Istrian Coastal Tour

Today you will arrive and settle into your hotel in Muggia. Spend the day strolling through the relaxed fishing village of Muggia, before enjoying an ice cream on the stunning Piazza in front of the city gate. If you want to visit Trieste, 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.

Individual arrival at the starting hotel in Trieste, the former Habsburg city with many sights.

After just a few kilometers, it's time to say goodbye to Italy today. In Slovenia, you cycle mainly on cycle paths through well-known seaside resorts such as Koper and Izola to Piran or Portorož, a spa town on the Slovenian Riviera. For the short version, you can take the boat from Trieste to Muggia (on your own) and then cycle along the coast. The slightly longer version of this stage leads through the “Val Rosandra” valley in the hinterland and from Muggia also along the coast.

Cycle past the salt marshes of Sečovlje, where sea salt is extracted by natural evaporation on huge areas and cross the border into Croatia. The route continues through the Croatian part of Istria, the largest peninsula in the Adriatic, in slightly hilly terrain to Umag, whose old town was built on the remains of a Roman settlement. In the evening, enjoy a tour of the medieval town with its narrow, winding streets and beautiful town tower.

From Umag you cycle through slightly hilly terrain to Novigrad or Cittanova. This small medieval town surrounded by a crenellated fortress wall lies at the mouth of the Mirna. Continue to Poreč, the most important coastal town on the west coast of Istria. The Euphrasian Basilica, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a must-see.

You are spoiled for choice: either an exciting day of sightseeing by boat on the Brijuni Islands or the Limski Canal, a day of rest by the sea or an exploratory trip into the hinterland of Porec. The Brijuni Islands consist of a total of twelve smaller and two larger islands, with the main island of Veli Brijun serving as the summer residence of the Yugoslavian state founder Tito. Today, the islands are a national park and only Veli Brijun is open to the public. A boat trip to the fjord-like Limski Canal with its shimmering blue water is also an inviting option. With a bit of luck, you might spot some dolphins during the boat trip. Today, the Limski Channel is a nature reserve and mussel and oyster farms have been established on the banks of the fjord.

Take a last look back at the picturesque harbor town on the west coast of Istria before continuing towards Rovinj, your destination for today. Rovinj is surrounded by the Adriatic Sea to the west and southwest. The towering bell tower of the Eupehmia church, which stands on the highest square in Rovinj, greets you from afar. If you wish, you can take a short detour to Zlatnirt (also known as the Golden Cape), a peninsula on which there is a protected park.

The last day of your journey of discovery in Istria takes you to Pula on the south-western tip of the Istrian peninsula. Pula is not only the oldest city in Istria, but also its economic and cultural center. End your cycle tour amidst the many ancient sights and the mighty Roman amphitheatre in the center of Pula.