Cycling for everyone
With its accommodation facilities and accompanying services, Plava Laguna complements a cycling holiday on attractive cycling routes. Poreč, Umag and the surrounding area boast around 50 marked mountain and road trails divided into 4 categories according to difficulty – Easy, Medium, Difficult and Family – suitable for all profiles of cycling tourists. This makes the destinations ideal for organizing cycling events, trainings and races, catering to everybody – from recreational cyclists to groups and professionals. One such event is the popular UCI Istria Gran Fondo, which is held every year on the roads of Novigrad and Umag and attracts a large number of cyclists and fans of this sport.
The beauties of cycling in Istria
The cycling paths are well-maintained, well-marked and regularly serviced. Some of the most beautiful locations and vistas of this region can only be experienced on two wheels. The sea, vineyards and olive groves, forests and streams, medieval towns - these are just some of the cycling highlights of this area.
The most visited trail for cyclists and pedestrians in Istria is Parenzana - a route along the old narrow-gauge railway that once connected Trieste and Poreč. Of its total length of 120 km, 80 km pass through Istria, connecting more than 30 larger and smaller towns, numerous attractions, panoramic viewpoints, winemakers and olive growers. That is why it is called the Route of Health and Friendship.
Tailored accommodation and amenities
Certain hotels and apartments near cycling routes, such as Hotel Garden Istra Plava Laguna, Hotel Umag Plava Laguna, Hotel Molindrio Plava Laguna and Hotel Plavi Plava Laguna, offer bicycle storage and additional services to accommodate cyclists. Wherever you stay, you will always have access to bike rentals, equipment stores, repair workshops, detailed route information and many other cyclist-friendly services nearby.
Running and trail
Running is one of the most popular forms of recreation in the world, and Umag and Poreč boast miles of well-maintained and marked trails showcasing the unique coastal beauty and serene inland landscapes. It is on these trails that professional runners and recreational enthusiasts alike improve their fitness, discover new terrains and push their own limits every day.
Some trails follow the coast, others wind through olive groves, old villages or forests, all ready to be explored. They are adapted to different levels of fitness and experience. With natural beauty, ideal climatic conditions, excellent infrastructure and special programmes for runners of all levels, Poreč and Umag are increasingly becoming the choice of trail and running enthusiasts. Put on your sneakers, choose a trail, and treat yourself to a break for your body and soul any time of the year.
Events not to be missed
In addition to offering top-notch accommodation near running and trail routes, Plava Laguna boasts years of experience in organizing running events such as the popular Plava Laguna Halfmarathon, which attracts over 1,000 runners a year.
Furthermore, as a partner and in support of promoting this part of Istria as an excellent destination for running and trail tourism, Plava Laguna is the official accommodation partner for one of the most attractive trail races Istria 100 by UTMB, which hosts over 2,650 competitors from 69 countries.
For the same reason, to promote the destination and running as a lifestyle, Plava Laguna is the main sponsor of the Istrian Winter Running League powered by Plava Laguna, held annually in several Istrian towns.