Rovinj, Bale, Svetvinčenat and Kanfanar to host the 18th Weekend Bike & Gourmet Tour in May
Weekend Bike & Gourmet Tour: spring returns in mid-May as a two-day recreational cycling and gastronomic program that connects the coastal and inland parts of Istria. According to the published program, the 18th edition of the event will be held on Saturday, May 16 and Sunday, May 17, 2026, in the area of Rovinj-Rovigno, Bale, Svetvinčenat and Kanfanar. It is a format that sees cycling not only as a sporting activity, but also as a way to discover landscapes, local food, olive oils, wines and smaller Istrian places away from the main traffic routes.
The program is designed as a recreational ride accompanied by professional guides, and is intended for participants riding MTB, trekking, gravel or e-bikes. The organizers particularly emphasize that the event is held in spring and autumn, thereby extending the cycling offer of western and central Istria beyond the busiest summer months. For visitors who want to combine the event with a shorter stay in Rovinj or the surrounding area, the program text highlights Rovinj, Kanfanar, Bale and Svetvinčenat as starting points and key locations, so
accommodation in Rovinj and the surroundings of the routes is also a practical choice.
Two stages: the seaside Mare trail and the inland Monti trail
The first day of the event, Saturday, May 16, 2026, is dedicated to the Mare trail. The start is announced for 10 a.m. from the parking lot of the Sports Center of the Eden Hotel in Rovinj. According to the published itinerary, the route leads from the Eden Hotel toward the center of Rovinj, via Štrika Ferata, the viewpoint above Lim, Žuntići, Šorići, Golaš, Pižanovac and Bale, then toward Stancija Meneghetti, Fort Forno, Colone, San Polo, Cisterna, Veštar, Polari, Cuvi Bay and Zlatni Rt, before returning toward the Eden Hotel. The Mare trail is 63 kilometers long, with 650 meters of elevation gain, and the organizer states that it consists of 55.2 kilometers of gravel road and 7.8 kilometers of asphalt.
The second day, Sunday, May 17, 2026, is planned for the Monti trail, starting at 10 a.m. from the parking lot in the center of Kanfanar. This stage leads from Kanfanar toward Pinkolica, Ladići, Korenići, Dvigrad, Krmed, Sveti Petar, Krančići, Raponji, Svetvinčenat, Smoljanci, Salambati, Maružini, Burići and back toward Kanfanar. The Monti trail is 45.2 kilometers long, with 710 meters of elevation gain, of which 37.2 kilometers are gravel road and eight kilometers are asphalt. The published program states a total length of 104.2 kilometers, while the sum of the individually listed stages is 108.2 kilometers; because of this difference, participants are advised to check the latest technical data with the organizer before registering.
Gastronomy as an important part of the cycling experience
A special feature of the Weekend Bike & Gourmet Tour is the connection of recreational riding with gastronomic points. The program price includes meals and drinks at the planned gourmet stops, which are listed in the program as Istrian Brunch and Istrian Picnic. In this way, the event seeks to bring together several elements that have become increasingly important in Istria’s tourist offer in recent years: active time in nature, local gastronomy, olive oil, wine and visits to smaller places that are often located between better-known tourist centers.
Such a concept also has a clear practical advantage. Instead of a classic sports race, the emphasis is on a rhythm that allows stops, tastings and getting to know the area through which one passes. Participants do not pass only through Rovinj, Bale, Svetvinčenat and Kanfanar as points on a map; instead, the routes rely on recognizable natural and cultural areas, including the Lim area, coastal bays, gravel sections and inland Istrian roads. For those planning to arrive a day earlier or stay after the end of the program,
accommodation near the starting points of the cycling stages is also relevant.
Who the program is intended for
According to the published notes, the program is recommended for recreational cyclists older than 14. The organizer states that riding an e-MTB is recommended, while for cyclists in good shape the trails are also suitable for MTB or gravel bikes. Important information for participants is that riding is at their own risk and that a protective helmet is mandatory. Since both stages have a significant share of gravel road and a noticeable elevation gain, the event is not designed as a completely easy city ride, but as a recreational tour that nevertheless requires basic fitness and a suitable bicycle.
For participants who do not have their own bicycle or do not want to organize transport of equipment, the program states the possibility of renting classic and electric bicycles and transferring people and bicycles to the starting points. The rental price, according to the published information, is 45 euros for one day and 80 euros for two days. The transfer service can be important because the first day starts from Rovinj and the second from Kanfanar, so the logistics of arrival and return depend on whether a person participates in one or both stages. For visitors who want to reduce the need for additional transport,
accommodation for participants of the Weekend Bike & Gourmet Tour can be a practical part of planning.
Prices, registrations and cancellation conditions
The published prices differ depending on whether the participant registers for a one-day or two-day program and whether the early booking option is used. The one-day cycling program for Saturday or Sunday is listed at an early booking price of 80 euros for reservations up to 14 days before departure, while the regular price is 100 euros for reservations up to seven days before departure. The two-day cycling experience package is listed at an early booking price of 128 euros, or at the regular price of 160 euros.
The price includes meals and drinks at gourmet points, professional guides and companions during the ride, a support vehicle with water and bananas, the event technical T-shirt and information material. Payment of the entry fee at the early booking price is possible until May 3, 2026, and at the regular price until May 10, 2026. According to the program, registrations are possible until May 10, 2026, and payment can be made in advance by bank transaction or credit card.
The cancellation conditions state that withdrawal without penalties is possible until May 10, 2026. In the case of later cancellation, no later than May 14, 2026, the organizer retains 30 percent of the paid registration fee. If the participant does not appear, the organizer retains the total paid amount. In the event of unfavorable weather conditions, the event is postponed to the next date, and notice of any postponement should be published on the event’s websites and social networks no later than three days before the event.
Rovinj, Bale, Svetvinčenat and Kanfanar as a cycling whole
In recent years, the western coast of Istria and its inland area have increasingly been presented as an area suitable for active tourism during most of the year. Official tourist sources state that Rovinj, Vrsar, Bale, Svetvinčenat and Kanfanar are connected by marked cycling routes and that they combine coastal scenery, gravel roads, cultural heritage and local gastronomic offerings. The Weekend Bike & Gourmet Tour relies precisely on this logic: the first day has a stronger marine and coastal character, while the second day leads toward the inland area, medieval sites and smaller settlements.
In that sense, Rovinj is the most recognizable starting point, but not the only point of interest. Bale appears on the route as a place between the coastal and rural part of the Mare trail, while Kanfanar and Svetvinčenat give the second day a more distinctly continental character. Kanfanar is particularly important because of the proximity of Dvigrad, the ruins of a medieval town that are considered among the best-known cultural sites of this area. Svetvinčenat, meanwhile, is recognizable for the Morosini-Grimani Castle, one of the most important historical buildings of the place, which today also has interpretive and cultural content. Because of such a combination of areas,
accommodation offers in Rovinj, Bale, Svetvinčenat and Kanfanar may interest both participants and companions who do not ride both stages.
An event between sport, tourism and the local offer
The Weekend Bike & Gourmet Tour fits well into the broader trend of developing tourist products that are not tied exclusively to sun and sea. The spring date provides more pleasant riding conditions than the peak of summer, while at the same time the event is held close enough to the main season to complement the tourist calendar. Cycling events of this type also have a local effect: participants use hospitality, accommodation, service and logistics services, and smaller places gain additional visibility through a program that connects them into a shared route.
The organizers listed in the program are the Tourist Board of the City of Rovinj-Rovigno, the Tourist Board of the Municipality of Svetvinčenat, the Tourist Board of the Municipality of Kanfanar, the Rovinj-Rovigno Craftsmen Association, Maistra d.d. and Maremonti Istra d.o.o. In the initial announcement of the Tourist Board of the City of Rovinj-Rovigno, the Rovinj Craftsmen Association, the Tourist Board of the City of Rovinj-Rovigno and Maistra are highlighted as organizers, while the more detailed program of Maremonti Istra also includes additional local tourist boards and the agency itself. Such a composition indicates cooperation between the tourism, hospitality and service sectors, which is important for an event of this kind because its value is not exhausted in the ride itself.
What participants should know before arrival
Before registering, participants should pay attention to several practical details. First, the trails have a considerable share of gravel road, so a road bike is not a suitable choice. Second, both days begin at 10 a.m., but the starting points are not the same: Saturday’s start is in Rovinj, and Sunday’s is in Kanfanar. Third, a helmet is mandatory, and participation takes place at one’s own risk. Fourth, registrations and payment have clearly indicated deadlines, with early booking closing earlier than the final registration deadline.
For participants arriving with companions, an additional advantage is that the route passes through areas suitable for excursions, walks and shorter visits. While cyclists ride, companions can plan a stay in Rovinj, Bale, Kanfanar or Svetvinčenat, depending on logistics and interest. This is especially important for two-day programs because the stay can be organized as an active weekend, and not only as a sports registration. In such a schedule,
accommodation near Rovinj, Kanfanar and Svetvinčenat becomes part of the overall experience, especially if arrival is planned as early as Friday or return on Monday.
According to available information, the event is held on May 16 and 17, 2026, and in its 18th edition it once again connects cycling, local gastronomy and the Istrian landscape. Unlike classic sports competitions, its emphasis is on a recreational pace, guided riding and the experience of the area. This is precisely why the Weekend Bike & Gourmet Tour remains one of the recognizable examples of how active tourism can build on the authentic offer of the places through which it passes, from the Rovinj coast to the inland sections around Kanfanar and Svetvinčenat.
Sources:- Tourist Board of the City of Rovinj-Rovigno – official announcement of the Weekend Bike and Gourmet Tour: spring event, with dates, locations and basic program description (link)- Maremonti Istra – detailed program of the 18th Weekend Bike & Gourmet Tour, trail itineraries, prices, registration conditions and notes for participants (link)- Istra Bike – official bike portal of Istria, calendar of cycling events and information about Istria’s cycling offer (link)- Maistra – information about cycling and cycling trails in the area of Rovinj, Bale, Svetvinčenat and Kanfanar (link)- Tourist Board of Istria County – information about cycling in the area of Rovinj, Bale and Kanfanar (link)- Visit Kanfanar – information about Dvigrad as the best-known cultural asset of the Municipality of Kanfanar (link)- Municipality of Svetvinčenat – information about cultural heritage and the Morosini-Grimani Castle (link)
Find accommodation nearby
Creation time: 2 hours ago