Istria by bike: short tour from Vrsar

Outline programme: 11.04.2027 – 16.04.2027

Day 1: on 10.04.2027 we leave Bratislava at 24:00,

Day 2: arrival on 11.04.2027 in the morning, accommodation around 14:00, free programme. For those who want, we unload the bikes. Dinner, overnight stay.

Days 3–6: breakfast, routes:

– Vrsar, Funtana, Bijela Uvala, Poreč, Kukci, Tar, Novigrad, and back via Labinci, Poreč, Vrsar (this route runs along the west coast of Istria towards the north, on a quiet side road with an asphalt surface, then continues towards Tar over a small bridge on the Mirna river to Novigrad; the advantage of the route is that we will see beautiful views of the sea, historic small towns and gentle climbs). Route 55 km, ascent 150 m, 100% asphalt.

– Central Istria – a loop around the Lim Channel and the inner part of the Lim Channel. Vrsar, Sv. Lovreč, Kanfanar, Žminj, Vrsar. 52 km, ascent 680 m, 100% asphalt, perfect road quality. The route leads from Vrsar, climbs gently on an asphalt road above the Lim Channel to the historic town of Sv. Lovreč, where we take a coffee break, continues via Kringa to Tinjan and then in a loop via Baderne and the coast back to the town of Vrsar. Excellent asphalt quality, minimal traffic, beautiful scenery of rural Istria.

– The Great Wine Road of Istria – Vrsar, Višnjan, Vižinada, Karojba, Sv. Lovreč, Vrsar. The route is 68 km long, with 850 m of climbing and 100% asphalt, and runs along a local road from Vrsar via Poreč, Kosinožići, Višnjan, Vižinada, Karojba, the Motovun bridge, Baderna and Sv. Lovreč to Vrsar. Everyone who loves road cycling with more climbing will get their money's worth, with wine tasting in Višnjan and Vižinada. A beautiful route with hilly panoramas, ideal for a fitness ride on a road bike.

– Southern circular cycle route – Vrsar, Kloštar, Kanfanar, Bale, Vodnjan, 65 km, ascent 600 m, 100% asphalt. Route Vodnjan, Kloštar, Brajkovići, Kanfanar, Sv. Vincent, Krmed, Šorići, Vrsar.

Day 7: breakfast, loading the bikes, departure for Slovakia, arrival in the evening hours.

The Parenzana, or “route of health and friendship”, begins in Italy, runs through Slovenia and ends in Croatia. The unique old authentic tunnels that we ride through on our bikes will delight us with their uniqueness.

The route will lead us past the old fortresses of the towns.

The Parenzana was a narrow-gauge railway that connected Trieste with Poreč across Istria. It operated from 1902 to 1935. The name probably comes from the Italian word “Parenzo”, the historical name for Poreč. The name itself therefore has no deeper meaning beyond the connection with the place where it ended. It became a symbol of the region's history and today it is a popular cycling and hiking route. Istria itself is the largest peninsula in Croatia and at the same time one of the most picturesque regions of the whole Adriatic. It lies in the north of Croatia, between the Kvarner Gulf and the Gulf of Trieste, and also extends into Italy and Slovenia. It has a very varied character – from coastal resorts to hilly interior with vineyards and stone villages.

Istria is a fantastic destination for cycling, combining coastal scenery, hilly interior, historic towns and quieter roads. Thanks to its variety it is suitable for all types of cyclists – from recreational rides along the sea to demanding climbs through vineyards and olive groves.