Cycling and outdoor activities in Poreč: Parenzana, hiking, diving

Cycling in Poreč: 24 routes for an Istria cycling holiday

The Poreč Tourist Board lists 24 numbered cycling routes on its website, each with its length and riding time. They start in Poreč itself and in places such as Funtana, Vabriga, Červar, Kaštelir, Višnjan and Vižinada, and run along the coast or inland through vineyards, olive groves and forest. Some are easy, some more demanding. Thanks to the mild climate, the tourist board says, cycling teams also come to Poreč for winter training.

These routes start right in Poreč:

• 151 Poreč Countryside: 16 km, about 1:30 h. An easy loop through Varvari, Veleniki and Kosinožići on gravel roads and a shady forest trail; the last part follows the Parenzana. A mountain bike is recommended.
• 145 From the Sea to the Baredine Cave: 31 km, 2 to 2:30 h. A mountain bike loop that starts on the Parenzana, heads via Nova Vas to the Baredine cave and returns to Poreč past Červar Porat on the coast.
• 155 Giro di Parenzo: 51 km, 2 to 2:30 h. Quiet roads with easy climbs via Červar, Tar and Nova Vas, a short gravel section between Fuškulin and Funtana, and back along coastal paths.
• 159 Three Castles: 90 km, 3:30 to 5 h. A road loop for road cyclists via Sv. Lovreč, Dvigrad, Svetvinčenat and Žminj, with a few shorter and two longer climbs.

Parenzana bike trail: the old railway towards Motovun and Trieste

The Parenzana was a narrow-gauge railway (760 mm) between Trieste and Poreč. The first train ran on 1 April 1902, the last on 31 August 1935. The line was 123.1 km long, with 35 stations and stops, 9 tunnels, 11 bridges and 6 viaducts, all of the viaducts on the section between Buje and Poreč. Today the route crosses three countries: 13 km in Italy, 32 km in Slovenia and 78 km in Croatia. A project launched in 2002 turned it into a route for hikers and cyclists: the whole trail is marked with yellow signposts, bridges and viaducts have guard rails and the tunnels are lit.

Poreč station stood at Pical and was the largest on the line. From there the route runs via Nova Vas, Višnjan, Vižinada and Rakotule to Motovun, then on via Livade, Oprtalj, Završje, Grožnjan and Triban to Buje. The Buje–Poreč section measures 63.54 km, and the highest point of the whole railway, 293 m, is near Grožnjan. The Parenzana project calls the stretch from Grožnjan to Livade, with six tunnels and four viaducts, the most attractive part.

Worth knowing before you go: the official Parenzana website says the surface is rough in places, so the trail suits mountain bikes, not road or trekking bikes, and you ride at your own risk. Besides routes 145 and 151 from Poreč, these tourist board routes use parts of the Parenzana:

• 103 Family Vižinada: 13 km, 1 to 1:30 h, mostly gravel, along the old railway past stone houses, vineyards, olive groves and chestnut woods. A mountain bike is recommended.
• 112 Baredine Trail: 9 km, about 1 h, from the Baredine cave through vineyards and forest, joining the Parenzana as far as Nova Vas.
• 104 On the Edges of Poreč: 48 km, 3 to 4 h, a varied mountain bike loop from Vižinada via Višnjan and Baderna, partly on the Parenzana.

Bike hire in Poreč: Bike Center, Bike Share and pump track

Bike Center Poreč is inside the Valamar Parentino hotel (Pical 1), with the Parenzana close by. It rents mechanical and electric bikes of various types and offers guided tours, transfers for riders and bikes, and a repair service. Its bike park, with a large asphalt pump track and a loop for children, is open to the public and free for guests and residents, according to the tourist board. A second pump track of 902 m² is at the town beach, for bikes of any size, skateboards, roller skates and scooters.

For short trips around town there is Poreč Bike Share: 35 mechanical bikes and 35 e-bikes at 5 stations. You take a bike at one station and return it at another. The tourist board also lists 10 more addresses for bike hire, repairs, bike shops and bike transport.

Rules to know: cyclists must use bike paths or bike lanes, otherwise keep to the right edge of the road, and ride in single file in a group. Riders under 16 must wear a helmet on the road. The tourist board gives a fine of EUR 40 for breaking these rules. Off-road: stay on existing trails, respect closures and private land, and do not startle animals.

Hiking and walking in Poreč: seaside paths and inland trails

The tourist board suggests four walking routes; lengths are one way:

• Old town: 2.5 km through a maze of stone lanes, including the Euphrasian Basilica.
• Poreč – Plava Laguna: 3.8 km, 1 to 1.5 h, along the seafront promenade, almost all of it in the shade of evergreens and mostly lit at night.
• Plava Laguna – Zelena Laguna: 4.5 km, 1.5 to 2 h, past sports centres and hotels. Near the Plavi hotel, 173 steps lead up a 38 m hill to the chapel of Sv. Nikola.
• Northern promenade: 11.5 km, 3.5 to 4.5 h, meant for anyone staying north of the town who wants to walk into the centre, with plenty of places to stop.

Diving in Poreč, snorkelling, kayaking and SUP

Diving: the tourist board lists diving centres in Poreč (Brulo and Plava Laguna), at Lanterna near Tar-Vabriga and two in Vrsar, plus an air-filling station in Poreč. They run CMAS and PADI courses, Nitrox and freediving, rent equipment and organise night dives. The centres operate from the beginning of April to the end of October; trips outside that period can be arranged. The nearest hyperbaric chamber is in Pula.

Snorkelling: the Istria Tourist Board describes a snorkelling spot at Pical, in front of the Pentola restaurant. Steps lead into the sea, sandy paths lie about 3 m deep, and on the bottom there is a low Roman-era stone wall, roof tiles and pieces of amphorae. Because of boat traffic, stay inside the barrier marked by a cork line, and do not touch compass jellyfish. The diving centres also run simple snorkelling tours for families, says the tourist board. For other beaches, see Poreč beaches.

Kayak and SUP: according to the tourist board, guided kayak tours go to the islets off Poreč, into the Lim Channel, to the Vrsar archipelago and to the Mirna river; no experience is needed. SUP rental and tours are available at Peškera Cove, Zelena Laguna and Funtana, among others, along with SUP yoga and courses. At Zelena Laguna, Ski Lift Poreč pulls water skiers and wakeboarders on a 650 m cable from Easter to early November.

Tennis, padel, golf and running: more Poreč activities

Poreč has about 120 tennis courts at 13 venues, almost all of them clay, according to the tourist board. The Valamar Diamant hotel has two indoor courts that are open all year. You can play padel at the Poreč Motodrome and at the Valamar Diamant hotel. At Molindrio Cove, at the entrance to Zelena Laguna, there is a driving range with shots up to 330 m and a golf school, open all year by appointment.

For running, the tourist board points to the promenades at Plava and Zelena Laguna and the paths north from the centre to Materada. Inland, trails run over gravel tracks and forest paths, partly on the Parenzana, around Vižinada, Kaštelir and Višnjan. Events it mentions include Ironman 70.3, the Plava Laguna Half Marathon and the Poreč Triathlon.

Road cyclists have a fixed date: at Istria300 all riders start and finish together in Poreč, on roads closed to car traffic, with up to 300 km and shorter options. The organiser gives 2 October 2027 for the next edition.

Villa Matea: a base for cycling, beaches and the old town

Villa Matea is in a quiet spot in the north of Poreč. Your car stays free of charge in the private parking space inside the enclosed courtyard, which is handy when you drive to route starts such as Vižinada, Višnjan or Funtana. The nearest beach is about 10 minutes on foot, the old town 15 to 20 minutes. Each of the three apartments has a kitchen, washing machine and air conditioning, so your sports kit is clean again soon after a ride. Your host Zlatko replies within a day, and enquiries are free of charge: see the apartments.

More ideas for your stay: day trips from Poreč, the Poreč holiday guide and Poreč with kids.