5 days to discover the wine road in Croatia by bike

You arrive in Istria in the region of the city of Buje, take time to stroll through the narrow streets before meeting a local representative at your hotel.

Apart from enjoying the breathtaking landscape of the terrace-styled vineyards, which resembles a postcard from Tuscany, you can indulge the sensation the area of Buje gives, a real polyphony of fragrances and tastes. Cycling through magnificent rolling landscapes and lively Istrian vineyards, it will also be obvious why this bicycle path was once known once as the wine railway. While passing through many tunnels and over old bridges you'll feel the need to stop by many fascinating view points : from the charming medieval town of Grožnjan to Završje, until you reach Motovun, an ancient little Istrian town located atop a 277-meter-high hill, 21 km south-east from Buje. Its present appearance, with the city walls surrounding the centre of the town, dates back to the Middle Ages.

After breakfast you continue cycling on the Parenzana trail over Vižinada and Kaštelir to the coast. The ride towards Poreč is particularly pleasant because you are riding along the coastline with beautiful bays where you can enjoy the breathtaking Mediterranean landscape : green vineyards and olive groves and tasty homemade foods, wines, brandy and honey produced in this area.

In the afternoon you reach Poreč, the town where you stumble over material and spiritual evidence of great cultures at every step. Cruise along the old city centre and visit the old Roman forum, the world famous Euphrasian Basilica with it’s mosaics, city palaces that belonged to the nobles, and fortifications.

You can choose between taking a car transfer to Kanfanar or reach it on your own bike.

After cycling along the coastline you reach Vrsar, a romantic fishing town located on a hill. The bike ride continues through the magical forest of Kontija with a panoramic view of the beautiful landscape from the Lim bay to the ruins of the medieval town Dvigrad.

Passing Kanfanar and the hill of Maklavun (an astral-archaeological site, a tumulus from the Bronze Age) the finish of the day is in Rovinj.
The town is nicknamed little Venice and a typical Mediterranean seaside resort which will seduce you with its extraordinary beauty. In the dense tissue of the old city centre there are numerous magnificent palaces from different historical periods. Today most of them host a gallery or an art studio. If you wander through the narrow meandering streets you will suddenly arrive in front of the baroque church of St Eufemia, the greatest monument in the city, from which you can admire a magnificent view of the Mediterranean sea.

Take one last stroll through the charming streets of Rovinj leaving.