The medieval hilltown of Motovun above the Mirna valley — the start of the Istrian interior ride

ROUTE

Istrian Interior Ride — Motovun to Pula via Rovinj

A vineyard-and-hilltown loop through green Istria — the Motovun forest truffle roads, the Mirna valley, the Rovinj archipelago and the Roman arena finish in Pula.

scenic-road89 km2.5 heasy

DOWNLOAD GPX

<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.flickr.com/people/9126 / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 2.0

ABOUT THIS ROUTE

The route in detail

Away from the coast road, Istria’s interior is a riding secret: serpentine climbs to hilltop towns, white-truffle forests above the Mirna river, olive-groved plateaus and the extraordinary light of the western coast at Rovinj before the run down to Pula.

This ride collects Istria’s three personalities. The inland start at Motovun — a bell-towered medieval hilltown over the Mirna valley — descends through the truffle woods of the Motovun forest to the river plain, then climbs again through wine villages towards the coast. At Rovinj the road hugs the archipelago’s pine-fringed shoreline, arguably the most beautiful urban coastline in Croatia, before the final southern run to Pula, whose Roman arena completes the day. Narrow local roads and farm traffic in harvest season keep the pace civilised; the reward is Istria at its most atmospheric.

PLAN RESPONSIBLY

Season & safety

Seasonal conditions

Open year-round; best April to October. Autumn (September-November) is truffle and harvest season with weekend village traffic. Mild winter fog in the Mirna valley mornings. Check HAK reports in season. Verified 2026-11-07 (Hrvatski autoklub / HAK traffic conditions).

Key hazards

Shared coastal road with local traffic, buses and cyclists in season.
Sharp bends, narrow sections and occasional gravel or debris after rain or wind.
Tunnels and rapid light changes on some sections — keep a clear visor and remove sunglasses.
Strong bura (NE) wind episodes under Velebit and on exposed channel sections, mostly in winter.

Required gear

Certified motorcycle helmet and full protective riding gear.
Working lights and a clear visor suitable for tunnels and changing visibility.
Waterproof outer layer, an additional warm layer and charged phone.
Basic puncture and roadside emergency equipment appropriate for the motorcycle.

Check before you go

Check the current HAK traffic report (hak.hr) for the route sections.
Check the forecast for wind (especially bura) and rain along the coast.
Confirm sufficient fuel range — services thin out on the more remote sections.
Plan the ride within daylight and identify safe rest stops before departure.

Local guidance

Treat the published duration as riding time only. Follow posted limits, maintain space from larger vehicles, remove dark sunglasses before tunnels and never stop inside a tunnel or on an active traffic lane.

WAYPOINTS