Cycling the Eurovelo 8 in Croatia in Summer 2025?
8 Essential Questions Answered!
Are you planning a cycling trip in Croatia next summer and don’t know where to start? You’ve come to the right place! In the following section I have summarised the most important FAQs of cycling Croatia North to South, focussing on my experience with the famous Eurovelo 8 cycle trail.
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Disclaimer: In this article I briefly talk about camping in non-designated areas (wild camping). Please note that wild camping is generally not allowed in Croatia, unless permission is granted by the local authorities. We do not encourage or recommend illegal camping. However, should you end up in an emergency situation and be forced to camp in a non-designated area, please make sure to always take your waste with you and to leave nothing behind but your footprint.
Is Croatia Good for Cycling?
Definitely!
Croatia is an excellent country for cycling. There are several international long-distance cycle routes such as the Eurovelo 8 (Mediterranean Cycle Route), Eurovelo 13 (Iron Curtain Cycle Route) and the Parenzana Cycle Route in Istria. Complemented by a large network of regional and national cycle routes, huge areas of Croatia can easily be discovered by bike.
However, not all routes listed as cycle paths earn that name. In most cases, you will be sharing a main or side road with other vehicles, often without a hard shoulder. Signposting is rare on regional routes. I highly recommend a map or a navigation tool. For the very brave among you: Ask the locals for directions! From my experience, it works in about 50% of times. Often we found ourselves on challenging roads, especially ones with many elevation metres as they are underestimated by non-cyclists.
Where does the Eurovelo 8 Run in Croatia?
The Croatian section of the Eurovelo 8 cycle route starts in the very north-west of the country on the Istrian peninsula, runs along the coast through the cities of Pula, Opatija, Rijeka, Zadar and Split, takes a short section through Bosnia-Herzegovina and ends behind Dubrovnik on the border with Montenegro. Between Rijeka and Zadar, the cycle route leaves the coast and instead winds its way through the Sjeverni Velebit and Prirode Velebit National Parks.
A map of the route is available on the official Eurovelo 8 website.
Experiences with the Eurovelo 8 Through Croatia - Is it Worth it?
The Eurovelo 8 is a fantastic long-distance cycle route that stretches a total of 1116 kilometres through Croatia, passing three national parks and 8 UNESCO cultural cities along the way. A large part of the cycle route runs directly along the coastal road, giving you a fantastic view of the crystal-clear ocean.
Sounds like a No-Brainer, right?
Not quite. Although the Eurovelo 8 is certainly one of the most scenic cycle routes through Croatia, there are more than just a few drawbacks. So many, in fact, that we avoided large parts of this famous cycle trail on our bikepacking trip across the world:
The Traffic
The coastal roads are crowded. Not only by cyclists, but also by many, many tourists in cars and campervans. Although being advertised as a bike route, the Eurovelo 8 has no designated cycle lane in this area and there is no hard shoulder. Risky overtaking manoeuvres on demanding road sections have led to accidents in the past.
The Blazing Sun
The blazing sun. Expect some crazy hot temperatures when cycling in the Croatian summer. 30°C and more are not uncommon. Along the coastal route on the Eurovelo 8, there is barely any shade at all, which significantly increases the risk of sunstroke and dehydration. Compared to this, Croatia’s backcountry roads offer cooler temperatures, trees to provide shade and lakes to take a cool plunge.
The Budget
Croatia is a super popular holiday destination. Tourists from all over Europe come here for the sunny beaches and the crystal clear sea. Unfortunately for us cyclists, this also reflects in the prices for food and accommodation. Finding a budget hotel or an inexpensive restaurant is almost impossible in some places. While pitching your tent on the beach sounds fantastic, wild camping is officially forbidden and enforced in Croatia, especially around tourist hotspots. It is important to note that most Croatian beaches are not sandy but gravel- or concrete-beaches, making pitching a tent difficult.
Too many Tourists
Too many Tourists. A bicycle tour is all about discovering natural beauty, new cultures and adventure. The ordinary beach tourists might start to annoy you, when you want to learn about the country and its people. Our most exciting encounters and conversations didn’t happen along the coast, but in Croatia‘s backcountry, where there are far fewer tourists. (… and wild camping is easier …)
What are the Alternatives to the Eurovelo 8 in Croatia?
Northern Croatia (Istria): Parenzana Cycle Trail
Parenzana Cycle Trail: The Parenzana Cycle Trail runs along a disused railroad line from Trieste in Italy via Slovenia to Porec in Istria (Croatia). The picturesque landscape with its rolling hills and the scenic ride through tunnels and over viaducts are what make this route so charming. Important note for touring cyclists: parts of this cycle path are non-tarmac.
Croatia's Backcountry: Cross-Country along National and Regonal Cycle Paths
This adventurous route on and off the beaten track is part of our around-the-world bicycle tour! It leads you through central Istria, passing the beautiful campsite “Raspadalica” and the Ucka National Park (gravel) to Rijeka. Instead of following the Eurovelo 8 from there, the route continues through Croatia’s backcountry.
Between Ogulin, Jezerane and Gospic are several lakes and inexpensive campsites, while farmers sell their honey and home-made cheese on roadside stalls. A breathtaking descent along the rugged landscape brings you to the stunning Novigrad Sea, one of the most indented bays in Croatia. After a short section through a wine-growing area lined with cypress trees and vineyards, the route returns to the EV 8 near Split.
Check out this route on our map!
Island Hopping - Beach Supreme and Low Traffic
Another way to avoid the busy coastal road of the Eurovelo 8 in Croatia is island hopping. Yes, you heard right! Croatia has more than 1000 islands, some of which are connected by ferries. If you don’t want to miss out on that beach-fix after a strenuous day of cycling, plan your tour from Istria via the islands of Cres and Losinj to Zadar and then via Ugljan, Pasman, Split and Korcula to Dubrovnik. Sounds fantastic? I agree! Even though we haven’t tried island hopping in Croatia ourselves, I have heard from other touring cyclists that the rules on wild camping on the islands are rather lax. No guarantees though!
If none of these alternatives are for you, here are some heads up for the Eurovelo 8: The traffic is lower in spring and fall, just before dusk and the further south you go.
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Where is the Best Place to Cycle in Croatia?
The most beautiful cycling sections in Croatia are the Parenzana Cycle Path in Istria, the Novigrad Sea near Zadar, the Krka National Park in Dalmatia, the Omis Gorge and the Eurovelo 8 between Split and Dubrovnik.
Is Cycling in Croatia Dangerous?
Generally speaking, no, cycling in Croatia is not dangerous.
Apart from a few dicey overtaking situations on the Eurovelo 8 in the south, we never felt unsafe. There are many alternative trails in Croatia to avoid the busy roads. Nevertheless, accidents do happen and wearing a helmet is essential to protect you from head trauma. Trust me, I worked in the trauma unit of a hospital. Always. Wear. A. Helmet.
On the coastal road, I would also recommend a high-visibility vest to be noticed by inattentive drivers.
Stray dogs or dangerous tunnels, as we know them from other countries, do not exist in Croatia. We have never felt threatened by the people either. That being said, I feel it’s better to be safe than sorry. Make sure to lock your bikes and don’t leave your valuables unattended.
What is the Best Way to Plan My Bicycle Tour in Croatia?
There are a variety of navigation tools and apps on the market, making it easy to plan your tour through Croatia. Maps.me, Google Maps, Komoot or Strava are just a few of them. We are personally very happy with Komoot. The Komoot maps show the course of the individual cycle paths, the elevation profile is relatively accurate and the route guidance is reliable, especially in Europe.
Where Can I Find First-Hand Experiences and Reviews About Cycling in Croatia?
You can find our route, accommodation, highlights and lowlights between Trieste (Italy) – Rijeka – Split – Dubrovnik and Kotor (Montenegro) in summer 2022 in our Travel Blog: North of Croatia and Croatia’s Backcountry.
Or head over to the bike touring directory bikesleepbike.com for more personal blogposts from cyclists across the world. We are looking forward to your feedback!
Your questions are not included? Please feel free to leave us a message in the comments!