The Parenzana portal curated by ViaggiareSlow: the route stage by stage, an interactive map, official GPS tracks, tours and bike rental at the Italian starting point.
The Parenzana is almost flat — it was a railway, after all — but it changes character along the way: asphalt and coastline at the start, then gravel, tunnels and hills in the second half.
Starting from the sea at Muggia, you cross the Slovenian border and pass Koper, Izola and Portorož on the way to the salt pans.
Once in Croatia, gravel takes over among hills, vineyards and the hilltop villages of inland Istria.
From the hilltop of Motovun the route drops gently to the sea, past historic stations and the last tunnel, to the finish line.
An interactive map with the three stages, tunnels, historic stations and points of interest curated by ViaggiareSlow. Download the tracks and take them with you.
Trips dedicated to the Parenzana, curated by ViaggiareSlow and our partners. Choose the freedom of a self-guided ride or the comfort of a guided trip.
A slow week along the border between Italy, Slovenia and Croatia, with a guide, hospitality in the villages and local flavours.
Set off whenever you like, at your own pace. We provide the GPS track, roadbook and bike; we take care of the way back.
Our Bike Point is in Porto San Rocco, Muggia — right where the cycle route begins. Over 40 bikes including e-bikes, e-MTBs and MTBs, with helmets, locks and bags.
You can almost still see it, that puffing little train, appearing at the mouth of one of the tunnels in the middle of the woods: a narrow-gauge locomotive hauling a few carriages of goods and people along the Trieste–Poreč line in the early twentieth century. This is the Parenzana, the former Istrian railway decommissioned in 1935, which today traces an extraordinary cycling and walking route through north-western Istria. Where trains once ran, cyclists and hikers now pass through, in search of an authentic experience spanning three countries: Italy, Slovenia and Croatia.
We reconstructed this story with the Trieste Railway Museum, in a dedicated documentary.
Read the full story →It's the question everyone asks after 118 km. Here are the three real options for closing the loop, bikes and all.
Seasonal Poreč → Trieste services that also carry bikes. The most convenient solution: book, load your bike, and return to the starting point. Dates and operators change every season.
Rates →In high season, sea connections along the Istrian coast, with the option to bring your bike aboard. Ideal if you want to head back while admiring the coastline from the sea.
For those with a few extra days: retrace the Parenzana in reverse, or head back along the coast. A journey within the journey, for true slow travellers.
The official guide to discovering a route through the most secret side of Istria — far from the crowds, yet so close: from Trieste to Poreč along the 123 km of what, between 1902 and 1935, was the Parenzana railway. Across Italy, Slovenia and Croatia.
Detailed stages, map plates and GPS tracks for riding independently, written by those who mapped the route.
A periodical magazine dedicated to sustainable tourism in Alpe Adria: stories, routes and places to experience slowly. Browse the latest issue or download it as a PDF.
Everything you need to know before setting off: distances, getting back, transport, where to sleep.
The ViaggiareSlow route from Muggia to Poreč measures 118 km (the historic "official" ~123 km include the urban connecting sections). It crosses Italy, Slovenia and Croatia.
We split it into 3 stages: Muggia–Sečovlje (~36 km), Sečovlje–Livade (~50 km), Motovun–Poreč (~32 km). It's doable in one intense day by e-bike; the nicest way is over 2–3 days with stops in the villages.
The options: seasonal bike-bus and transfer services between Poreč and Trieste that carry bikes, a ferry along the coast in high season, or cycling back. Services change every year: we keep this seasonal overview up to date.
Yes, and it's the most convenient choice. Our Bosch e-bikes cover long distances, but on the full route it's worth planning a mid-way recharge — we say this openly.Discover our e-bikes for rent →
The first section (Muggia–Portorož) is mostly asphalt; from Croatia onward gravel prevails, stony in places, along with the former railway tunnels. That's both the charm and the challenge of the Parenzana.
Accommodation in the Istrian villages (Buje, Grožnjan, Motovun) and in coastal towns (Portorož, Poreč). In the stage pages we recommend the best stopping points. Contact us for further suggestions.
At our Bike Point in Muggia (Strada per Lazzaretto 2, Porto San Rocco), at the Italian starting point. Over 40 bikes including e-bikes, e-MTBs and MTBs.Book your bike →