Bordering the Adriatic Sea on the Balkan Peninsula, Croatia is an immensely varied destination. On our Croatia cycling tours, you’ll discover the picture-perfect coastline and wonderful inland trails through spectacular national parks and open countryside. Our Cycling the Dalmatian Coast tour has become a classic and combines a great road trip with a fabulous beach tour. The itinerary ends in the UNESCO walled city of Dubrovnik, familiar to many for its red-tiled roofs that contrast against the azure waters of the sea.
Croatia’s Dalmatian Coast is one of the prettiest in Europe and is brimming with history and culture. As you navigate scenic biking routes that wind along the coast, you’ll discover picturesque villages, medieval towns and idyllic islands such as Korcula and Hvar. There’s also plenty of time to immerse yourself in the culture and sample the delicious Croatian food at one of the many restaurants or pavement cafes.
Due to the country’s excellent terrain, we offer an off-road cycling trip that takes in the unique karst scenery of the Plitvice Lakes and Velebit National Park. With lots of wide tracks and breathtaking scenery, it’s a mountain biker’s dream. And new to the mix is a challenging road itinerary that is designed to take advantage of the Istrian countryside, and its long undulating roads will make for six challenging days of riding, but the rewards are abundant.
If you don’t fancy a group itinerary, there are also self-guided options, leaving you to discover your own treasures in this traveller’s wonderland. So now all you need to do is work out which of our biking tours in Croatia is for you!
Our Croatia Cycling Tours
8 Daysfrom£ 1795
Guided Group (Excl. Flights)
Cycling routes along Croatia's spectacular Dalmatian coastline
Cycling
Cycle along Croatia's spectacular Istrian Peninsula
Hvar: With its narrow, zig-zagging streets, Gothic palaces and trendy seafood restaurants, the Dalmatian port town of Hvar is a firm favourite for foodies and history lovers. It has been compared to a mini-Venice and its swanky harbour filled with yachts often attracts an A-list crowd in the summer, but there’s lots more to explore here. Walk among the ancient walls to discover striking cathedrals and centuries-old architecture or head up to the hilltop fortress for panoramic coastal views. You’ll also find several sun-drenched beaches and inland, sweet-smelling lavender fields.
Dubrovnik Old Town: Hugged on all sides by its imposing city walls, Dubrovnik Old Town is packed with history and old-world charm. The walls are some of the best-preserved in the world and you can enjoy the most incredible views as you walk along them. Overlooking the Adriatic Sea, the terracotta-tiled roofs of the city make Dubrovnik instantly recognisable from the coast. The streets of the Old Town are lined with churches, ornate palaces and fountains, creating a sublime backdrop for its many restaurants. WE recommend taking a pitstop on cycling holidays in Croatia to indulge in some of the finest seafood dishes in Dalmatia.
Pula: Right at the tip of the Istrian Peninsula, Pula is mostly known for its well-preserved Roman amphitheatres and ancient temples. Among its meandering streets, you’ll also find historical landmarks, stylish boutiques, galleries and restaurants. You might even fancy hopping off your bike to hydrate at one of the open-air bars where you can mix with the locals, or head down to the vibrant harbour and watch the yachts come into dock. A boat ride from Pula to Brijuni National Park will introduce you to the island’s impressive Roman villas, Brijuni zoo and Byzantine villages, where you can learn about the history of Marshal Josip Tito.
Korcula: At the heart of Korcula Island lies Korcula town with its marble-fronted buildings, red roofs and ancient port. The town stands beneath the gaze of the Dinaric Alps and is a true gem worth exploring on trips to Croatia. Many visitors come to sample the world-famous wines and fish stew, but the stunning scenery is a huge lure too. The medieval walls wrap around narrow cobbled streets where there’s a real air of history and rustic charm. Korcula is often compared to Dubrovnik, although it is less frequented by the tourist crowd. This is a great place to delve deeper into the soul of Dalmatia and experience life as a local.
Rovinj: Also known as the Venice of Istria, Rovinj is made up of a labyrinth of narrow alleyways and red-roofed houses that tumble down to the sea. Undoubtedly, it’s a Dalmatian beauty but there’s so much more to Rovinj than its aesthetics. Walk along the colourful harbour or visit the 18th-century St Euphemia’s Basilica where you’ll find noteworthy artwork and ornate frescoes. Winding up to St Euphemia is Grisia, a cobblestone street lined with art galleries and local, artisanal crafts, which transforms into a cultural hub in the summer.
I had such an amazing time in Morocco. Despite taking ill, as I must have eaten something funny on the first day, I managed to power through thanks to the support and guidance from the leaders and fellow group members. The views of the desert in front of you with the Atlas mountains covered in snow in the background is amazing!
My first cycling trip ever and being only a recreational cyclist i was a bit worried if i’d keep up, but i worried needlessly! Anyone with a good level of fitness and the right mindset will be fine. It was humid, wet, hilly and challenging on times, but we all kept up and altogether it was a great adventure and the downhills, wildlife and scenery more than made up for it.
Sardinia is a beautiful island and the south west part where we were is different from other parts of the island – secluded, no celebrities, great mix of beach and nature, and genuine Sardinian food. We had two guides, both were excellent. The tour was well organised, everyone was kept together and safety felt like a priority. I like that they organised snacks and drinks for our stops, including electrolyte drinks! Negatives – we feel this tour doesn’t offer value for money. Pro rata it is one of the most expensive cycling tours in Europe but the accommodation quality was low. Only two working ACs, showers were old and with weak water pressure. When we all arrived, some hotels didn’t have enough hot water so people who went for the shower late ended up having a cold shower. For one hotel where there was no working AC (muma hostel), we were told it was too late at night to call the electrician but they would repair it the next morning (but we were only there for one night!). Later our group leader told us that the AC in that particular room had not been working for the last 2 weeks. There was no offer to move us to a different room. We didn’t appreciate being lied to and will leave a review about this on the hotel’s website. Also note that the support van was small and filled with our bags so there’s only 1-2 spaces for people to sit if anyone decides not to do the hill climb. Though with the e-bikes I think this probably won’t be much of a problem.