Excursion à vélo d’une journée de Trieste à 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.