Adriatic-Ionian cycle route for sustainable tourism
Main Objective
The ADRIONCYCLETOUR initiative aims to establish and enhance the Adriatic-Ionian Cycle Route — a comprehensive cycling network along the Adriatic and Ionian coastal basins from Italy to Greece (coastal network), interconnected with key inland cycling links (inland network).
ADRIONCYCLETOUR is recognised as a flagship project within the Adriatic-Ionian Macroregional Strategy (EUSAIR), a European initiative involving 10 countries bordering the Adriatic and Ionian seas, including Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, and Greece. EUSAIR aims to promote sustainable economic growth, enhance regional competitiveness and connectivity, while protecting the marine and coastal environment.
As a flagship project, ADRIONCYCLETOUR represents a priority action to integrate policies and investments across the macroregion, promoting slow tourism models, intermodality with other transport modes, and improving infrastructure and services for cyclists. The project contributes to the sustainable development of the region by enhancing local economies, encouraging responsible tourism, and increasing accessibility to the Adriatic-Ionian area through innovative and environmentally friendly mobility solutions.
See also ADRIONCYCLETOUR project idea .
The overall initiative is contributed by synergic cooperation projects at the cross-border level.
ADRIONCYCLETOUR – IT/SI cross-border strategic project
ADRIONCYCLETOUR is one of the three strategic projects of the Interreg VI-A Italy-Slovenia Programme. The project addresses the challenge of making the Programme area more attractive and accessible through the promotion of sustainable tourism linked to cycling. The main objective is to contribute to defining the cycling route along the Adriatic Sea coast in Italy (Friuli Venezia Giulia and Veneto regions) and in Slovenia (coastal network), including the main cycle connections to the hinterland (inland network), and to help develop, at the EUSAIR level, an innovative and attractive cross-border/transnational tourism product on the ADRIATIC-IONIAN Cycle Route. See also the ADRIONCYCLETOUR IT-SI project website. More elements on the interventions here.
CYROS – IT/HR cross-border project
The CYROS project (Interreg VI-A Italy-Croatia Programme) aims to enhance sea-mobility solutions and promote the “green transition” by developing a strategic cycling route along the Adriatic coast in Italy and Croatia.
By integrating with inland networks and existing projects like ADRIONCYCLETOUR, CYROS seeks to improve sustainable mobility and tourism while fostering cross-border cooperation. The project focuses on creating attractive multimodal connections, such as bike and train or bike and boat, to reduce reliance on private cars.
Key outcomes include cross-border strategies, joint training programs, and ICT tools for stakeholders and users. By addressing gaps and promoting cooperation between the two countries, CYROS contributes to improved routes and services, aligning with the goals of the EUSAIR action plan. For more information, see also the CYROS Project website.