a wonderful day of cycling. You always cycle in the immediate vicinity of the beautiful coast with a view of the turquoise water and you will certainly stop at rocky bays. You cycle relaxed through the slightly hilly terrain to Porec. Look forward to this small medieval town. Tour the pretty old town and be sure to visit the majestic Euphrasian Basilica, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

5. day Round Trip Porec 35 km (or rest day by the sea)

Today you are spoiled for choice: an exciting day of sightseeing with a boat trip to the Brijuni Islands and the Limski Canal, a day of rest by the sea or a cycling tour. The Brijuni Islands consist of a total of twelve smaller and two larger islands and are now a national park, the fjord-like Limski Canal attracts with shimmering blue water and, with a little luck, dolphins and on the cycling tour you will discover the beautiful, hilly hinterland of Porec.

6. day Porec - Rovinj 55 km

Today you cycle along the rocky coast with its small bays to Rovinj, a pearl of the Croatian coast, in a scenic landscape. Look forward to an idyllic old town, because the small town of Rovinj used to be its own island, which was only connected to the mainland in 1763. The old town is enthroned by the three-aisled baroque church of St. Euphemia, which you should definitely visit. Stroll through the narrow streets, enjoy the fantastic scenery and take a detour (1 km) to Zlatni rt (Golden Cape). On the peninsula protruding into the sea, a more than 100-year-old park that is now under nature protection extends.

7. day Rovinj - Pula 45 - 55 km

On the last day of your journey of discovery through Istria you will cycle towards the climax. At the southwest tip of the peninsula you reach Pula. Look forward to the oldest town in Istria, an ancient town with numerous sights. Marvel at the old amphitheater, the Arena of Pula. The second largest arena in the Roman Empire was built by 2 BC. Built between AD 14 and AD 14, it is the sixth largest of its kind worldwide. During a stroll through the old town you will discover interesting buildings from the time of the Romans, Venetians or Byzantines, walk through the triumphal arch in the middle of the old town, which is also the gateway to the lively shopping street of Pula and enjoy the unique flair on the forum. The main square is flanked by ancient houses and the Augustus temple from Roman times.

8. day Pula Departure

The wonderful time passed by far too quickly along the wonderful Mediterranean backdrop. The tour ends after breakfast at the hotel.

Worth knowing

Below you will find specific information about the bike trip Istrien: Triest - Pula. If you have further questions about this trip, you simply call us: Phone: 0049 – (0)6421 – 886890.

Arrival by plane

Arrival to Trieste Airport. Continue with a shuttle bus or the Trenitalia train from Trieste Airport to Trieste (journey approx. 30 minutes).

Flight search, for example Skyscanner

Schedule Trenitalia

Parking facilities at the hotel

There are several public parking garages in Trieste where you can park your car for the entire duration of your trip. Reservation is not possible.

Condition of cycle paths

Much of the route is slightly hilly. Some of the climbs are longer, but never steep. In some cases, old railway lines with viaducts and illuminated tunnels that have been converted into cycle paths are used. There are longer unpaved sections, especially in the hinterland, but they are easy to ride on a touring bike. You only come into contact with heavy traffic when entering Porec and Pula and when leaving Trieste. The trip is suitable for children aged 14 and over.

Available rental bikes

We provide 21-speed gear shift women's and men's bikes with freewheel. Electric bikes are also available (unisex, 500 watt battery, up to 100 km sufficient). The rental bikes are equipped with a waterproof saddlebag, a handlebar bag and a speedometer.

Transfer back to the first hotel

Every Wednesday and Saturday there is the possibility of transferring a minibus back to Trieste. The driver comes to your hotel and has space for you, your luggage and, if necessary, your private bike. Price per person (including bike): 69.00 euros

Special starting dates

Special appointments for groups of 5 or more are possible on request. Let us know by phone or email your desired date, the number of people and wishes such as rental bike.

Extra costs, not inculded in the price

A possibly applicable city tax is not part of the price and has to be paid at the hotel locally.

7 day hotline service

Just in case the bike chain breaks, flooding makes it impossible to continue your tour or any other nasty surprise: You can reach us seven days a week and we will do anything to help you as fast as possible.

Passport and visa requirements, health regulations

For EU citizens, there are no special passport or visa requirements and no health formalities to be considered for this trip.

Corona travel information:
Before booking your trip, please inform yourself about the measures in place to contain the Corona pandemic.

An up-to-date overview of applicable measures and travel and safety advice regarding Covid-19 for all countries in the EU and Switzerland can be found here:
https://reopen.europa.eu/en/

You can also find more information on our website at:
Corona virus and holiday planning

Travel insurance

The tour price already includes the statutory insolvency insurance. In addition, we recommend that you take out travel cancellation insurance upon receipt of your travel confirmation in order to protect yourself against financial disadvantages in the event of travel cancellation, interruption of travel, illness or accident.

Triest

Trieste was under Habsburg-Austrian rule from 1382 to 1919, with short interruptions, and these 500 years have of course left their mark on the cityscape. During a walk through the center you could sometimes forget that you are in Italy if the people and their typical Mediterranean flair (and also the typical Italian traffic chaos ...) didn't remind you of it. The architecture of the palaces in the center often resembles that of Vienna, Prague or Budapest more than that of Venice, Rome or Florence. The heyday of Trieste was the 18th and 19th centuries, when the city with its large port represented Austria's only access to the Mediterranean. At that time, Trieste replaced Venice in its leading role in trade with the Middle East, developed into the largest trade center in the Adriatic and thus became richer and more powerful. The city also developed into an international melting pot, where people from many different countries with different religions lived together peacefully, which gave a tremendous boost to the city's cultural life.

Trieste

Trieste

Piran & Portoroz

Piran & Portoroz

Porec

The peninsula on which the Poreč's rich old city developed and was preserved has been inhabited for thousands of years and is today often called a cultural landmark.  The historical centre, once encircled by walls and towers is today conserved in valuable remains.
By strolling through the city seek out the Northern Tower along Peškera Cove and continue southwards towards the Five-Starred Tower at the entrance to Decumanus Street and the Circular Tower with a view of the waterfront.  Inside the former city walls you can visit the cathedral complex of the Euphrasiana, the House of Two Saints and the Romanic House while you can seek out evidence of life during ancient times near the oldest square, Marafor.  You see, Poreč is proud to be home to the largest Roman shrine in Istria, the Mart Temple, to the north of which are the remains of the Temple of Neptune.

Porec

Porec, Euphrasius-Basilika

The most valuable cultural property in Poreč, the Euphrasian Basilica, was registered on the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1997.  The early-Christian compound is the only complete landmark in the world preserved from that period. Built during the time of Bishop Euphrasius in the 6th century it includes atrium, baptistery, bishop's palace, mosaics and remains of sacral buildings dating from the 3rd to the 4th centuries.  The mosaics which decorate the inside and facade of the church are considered a valuable bequest of Byzantine art, and thanks to the floor mosaics and preserved writings the periods of its construction and renovation can be read.

Porec Euphrasius basilica

Rovinj

Situated on the west coast of Istria, Rovinj is one of the most popular and most developed tourist resorts in Croatia. The old town is built on the island, which was only connected with the mainland in the 18th century. Known as one of the most picturesque and romantic towns on Mediterranean, over the last few decades Rovinj attracts a large number of tourists, most of them faithfully returning year after year. Rovinj manages to combine, in a very interesting way, its rich tradition with the modern times. As it is also an active fishing port, you can experience the atmosphere of a small fishing village, especially during the popular fishermen’s festivities or at one of the traditional taverns called Spacio (in the past, very popular among fishermen). On the other hand, the town has been developing an exquisite gastronomy and offers a high standard of tourist services in general. The city at the foot of the Church of St. Euphemia is the favorite gathering place of artists from around the world. Walking down its streets, you'll bump into many art galleries and studios, whilst once a year, in August, you have the possibility to attend the largest open-air exhibition of the Adriatic coast, which takes place in one of the main old-town streets - Grisia.

Rovinj

Pula

Pula is a town rich in monuments from the Roman period, and well preserved despite that they were built almost 2000 years ago. is the largest city in Istria and the eighth largest city in the country, situated at the southern tip of the Istria peninsula, with a population of about 55 000. Like the rest of the region, it is known for its mild climate, smooth sea, and unspoiled nature. The city has a long tradition of winemaking, fishing, shipbuilding, and tourism. It has also been Istria's administrative centre since ancient Roman times. While in Pula do not miss its amphitheater, one of the largest and best preserved in the world.

Pula

Arena of Pula

The amphitheater is the most famous and important monument of the town. It is the 6th largest surviving Roman amphitheater in the world. Popularly called the Arena of Pula, it was once the site of gladiator fights. It was built in the 1st century AD during the reign of Emperor Vespasian. The ground plan is elliptical, the longer axis measuring about 130 m and the shorter one about 100 m. Gladiator fights took place in the central area called the arena, while the spectators could sit on the stone tiers or stand in the gallery. The Amphitheater could seat about 20,000 spectators. In the Middle Ages it was the site of knights tournaments and fairs. Today, it is used for many different events as the Pula Film Festival, various concerts, opera, ballet or sports competitions. During summer the Arena hosts gladiator fights as part of the historical and entertainment spectacle “Spectacvla Antiqva”.

Arena of Pula