The very name of this cycling route includes two words that are not related in geographical and consequently climatic terms. In the Alps, the climate is harsher, in the Mediterranean it is hotter and drier. But in the case of the area covered by the Alpina Mediterranean Route, the key is that it connects the edges of both geographical areas, so you should not expect extremes of one or the other.
The choice of time also depends on two factors: the current season and your expectations or readiness for different weather phenomena. Some people don’t mind rain and cold, while they wouldn’t push the pedals under the scorching summer sun for anything in the world. Let’s try it anyway:
The northern, Alpine part, the route leads south from the Carnic and Julian Alps, which is open towards the Po Valley and along the Soča River Valley towards the Vipava Valley, so the winters are mild there. But in winter, that is between December and February, you will not meet many cyclists there. March and November can, depending on the day and season, offer a pleasant day for cycling, but we still recommend warm, long clothes. We then come to what we consider the ideal time for this cycling route, which is May-June, when temperatures will be moderate, 20 to 30 degrees Celsius during the day, and nature is green and budding. Similarly, the autumn months of September and October are excellent, when grapes will be picked in the wine-growing regions of Vipava Valley and Karst, and the forests will be dressed in autumn colors. In both cases, however, it may happen that you could be surprised not only by a short summer storm, but also by a longer, several-day rainy period.
And summer? July and August – especially the first half of August – are summer vacation times in this part of Europe, so you can expect more crowded and more expensive accommodations, a lot more traffic, and quite high temperatures, which can reach 40 degrees Celsius.
There is no absolute guarantee of a dry and just-right warm cycling adventure in this part of Europe, but if you have read this article to the end, it will not be difficult to choose the time for your next cycling vacation. In any case, long clothes, a jacket and rain pants should not be missing from your luggage. And a swimsuit is mandatory, whether for a refreshing swim in Nadiža or Soča rivers or for a final swim in the Adriatic Sea in Opatija.
