Venice – Trieste – Istria: Adriatic Coast by Bike

Day 1: Arrival in Mestre/Venice
Individual arrival at the first hotel in Mestre. If time allows, do not miss a visit to the Serenissima — a stroll through the narrow streets will reveal the hidden corners of this enchanting city. Venice is easily reached by bus or train in about 10 minutes.

Day 2: Mestre – Jesolo/Caorle (35 km, or 55 km on the variant)
Two options today: pedal along the lagoon embankment to Venice, take the vaporetto to Punta Sabbioni (ticket not included), and ride past the long beaches of Cavallino with a final magnificent view back to Venice; or follow the tranquil River Sile inland, passing the medieval ruins of Torre Caligo, directly to Jesolo or Caorle.

Day 3: Jesolo/Caorle – Concordia Sagittaria/Portogruaro (60 km)
Along the coast you will reach Caorle, an ancient fishing village with a golden beach sloping toward the sea. Past Caorle, the route heads inland with the Julian Alps on the horizon toward Portogruaro, once an important river port of the Venetian Republic. Venetian-style palaces, squares, and ornamental details still grace this charming town.

Day 4: Concordia Sagittaria/Portogruaro – Grado/Aquileia (65 km + ferry from Marano Lagunare, included; or 85 km without the ferry)
Beyond the Adriatic beaches lies a region rich in Roman ruins, ancient churches, and secluded lagoon landscapes. From Marano Lagunare a ferry (included) will take you close to Aquileia, once a major city of the Roman Empire. Open-air excavations and two museums bring its ancient history to life.

Day 5: Grado/Aquileia – Trieste (85 km, or 70 km with the train — ticket not included)
The morning takes you through the rocky Karst landscape with its underground cavities. You will then return to the coast along a stretch of extraordinary beauty where plateaus plunge into the blue water and white cliffs rise straight to the sky. Lively seaside resorts — Duino, Sistiana, Miramare, Barcola — line the way. A stop at the romantic Miramare Castle, set among 2,000 trees above Grignano Bay, is unmissable. You will arrive in the Gulf of Trieste to discover this magnificent city, the ancient gateway of the Habsburg Empire.

Day 6: Trieste – Piran/Portorož (65 km, or 35 km with the ferry — ticket not included)
A few kilometres will bring you to the Slovenian border. The route continues mostly on cycle paths through Koper and Izola to Piran and Portorož, the celebrated thermal resort of the Slovenian Riviera. A longer inland variant through the Val Rosandra is also available.

Day 7: Piran/Portorož – Poreč (70 km)
The stage begins past the Sečovlje salt pans, where sea salt is still harvested by natural evaporation. Shortly after, you will cross into Croatia. The route follows the Istrian coast along gently rolling terrain to Poreč, the most important town on the western Istrian coast. The Euphrasian Basilica, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, deserves an unhurried visit.

Day 8: Poreč, Departure
Individual departure or possibility to extend the stay.