Cycling day trip from Trieste to Karojba

Roll out from Trieste’s grand piazzas and coffee bars and trace the Adriatic before turning inland into the green folds of Istria. It’s about 100 km with roughly 1,950 m of climbing—mostly rolling, with plenty of short, punchy ramps.

Routing leans on cycleways, quiet roads and farm tracks, with just a few brief busy bits. Surfaces are mixed: roughly half paved with a lot of gravel, so wider tires (35–40 mm) pay off. Parts may follow the old Parenzana railway corridor—think tunnels, viaducts, and big views—so a small light can be handy.

You’ll slip from Italy along the Slovenian coast and into Croatia; borders are usually smooth, but carry ID. The finale heads into truffle country, finishing in Karojba, a sleepy Istrian village near hilltop Motovun and the Mirna valley.

Fun facts: Trieste was once the Habsburg Empire’s main port and still prides itself on a serious espresso culture. Karojba sits amid forests famed for both white and black truffles.