Cycling Slovenia: Ljubljana to the Adriatic
- Explore the charming historic city of Ljubljana, with its hill-top castle
- Enjoy excellent Slovenian wines and ice-cold beers
- Cycle from the Slovenian mountains to the warm Adriatic coast
- Visit Europe's highest caves at Postojna, with its waterfalls and gorge bridge
- Finish at Piran, a relaxed little Venetian harbour town
Gallery
Itinerary
Day 1 Arrive in LjubljanaYour journey begins in the Slovenian capital of Ljubljana. After settling into your hotel, take a stroll through the old town center with its beautiful bourgeois houses from the late 19th century, take a funicular ride to the city castle, or relax in a café by the Ljubljanica River that winds through the city.
Ljubljana is easily reached with flights into the capital’s airport offered by various low-cost airlines. Alternatively, Ljubljana is an easy hour’s drive from the border with Croatia, Austria or Italy.
A welcome meeting this evening (6pm) means you are ready and set for the coming days ahead.

A large, modern hotel only 5 minutes away from the centre of Ljubljana.
A nice easy first day across the historic and richly diverse plains surrounding the capital. As the morning sun begins to rise high in the sky, you will be cycling across an immense 160-square kilometer marshy plain. The Ljubljansko Barje was once a great lake until it dried up 6000 years ago, leaving behind an incredibly diverse landscape that is now home to some of Europe’s rarest forms of bird, plant and insect life. Along the way you can see the remnants of the world’s highest railway viaduct in Borovnica. In hot summer months you can even freshen up in a typical Carst Lake of Podpec. Just before arriving in Vrhnika, you can visit the Technical Museum of the Republic of Slovenia housed in Bistra Castle, where you’ll find a great hunting collection and an interesting exhibition of president Tito’s cars.
Ascent/Descent: 150m/160m

Complex of the hotel consist of the restaurant and Coffee shop Argos Cafe with it's unique summer garden, where you can taste our fabolous sweets, home-made gelato and other specialities.

Guesthouse Bajc offers nice and comfortable rooms and has a restaurant that serves regional cuisine. Rooms at Bajc have simple furnishings and are decorated in warm, natural colours. All rooms have access to free Wi-Fi.
On this day the roads will take you away from the main tourist routes and off the beaten track. You can also take a short detour to the impenetrable fortress of Predjama castle, wedged tight into a crevasse halfway up a 123-meter cliff-face protruding dramatically into the surrounding basin. Here lived a vivacious and daring knight. Erasmus kept a whole army at bay by utilizing the secret of the Predjama Caves to sneak out for supplies, which included freshly picked cherries which he used to throw at his adversaries to taunt them. Take the tour and learn how Erasmus met his untimely demise in less than poetic circumstances, as he was literally caught with his pants down.
Ascent/Descent: 760m/510m

A modern 4 star hotel in the centre of Postojna with beautiful views from its terrace and impeccable service.
So far nearly 30 million tourists have visited this stunningly beautiful underground Postojna cave formation, carved deep into the heart of the limestone hills. This is the most extensive cave system in Slovenia, covering a total of 21 kilometers. The 1½ hour tour will take you through a fairy tale world full of large and colorful stalactites and stalagmites, not forgetting the unique “human fish”, a mysterious creature that lives in dark pools inside the caves. In the afternoon you head to first vineyards of Vipava region.
Ascent/Descent: 240m/630m

The House of a Special Sort offers a variety of joys and unique elements showing in our apartments. Four apartments represent four stories. Each story belongs to a different flower: chicory, lilac, rosemary and lily of the valley. In each of the apartments a different, by all means unique, beat will reveal itself and all together they make the House of a Special Sort. Beside the apartments the house also offers various little and larger nooks and rooms where our guests can mingle or just rest and relax.
First stop is perhaps at the botanical garden in Sežana, then it’s on to the stud farm of Lipica, where you can visit these beautiful thoroughbred Lipizaner horses whose glistening white coats and gentle, graceful dancing have earned them a worldwide reputation. The history of the Lipica horses is closely linked to the Vienna riding school. Take a tour in a traditional carriage, watch them perform and visit them close up in their stables. This will be a day to remember. If you have the time for a couple of side-trips, you can also visit the very unusual but also very interesting “War Museum” set in the village tower of Lokev.
Ascent/Descent: 630m/360m

This hotel reflects a contemporary architecture of the picturesque Karst landscape under the azure Mediterranean sky, assures with its comfort and contemporary culinary trends unforgettable experiences and satisfies with it even the needs of the most pretentious guests.
If you missed Postojna Caves, don't worry - this morning, you have the chance to explore the Škocjan Caves, a UNESCO-listed natural monument known for their stunning beauty and tranquility. Next, head to Socerb Castle, where you'll be treated to breathtaking views of the Bay of Trieste, the Friulian Plain, and even the Julian Alps. Your day trip concludes in the charming town of Muggia, just south of Trieste. After a day of cycling, unwind with a delicious gelato in the town's historic center or relax on one of its inviting beaches. If you arrive early, consider a quick bus or boat trip into Trieste, a vibrant Italian city renowned for its rich history, cosmopolitan vibe, and captivating atmosphere
Ascent/Descent: 350m/780m

Located in the charming village of Porto San Rocco, a step away from Muggia and its Istrian-Venetian architecture. The newly modernised hotel offers free Wi-Fi throughout the hotel and a large terrace for you to relax after your days cycling.
Today you’ll be cycling alongside the coastal road with incredible views of the Slovene coast and Trieste Bay. Enjoy easy cycling on a new path which follows a former railway line. As you come closer to Piran, pause for a coffee in the chic seaside resort of Portoroz.
Finally reach the beautiful little Venetian harbour village of Piran. You’ll want to spend time here exploring the little alleyways and streets, as well as relaxing in a seafront café or restaurant. The holiday atmosphere here is simply wonderful!
Ascent/Descent: 230m/240m

The Tartini Hotel is situated in the very centre of a historical Piran, a pearl among northern Adriatic coastal towns. The location of the hotel gained even more value after the restoration of the Tartini Square in 2008 and closing it for traffic. From here to the town port there is literally only s step.

Located between the Adriatic coast and Piran's ancient old town, the Piran Hotel offers amazing sea views. It has been completely refurbished in 2013 and offers bright and comfortable rooms overlooking the sea or the old town.
Your trip ends after breakfast, although you might want to extend your stay in Piran or perhaps take the ferry (departs specific days only) to Venice.
Transfers are available (supplement payable) to Ljubljana, or you can take a bus then train back to the capital. Alternatively, why not take a ferry on to Venice; contact us to check timetable arrangements as these vary from day-to-day.
This trip has a carbon score of 11kg per person per night, meaning it’s one of our best trips! For comparison, a carbon count of 11kg is equivalent to 2 Neapolitan margherita pizzas. Buon appetito!. Here at Macs, we pride ourselves on being a responsible travel company and continue to adopt, develop and innovate ways to positively impact the environment. Find out more information on how we've carbon counted our trips.
Other Information
Is it for me?Explore Slovenia’s picturesque towns, castles, caves and villages as you cycle quiet country roads, with gentle rolling hills and some more steeper ascents/descents thrown into the mix. This varied tour offers so much—explore the capital city, rural countryside and forests, then finish on the Adriatic coast in stunning Piran. Perfection! Designed for relatively fit regular cyclists seeking an active holiday, you'll spend much of the day in the saddle experiencing the region and discovering its variety over longer daily distances. Relax in family-run 3 and 4-star hotels at the end of the rides, and spend one night in a relaxed family-run guesthouse.
Classic Routes | If you’re the active, outdoorsy type, who’s interested in taking on the great routes of the world or looking for a challenge, then our Classic Routes are for you. We’re talking the West Highland Way, Tour Du Mont Blanc and the Passau to Vienna Danube Cycle Path, to name but a few!
Leisure Cycling | Leisure Cycling
Solo Travellers
The minimum age for this tour is: 12 Years
This cycle tour is graded ‘moderate’. The grade is determined on the basis of the entire trip. Individual days may vary in terms of difficulty, i.e. some rides may be slightly more difficult or easier than the overall grade as there are a small number of challenging climbs on some of the days. There are a small number of challenging climbs on some of the days, however it is mostly gentle hills, with an average daily elevation gain between approximately 100-500m / 300ft-1600ft.
You will bike on 75% regional country roads, 15% cycleways, 5% main road on the city/town approach sections. On these main road sections it is busier with traffic, so please always be mindful of other road users.
The surface is 95% asphalt and paved, and 5% unpaved.
Our Cycling Slovenia trip includes accommodation in standard en suite double/twin rooms in mostly family-run hotels of a general 3-4* standard (ratings are not official). You'll spend 1 night in a family-run guesthouse.
Accommodation Alternatives
In busy periods and when availability is limited, you may be accommodated in properties alternative to those mentioned here; you will be informed after booking if this is the case.Single Rooms & Solo Cyclists
Single rooms are available although a supplement is payable. This trip is available to solo cyclists.Navigation is straightforward with GPX tracks provided in our Macs smartphone app.
- 7 Nights in 3-4* family-run hotels and 1 guesthouse
- 7 Breakfasts
- Baggage transfer (1 bag per person up to 23kg)
- Detailed trip info and mapped tracks, via the Macs App
- 24/7 Emergency telephone support from our office
- Travel to Ljubljana / from Piran
- Bike hire (standard hybrid and e-bike available)
- Lunches, dinners, drinks & snacks
- Personal equipment
- Travel insurance (required)
- Additional nights
- Bike hire (standard hybrid touring and e-bike available)
You can begin your trip on any day of the week from April into October.
Slovenia is in full swing during the summer months. The weather is as its most reliable, and all of the sights are open, there are also a number of festivals. It can be very hot in summer so you will need to carry plenty of water with you and use sun protection. We recommend starting cycling early to miss the heat of the day. Spring and Autumn months promise colourful landscapes, cooler temperatures and fewer crowds. Rain or thunderstorms can occur at any time of year, so we recommend packing rain gear.
By Air: The International airport in Ljubljana is well served with flights from all major cities. From the airport, it is easy to take a shuttle bus into the city centre, or we can arrange a private transfer if you would prefer this (additional cost).
By Car: Ljubljana is within easy reach of the Italian, Austrian and Croatian borders—just around an hour’s drive, making it easily accessible if this is part of a wider European trip.
By Bus & Train: To travel from Piran back to Ljubljana you can take a bus (approx. 3hrs) from Piran to Ljubljana Main Bus station. Alternatively, we can arrange a private transfer for you at a supplement.
By Ferry: Alternatively, it is also possible to take a ferry from Piran (or a nearby port) to Venice. This takes approx. 2h30 and operates on specific days—please check with us at the time of booking.
Daily door to door baggage transfer is included in the price of your trip. We ask you to keep your baggage to a maximum of 1 bag per person (maximum weight 23kg).
The distances and ascents/descents are approximations of the recommended routes.
Bike & E-Bike Hire
Hybrid bikes (Trek FX2 Disc) are available for hire for an extra cost, as well as a high quality E-bike (Scott or Bergamont Wave Tour 5).
For some battery-powered assistance on longer days, and to ease ascents, we recomend hiring an E-bike. The rechargeable battery on your bike will be your reliable riding partner, getting you to the top of hills or to your final destination with more energy in the tank for an afternoon swim or simply for exploring. E-bikes are growing rapidly in popularity so please make sure to request one at the time of booking so we can secure availability for your trip and avoid disappointment.
Minimum age for ebikehire is 16yrs.
It is a requirement of booking this tour with Macs Adventure that you have suitable Travel Insurance which covers you for the activity, emergency evacuation and hospital care.
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