Veneto, Slovenia and Croatia by bike

The Istrian coast and Venice by bike

Enjoy an exceptional cycling trip through three countries: Italy, Slovenia and Croatia. You start from the wonderful Venice and cross the beaches of the coast to the Friuli Plain, then you continue to the fascinating city of Trieste, ending with the magnificent Istrian coast for a unique and unforgettable sight.

Highlights of the stay :

• Venice, Portogruaro and Trieste
• Aquileia and its archaeological site
• the coast of Istria

Day 1: Mestre / Venice
Arrival in Mestre (Venice's "pied-à-terre"). The city of Venice is captivating and its splendor is internationally renowned. You can enjoy it once you've settled into your hotel.

Day 2: From Mestre to Jesolo or Caorle (40-65 km)
After a few kilometers by bike, you'll take the ferry (included, but bikes must be paid for locally) to the Lido, passing the famous St. Mark's Square. Then, depending on availability and your departure date, you'll take either a second public ferry or a private boat transfer to Punta Sabbioni. You'll get back on your bike to reach Lido di Jesolo. Depending on hotel availability, you can also spend the night in the town of Caorle (65 km), which you'll reach by cycling along the Sile River and the coast.

Day 3: From Jesolo or Caorle to Portogruaro (35-60 km)
Leave the sea behind and head towards the Julian Alps. Along the way, you'll cross a fish-farming lagoon area with many old fishing huts. Portogruaro marks the end of your leg. The town was very important during the time of the Most Serene Republic of Venice. Its numerous palaces and rich architecture are still impressive today.

Day 4: From Portogruaro to Aquileia (70 km)
The route can be shortened by 20 km by taking a train from Portogruaro to Latisana. You'll split your day between Veneto and Friuli-Venezia Giulia (two Italian provinces). The areas you pass through are rich in history, and the rivers wind their way through ancient Roman villages and towns. Your destination is Aquileia and its Roman excavations, or Palmanova, nicknamed the Star City because of its nine-pointed star-shaped fortress.

Day 5: From Aquileia to Trieste (55 km)
Head towards the Adriatic Sea. Reach the Gulf of Trieste and its many panoramic views: Duino and its two castles, Sistiana and its magnificent bay, and Miramare with its famous White Castle, built according to the will of Emperor Maximilian. You are now only a few kilometers from Trieste, a former port of the Habsburg Empire, which offers an impressive cultural and architectural heritage. You can extend today's leg (+24 km) to discover the old fishing village of Grado in the Marano Lagoon. You can also decide to shorten the leg by taking the train from Monfalcone to Trieste.

Day 6: From Trieste to Piran or Portorož (Slovenia) (45 km)
After a few kilometers, mostly along tourist resorts like Koper, you arrive in Slovenia by bike. Koper was for a long time a city of Veneto and then Austria, just like Piran, which was once under the rule of Venice. You arrive in Portorož, a renowned seaside resort with its numerous spas and beaches.

Day 7: From Piran or Portorož to Porec (Croatia) (55 km)
Heading south, you pass the salt mines of Secovlje, a large Slovenian town with a humid environment, which offers interesting birdwatching opportunities. A few kilometers further, you cross the border to arrive in Croatia by bike via the largest peninsula in the Adriatic Sea: Istria. Your stopover ends in Porec, Croatia's tourist capital, with its Euphrasian Basilica, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1997.

Day 8: Porec
End of the tour after breakfast. Return to Venice by ferry (optional).

Ferry from Porec to Venice:
The transfer can be booked when booking your stay. Departure between 6:00 and 7:00 a.m. (duration approximately 4 to 5 hours). If the ferry is not available, a private transfer will be arranged. The ferry reservation must automatically include your full name, passport number, nationality, and date of birth (mandatory). This itinerary is subject to change before or during your stay.

General informations :

• 8 days and 7 nights
• Accommodation comfort level:
  • Standard version: 3 * hotels
  • Comfort version: 3 and 4 * hotels
• Prices for children: contact us.

2026 Dates:

Departures on Saturdays from April 4 to July 11 and from August 29 to October 3.

Departures possible on other days for groups of 6 or more.

• Low Season: April 4 to April 17 and October 3.
• Mid Season: April 18 to May 15 and from September 19 to October 2.
• High Season: May 16 to July 11 and from August 29 to September 18.

 

Included :

• 7 nights hotel accommodation with breakfast
• GPS app
• Luggage transport
• Ferry and motorboat transfer on day 2 (bike not included). 
• Hotline service

Not included :

• Transport of bikes on boats on day 2 (to be paid on site)
• Local taxes (around 15-20 €)
• Anything not mentioned in the "included" section
• Access fees to the city of Venice
• Lunches and dinners
• Transport to the place of departure

The options :

• Standard or ebike rental
• Helmet
• Transfer Porec - Venice by ferry or private transfer (without personal bike)
• Additional night at the start or end of the tour in Mestre
• Bike theft guarantee (for rented bikes)
• Cancellation insurance

Level :

1 2 3 4 5 6

Ground :

The first three stages are on flat roads through Veneto and the Friuli plain, and the last three on slightly more hilly sections.

Suitable for anyone in good physical condition and with some cycling experience.

Weather :

Hot and dry summers. June and September are the most pleasant months.

Technicality :

Cycling: 40 to 70 km per day or 4 to 7 hours of cycling. From 0 to 750 m of elevation gain.
Partly marked itinerary, useful roadbook and map reading.

Bibliography :
cycle maps for Italy on cartovelo.fr

Additional nights :
An additional night is offered to you at the start and / or end of the tour in Mestre.

Food :

• Breakfasts: generous (coffee, tea, chocolate, milk, butter, bread, jam, orange juice) or buffet
• Lunch: not included
• Dinner: not included - restaurants nearby on each stage

The bike :

• Rental bicycle : If you rent a bicycle, it will be given to you on the day of your arrival at the 1st hotel. At the end of the tour, you will have to leave this bike at the last hotel and notify reception. 
• Personal bike : We do not recommend bikes with small tires. Hybrid bikes and mountain bikes are excellent. Remember to check your bicycle before setting off. At the end of the tour, you will need organize yourself the return of your own bicycle.

Assistance:
Assistance in the event of breakdown (except punctures for which we do not intervene).

Luggage :
They are transported by a courier or by our team and limited to one piece of luggage per person (max. 20 kg).

Roadbook :
It includes maps and detailed descriptions of the routes, vouchers for hotels and restaurants as well as labels for luggage.

Transport: 

• By train: Direct train from Paris to Milan then direct train to Venice in just over 10 hours.
• By car: Mestre is about 1300 km from Paris. Motorway to Mestre via Milan.
• By plane: Marco Polo airports in Venice or Treviso (40 km from Venice)

The return :
It is planned (optional) by ferry from Porec and arrival in Venice, the ferry will only operate from the month of May in the event that there is no crossing, the return will be by road transport. It is not possible to bring your own bike on board. Please note, the transfer from the hotel in Porec to the port is not included, and is the responsibility of the customer. The same goes for the transfer from the port of Venice to Mestre or to the airport.

Cancellation insurance :
In order to guarantee the reimbursement of costs in the event of cancellation of your stay, you can take out cancellation insurance. To learn more about insurance, click here.