Slovenia's diverse landscapes combined with the country's natural and cultural sights provide an amazing atmosphere for a biking holiday. You can choose from numerous cycling trails, so you will surely find a suitable one. Whether you are a beginner, an advanced biker, or if you are travelling with kids, there is a perfect option for you.
#1 Soca Valley Trail
Full-day trail
The trail will take you from the Julian Alps through the picturesque Soca Valley to Bovec - the adventure capital of Slovenia. Start from Kranjska Gora and bike past Lake Jasna towards the Vrsic Pass.
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You can also stop at Lake Jasna to look around, it’s worth a quick visit. The Vršič Pass is located at 1611 m in the Julian Alps, and the road offers spectacular views over the peaks. After the Pass, the downhill part will take you to the Trenta Valley – another amazingly beautiful place in the heart of the Triglav National Park.
The route will follow the Soča River to Bovec. Soca is considered by many to be the most beautiful European river. The emerald green colour of the water and the fascinating mountains are incredible sights.
The whole trip will probably take a day - especially with all the photo stops. The next day, you can explore the idyllic area and try some of the many adventures Bovec offers. Go ziplining, canyoning, rafting or paragliding – whatever you choose, you will not regret it later.
#2 Bela Krajina
Half-day trail
The diverse countryside of Bela Krajina offers a huge variety of cycling trails. You can choose a shorter circular route (suitable for beginners or families) or go for a very challenging trip if you are up for it. Cycle among white birches and vineyards and stop for a swim in the warm Kolpa River during the hot summer months.
The Lebica-Krupa cycling path is an easy and pleasant ride with many natural and cultural attractions. The route starts in the cultural centre of Semic, where you can check the Local Museum Collection, the courthouse, and the St. Stephen Church.
Then it continues through Vinji Vrh to Krupa, where you can find the source of the Krupa River. In terms of the water stage, this is the largest source in Bela Krajina. The water comes to the surface under a 30 meters high rock wall.
You can then bike along the Krupa River in the shallow karst area. The river source and the riverbank are both super photogenic, so spend some time exploring the beautiful area. Finish your trip on the Vinji Vrh – Brstovec – Trebnji Vrh – Semic route. The whole trip should take you about 3 hours.
- Find more cool biking trails on the official tourist website of Bela Krajina.
#3 Solcava Panoramic Road
Half-day trail
On this extremely picturesque trail, you can explore the natural, cultural, and ethnological heritage of the Solčava region. The Kamnik-Savinja Alps' peaks and Logar Valley's green fields offer a unique experience through the Solčava Panoramic Road. The trail is perfect for biking and hiking, but you can also travel there by motorcycle or car.
The whole length of the trail is 37 km, but for a shorter day trip, you can choose to bike only the central part of the route (21 km, marked with green on the map below). Only in this section can you spot 12 interesting attractions.
The ancient mountain village of Solcava, a mineral water spring, the viewpoint and tourist farm on Klemence (spectacular views!), the Lamotje Gorge, and the Logar Valley – just to name a few. If you get hungry during your trip, you can try some amazing homemade delicacies on one of the many tourist farms. You can also spend the nights on the farms if you visit Solcava for more than one day.
For longer visits, the panoramic road can be a great starting point for various hiking and mountaineering routes. You can continue the Solčava panoramic road to Matkov kot (marked with blue on the map) with magnificent views over the glacier valley. Or take a 6 km trip towards the Bukovc farm and then take a 30-minute-long walk to the Grohot mountain pasture (the orange route).
#4 Parenzana Bike Trail
Multiday trail
Bike along the former railway between Trieste and Porec and explore the Slovenian, Italian and Croatian coasts on two wheels. The distance is 130 km, and it should take about 10 hours.
You could do it in one day, but we advise you not to rush through it. Visit the charming Mediterranean towns, swim in the sea, enjoy the amazing landscapes and natural sights and explore local delicacies.
The trial is not that demanding, so it’s also a perfect choice for families. It’s best to bike along Parenzana in 2-5 days. You can choose an active weekend or a longer, more relaxing holiday with a lot of sightseeing. Alternatively, you can choose only shorter parts, which are close to your accommodation.
You don’t have to worry about getting bored even if you decide on the longer version. The lovely Croatian and Slovenian coastal towns – Koper, Izola, Piran, Umag, Novigrad, and Porec – are worth visiting. As for natural sights, check the Škocjanski zatok nature reserve, the Forma Viva stone sculpture collection or the Sečovlje Salina Nature Park.
- For detailed daily schedules, check out the official site of the Parenzana trail.
#5 Drava Cycling Route
Multi-day trail
The Drava Cycling Route runs through four countries (Italy, Austria, Slovenia, and Croatia), and its total length is more than 700 kilometres. The route begins in Toblach in Italy, right at the source of the Drava River.
Then it continues through Austria, Slovenia, and finally Croatia (although the route here is not yet fully finished and marked). The cycling route crosses the Slovenian border at Vic and continues for 145 kilometres before crossing the Croatian border at Sredisce ob Dravi.
The Slovenian part of the trail runs mostly along less travelled local roads and for some stretches along arranged cycling paths and tracks. The different types of road surfaces and a demanding climb between Podvelka and Lovrenc na Pohorju make the Slovenian route perfect for more experienced bikers. It’s also advised to use trekking or mountain bikes. You could catch a train from Podvelka to Fala if you want to avoid the climb.
The well-prepared cyclists can finish the Slovenian part of the Drava biking trail in two days. On the first day, bike from Dravograd to Maribor (68 km distance) and on the second day, continue from Maribor to Ormož (58 km distance).
The 3-4-day trip is perfect for recreational cyclists. If you would like to experience the atmosphere of the cities a bit more and enjoy the view on your way there, choose this option. When cycling from Dravograd to Maribor on your first day, catch the train between Podvelka and Fala.
This way, you will only have to bike 52 km. If you find this too much, you can stop at Radlje ob Dravi and go to Maribor the next day (with the train from Podvelka to Fala). If you are a fan of good wines, visit the Old Vine House in Maribor, where the oldest fruit-bearing vine grows, and try some delicious Slovenian wine.
The next day, after you have had the chance to roam the streets of Maribor, continue your trip to Ptuj - the oldest Slovenian city, and it’s truly a hidden gem. Make sure to visit the castle when wandering around the old town. For the last day, continue to Ormož (28 km distance).
- You can check out the official Drava Bike site for detailed daily schedules.
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