Late May — Early June 2026
Let's Ride
Slovenia
A 2-week ride from Ljubljana to Rijeka — Julian Alps, emerald Soča Valley, Trieste, the Parenzana rail trail, and the Adriatic coast. Three countries, ~550 km, one unforgettable trip.
Why This Route?
Three countries, zero backtracking. Start in Ljubljana, cross the Julian Alps over the legendary Vršič Pass, follow the emerald Soča River to the sea, detour into Trieste for Italian coffee and seafood, then ride the Parenzana rail trail and EV8 coast through Slovenia and Croatia to Rijeka. The mix of alpine gravel, historic trails, and coastal cycling is hard to beat anywhere in Europe — and late May means warm days, long light, and passes freshly open.
The Route
Ljubljana to Rijeka across three countries. Interactive map with elevation profile — zoom in, click around.
Route Highlights
Vršič Pass & Julian Alps
Slovenia’s highest road pass at 1,611m — 50 hairpin turns of cobbled WWI-era road. The Russian Chapel, limestone spires, and the epic descent into the Soča Valley.
Soča Valley
Follow the emerald Soča River through gorges, past WWI sites at Kobarid, and alongside turquoise swimming holes. The water colour has to be seen to be believed.
Trieste
A detour into Italy’s coffee capital. Habsburg architecture, world-class seafood, and the Adriatic waterfront. The perfect rest-day city between mountains and coast.
Parenzana Trail
A converted narrow-gauge railway from the Austro-Hungarian era. Car-free gravel through tunnels, over viaducts, and along the Istrian hills — one of Europe’s best rail trails.
Slovenian & Croatian Coast
Venetian towns of Piran and Koper, salt pans at Sečovlje, then the EV8 EuroVelo route along the Adriatic into Croatia. Swim stops guaranteed.
Rijeka
Finish in Croatia’s gritty port city — 2020 European Capital of Culture. Harbour-side bars, the Korzo promenade, and the satisfaction of having pedalled across three countries.
14-Day Itinerary
B&B stays every night — real beds, hot showers, local breakfast. Two rest days built in for adventures (or recovery).
Arrival in Ljubljana
Fly in, assemble bikes, explore the charming capital. Dragon Bridge, riverside cafés, Metelkova art district.
Ljubljana → Škofja Loka
Ride out through the Ljubljana Marshes on quiet paths into medieval Škofja Loka — one of the oldest towns in Slovenia.
Škofja Loka → Lake Bled
Forest trails and rolling hills to the iconic Lake Bled. Swim, rent a pletna boat to the island, or hike up to Bled Castle.
Lake Bled → Kranjska Gora
Through the Radovna Valley with Julian Alps views all around. Arrive in the ski town of Kranjska Gora at the foot of Vršič Pass.
Vršič Pass → Bovec
The big climbing day! 50 hairpin bends on the historic WWI cobbled road. Russian Chapel stop. Epic descent into the Soča Valley.
Rest Day in Bovec
Recover those legs! Bovec is the adventure capital — rafting on the Soča, canyoning, zip-lining, or just soaking in the emerald pools.
Bovec → Kobarid → Tolmin
Follow the emerald Soča downstream. Kobarid WWI museum, Napoleon Bridge, and a swim in the Tolmin Gorge.
Tolmin → Goriška Brda
Climb into Slovenia’s Tuscany — rolling wine hills of Brda with panoramic views. First glimpse of the Adriatic. Wine tasting at a local estate.
Goriška Brda → Trieste
Cross into Italy via Nova Gorica. Descend to the Adriatic and arrive in Trieste — espresso, Habsburg grandeur, and seafood on the waterfront.
Rest Day in Trieste
Rest day in Italy’s coffee capital. Miramare Castle, Piazza Unità, Canal Grande, aperitivo by the sea. Restock and recharge.
Trieste → Parenzana → Koper
Pick up the Parenzana rail trail heading south — car-free gravel through old railway tunnels and over viaducts. Arrive on the Slovenian coast at Koper.
Koper → Piran → EV8 coast
Ride the Slovenian coast: Izola, Strunjan cliffs, the Venetian gem of Piran. Continue past Sečovlje salt pans and cross into Croatia at Plovanija.
Umag → EV8 → Opatija
EuroVelo 8 along the Croatian Adriatic. Through Novigrad and along the Kvarner coast to the elegant seaside town of Opatija. Last big ride.
Opatija → Rijeka → Departure
Short final spin along the coast to Rijeka. Coffee on the Korzo, pack the bikes, and fly home from Croatia with legs of steel.
The Practical Stuff
🚲Bike Setup
Gravel bike with 38mm+ tires (hardtail MTB works too). Mostly gravel roads and doubletrack with some tarmac. 75% unpaved but 99% rideable.
🏠Accommodation
B&Bs and guesthouses all the way. Pre-bookable on Booking.com. Expect €40–70/night for a double room with breakfast. No camping gear needed!
☀️Weather (Late May)
Warm days (20–25°C), cool mornings in the Alps. Passes freshly open for the season. Pack a light rain jacket and arm warmers for descents.
💰Budget Estimate
Flights ~€100–200. Accommodation ~€700–900 (shared rooms). Food ~€25–35/day. Total roughly €1,200–1,500 per person for 2 weeks.
🍕Food & Drink
Resupply easy — towns with shops every 20–30 km. Must-try: štruklji, potica, Soča trout, and local wines (Rebula, Teran).
🗺️Navigation
Full GPX route on RideWithGPS. Works great with Wahoo / Garmin or phone. Good cell coverage throughout Slovenia.
So… are we doing this?
550 km across three countries. Two weeks of alpine passes, emerald rivers, Italian espresso, coastal sunsets, and Croatian seafood. Real beds every night. Let's make it happen.