Get ready for a 7-day cycling and culinary tour through Istria, Croatia's Terra Magica, where ancient villages, lush rolling hills, and world-class gastronomy await. Pedal through medieval towns, olive groves, and forest trails on our e-bikes, discovering hidden sites and coastal towns along the way. Stay in charming boutique hotels and indulge in authentic local cuisine, including wine, cheese and truffle tastings. With experienced local guide leading the way, enjoy a hassle-free journey through the heart of Istria. The tour includes premium e-bikes, accommodations, select meals, tastings, and more!
You’ll meet your guide at Trieste Central Train Station, where a private transfer takes us across the border to our accommodation in Istria, about an hour’s drive. The evening opens with a tour orientation briefing, followed by a welcome dinner where the group gets acquainted over local food and wine. No cycling is scheduled today, so it’s a chance to settle in before the riding begins.
Meals: Dinner
Accommodation: San Rocco Heritage Hotel, Brtonigla
We roll straight from the hotel into the rolling hills of Northern Istria. The route sweeps through the historic hilltop town of Buje before reaching Grožnjan, a medieval fortified town turned thriving artists’ colony. From there we press on toward Momjan, a small but acclaimed wine region where Momjanski Muškat and Istrian Malvazija grapes are grown. We cap the ride with a tasting at a local estate winery before a van transfer brings us back to the hotel.
Meals: Breakfast, wine tasting
Accommodation: San Rocco Heritage Hotel, Brtonigla
Cycling: 36 km (22 mi), 80% paved
Elevation: +600 m (+1,969 ft)
A short morning transfer brings us to Parenzana, a historic Austrian-era railway line converted into a scenic gravel cycling route. Northern and Central Istria are known worldwide for their truffles, so we stop mid-ride for a truffle tasting and a truffle pasta lunch. If you’d rather skip a climb, our support vehicle is always nearby to swap saddle time for a comfortable ride. We finish cycling in Hum, officially the world’s smallest town, then transfer briefly to Buzet for a visit to a family-run fruit brandy distillery. In the evening, we head to Motovun, Istria’s best-known hilltop citadel, wandering its cobblestone streets and taking in sweeping views before a sunset dinner.
Meals: Breakfast, truffle tasting and truffle pasta lunch, dinner
Accommodation: San Rocco Heritage Hotel, Brtonigla
Cycling: 50 km (31 mi), 60% paved
Elevation: +600 m (+1,969 ft)
After a short morning transfer to the foot of Motovun, we ride south into the quiet interior of Central Istria, away from the coastal crowds. The route threads through traditional stone villages like Tinjan and Kringa, then crosses Draga, a dramatic canyon that once marked the border between the Venetian Republic and the Austrian Empire. We finish in Svetvinčenat, a well-preserved Renaissance town built around a medieval castle. In the evening, a short van ride takes us to the coast for a sunset walk through the harbor streets of Rovinj.
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Accommodation: Foscari, Designer Boutique Residence, Svetvinčenat
Cycling: 46 km (29 mi), 95% paved
Elevation: +600 m (+1,969 ft)
We set off straight from the hotel on the Štrika Ferata, another old railway line turned cycling route, enjoying a long, gentle descent toward the Adriatic and into Rovinj. We explore the town from the saddle, riding along its sun-drenched coastline, then turn back inland to the stone village of Bale, where we meet a local olive oil producer and learn about traditional cultivation methods.
Meals: Breakfast, olive oil tasting
Accommodation: Foscari, Designer Boutique Residence, Svetvinčenat
Cycling: 60 km (37 mi), 50% paved
Elevation: +200 m (+656 ft)
Our final riding day heads south through old olive groves and vineyards, past the ruins of an Istrian tribal capital dating back to 1000 BC. The rich red soil of Southern Istria has powered the region’s agriculture for millennia. Near the end of the route, we stop at a small farm for a cheese tasting and learn how the cheeses pair with local olive oil and wine. We finish cycling in Pula, the ancient regional capital chosen by the Romans for its deep-water harbor. After checking in, there’s time for a swim at a nearby beach before an evening guided historical tour of Pula and a farewell dinner.
Meals: Breakfast, cheese tasting, dinner
Accommodation: Ribarska Koliba, Boutique Marina Resort, Pula
Cycling: 50 km (31 mi), 90% paved
Elevation: +200 m (+656 ft)
After a final breakfast, a transfer takes you to Pula Airport or the Pula Ferry Terminal for your journey home or onward.
Meals: Breakfast
Included:
Add-ons (pricing shown at checkout):
Not included:
To participate in this Istria e-bike and food tour, you should have a good level of fitness and be comfortable riding for several consecutive days. The tour encompasses five days of cycling, covering average distances of around 50 km (30 mi) per day, with up to 600 m (2,000 ft) of elevation gain on the biggest days.
The terrain is mostly paved, with some sections of high-quality gravel and packed dirt. E-bike assistance makes the climbs more manageable, and the group is supported throughout by a dedicated support vehicle.
Want to see what else is there in the area? Discover more Croatia bike tours here!
Here’s what you’ll need:
Bring comfortable clothes you can move in. We suggest bringing clothing appropriate for the season. Though usually warm and stable, weather in late spring and early fall can be unpredictable in Istria, with a possibility for cooler windy and rainy days (less so in September), so it is instrumental that you are informed about the weather forecasts and prepared for different conditions.
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The price for this bike and food tour in Istria is based on twin-share rooms, but a single occupancy room can be arranged at an additional fee. You can add it to your booking at checkout.
Group sizes and pricing:
Bike & food tour in Istria, Croatia can be arranged for larger groups. Contact us to make arrangements.
Min. age requirements:
If your group has riders under the age of 18, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.
The meeting point of your Istria e-bike tour is Trieste, Italy. To get there, most people fly into Venice Marco Polo Airport (VCE).
From there, you’ll be transferred to the starting point of the tour, Brtonigla in Istria.
We highly recommend that you cover all your bases with insurance. To make your booking and traveling experience as carefree as possible, you’ll be offered to simply insure your trip with Redpoint at checkout.
Redpoint—the official 57hours insurance partner—tailors protection packages for adventure travel, offering a comprehensive travel program, even in remote locations! Trip cancellation, natural disasters, pandemic coverage, medical evacuation, primary medical expenses—regardless of the travel interruption that may happen, Redpoint will have you covered.