Venice to Trieste and Istria

4.2/5 (25)
7 nights
30 miles/day
Self guided from EUR € 699
Bike tour in Croatia, Italy and Slovenia
Rider Level: Recreational Electric bike tours

Venice to Trieste and Istria

4.2/5 (25)

Rider Level: Recreational Electric bike tours

7 nights
30 miles/day

Self guided from EUR € 699
Bike tour in Croatia, Italy and Slovenia

Tap above to jump to different sections of this tour

  • Venice to Trieste and Istria

    Your tour will begin at "la Serenissima," Venice, the lagoon city on the shores of the Adriatic Sea. Cycling past the beaches of the classical holiday resorts of Jesolo and Caorle on the Italian Adriatic, you will have an opportunity to take a refreshing swim in the sea, so don't forget to pack your swimming gear!

    The inland regions of the Friuli-Venezia-Giulia offer countless charming sites just waiting to be discovered: Medieval fortress towns, Roman archaeological excavations, Italian Piazzas, and buildings embossed with Venetian influences will help any visitor to forget time and space. While on the one side, the Adriatic stretches calmly and silently, the Julian Alps rise majestically to the north.

    The tour ends with a cruise down the on the Croatian peninsula of Istria. The return journey to Venice can be done by boat, and is the final crown concluding this week-long cycling tour.

    • Poreč's Old Town on Istria, Croatia. Marco Verch Professional Photographer@Flickr
    • Trieste along the Adriatic Sea in Italy. Arno Senoner@Unsplash
    • Piran, Slovenia. Leonhard Niederwimmer@Unsplash
    • Vineyards en route. Manuel Venturini@Unsplash
    • Dining along the canals in Venice, Italy! Igoro Liyarnik@Unsplash
    • Gardens in Poreč, Istria, Croatia. CC:Fr0nt
    • Venice, Veneto, Italy. Canmandawe@Unsplash
    • Cycling along the coasts in Croatia, Italy & Slovenia!

    View more photos

    Highlights

    • Venice and the surrounding offshore islands
    • The bathing locations of Cavallino, Caorle, Jesolo and Grado
    • The beaches of the Adriatic
    • The important river port of Portogruaro for the maritime power of Venice
    • Aquileia, a big city at the time of the Roman Empire
    • The castles of Miramare and Duino
    • The harbor city of Trieste
    • Portoroz and Piran
    • Poreč & the Croatian Island of Istria

    Learn More

    Learn more about self-guided tours.

  • Traveler photos

    • Piran sunset (photo by TF and DD NYC)
    • Piran (photo by TF and DD NYC)
    • Exploring (photo by TF and DD NYC)
    • Dog cafe (photo by TF and DD NYC)
    • Boat from Trieste (photo by TF and DD NYC)
    • Along the way (photo by TF and DD NYC)
    • Wonderful routes (photo by Petty)
    • On the way to Aquileia, stage 3 (photo by OR bikers)
    • End of 1st stage in Lido di Jesolo (photo by OR bikers)
    • Caorle, our rainy day (photo by OR bikers)
    • Grado (photo by OR bikers)
    • Grado (photo by OR bikers)
    • Novigrad (photo by OR bikers)
    • Photo 1 (photo by Juiti)
    • Photo 2 (photo by Juiti)
    • Photo 3 (photo by Juiti)
    • Photo 4 (photo by Juiti)
    • Photo 5 (photo by Juiti)
    • Photo 6 (photo by Juiti)
    • Photo 1 (photo by alda)
    • Photo 2 (photo by alda)
    • Fred, who was almost 80 years old, found he still is a "Babe Magnet" in his cycling jersey. (photo by artnscience)
    • Jeselo, Italy (photo by Two Michiganders)
    • Day One. (photo by Two Michiganders)
    • Red farm house and fence, Italy. (photo by Two Michiganders)
    • After a rain, Sagittaria Concordia, Italy. (photo by Two Michiganders)
    • Crossing into Slovenia (photo by Two Michiganders)
    • Sunset in Porec, Croatia. (photo by Two Michiganders)

    Venice to Trieste and Istria

     Tour Description Daily Program 

  • Daily program

    Day 1: Arrival in Venice (mainland Mestre)
    You arrive independently at the hotel on the mainland of Venice. The "Serenissima" has many splendid buildings worth visiting and the city of Venice provides a well-organized, easily accessible public transportation system.
    Overnight in Venice

    Day 2: Venice mainland/Mestre – Jesolo/Caorle (22 or 50 miles/35 or 80 km)
    This day you have two possibilities: either you cycle along the dam and the lagoon to Venice or you cycle through the backcountry following the river Sile to reach Jesolo/Caorle.

    The first few kilometers in the lagoon city are traveled by bicycle, then you take a ferry across to Punta Sabbioni (ticket not included in tour price). On the endless beaches at Litorale di Cavallino, a spit of land in the north of the lagoon, the route is lined by numerous fishing boats and souvenir stalls. Before you leave Venice through the "backdoor," the opportunity exists for an excursion to the lighthouse at the outmost end of the island for a last view of the lagoon city and the surrounding islands. On the way to Jesolo, one can hardly resist the opportunity to have a refreshing dip into the cool water.

    If you choose the alternative through the hinterland, you cycle along the river Sile. This natural river carries a constant amount of water and flows quietly; that's why its name is derived from the Latin word "silet" which means "keep silent." Passing the ruins of Torre Caligo, a tower from the Middle Ages which is situated near the homonymous canal "Caligo," you will reach Jesolo. If spending the night in Caorle, you will continue to cycle along.
    Overnight in Jesolo/Caorle.

    Day 3: Jesolo/Caorle – Concordia Sagittaria/Portogruaro (19 or 22 miles/30 or 35 km)
    Cycling along the coast and past the last fishermen's cottages, you reach Caorle, a wonderful, small, seaside resort with a historical center. Upon reaching this destination, you leave the sea for a while and head to the the mainland toward the Julian Alps on the horizon.

    During the period of the Venetian Republic, it was convenient for the interior to encompass Portogruaro as a very important River harbor in the "Serenissima." Even today, there are those in Portogruaro who regard their city as the most Venetian. They are not entirely incorrect when you look at the Venetian embellishments of the magnificent buildings and places.
    Overnight in Concordia Sagittaria/Portoguaro.

    Day 4: Concordia Sagittaria/Portogruaro – Aquileia/Grado (28 or 55 miles/45* or 65 km) + boat transfer (ticket included in the tour price)
    Besides the beaches of the Adriatic, there is a lot to discover: ruins of former Roman cities, ancient churches and lonely landscapes on the edge of the lagoon. From Marano Lagunare you take the boat until shortly before Aquileia. Once a large city of the Roman Empire, excavations of the Roman city can be seen in the open-air-site and in two museums.

    *You have the option to shorten the first part of the day by a train ride to Latisana before hopping on your bike (ticket not included in tour cost). You may also lengthen today's cycling to 50 miles/80km by skipping the boat transfer.
    Overnight in Aquileia/Grado.

    Day 5: Aquilea/Grado – Trieste (50 miles/80 km or 25 miles/40 km + train, ticket not included)
    Today's route continues through the hinterland of Trieste and a barren landscape of rocky caverns before returning to the sea and a coastline of unique beauty where the elevated plateaus plunge into the deep blue water and the white precipices stand upright jutting towards the heavens. The coastal road then follows through scenic resorts like Duino, Sistiana, Miramare, and Barcola. Take time to visit the romantic castle of Miramare high above the Bay of Grignano, situated in the middle of a beautiful park in which more the 2000 plants prosper.

    High above the Gulf of Trieste is an entrenched city bearing the same name. Once a harbor metropolis of the Habsburgs Empire, Trieste is where you will be spending the night.
    Overnight in Trieste.

    Day 6: Trieste – Portorož/Piran (21 miles/35 km + ferry Trieste-Muggia, ticket not included or 40 miles/65 km)
    After only a few kilometers today, we take leave of Italy. In Slovenia, the route continues predominantly on cycle paths through well-known seaside resorts like Koper (Capodistria) and Izola (Isola d' Istria), to Piran (Pirano) or to Portorož (Portorose), a spa resort on the Slovenian Riviera. There is a little bit longer alternative of this stage which passes along the valley "Rosandra" in the backcountry.
    Overnight in Portoroz/Piran.

    Day 7: Portorož/Piran – Poreč (43 miles/70 km)
    Cycling past the salt gardens of Secovlje where sea salt is recovered through natural vaporization, you cross over the border into Croatia. The route travels through the Croatian part of Istria, the largest peninsula on the Adriatic with its slightly hilly terrain on the way to Poreč, the most important coastal city on the west coast of Istria. It is certainly worth a visit to Euphrasian-Basilica which has been taken up by UNESCO as a World Cultural Heritage Site.
    Overnight in Poreč.

    Day 8: Departure from Poreč
    Individual departure.

    Surface and terrain

    The cycle trip to Istria is flat until shortly before Trieste, and then it continues slight hilly until Poreč.

    The tour is suitable for children age 14 or older.

    approx. 27 % on cycling paths
    approx. 70 % on little trafficked side roads
    approx. 30 % on busy roads (mainly city entries/exits)
    approx. 90 % asphalted
    approx. 10 % paved roads


    Stories


    Hotels

    These are sample hotels and may vary based on availability.

    3- and 4-star hotels

    Hotel Elite, Venice mainland/Quarto D'Altino
    www.elitehotel.it

    or Hotel Alexander
    www.hotelalexander.com

    Hotel Iulia, Portogruaro
    www.hoteliuliazentil.it

    or Hotel Spessotto
    www.hotelspessotto.it

    Hotel Diana, Grado/Aquileia
    www.hoteldiana.it

    or Hotel Villa Rosa
    www.hotelvillarosa-grado.it

    Hotel Abbazia
    www.hotelabbaziatrieste.it

    Hotel Tartini, Piran/Portoroz
    www.hotel-tartini-piran.com

    or Hotel Lucija
    www.bernardingroup.si

    Hotel Flores, Poreč
    www.hostin.hr

    or Hotel Poreč
    www.hotelporec.com

    **Depending on the start hotel, parking facilities may be available. Some hotels require a fee of approximately €30-50 per week, payable upon arrival. Reservations are not possible.**

    Note: Tourist taxes are not included in the tour cost. Be prepared to pay €2-5 per person at hotel reception upon checkout.

    Interested in visiting other areas before or after your tour? Visit our hotels page to learn more about lodging options.


    How to get there

    Tour start and end:
    Nearest airport: Marco Polo Airport, Venice
    Nearest train station: Mestre or Quarto d'Altino, Venice

    Arrival:
    Please note that an airport shuttle is available to and from Venice mainland.
    Transfer from the harbor in Venice to the first hotel costs from €45-€55 via public taxi.

    Return Transfer:

    • Wednesdays: Transfer by minibus, €95/person (min. 4 travelers; if you brought your own bike, transfer is €39/bike)
    • Saturdays: Transfer by ferry €74-€84/person (if you brought your own bike, transfer is €15/bike). Ferry departs Porec at 6:30am and arrives in Venice around 11:30am (with a stop in Piran). If this option is not suitable, transfer by minibus is available upon request (pricing same as listed for Wednesdays)
    • Thursdays: If you choose to book an extra night and depart Porec on Thursday, transfer is available by ferry €74-€84/person (if you brought your own bike, transfer is €15/bike). Ferry departs Porec at 7:30am and arrives in Venice around 10:30am (non--stop).

    Ferry pricing by seasons:
    Low season (€74): April 27- June 28 and September 1 - October 5
    High season (€84): June 29 - August 31

    For the return transfer by ferry, we need to be provided with the ID/passport data of each participant: full name, date of birth, type of document, document number, expiry date.

    Tips for getting to and from your tour


    Venice to Trieste and Istria

     Tour Photos Dates & Prices 

  • Dates

    Wednesdays and Saturdays: Apr 17-Jul 27, 2024; Aug 28-Sep 28, 2024 (additional dates available for groups of 5 or more)

    Season 1: Apr 17, 2024 and Sep 28, 2024

    Season 2: Apr 18, 2024 - May 24, 2024, Sep 12, 2024 - Sep 27, 2024

    Season 3: May 25, 2024 - Sep 11, 2024

    Prices

    Tour package

    Season 1 Season 2 Season 3
    Per person, double occupancy €699 €785 €886
    Single room* (1 person/1 room) €924 €1010 €1111

    *Single use rooms are intended for individual travelers, they are smaller than double rooms and contain only one twin/single bed.

    Bike Rentals

    Trekking bike, 21-gear unisex frame €99
    Trekking bike, 21-gear men's frame €99
    TOP Standard Bike, 21-gear €169
    Electrically assisted bike €249

    Extra Nights, Venice (mainland)

    Per person, double occupancy € 89
    Single room (1 person/1 room) €118

    Extra Nights, Porec

    Per person, double occupancy €89
    Single room (1 person/1 room) €128

    Transfers

    Low season* High season*
    Porec to Venice by ferry €74 €84
    Porec to Venice by minibus (min. 4) €95

    *Low season: April 27- June 28 and September 1 - October 5
    *High season: June 29 - August 31

    Included services

    • 7 nights accommodation
    • Breakfast
    • Luggage transfers from hotel to hotel
    • Video tour briefing
    • Personal tour information; detailed documents (maps, route description, places to visit, important telephone numbers)
    • Telephone service hotline during the entire tour
    • Transfer on Day 4 by ship
    • Navigation app

    Note: Tourist taxes are not included in the tour cost. Be prepared to pay €2-5 per person at hotel reception upon checkout.


    Bike rentals

    Bikes available to be rented (reserved in advance at time of booking) include:

    • Women's 21-speed trekking bicycles: Shimano Alivio/Deore, Royal saddle, step-through frame
    • Men's 21-speed trekking bicycles: Aluminum, water bottle holder, Shimano Alivio/Deore, Royal saddle
    • TOP Standard Bike: Aluminum, Shimano Deore XT 21-speed, freewheel
    • Electrically-assisted bike (unisex bike)*

    *More about electrically-assisted bikes >

    All bikes are equipped with:

    • Waterproof rear saddle bag
    • Waterproof handlebar bag with map compartment
    • Bicycle computer (tracks average speed, distance, time) per room
    • Repair kit, inner tube, pump, and bicycle lock (per room)

    The bikes will be at your disposal in the arrival hotel. At the end of your bike tour you simply leave the rental bike at the last hotel.

    Pedals:
    The bikes will have flat pedals. If you want to bring your own pedals, please bring your own shoes and also the necessary equipment to change the pedals.

    Helmets:
    Helmets are available to purchase for €25.


    Tour Company


    Venice to Trieste and Istria

     Daily program Route Map 

  • Route Map

    Maps are for information purposes only and reflect typical routes between overnight locations. They may not reflect your actual route.


    Venice to Trieste and Istria

     Dates & Prices Tour Reviews 

    • Todd Kadas 6 months ago

      Italian countryside, Slovenian coast, Croatian beaches. What more could you want?!

      This trip offered a nice mix of countryside and coastal routes with plenty of options to shorten or lengthen each day's itinerary. We were lucky enough to arrive in the second town on the same night as their annual grape harvest parade. So much fun! Tractors pulling floats, free wine, marching bands, and views from the restaurants on the street.
      We chose the self-guided option for this tour and met up with at least a dozen other cyclists who were doing the same. We were never alone, had amazing weather, and every day except for one (when we cycled too fast and didn't stop frequently enough), our bags were waiting for us on arrival at the hotel.

      How many tours have you completed?
      2
      Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
      Somewhat harder
      Who is this tour suitable for?
      First-time bike tourists, Solo travelers, Families with teens
      Do you recommend this tour?
      Yes
      • 5/5 Value
      • 4/5 Bikes + equipment
      • 4/5 Hotels or boat
      • 5/5 Scenery
      • 4/5 Ease of navigation
      • 4/5 Tour documents
      • 4/5 Route selection
    • Suzanne Skinner 6 months ago

      Good but bikes poor

      The hotels were great. The app worked intermittently which meant we got lost with some frequency. The bikes were heavy, with crazy bad seats, and in generally poor condition (worn chains). We were lucky we did not have break downs.

    • Thomas Carr 6 months ago

      Wonderful Trip

      We did this trip with two other couples who had never done a European bike tour before. We were so impressed with the efficiency of the staff, the accommodations and of course the beautiful route.

      What was the date of your tour?
      September 2023
      How many tours have you completed?
      6
      Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
      Somewhat harder
      Who is this tour suitable for?
      First-time bike tourists, Solo travelers, Families with teens
      Do you recommend this tour?
      Yes
      • 5/5 Value
      • 5/5 Included meals
      • 3/5 Bikes + equipment
      • 5/5 Hotels or boat
      • 5/5 Scenery
      • 4/5 Ease of navigation
      • 4/5 Tour documents
      • 4/5 Local tour company services
      • 4/5 Route selection
    • Rudy Paulich 6 months ago

      Italian coast Adventure

      Study maps and cue sheet as early on as possible for a smooth tour.
      I was unable to down load gps files as it said my device was to new.
      Files and info should be updated so all can download files and pertinent info on trip.

      What was the date of your tour?
      September 2023
      How many tours have you completed?
      3
      Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
      As expected
      Who is this tour suitable for?
      Solo travelers
      Do you recommend this tour?
      Yes
      • 3/5 Value
      • 3/5 Included meals
      • 4/5 Bikes + equipment
      • 2/5 Hotels or boat
      • 5/5 Scenery
      • 4/5 Ease of navigation
      • 3/5 Tour documents
      • 3/5 Local tour company services
      • 3/5 Route selection
    • TF and DD NYC 9 months ago

      Great destinations!

      A highlight of the trip was seeing all the different towns and cities along the way. The route varied from day to day – coastal paths, farmland and former border crossings. We stayed in modern seaside towns, ancient inland towns and cities. We even saw flamingos in the lagoon!

      The biking was challenging at times, with strong headwinds the first couple of days. We rode on roads, bike paths, dirt farm roads and raised dike walls. The navigation, directions and app were easy to follow, but many of the arrow stickers should be replaced. Bikes were standard hybrids, but note: step through bikes do not have water bottle cages!

      We opted for trains and boats when available. This allowed us to have more time to explore the towns, while still having plenty of biking. Each place we stayed was unique and a couple of the hotels were better than expected. It was nice visit the towns just before the summer season. There were many tourists, but not big crowds.

      We would recommend this trip to those who are confident riders. Plan to stay a couple of extra days in Venice and/or Porec if you can, as there is plenty to see and do!

      What was the date of your tour?
      May 2023
      How many tours have you completed?
      5
      Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
      As expected
      Do you recommend this tour?
      Yes
      • Piran sunset (photo by TF and DD NYC)
      • Piran (photo by TF and DD NYC)
      • Exploring (photo by TF and DD NYC)
      • Dog cafe (photo by TF and DD NYC)
      • Boat from Trieste (photo by TF and DD NYC)
      • Along the way (photo by TF and DD NYC)
      • 5/5 Value
      • 4/5 Bikes + equipment
      • 4/5 Hotels or boat
      • 5/5 Scenery
      • 4/5 Ease of navigation
      • 5/5 Tour documents
      • 5/5 Local tour company services
      • 4/5 Route selection
    • ELHoo 10 months ago

      A good first bike tour experience

      This was my first bike tour with a bike tour company, so I have nothing to compare it to. That said, it was pretty good. The person who presented the tour at our intro meeting was very nice and honest about what each day's route had in store for us. Bikes were OK, they suited the varied surfaces we rode on. The hotels varied from fine to nice. Luggage delivery was great. The towns we stayed at along the way all had something interesting about them. We were given an app, maps and cue sheets for navigation as well as arrow stickers along the route. We did not get lost, but I would suggest refreshing the faded arrows along the way. I would do another BikeTours.com tour.

      What was the date of your tour?
      May 2023
      How many tours have you completed?
      0
      Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
      Somewhat harder
      Do you recommend this tour?
      Yes
      • 4/5 Value
      • 3/5 Included meals
      • 3/5 Bikes + equipment
      • 4/5 Hotels or boat
      • 5/5 Scenery
      • 3/5 Ease of navigation
      • 5/5 Tour documents
      • 4/5 Local tour company services
      • 4/5 Route selection
    • Morgan Baumann 10 months ago

      Excellent Trails on which to explore a lovely part of Europe

      Traveling by bike is a wonderful way to enjoy a new place. Our accommodations were Excellent. Our guide, Tony, (with us for the first days), was first rate!- so helpful. A couple of concerns: I would not rate this as a 2 for regular bikes - even with variants, it was a lot of biking and I was disappointed not to arrive in towns sooner. Everyone in our group was similarly disappointed including those on e-bikes. I would have liked a more leisurely pace and instead the days felt rushed. The directions however were my biggest problem. For the most part they were poor. We lost so much time just trying to figure out where to go! Our last stage, into Porec was by far the easiest and so even though the ride itself was more challenging, we arrived in Porec in good time to enjoy the town. This last stage was easier because the red arrows were frequent and well placed all along the route. You only needed to glance at the map and the written directions and then just keep following the arrows. In contrast, on many of the other stages, the arrows were few and far between and often were Not where we needed to make a turn! We spent far too much time studying the map and having to reverse direction to get back on the route. It would also help if the directions noted if we were generally following a set route that was already mapped out by those small brown signs. Those signs were well placed and easy to follow.

      • BikeTours.com staff reply from JV May 19, 2023

        Morgan,
        Thank you for your detailed feedback. We're delighted you enjoyed your accommodations and the guidance from Tony, but we deeply regret the difficulties you faced with the directions and pace of the tour. Your suggestions are invaluable, and we'll ensure improvements are made in our tour planning and signage to create a more relaxing and user-friendly experience for future tours.
        Regards,
        Jan

    • Steve Srebnik November 7, 2022

      Great experience

      This was a great adventure for my wife and I taking us to small and not so small great beach towns as well as a pretty big city , Trieste, all in the Adriatic. Jasolo was a rocking town with a very nice beach. Most of the included breakfasts were very good and all were very acceptable. The hotels were also good, nothing special but certainly comfortable. Most of the hotel rooms were very small. Only reason I took off a star was I think I would have enjoyed it more if we were able to spend a stop over or two without a ride the next day. Since we typically arrived after 1 and sometimes closer to 2 or 3 we didn’t get to spend any significant relax time at the beaches. Overall I’d go again or do another trip. All was very well organized.

      How many tours have you completed?
      1
      Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
      As expected
      Who is this tour suitable for?
      First-time bike tourists, Families with teens
      Do you recommend this tour?
      Yes
      • 5/5 Value
      • 4/5 Included meals
      • 4/5 Bikes + equipment
      • 4/5 Hotels or boat
      • 5/5 Scenery
      • 4/5 Ease of navigation
      • 5/5 Tour documents
      • 5/5 Local tour company services
      • 5/5 Route selection
    • carol friefeld October 21, 2022

      Great trip!

      Loved this trip! The route was fun and scenic, the accommodations were great, no logistical problems. The local tour agency was very helpful, and the GPS app worked well. Would work with this group again!

    • Stradiotti July 28, 2019

      Superb Trip!

      A splendid way to see the world! This bike tour was our first but certainly not our last. We were a group of 10 friends ranging in age from 49-56. The ride was challenging at times but absolutely spectacular. We are not avid cyclists and some of the group used the electric bikes; this was a great option especially on the hills. The hotels were great, for the most part the food was good too, and the luggage transfers were seamless. This tour is very well organized and the local tour company is always reachable.

      What was the date of your tour?
      July 4-10
      How many tours have you completed?
      This was the first
      Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
      Somewhat harder
      Who is this tour suitable for?
      First-time bike tourists, Families with teens
      Do you recommend this tour?
      Yes
      • 5/5 Value
      • 3/5 Included meals
      • 5/5 Bikes + equipment
      • 5/5 Hotels or boat
      • 5/5 Scenery
      • 5/5 Ease of navigation
      • 5/5 Tour documents
      • 5/5 Local tour company services
      • 5/5 Route selection
    • Petty July 26, 2019

      Was great!!

      I have already written to you about tour - really enjoyed every moment! Hotels were great and personnel very friendly

      What was the date of your tour?
      9-16 july
      Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
      Much easier
      Who is this tour suitable for?
      Solo travelers, Families with teens
      Do you recommend this tour?
      Yes
      • Wonderful routes (photo by Petty)
      • 5/5 Value
      • 2/5 Included meals
      • 5/5 Bikes + equipment
      • 5/5 Hotels or boat
      • 4/5 Scenery
      • 4/5 Ease of navigation
      • 3/5 Tour documents
      • 3/5 Local tour company services
      • 5/5 Route selection
      • 1/5 Guides (if applicable)
    • Visitor42 July 4, 2019

      Unexperienced rider review

      That was nice and fun tour for me, however my girlfriend struggled a bit. It is not completely 2 stars. For example, last day is not plain at all and could be challenging for newbies without some experience (like myself).

      It would be nice to have shortcuts for every day of this tour.

      What was the date of your tour?
      Late june
      How many tours have you completed?
      1
      Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
      Somewhat harder
      Do you recommend this tour?
      Yes
      • 4/5 Value
      • 4/5 Included meals
      • 4/5 Bikes + equipment
      • 4/5 Hotels or boat
      • 4/5 Scenery
      • 3/5 Ease of navigation
      • 3/5 Tour documents
      • 4/5 Local tour company services
      • 4/5 Route selection
    • J and S June 14, 2019

      Perfect way to see the Country

      My Wife and I had a great Self-Guided trip. The people were super kind, hotels were good, food good, sites were the best. The maps were good, we used GPS points on our phones which did help a lot. So all in all, a can't miss trip.
      We especially liked starting the trip in Mestre, the train over to Venice was a 5 minute walk from the Hotel Elite, cost was minimal. We explored Venice as well as old town Mestre, which was a extra treat.
      Your first leg is to either Jesolo or Carole, we stayed in Jesolo and on the next day we stopped for a snack in Carole. If we were able, we would do the extra miles and stay in Carole the first night, town is really cute.
      We did take two layover or extra days, one in Piran the other in Porec, both well worth it, so ask when you book if that option is available. The Ferry Ride from Porec to Venice was great but a a little of a challenge to schedule until we found there are two ferry companies, they run on opposite dates. After that, was super simple.
      Hard trip to pass up, this was our third Self Guided trip, and already starting to plan for 2020. This has been our main way to see Europe and Loving Every Trip!!

      What was the date of your tour?
      May 2019
      How many tours have you completed?
      3
      Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
      As expected
      Who is this tour suitable for?
      Solo travelers, First-time bike tourists, Families with young kids, Families with teens
      Do you recommend this tour?
      Yes
      • 5/5 Value
      • 5/5 Included meals
      • 5/5 Bikes + equipment
      • 5/5 Hotels or boat
      • 5/5 Scenery
      • 5/5 Ease of navigation
      • 5/5 Tour documents
      • 5/5 Local tour company services
      • 5/5 Route selection
      • 5/5 Guides (if applicable)
    • OR bikers June 12, 2019

      Couldn't ask for a better 1st bike tour experience

      We did the self guided tour with another couple friend of ours. We all had ebikes which made it very enjoyable and easy to do the distances and the hills on the last 2 days. The stickers on street poles pointing the way along the routes were really helpful. The scenery along the routes were so pretty, many red poppy fields. The towns we passed through were fun to explore. We really enjoyed the routes along the water (sea, river, canals), which were many. We had one and a half days of rain, and there were some muddy dirt road we had to go through. We enjoyed the towns we stayed in overnight, pleased with the accommodations and the bountiful breakfast buffets. I would recommend staying an extra night in Porec (end of tour), just to get a little more time to explore, enjoy and relax before heading back to Venice on the early ferry

      What was the date of your tour?
      May 25-June 1, 2019
      How many tours have you completed?
      this is our first one
      Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
      As expected
      Who is this tour suitable for?
      First-time bike tourists, Families with teens
      Do you recommend this tour?
      Yes
      • On the way to Aquileia, stage 3 (photo by OR bikers)
      • End of 1st stage in Lido di Jesolo (photo by OR bikers)
      • Caorle, our rainy day (photo by OR bikers)
      • Grado (photo by OR bikers)
      • Grado (photo by OR bikers)
      • Novigrad (photo by OR bikers)
      • 5/5 Value
      • 5/5 Included meals
      • 5/5 Bikes + equipment
      • 5/5 Hotels or boat
      • 5/5 Scenery
      • 4/5 Ease of navigation
      • 5/5 Tour documents
      • 5/5 Local tour company services
      • 5/5 Route selection
    • Juiti September 29, 2018

      Unforgettable!!! The hidden beauty of the Venetian region and Croatian Adriatic:

      I love this route. It combined beautiful nature landscapes with historic spot and charmy littles towns.
      We had great experience sharing time with fun bikers around the world.
      Even if the hotels were in general ok we would have preferred to pay a bit more for better quality and location.

      What was the date of your tour?
      8 september
      How many tours have you completed?
      now 3
      Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
      Somewhat harder
      Who is this tour suitable for?
      Solo travelers, First-time bike tourists, Families with teens
      Do you recommend this tour?
      Yes
      • Photo 1 (photo by Juiti)
      • Photo 2 (photo by Juiti)
      • Photo 3 (photo by Juiti)
      • Photo 4 (photo by Juiti)
      • Photo 5 (photo by Juiti)
      • Photo 6 (photo by Juiti)
      • 5/5 Value
      • 3/5 Bikes + equipment
      • 3/5 Hotels or boat
      • 4/5 Scenery
      • 4/5 Ease of navigation
      • 3/5 Tour documents
      • 3/5 Local tour company services
      • 4/5 Route selection
    • Karl57 September 12, 2018

      Great trip

      Great trip. Would highly recommend. Every stopover destination was well worth exploring. If we did it again we would customize the tour with an extra day to explore each stopover destination.

      What was the date of your tour?
      September 2018
      How many tours have you completed?
      2
      Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
      As expected
      Who is this tour suitable for?
      Solo travelers, First-time bike tourists, Families with teens
      Do you recommend this tour?
      Yes
      • 4/5 Value
      • 4/5 Included meals
      • 4/5 Bikes + equipment
      • 3/5 Hotels or boat
      • 4/5 Scenery
      • 4/5 Ease of navigation
      • 4/5 Tour documents
      • 4/5 Local tour company services
      • 4/5 Route selection
    • alda December 19, 2017

      absolutely fabulous

      What a wonderful itinerary with varied scenery from the lagoons and beaches of Italy to the more mountainous coast of Istria. Going through three countries was very interesting and the accomodations and places we visited were top notch.

      What was the date of your tour?
      Sept 24, 2017
      How many tours have you completed?
      6
      Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
      As expected
      Who is this tour suitable for?
      Solo travelers, First-time bike tourists, Families with teens
      Do you recommend this tour?
      Yes
      • Photo 1 (photo by alda)
      • Photo 2 (photo by alda)
      • BikeTours.com staff reply from Brittany December 20, 2017

        We're glad to hear you had a fantastic time on tour. Thank you for your review!

      • 5/5 Value
      • 4/5 Included meals
      • 4/5 Bikes + equipment
      • 5/5 Hotels or boat
      • 5/5 Scenery
      • 5/5 Ease of navigation
      • 5/5 Tour documents
      • 5/5 Local tour company services
      • 5/5 Route selection
    • Cycle2017 September 25, 2017

      Our Venice to Porec Challenge

      This tour proved to be more challenging than anticipated, partly due to torrential rains on 2 days and windy conditions most of the week. Concerns included long riding distances with limited facilities between some of the planned stops -e.g. -few restaurants or stores to purchase snacks and more water. The signage didn't always match the tour directions, creating confusion and likely longer rides than planned. The final day -70 km, with 50% uphill is a challenge for casual riders. Casual recreational riders will find some of the days long and some of the terrain challenging. The local provider provided excellent support when we were flooded out of a hotel and unable to ride due to area flooding, and also assisted with transportation for the final transfer when a member of the group was ill, and weather conditions were miserable. Despite this, our group, 3 recreational riders and 1 experienced rider, enjoyed visiting the beautiful cities along the route -when the weather cooperated.

      What was the date of your tour?
      September 10-16
      How many tours have you completed?
      2
      Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
      Somewhat harder
      Do you recommend this tour?
      No
      • BikeTours.com staff reply from Jim Johnson, founder and president September 26, 2017

        Janet, thank you for your valuable feedback, which we will pass along to the local tour company. We'll also take your comments into consideration when advising future clients.

      • 3/5 Value
      • 4/5 Included meals
      • 4/5 Bikes + equipment
      • 4/5 Hotels or boat
      • 3/5 Scenery
      • 2/5 Ease of navigation
      • 3/5 Tour documents
      • 5/5 Local tour company services
      • 2/5 Route selection
    • MarknPat September 9, 2017

      Expectations Exceeded

      We spent a few extra days in Venice to start and 5 extra days in Porec at the end. Really glad we spent the extra time. Extending the bike rental was not a problem.
      The tour in between was awesome. Accommodations were better than expected and all the towns were charming.

      I had a little trouble with my bike. The front hub was a little tight so the wheel didn't spin as freely as it should have. I noticed when we picked up the bikes but didn't think too much of it. After a couple days I contacted the tour company and they brought me a different and better bike. Kudos to the tour operator.

      At one hotel there was confusion about a reservation for someone travelling with us. Again, the tour company stepped up. The real measure of the tour company is how they handle problems. They were terrific.

      Had a couple directional issues. We have T-Mobile so GPS worked perfectly. Previously we had AT&T with the international package. It was underwhelming to say the least. I highly recommend T-Mobile.

      Final day was a bit of a climbing challenge for Mrs. But we managed. The highlights of the tour were riding along the Adriatic, taking the occasional swim and the people we met.

      What was the date of your tour?
      July 5th
      How many tours have you completed?
      5
      Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
      As expected
      Do you recommend this tour?
      Yes
      • 5/5 Value
      • 5/5 Included meals
      • 3/5 Bikes + equipment
      • 5/5 Hotels or boat
      • 5/5 Scenery
      • 3/5 Ease of navigation
      • 3/5 Tour documents
      • 5/5 Local tour company services
      • 5/5 Route selection
    • Garbo 55 June 17, 2017

      With this being our very first bike tour, and we had chosen the self-guided option we found the adjustment to the directions a little difficult (some vital information was lost in translation) but having said that, there was an incredible sense of accomplishment after completing each day. We also were not prepared for the climate we encountered, we had looked at the temps. before we left and it looked like 22/24 C., but ended up being in the high 20's and low 30's, this really depleted our energy levels. The destinations could not have been more diverse with each one having its own unique quality we really enjoyed. They all had an amazing breakfast to start the day with and were very helpful with storing the bikes etc... The journey through the countryside and along the coast was so spectacular, our only wish I guess would have been to have had more time to enjoy each day. After our first couple of days we were a little overwhelmed with trying to stay on track rather then enjoying the moment. Having been home for a couple of weeks now however and looking back we would challenge ourselves again in a different place.

      What was the date of your tour?
      May 27, 2017/June 3, 2017
      How many tours have you completed?
      1
      Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
      As expected
      Who is this tour suitable for?
      First-time bike tourists
      Do you recommend this tour?
      Yes
      • 4/5 Value
      • 5/5 Included meals
      • 4/5 Bikes + equipment
      • 4/5 Hotels or boat
      • 5/5 Scenery
      • 2/5 Ease of navigation
      • 2/5 Tour documents
      • 3/5 Local tour company services
      • 4/5 Route selection
    • kiki1970 October 21, 2016

      The overall experience on this bike trip was good. The rain that occurred on 4 of the 7 days of the trip was unexpected. The locals informed us that it hadn't rained in 2 months so it caught up to us. The accommodations and food were excellent. The real problems were the maps that were provided. They need to be more tour specific. When arriving in the destination city, specific directions should be included in finding that hotel. We spent too much time looking for our hotel for the evening. Also the written instructions are a translation from the German guide. In some cases the instructions didn't match what we saw on the ground or what the sign posts indicated. In general, the people that we dealt with in the States and Italy were great. I only wish that we would have taken a day break some where in the middle(Trieste?) to refresh and recuperate. We didn't know we could do it. I highly recommend this before heading into Croatia.

      What was the date of your tour?
      14-21 Sept. 2016
      How many tours have you completed?
      2
      Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
      As expected
      Who is this tour suitable for?
      Solo travelers, First-time bike tourists
      Do you recommend this tour?
      Yes
      • 4/5 Value
      • 5/5 Included meals
      • 4/5 Bikes + equipment
      • 5/5 Hotels or boat
      • 4/5 Scenery
      • 2/5 Ease of navigation
      • 3/5 Tour documents
      • 4/5 Local tour company services
      • 3/5 Route selection
    • artnscience December 30, 2015

      Wonderful Coastal Trip around the upper Adriatic Sea

      The route, maps, bicycles, accommodations and weather were perfect for our self-guided trip. We were lucky to be able to attend a Vivaldi Concert at the Cathedral in Grado. It was a one night only performance and our hotel host provided us with tickets. https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipOVdH6klghY5LXY0xRnJXgs3V22UOQqIrSTQtIZk-iBfOPD-HVh2ajAjWPV0rspkQ/photo/AF1QipMEguGCko9YGrAFg6YkROa7LLFyKdtTuGCFsTg?key=MEQzNXNiWEVwM2MwSV8ycVExcWg4ZmFUU2kzM3h3
      Crossing the borders between Italy and Slovenia and between Slovenia and Croatia by bicycle was a fun experience as was seeing Piran and Porec. A car rally was going on in Porec which made it even more interesting.
      We had one confusing route situation. The arrows and cue sheet had us going right and then left onto a farm road (see linked photo) when it should have said left and then right. Other than that our directions were perfect. https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipOVdH6klghY5LXY0xRnJXgs3V22UOQqIrSTQtIZk-iBfOPD-HVh2ajAjWPV0rspkQ/photo/AF1QipP8bWrmMDfBuhWBGxWQjo53m6mNt4CmrDNpQfs?key=MEQzNXNiWEVwM2MwSV8ycVExcWg4ZmFUU2kzM3h3

      How many tours have you completed?
      14 European, 1 Canadian and 8 US
      Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
      Somewhat easier
      Who is this tour suitable for?
      Families with teens, Solo travelers
      Do you recommend this tour?
      Yes
      • Fred, who was almost 80 years old, found he still is a "Babe Magnet" in his cycling jersey. (photo by artnscience)
      • 5/5 Value
      • 4/5 Included meals
      • 5/5 Bikes + equipment
      • 5/5 Hotels or boat
      • 5/5 Scenery
      • 4/5 Ease of navigation
      • 5/5 Tour documents
      • 5/5 Local tour company services
      • 4/5 Route selection
    • Pedalann December 28, 2015

      Interesting Tour around Part of the Adriatic Sea

      This tour gave us a chance to see much of the coastal region of the old Venice/Roman Empire. We enjoyed the lovely towns, pastoral countryside and views of the Adriatic. We sometimes had difficulty navigating as the cue sheets. maps and route marks did not always agree. The tour operators had warned us that some of the routes were being revised. However, we are good navigators and did find our way without too much back tracking. Concordia, Grado, Trieste, Piran and Porec were wonderful to visit. The new sections of bike trails were joys to ride.

      How many tours have you completed?
      More than 10
      Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
      As expected
      Who is this tour suitable for?
      Solo travelers
      Do you recommend this tour?
      Yes
      • 5/5 Value
      • 5/5 Included meals
      • 5/5 Bikes + equipment
      • 5/5 Hotels or boat
      • 4/5 Scenery
      • 3/5 Ease of navigation
      • 4/5 Tour documents
      • 4/5 Local tour company services
      • 4/5 Route selection
    • Alpskier November 14, 2015

      I've Done 8 Trips. Here's My Favorite!

      It's simply a magnificent ride. You begin in Venice, ride along the coast, passing beautiful beaches, going inland through rural farmland, and finally reaching Trieste, an old city that has a lot to offer. And that's just the Italian portion. The ride then takes you into Slovenia and ends in Croatia. For me, the century-old towns of Piran, Slovenia, and Porec, Croatia were magical - adult Disneyland. They are well-preserved and inviting as you aimlessly walk through narrow streets with stunning architecture. Locals were great. The ride is well-marked and the road book you're given is easy to follow. The local tour operator is most helpful. Most of the ride is easy, flat, doable miles per day - about 35. Once you get into Slovenia, you follow a beautiful paved bikeway along the rugged coast that brings you through one picturesque town after another. Finally, the last ride is a bit challenging as you reach hilly, yet doable terrain. I loved the hotels as they all were family-run and charming beyond belief. I guess it's the diversity of the journey. And riding a bike through a country is simply the best way to connect to the culture, people, and the land. Book this one. You won't be disappointed.

      How many tours have you completed?
      8
      Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
      As expected
      Who is this tour suitable for?
      Families with teens, Solo travelers, First-time bike tourists
      Do you recommend this tour?
      Yes
      • 5/5 Value
      • 5/5 Included meals
      • 5/5 Bikes + equipment
      • 5/5 Hotels or boat
      • 5/5 Scenery
      • 4/5 Ease of navigation
      • 5/5 Tour documents
      • 5/5 Local tour company services
      • 5/5 Route selection
    • Two Michiganders November 4, 2015

      Lost in Translation

      This was our fourth tour with Bike Tours and the first with an Italian outfitter. Maybe that's where the trouble started.
      We're not novices to this kind of travel and expect to spend some time lost and wandering--that's okay--to some extent. The directions for this trip were oddly and sometimes poorly translated, and there were occasions that though we'd asked for the English version, the notes were in German. The sticker signage was missing and incorrect at several critical junctures--crossing into Croatia from Slovenia, for instance. I know we weren't the only people who missed it--others at the hotel mentioned the same confusion.
      I think that this part of Italy isn't quite as used to cycling (fewer cycle paths) and there were long stretches where we were riding with heavy traffic on 50-70k speed roads. The last day was very hilly (we were aware of this) and included some long slogs through unmarked Croatian campgrounds/resorts which were not mentioned in the directions. Despite the directions, knowing that you needed to be near the sea for most of the trip was helpful.
      Navigation being my only caution, this was a lovely and fun trip. The towns and sites along the way were quaint and it was relaxing when we were off the main roads. I appreciated the towns we stayed in, Sagittaria Concordia, Trieste and Piran were especially memorable for the sites and ambiance of each place. The ruins in Aguilia were amazing. The hotels were all excellent, breakfasts hearty and our bags were moved as promised.
      I'd recommend this to someone, but with caution regarding navigation.

      How many tours have you completed?
      Four
      Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
      As expected
      Do you recommend this tour?
      Yes
      • Jeselo, Italy (photo by Two Michiganders)
      • Day One. (photo by Two Michiganders)
      • Red farm house and fence, Italy. (photo by Two Michiganders)
      • After a rain, Sagittaria Concordia, Italy. (photo by Two Michiganders)
      • Crossing into Slovenia (photo by Two Michiganders)
      • Sunset in Porec, Croatia. (photo by Two Michiganders)
      • BikeTours.com staff reply from Richie November 5, 2015

        Hi!

        Thank you for bringing the issues with tour documents and signage to our attention. I was on a tour with this operator in August and did not have these issues. However, I was on a different tour.

        Part of the tour I was on overlapped with this tour in Trieste. There is quite a bit of traffic getting in and out of Trieste and that is worth being aware of.

        I have passed your comments about the tour documents and signage on to the tour operator. It is important that they are aware of the sticker situation so that they can go through the route and fix the stickers where they are missing or incorrect. It is also important that they are aware of the translation issues with the documents themselves. I do know that they go over their documents and make improvements every off season. This information will be useful to them as they are going through this process.

        Thank you again for taking the time to provide feedback (and the beautiful photos!)! We are looking forward to helping you arrange your next trip.

        —Richie

      • 4/5 Value
      • 4/5 Included meals
      • 4/5 Bikes + equipment
      • 5/5 Hotels or boat
      • 4/5 Scenery
      • 1/5 Ease of navigation
      • 3/5 Tour documents
      • 3/5 Local tour company services
      • 3/5 Route selection

    Venice to Trieste and Istria

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