Venice to Porec Self-guided Cycling Tour 

Mestre/Venice

Individual arrival in Mestre (the mainland of Venice). The city of Venice will captivate you with its splendour, acknowledged worldwide.

Mestre – Jesolo/Caorle/seacoast 40/65km

After a few kilometres by bike, you take the ferry to the Lido passing in front of Piazza San Marco and then the motor boat to reach Punta Sabbioni, the furthest south area of the Adriatic coast, which is north of Venice. Then continue on to Lido di Jesolo. Depending on the availability of accommodations, an alternative overnight stay is in Caorle (65 km), in which case you’ll continue cycling along the Sile River and then follow the coastline, dotted with traditional wooden and reed marsh fishing huts, called “casoni”.

Jesolo/Caorle/seacoast – Portogruaro 65/40km

Leaving the sea behind you, you will head north towards the Julian Alps. You will be passing through an area with a multitude of “Valli da pesca” (stretches of lagoon enclosed by earthen dikes where extensive fish farming is practised) and “casoni” (constructions used by fishermen in the past during the fishing season). Afterwards you will go to the town of Portogruaro, one of the main centres in the period of the “Serenissima Republic of Venice”, which is still impressive even today with its glorious “Palazzi” or “palaces”.

Portogruaro – Aquileia 60/70km

The trip can be shortened of 20 km by taking a train from Portogruaro to Latisana. You will spend the day between the region of Veneto and Friuli Venezia Giulia, passing through an area abundant in water and history, among rivers, canals and ancient Roman towns. Your destination will be Aquileia, with its Roman excavations, or Palmanova, named “the starry city” because from above the town resembles a 9-pointed star.

Aquileia – Trieste 70/50km

The trip can be shortened of 30 km by taking a train at the end of the stage from Monfalcone to Trieste. You will once again head towards the sea: the gulf of Trieste awaits you, with many possible stops along the way, such as Duino with its two castles, Sistiana with its characteristic bay and Miramare with its famous white castle built according to the wishes of Maximilan of Augsburg, situated in a beautiful park of more than 20 hectares in size. Just a few kilometres lie between you and Trieste, the ancient port of the Asburgic Empire, which has much to offer as regards attractions and history.

Trieste – Piran/Portorož 45km

After a few kilometres you will cross over into Slovenia, often cycling along cycle paths through famous holiday resorts such as Koper, first for a long period a Venetian and then Austrian town, and Piran, another important town which was ruled over for a long time by Venice. You then finally arrive in Portorož, a town renowned for its spa and bathing facilities.

Piran/Portorož – Porec 55km

Cycling southwards, you will pass through the salt mines of Secovlje, a large Slovenian town with a humid environment, which is a key area as regards ornithology. Some kilometres later you will cross the Croatian border down along Istria, the Adriatic sea’s largest peninsula. In the end you will reach Porec, the tourism capital of Croatia, with its Eufrasian Basilica, which was declared Patrimony of Humanity by UNESCO in 1997.

Porec.

After breakfast, end of services. Possibility to book extra nights in Porec or return to Venice by boat (option).

Due to organisational reasons, weather conditions or provisions issued by local authorities, the itinerary may be subject to some changes before and/or during the holiday. Along the way you may find temporary deviations (for example road works) which cannot be foreseen: in this case each rider can decide autonomously how to deal with these stretches.