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Rovinj is one of those places that enchants at first sight. Its old town, perched on a peninsula with narrow cobblestone streets, colorful facades, and the silhouette of St. Euphemia’s church, has become a symbol of the Istrian coast. Most visitors experience it as a classic romantic destination: a stroll through stone streets, dinner by the sea, sunset.
But Rovinj hides another, different face – one that’s best experienced by bike. Instead of spending the whole day in the crowded center, you can leave your car at a free parking lot, take your bike from the trunk, and set off along the coast. Where the asphalt disappears and gravel paths among pine trees begin, Rovinj reveals itself in its most natural, authentic form.
This article will take you along one of the most beautiful cycling routes in Istria – from Rovinj to Golden Cape, where pine tree shadows, sea scents, and views of crystal bays alternate. The route is easy, family and recreational cyclist-friendly, yet scenic enough to enchant even the most demanding explorer.
Trip Preparation – Free Parking and Equipment
Although Rovinj offers several parking lots, those in the center are expensive and fill up quickly. It makes most sense to park at one of the free parking lots slightly outside the center, from where it’s just a few minutes’ bike ride to the coast. This way you avoid crowds, save on parking fees, and feel relaxed right from the start of your trip.
Once you leave your car safely parked, take your bike from the trunk – a trekking or mountain bike is recommended, as most of the route leads over gravel. Bring water, light snacks, a bike helmet, camera, and swimwear – the crystal-clear sea will tempt you several times along the way.
Entering Rovinj – First Impressions and Mandatory Ice Cream Stop
As you cycle down toward Rovinj’s center, you’re first greeted by the lively harbor with boats and seagulls. In the background rises the old town, impossible to miss – that’s the postcard everyone knows. But we won’t venture into the old town this time – a different adventure awaits us.
Before leaving the urban bustle, it’s worth making a small stop – ice cream. Rovinj is known for excellent ice cream parlors that locals simply call gelaterie. Here you’ll have a hard time choosing between pistachio, chocolate, mango, or the typical Istrian combination of fig and almonds. Let the choice be easy – the cycling route will be even more beautiful if you start it with a scoop of cold refreshment in hand.
Coastal Route – past the Marina and Grand Park Hotel
When you turn left along the sea, the real magic begins. Initially you ride past the modern marina, where sailboats and motor yachts gleam in the sun. On your left you constantly have a view of St. Catherine Island, which protects Rovinj from the sea side like a green oasis. The view of the island combined with the sea waves is the perfect backdrop for the first photos from your journey.
You continue past Grand Park Hotel Rovinj, one of the most luxurious hotels in Istria. Its architecture blends with nature while giving a sense of modernity. Even if hotels don’t interest you, the path along it is beautifully arranged, with viewpoints where you can get off your bike for a moment and enjoy the sea view.
Gravel Path among Pine Trees – Nature in its Element
Behind the hotel, asphalt slowly gives way to gravel and the most magical part of the route begins. The cycling path leads you among dense pine trees that create natural shade and protection from the sun. The scent of pine needles and sea intertwines with the gentle whisper of wind. On the right side, views open up to bays with small beaches where crystal-clear water flows from turquoise to deep blue.
Riding on gravel is easy, without demanding climbs, so it’s suitable for everyone – from families with children to couples wanting a romantic ride. Along the way you can stop several times, sit on a rock, eat watermelon (if you brought it), and just listen to nature.
Beaches and Bays along the Route
Mulini Beach – Urban Beach with Luxury Touch
The first major stop on the route is Mulini Beach, right behind Grand Park hotel. This is one of the most famous Rovinj beaches – modern, well-maintained, with sunbathing platforms and all the amenities a modern visitor expects. But even if you don’t stop, riding past the beach is pleasant: you cycle along the coast, with sea waves on one side and gleaming glass hotel facades and lounge bars on the other.
Lone Bay – Bay for all Generations
When you ride further, the path curves gently and Lone Bay opens before you. This is a wide bay surrounded by pine trees that provide shade and a long stretch of pebble shore. Here you’ll meet families with children, swimmers, SUP enthusiasts, and cyclists taking a break.
The crystal-clear sea in Lone Bay is inviting, and the bottom is a combination of pebbles and stone slabs, so I recommend bringing water shoes. Here the path first truly feels like “cycling in nature” – city sounds disappear, you only hear seagulls and the murmur of the sea.
Gravel Ride to Golden Cape Park
Beyond Lone Bay, the path takes you deeper into the green oasis that locals know as Golden Cape Forest Park or Punta Corrente. This is a protected natural park, established at the end of the 19th century when Austrian industrialist Georg Hütterott planted the first cedars, pines, and exotic trees. Today it’s one of the most beautiful places for walking, running, cycling, and swimming in Istria.
The gravel is pleasant, wide, and just firm enough for good riding. Forest accompanies you on both sides, occasionally opening up to sea views.
Škaraba – Wild Bay with Turquoise Water
When you turn somewhat more westward, you reach an area that locals call Škaraba. This is a cluster of smaller wild beaches and coves where the water takes on a special turquoise color. The coastal path winds right by the sea, with pine trees growing almost to the water. Here travelers often stop, lock their bikes to a tree, and dive into the sea.
Škaraba is perfect for those seeking a bit more privacy – there aren’t as many tourist loungers, but rocks, nature, and the sound of waves. If you want the feeling of finding “your” beach, this is the right place.
Cape Muntrav – Viewpoint and Symbol of Golden Cape
The most beautiful part of the route is definitely when you reach Cape Muntrav (Golden Cape). This is a natural extension of the park that juts into the sea and offers wonderful views of the open sea, islets in front of Rovinj, and the town silhouette in the background.
At Muntrav there are several rocky points where you can sit, gaze at the horizon, and just enjoy the silence. On clear days you can even see the Brijuni Islands. Here there’s also a popular climbing wall where you’ll occasionally spot climbers descending the sea wall. This is a unique backdrop, as climbers hang almost above the water.
Bhalsak Beach and Hidden Corners
If you continue the path around the cape, less known beaches await you, such as Bhalsak Beach, where the cycling path ends in a natural arc. Here the feeling is even wilder, as the beaches are only accessible on foot or by bike. The water is clear and the bottom rocky, perfect for snorkeling.
Return toward Rovinj – View from the other Side
When you complete the loop around Golden Cape, the path slowly returns toward Rovinj. Now you have the town in front of you again, but from a different perspective: Rovinj’s silhouette with St. Euphemia’s church rises above the sea and reminds you how unique this town’s location is.
On the way back you can choose another stop – whether it’s Lone Bay for a quick swim or simply a bench in the shade of pine trees. The charm of this route is that you can stop anywhere and each time discover something new.
Historical Context – Rovinj and Golden Cape
Rovinj through Time
Rovinj is not only one of the most photogenic towns in Istria, but also one of the oldest. Its roots reach back to Roman times when it was called Ruvinium. In medieval times, Rovinj was surrounded by walls, parts of which can still be recognized among the narrow streets today. Due to its location on a peninsula, it was always an important fishing and trading post.
During the Venetian Republic period (13th to 18th century), the town acquired its characteristic architecture: narrow streets, pastel houses, tall chimneys. The symbol of Rovinj is St. Euphemia’s church at the top of the town, standing like a lighthouse above the sea.
Today Rovinj is a tourist pearl of Istria, but also a town that tries to preserve its fishing soul. When you ride through the harbor in the morning, you’ll quickly sense among the fishing boats that life here isn’t just tourism, but also tradition.
Golden Cape – Park Planted by an Industrialist
Although it seems that Golden Cape Forest Park is something nature created itself, it actually has its roots in human vision. At the end of the 19th century, German merchant and industrialist Georg Hütterott bought estates on the peninsula and began creating a park modeled after English landscape gardens.
He planted an avenue of cypresses, cedars, and pines, brought exotic trees, and designed paths that runners, cyclists, and walkers use today. His goal was to create a natural park that would also serve health tourism.
Although his ideas were never fully realized, Golden Cape park became Rovinj’s most beautiful green oasis. Today it’s protected as a natural park and is considered one of the finest examples of seaside park architecture in all of Istria.
Practical Tips for Cycling Trip
Route Length and Difficulty
The route from Rovinj, past the marina, Grand Park hotel, Mulini Beach, Lone Bay, through Golden Cape to Cape Muntrav measures approximately 8–10 kilometers (depending on how far you ride around the cape). The entire loop is suitable for recreational cyclists and families, as the terrain is almost completely flat.
When to Visit
- Spring and autumn: ideal, as there are no crowds and temperatures are pleasant.
- Summer: best early morning or late afternoon when the heat subsides.
- Winter: Rovinj has mild winters, so cycling is possible practically year-round, but days are shorter.
Equipment
- Trekking or mountain bike: gravel is well-maintained, but a road bike isn’t most suitable.
- Helmet and gloves: the route is easy, but safety should always come first.
- Water and snacks: there aren’t many shops along the route, so it’s good to have your own supply.
- Swimwear and towel: it’s almost impossible to resist the crystal-clear water.
Where to Eat and Drink
- Restaurants in Rovinj center: after returning you can head for a fish dinner at one of the taverns in the old town.
- Lounge bars at Mulini Beach: for a more urban stop with a view.
- Picnic in the park: many locals bring sandwiches and enjoy them on benches among pine trees.
Parking
The best choice is free parking lots on Rovinj’s outskirts (e.g., by sports fields), from where you have just a few minutes’ ride to the coast. This way you avoid expensive parking in the center and crowds.
Rovinj from another Dimension
Visiting Rovinj by bike isn’t just a trip, but an experience. Instead of getting lost in the tourist crowds of narrow streets, you discover the natural side of this town: peaceful bays, gravel paths, pine tree shade, and sea blue that reaches to the horizon.
On a bike, every kilometer is full of surprises – from views of St. Catherine Island to the scent of cedars in Golden Cape park and the silence of Cape Muntrav, where you only hear wind and seagulls. The route is easy, suitable for everyone, yet beautiful enough to fall in love with.
When you finally return to Rovinj, the town welcomes you again with its postcard: St. Euphemia’s church on the peninsula and fishing boats in the bay. But you’ll look at it with different eyes – through an experience that only cycling by the sea can offer.
Rovinj by bike isn’t just a trip, but an invitation to feel the town and nature – with the slow rhythm of pedaling, wind in your hair, and sun on your face.
