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Adria: 3 countries tour Venice - Istria

Crystal clear and yet so beautiful

Bike tour
8 Days / 7 Nights
individual tour
easy to moderate
from
799.00 €
Book now Book
from
799.00 €

This bike tour will inspire you. The round trip leads from St. Mark's Basilica in Venice from one seaside resort to the other, including rewarding trip through the quiet hinterland and the famous Aquileia with its interesting excavations and to Trieste in the east of Italy. In Slovenia you cycle on a wonderful bike trail which used to be a railway line and in Croatia (Istria) you experience first hand the varied coastline. Discover the isolated bays and worth seeing towns like Umag and Porec with the Euphrasian basilica, which was included by UNESCO in the World Heritage Site. The return trip to Venice by ship is the crowning final of the bike week.

This trip is perfect for:

  • If you're undecided, you don't have to choose just one country on this trip - you can travel to three!
  • Culture lovers will also get their money's worth, as the route takes you past great cities with special sights.
  • Pleasure-seekers who enjoy sitting in a beer garden or restaurant with a good wine in their hand.

Highlights

St. Mark's Square (Piazza San Marco)
St. Mark's Square (Piazza San Marco) is Venice on parade, where everyone comes to see and be seen. It is Venice's only square with the title of "piazza" - the rest are called "campo." Life has revolved around this piazza since the days of the Republic, when it was a market as well as the center of civic and religious life. Considered one of the finest squares in the world and certainly Venice's prime attraction, it is surrounded on three sides by the stately arcades of public buildings and on the fourth, by Basilica di San Marco's riot of domes and arches and the soaring St. Mark's campanile. The lines waiting to enter the basilica, which is by far the most popular attraction in Venice, may seem intimidating, but you can skip these by joining a tour. No obstruction mars the vast stone-paved expanse of St. Mark's Square, where the only traffic is Venetians, tourists, and the ever-present pigeons.

Doge’s Palace
A masterpiece of Gothic architecture, the Doge’s Palace is an impressive structure composed of layers of building elements and ornamentation, from its 14th and 15th century original foundations to the significant Renaissance and opulent Mannerist adjunctions. The structure is made up of three large blocks, incorporating previous constructions. The wing towards the St. Mark’s Basin is the oldest, rebuilt from 1340 onwards. The wing towards St. Mark’s Square was built in its present form from 1424 onwards. The canal-side wing, housing the Doge’s apartments and many government offices, dates from the Renaissance and was built between 1483 and 1565.

Murano
Murano is rich in history and much of it is to do with the glass industry. Find out how glassmaking came to the island, its ups and downs and some stories about the foundries over the centuries.

Aquileia
Aquileia features an extremely important archaeological area, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Colonized in 181 B.C. in "agro gallorum", Aquileia was born as a bridgehead for the Roman conquest of the Danube areas and with the aim of defending the eastern borders to enhance the already flourishing trade between the eastern Mediterranean basin and the transalpine countries. The excavations have brought to light the remains of the Roman forum and of a basilica, of the burial ground, of mosaic floors and house foundations (Cal and ex Cossar estates), of statues of the Via Sacra (Sacred Road), of the markets, of walls, of the river port, of a large mausoleum and much more.

Porec
The peninsula on which the Porec's rich old city developed and was preserved has been inhabited for thousands of years and is today often called a cultural landmark. The historical centre, once encircled by walls and towers is today conserved in valuable remains. By strolling through the city seek out the Northern Tower along Peškera Cove and continue southwards towards the Five-Starred Tower at the entrance to Decumanus Street and the Circular Tower with a view of the waterfront.  Inside the former city walls you can visit the cathedral complex of the Euphrasiana, the House of Two Saints and the Romanic House while you can seek out evidence of life during ancient times near the oldest square, Marafor.  You see, Poreč is proud to be home to the largest Roman shrine in Istria, the Mart Temple, to the north of which are the remains of the Temple of Neptune.

Adria: 3 countries tour Venice - Istria
easy to moderate
Bike tour
8 Days / 7 Nights
individual tour
from
799.00 €
Book now Book

Tour

Arrive early, because you can quickly reach the center of Venice from the bus stop near the hotel or by train. The "Serenissima" with all its magnificent buildings invites you to a first visit. The canals are so tempting - waterways that have remained mysterious to this day, the Doge's Palace and St. Mark's Basilica, which formed the secular and spiritual center of Venice, as well as the Rialto Bridge and gondoliers.

Take your time for Venice, because your destination for the day can be reached quickly and easily. You cycle the first kilometers of your beauful bicycle tour into the lagoon city before you leave the city "through the back exit" and ferry. From Punta Sabbioni, make a short detour to the lighthouse at the extreme end of the narrow headland and once again enjoy a wonderful view of Venice. You cycle wonderfully flat from one seaside resort to the next, past numerous fishing boats, souvenir stands and promising cafes or through the hinterland along the Sile river (long variant) in the direction of Jesolo. Overnight in Jesolo or Caorle.

Today you follow the wide shallow coast, enjoy a refreshing swim in the sea, admiring the colorful fishermen's cottages and let yourself be tempted by a café in the historic center of Caorle. Now there is a change of direction and scenery. You roll flat and relaxed inland towards the Julian Alps. Look forward to Portogruaro, which was during the heyday of the Venetian Republic a major river port of Venice. Take a walk and discover the ancient splendor of the many magnificent buildings and palaces of the city.

There is also a lot to discover beyond the beaches on the Adriatic Sea: Roman ruined cities, ancient churches and lonely landscapes on the edge of the lagoon. From Marano Lagunare you go by ship to just before Aquileia, once a great city of the Roman Empire. Excavations of the Roman city can be viewed in the open-air site and in two museums. Alternatively, you can shorten the route by taking the first stretch to Latisana by train. Or you can cycle the entire route and cover approx. 85 km.

The varied landscape awaits you today. You cycle through barren rocky landscape crisscrossed by caves, before coming back to the sea and a coastline of outstanding beauty. There, where the Karst plateau dips into the deep blue water and the white cliffs rise vertically from the sea to the sky, you follow the coast road through small towns like Duino, Sistiana and Miramare. Take a break and visit the Miramare Castle.
Now there are only a few cycle-kilometers to the interesting town of Trieste that is easily reached on the beautiful beach promenade. Stroll through the Piazza dell'Unita, along the Grand Canal and visit the Serbian Orthodox Church San Spiridone and the historic Cafe San Marco. At the evening you can enjoy on of the fantastic italian restaurants in the old town of Trieste.

You cycle only a few more kilometers in Italy, then you follow the beautiful coast in Slovenia, mainly on well-developed paved cycle paths. Discover well-known seaside resorts such as Koper, Izola, Piran and Portoroz, the charming spa town on the Slovenian Riviera. If you don't shy away from the hills, you can cycle the longer variant through the hinterland in the "Val Rosandra".

Today, you can discover the salt marshes of Secovlje, where sea salt is produced on vast areas through natural evaporation. Then, you will then cycle across the border into Croatia. Enjoy the Croatian part of Istria. Varied you cycle up and down to Porec. Visit the pretty seaside town, and definitely discover the Euphrasian basilica, which was included by UNESCO in the World Heritage Site.

The trip ends after breakfast at the hotel in Porec.

Map

Prices / Dates

Prices per person in EUR

Services / Info

  • Accommodation incl. breakfast in hotels in the 3- and 4-star category
  • Room with shower/bath/WC
  • Luggage transport
  • Video-briefing
  • Ship ticket on day 4 Marano Lagunare - Aquileia
  • Map of bike trails with marked route
  • Digital route guidance via smartphone app 
  • Tips for tour preparation
  • Touristic information
  • 7 days hotline service
Worth knowing about the bike trip Venice - Istria

Below you will find specific information about the bike trip Venice - Istria. If you have further questions about this trip, you simply call us: Phone: 0049 - (0)6421 - 886890.

Arrival by plane
You can arrive at airport Treviso, Ronchi dei Legionari (Trieste) or Venice Marco Polo. Here you will find shuttle buses to Venice/Mestre.

Arrival by train
You can also take the train to the main station Mestre and further on a taxi or a bus to the first hotel. Current timetable information and pricing information can be found at:

Train schedule information Deutsche Bahn
Train schedule information ÖBB
Train schedule information Trenitalia

Parking facilities at the starting hotel
In the starting hotel, there will either be parking facilities in the hotel's own outdoor parking spaces or a hotel garage. However, these are usually chargeable (approx. EUR 30 to 50 per week), cannot be reserved in advance and are payable on site. You will find more detailed information in the travel documents.

Condition of cycle paths
The route runs 27% on bike paths and 70% on beautiful, little-traveled back roads. Only about 3% is on roads with more traffic (mostly city entrances). The paths are flat until shortly before Trieste, then it continues hilly to Porec. Before Trieste there is an approx. 4 km long ascent (which can be bypassed by train) and on the last day an approx. 3 km long ascent has to be mastered.

Available rental bikes
We provide 21-speed gear shift women's and men's bikes with freewheel. Electric bikes are also available (unisex, 500 watt battery, up to 100 km sufficient). The rental bikes are equipped with a waterproof saddlebag, a handlebar bag and a speedometer.

Return journey from Porec to Venice
The return transfer is by ferry on Thursdays and Saturdays. Departure from Porec is at 06:30 on Saturdays. Arrival in Venice is at approx. 11.30 am. On Thursdays, departure is at 7.30 a.m. and arrival in Venice at approx. 10.30 a.m. It is possible to take a maximum of 4 of your own bikes with you for an additional charge. Please note that e-bikes are not accepted on the ferry!
For the return journey by ferry, we require the ID or passport details of each participant (full name, date of birth, type of document, document number and expiry date).

On Wednesdays and Saturdays we offer a return transfer by minibus on request. The minimum number of participants is 4 people. You can bring your own bikes for an extra charge.

Extra costs that are not included in the tour price
The ferry from Venice to Punta Sabbioni is not included in the tour price (costs approx. EUR 15 per person). The train journeys (if they are used) are not included in the travel price. Any tourist tax and charging fees for bicycle batteries are not included in the tour price and must therefore be paid at the hotel.

7 days hotline service
Just in case the bike chain breaks, flooding makes it impossible to continue your tour or any other nasty surprise: You can reach us seven days a week and we will do anything to help you as fast as possible

Passport and visa requirements
For EU citizens, there are no special passport or visa requirements and no health formalities to be considered for this trip.

Travel insurance
The tour price already includes the statutory insolvency insurance. In addition, we recommend that you take out travel cancellation insurance upon receipt of your travel confirmation in order to protect yourself against financial disadvantages in the event of travel cancellation, interruption of travel, illness or accident.

Your travel expert for this tour

I provide you with advice and assistance

Nicole Janke

Travel Expert

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