The Parenzana cycle route is one of the most beautiful cycle touring routes in Europe and was created from what was once the railway connecting Trieste and Poreč.

The Parenzana is located in the northwestern Istria, a land of vineyards, olive groves, and ancient medieval villages. There are numerous points of interest not to be missed during a trip, to discover the authenticity of this area of Croatia, including Umag, the Salvador Lighthouse, the Basilica of St. Euphrasia, and many others.

What you may not yet know is that this beautiful Mediterranean area is the ideal destination for a bike trip, or rather a mountain bike trip, as several points are unpaved: the Parenzana cycle path is indeed the perfect route for a holiday dedicated to the sea, nature, and relaxation, together with friends or family.

In this article, we will explain the route, what not to miss, and other travel tips!

Parenzana by bike: the route

The original route of the railway started from Trieste and arrived in Poreč: the itinerary can therefore start from the Trieste railway station, cross the border and reach Piran, the little Venice of Istria.

In Piran, you will fall in love with the narrow and uphill alleys, but also with the typical architecture and the wonderful view of the sea.

From the coast, then you move towards the hinterland, direction Motovun: one of the most beautiful villages in Istria, famous for producing excellent wines.

From Motovun, the route is exactly the historic one of the Parenzana which is now a cycle path: you will pass through tunnels and viaducts once traveled by the narrow-gauge train. From the hinterland, you then return to the sea through dirt roads and cultivated fields, until you arrive on the beautiful coast of Poreč, which in Croatian is called Poreč.

The Parenzana combines history, traditions, gastronomy, and nature in a single route, suitable for everyone, even for the less expert cyclists, but be careful: the roads are often disconnected and for this reason, you need to travel on the Parenzana with MTB (mountain bike) not with regular city or road bikes.

Parenzana cycle path: how to get back?

Many wonder whether the Parenzana cycle route is a circular or loop route. In fact, following the old railway route, it is a linear route that starts in Trieste and ends in Poreč. To get back, you can choose to travel the route in reverse, although we recommend extending your stay in Poreč for a few days to enjoy the beauty of the Istrian sea. Then you can choose to return to Trieste by bus, ferry, or hydrofoil; in this case, we recommend opting for the organized version of the trip, renting a bike, which you can leave in Poreč.

If you want to retrace the route in the opposite direction by bike, it will take about 5 days for the outbound journey and the same for the return journey, considering the intermediate stages.

History of the Parenzana

It all started from the historical route of the Trieste-Buia-Poreč railroad. The narrow-gauge line was operational from 1902 to 1935 for a total route of 123 km, which makes it the longest narrow-gauge line built by the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

Given the complexity of the route, especially in the second section, the average train speed was 25/30 km per hour.

In 1935 it was definitively closed because its route runs inside the area of the Raffineria Aquila, completed precisely in 1936, and its maintenance would have required the construction of a tunnel, which was not included in the costs.

All the locomotives and railway material have been dismantled, the only remaining piece today in Italy is the P7 locomotive which can be visited at the Leonardo Da Vinci museum in Milan, while the P3 locomotive is located in Slovenia.

The project to transform the old railway track into a bike path began in 2002 and since then, countless cycle tourists have chosen to follow this route to discover the most authentic side of Istria.

From train tracks, to two bicycle wheels: time has transformed this incredible route but has not changed the traditions and beauty of the territory!

Find the perfect tour for your MTB trip along the Parenzana cycle path on Cyclando!