Croatia Bike Adventure

Thursday May 14, 2026 

Thursday we spent all day/night flying.  Minneapolis to Amsterdam to split, Croatia.  Split, Croatia is a historically rich Dalmatian city that originated as a Greek colony in the 3rd century BC. It evolved into a major settlement in 305 AD when Roman Emperor Diocletian built his lavish retirement fortress here, which has been a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979. The city is also globally recognized for its vibrant coastal culture, Mediterranean gastronomy, and as the ultimate launchpad for exploring Croatia's stunning Adriatic islands.  The palace is an interesting mix of architectural history, small businesses and private residences that still remain within the walls of the fortress.  In fact, it is quite expensive to purchase a residential unit within the walls but is quite popular.

Friday May 15, 2026

We took a walking food tour. Did this in Rome and it was amazing. This tour was good but not as good as Rome. Mainly because I couldn’t understand much of what the guide said.  Food was good though. Even had coddle fish risotto which is made with fish ink so the risotto was black.  Be sure to drink wine with it.  Otherwise, you could end up with blackish teeth.

Saturday May 16, 2026. 

Today we walked the city on our own.  Walked 9 miles, literally all over town. If you have Strava you can see the path we took. Took 8 hours to get this far. We stopped for meals. Stopped for drinks and of course did a lot of site seeing. A very good day. 

Sunday May 17, 2026

We rent a car today and head into the mountains for a hike.   First, we took the 1 1/2 hour ride up into the mountains to see the Krka National Park

which included a really cool waterfall.  Famous for its crystal-clear emerald waters and 17 cascading waterfalls, it is a stunning natural highlight on Croatia’s Dalmatian Coast. It is highly recommended for nature lovers, photographers, and those who enjoy scenic wooden boardwalk hikes. 

We intended to drive to the park but there was a race car event in the town so the road was shut down. Ended up taking a ferry to the park. That took about 20 minutes.  Took about a 1 1/2 mile hike to see the waterfall and then another mile and a half to get back to our car since we decided not to take the ferry back.  We rank the parks we go to.  Been to 14 as of the the date of this post, including Krka.  I know, this is not a US National Park but just want to compare.  We would rank Krka at #13 just above Joshua Tree NP.  Not saying dont go, just saying it is maybe does not have the same wow factor as NP's in the US.

Some pictures from the racing event.  It was interesting to watch.

After that, we went back to the first hotel that we’re staying in as part of our bike adventure, Cornaro Hotel Split. A huge upgrade and in the top quartile for hotels in the area.  Duvine is sure to pick really nice hotels for their biking excursions.  The hotel has a rooftop bar that we went to. It was really quite beautiful.  The hotel is much nicer than the first hotel we stayed at so we’re enjoying that.  We actually sat a couple of tables away from our biking companions but did not realize it at the time.

Next, we went out to dinner. Teresa had pasta with seafood and I had octopus appetizer. Of course I ate it before I took the picture so you can’t wait to see what I had to eat. Sorry about that. Also Teresa had to rub the foot of the monument that we passed because it apparently means good luck hope it works. 

Monday, May 18, 2026

Today we start a bike adventure.  I guess we won’t starve. This is the breakfast layout at the hotel. 

Time to ride!  Below is the staging area.  RIght down town on the water front.  There are 6 people in our group plus two guides who you will meet later.  Turns out the other 4 cyclists are married women from Cinncinati.  They claimed their husbands did not want to go on the tour but after spending a week with them I am pretty sure they were not invited.  Teresa was a bit worried about how I would handle such a situation.  Turns out all four were very nice and the group was a pleasure to cycle with.  I dont think I could have had any more fun if it had been two couples instead of 4 women.  Teresa enjoyed them too.  Maybe she made some new friends on the trip.  The ride for the first day is short.  A bit more than 10 miles with less than 1000 ft elevation.  I think the guides want to see how we are going to handle the bikes before we go too far.  After the ride we do some site seeing with the group.  Duvine hired a guide to take us through the palace and explain it to us.  This is our second time doing this so we are starting to understand more of the history.

Early in our first bike ride we ran into an unexpected addition to the ride.  St. Jerome church was actually open for the day so we got to go inside.  Normally you would just ride by because it is normally not open to the public.  The Church of St. Jerome (Sveti Jere) on Marjan Hill is one of Split’s most magical hidden gems. Tucked into the steep limestone cliffs on the southern slopes of Marjan Forest Park, it overlooks the beautiful Kašjuni Bay. It offers a stark, tranquil contrast to the bustling ancient streets of Diocletian's Palace.   The sanctuary dates back to the 15th century. Historically, Marjan Hill was known as a spiritual desert where devout hermits retreated from society to live in total poverty and contemplation. Local legend even suggests that St. Jerome himself spent time living and writing in these exact cliffs, though he lived centuries before the church was built. 

Tuesday May 19, 2026

The second day of the bike trip we board a speedboat en route to Brač, the largest island in Dalmatia. Our ride starts on the coastal roads alongside olive groves and vineyards. The precious white marble seen here was excavated and used in the building of the White House, Diocletian’s Palace, and the Budapest Parliament. After lunch, stop into the Jakšić family gallery. The family is proud to keep ancient stonecutting traditions alive, and eager to share their personal style that keeps their craft timeless. Each Jakšić specializes in their own craft: Lovre is the master sculptor, Ida is a clothing and jewelry designer, and Dina is the resident painter. After our visit, bike back to Supetar where we catch a speedboat back to Split.  The ride is 25 miles with about 2500 ft of elevation.

Even took a dip in the Adriatic Sea. The Adriatic Sea is unique because it is one of the clearest, calmest, and most island-dense bodies of water in the Mediterranean, boasting over 1,200 islands along its eastern coast alone.Its closed, elongated shape creates a highly sheltered marine environment with exceptionally high salinity, vibrant turquoise water, and minimal tidal movement, making it a global capital for sailing and coastal exploration.  

Jakšić family gallery

Wednesday May 20, 2026

Today we traveled around the island of Hvar for cycling in Stari Grad.   Our total bike ride was 23 miles, 1500 ft elevation. The ride passes endless rows of lavender and olive groves before reaching the water’s edge. Weave in and out of small, crystal-blue coves of the Adriatic before arriving in the colorful seaside villages of Vrboska and Jelsa.  We ate lunch at an old farm house where the food was prepared by the property owner. It was wonderful and very educational. 

Thursday May 21, 2026

Today we took another ride around Hvar island. Hvar Island is world-famous as Croatia's sunniest island, averaging over 2,800 hours of sunshine per year, and as a glamorous playground that blends luxury nightlife with ancient history.Known as the "Lavender Island," Hvar seamlessly pairs a high-end celebrity yachting scene with UNESCO-protected agricultural landscapes, vast purple fields, and world-class wine. Today we rode 20.5 miles with 1700 ft elevation.

Had a wonderful lunch then went to a winery. Then back to the hotel to get ready for dinner on another small island. 

Tonight our private boat will take us to the Paklinski Islands, where we will enjoy dinner in one of the most beautiful bays, overlooking endless blue seas.

Friday May 22, 2026

Our last day of the bike adventure.  Today we hop a speed boat to Korcula island for our longest ride with the most elevation. 39 miles, 2800 ft elevation.  A spectacular ride.  And a bit challanging even on eBikes.  At the end the group is going swimming.  After that we went to our hotel which was not great but there is not much to choose from in Korcula. Had a wonderful wine pairing dinner by the harbor though. Korčula Island is world-famous as the alleged birthplace of the legendary explorer Marco Polo, and for its exceptionally preserved, fishbone-shaped medieval Old Town.Often called "Little Dubrovnik," the island is also celebrated for its unique indigenous white wines, dense Mediterranean pine forests, and centuries-old sword dancing traditions.

Saturday May 23, 2026

We hop a small speed boat and head to Dubrovnik. We have lunch with our hosts and say goodbye to DUVINE.  A sad day. 

Sunday May 24, 2026

Today we explore Dubrovnik on our own. Dubrovnik, Croatia is world-famous for its remarkably preserved 13th-century Old Town and Medieval Walls, earning it the nickname "The Pearl of the Adriatic" and a spot as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979.The city is also globally celebrated as the primary filming location for King's Landing in Game of Thrones, its sophisticated historic seafaring Republic of Ragusa legacy, and its dramatic limestone cliffs dropping into the crystal-clear Adriatic Sea.

While in Dubrovnik we had to walk the wall.  Walking the Dubrovnik City Walls is the premier way to experience Croatia's medieval gem, offering a stunning 1.25-mile (2 km) loop above the Old Town. The route requires climbing roughly 1,000 steps and takes about 1.5 to 2 hours. The trail offers unforgettable panoramic views of the terracotta rooftops and the Adriatic 

These are pictures from the cliff jumping bar in Dubrovnik called Buža Bar (or Cafe Buža). Literally translating to "hole" in the local dialect, it is a famous, cliffside hangout literally carved into the medieval city walls directly facing the Adriatic Sea.

Monday May 25, 2026

We rent a car and head back to Split to stay near the airport.  We stay in the town of Trogir.  Trogir is a town on the central Adriatic coast of Croatia. Its preserved old town, known for its mix of Renaissance, baroque and Romanesque buildings, lies on a small island connected to the mainland and the island of Čiovo by bridges. The 13th-century Cathedral of St. Lawrence houses the Renaissance Chapel of St. John and offers sweeping views from its bell tower. Parts of the medieval city walls remain intact. Sounds pretty cool but we only went down the the harbor, had lunch and a gelato and went to our hotel.  I would have liked to stay longer.  It seems like a nice place to hang out for a few days.  Seems a bit more working class but nice.  The room rates were a fraction of the hotel costs for the previous part of the trip, and you can walk across the street and take a dip in the Adriatic.  

Rides at a glance

Some final pictures from Duvine