PARENZANA
OVERVIEW
THE PARENZANA BICYCLE ROUTE
Parenzana is a bicycle route that connects 3 countries: Italy, Slovenia, and Croatia.
It starts in the multicultural and historically important port town of Trieste (Italy) and finishes in the seaside town the route got its name from, Poreč/Parenzo (Croatia).
The route, which runs on a recreational path, has replaced the former narrow-gauge railway line that was connecting the two towns between 1902 and 1935.
LINEAR ROUTE
CIRCULAR ROUTE
TIME
6-9 days
April - September
LEVEL OF DIFFICULTY
3/5
rolling, hilly terrain
Suitable for all types of cyclists
SURFACE
40 % paved (Italy, Slovenia, Croatia)
60 % gravel (Croatia, Slovenia)
BICYCLE
A hybrid bike
A mountain bike
TAKE WITH YOU
A bike headlight (for tunnels)
A spare inner tube
A puncture kit
LINEAR
ROUTE
Trieste - Poreč
Parenzana is a signposted linear bicycle route (marked blue on the map).
It runs for 123 km (76 miles).
It includes 986 m (3,235 ft) of elevation gain.
The daily distances cycled range around 30 km per day (19 miles).
To get back to the starting point (Trieste), you can opt for a boat ride or choose another means of transport.
You will need 6 days for the whole journey (arrival and departure days included).
CIRCULAR
ROUTE
Trieste - Poreč - Trieste
If instead of taking the boat back to the starting point you wish to cycle to Trieste as well, you can opt for the circular route (marked green on the map).
From Poreč back to Trieste, you cycle mostly on local and regional roads.
These take you along the Adriatic coast (in Croatia as well as in Slovenia) and through the Dragonja Valley (in Slovenia).
The route from Poreč to Trieste is 97 km long (60 miles), which means the entire circular route (Trieste - Poreč - Trieste) stretches for 220 km (137 miles).
It includes 1,571 m (5,154 feet) of elevation gain (986 m / 3,235 feet from Trieste to Poreč and 585 m / 1,919 feet from Poreč to Trieste).
The daily distances cycled range from 15 to 40 km per day (9-25 miles).
It will take you 9 days to cycle the route (arrival and departure days included).
