Croatia means - Wild nature, many altitude meters, but also picturesque villages along the Adriatic coast.
Croatia has a 6000 km long coastline and is one of the most water rich countries in Europe with many lakes.
The Sava River is the longest river in Croatia ( 562 km ) and flows through Zagreb
The rural population still has a high proportion in Croatia and traditions are very important to the Croats.
In this wild nature in the Plitvica lakes, in the Dinaric Alps were filmed the Karl May movies "Winnetou/Old Sahtterhand".
Cycling in Croatia
Croatia has great potential for cycling tourism, as it offers many beautiful, natural paths along rivers - canals or along the coastline.
Cycling tourism is developing in Croatia, although there are still few signposted cycling routes.
An old railroad line connecting Italy, Slovenia and Croatia (Istria) is a popular mountain bike route. The Parenzana "= path of health and friendship" leads for about 78 km with a view of the sea, as well as many beautiful medieval towns of Istria.
The cycling route Mura - Drava is a popular cycling route from the sources to the mouths of these rivers.
The Mura flows into the Drava at the town of Legrad and the Drava flows into the Danube in the pilgrimage town of Aljmas, east of Osikek.
The Mura flows 67 km and the Drava 305 km on Croatian soil.
From Croatia we can start a detour north to Lake Balaton and from there we have a connection to a stage to the Danube.
Velo Europe has also planned a route from Zagreb to the south, which integrates many natural highlights of Croatia.
Rivers like Kupa, Korona, Zrmanja will be accompanied, we will pass through the Plitvice Lakes National Park.
From there on through Dalmatia in the direction of Knin, through the Krka National Park, then to the Adriatic Sea at Sibenik.
Along the coast or partly by ferry services to the port city of Split.
Velo Europe leaves the Adriatic coast after Split and takes an eastern course via Makarska and Imotski to Mostar (Bosnia and Herzegovina).
From Mostar we follow the river Neretva to its mouth in Ploce, back in Croatia.
From the harbor town of Ploce we have again the possibility to cross with ferries to the present islands and to go south towards Dubrovnik or to take always alternatively the ferry.
From Dubrovnik starts the second part of the Olympia route, which continues through Montenegro, Albania and northern Macedonia to Greece.
In trains and on the ships (ferries) the bikes can be taken. Also in some buses the transport of bicycles is allowed - check in individual cases.
