Here, an active escape might begin with a morning stretch, continue with a bike ride along the coast, include a few laps in the indoor pool and end with time in the sauna or a restorative treatment at ESPA at Pical. The idea is simple: move when you feel like it, slow down when you need to, and enjoy Istria along the way.
Start the day with Stay Fit
Because holidays do not have to mean leaving your healthy habits at home, Pical Resort 5* makes staying active feel like a natural part of the day. The Stay Fit programme brings together energising daily activities for different ages and fitness levels, so you can choose exactly how much – or how little – you want to do.
Aqua aerobics, Nordic walking, yoga
Head to the pool for aqua aerobics, dance and water-based exercises, start the morning outdoors with jogging or Nordic walking, or join group sessions ranging from Zumba and aerobics to yoga, stretching and spiritual wellness. Yoga and stretching sessions are led by licensed instructors, while Nordic walking routes can take you through the resort and all the way towards Poreč old town, adding a little sightseeing to your workout.
During the high season, group activities run throughout the day, from 7 am to 10 pm, with a weekend programme available in the pre- and post-season.
Behind the programme is a team of experienced professionals, including kinesiologist trainers, Pilates instructors, and sports specialists, making it easy to find the right type of movement for your mood and energy level.
Make time for your own workout
For guests who prefer to train independently, Pical Resort features a 200 m² gym available 24/7, making it easy to fit a workout around the rest of the day. The space combines cardio and strength training equipment with guided video workouts, alongside smart Technogym equipment with Technogym Live virtual coaching, AI trainer support, virtual guided sessions, interactive challenges, virtual cycling journeys and functional bootcamps.
Guests can also request a Stay Fit personal trainer, while a Wellness Report offers detailed insights into mobility, balance, strength, cardio and cognitive health, together with personalised recommendations for improvement, available with prior reservation and at an additional charge.
Cycling adventures from Pical Resort 5*
Cycling is one of the favourite ways to discover Istria because you can cover plenty of ground while still noticing the landscape around you. At Bike Center Poreč, guests can easily plan their next ride, whether they prefer to explore independently or join one of the guided or self-guided cycling tours through Poreč and the surrounding countryside.
Explore Parenzana
One of the highlights is the legendary Parenzana trail, following the route of the former narrow-gauge railway that once connected towns across Istria. Today, it leads cyclists through a changing landscape of vineyards, olive groves, forests, small villages and sweeping views, making it one of the most enjoyable ways to discover the region beyond the coast.
Kids Bike Academy
Families have plenty of reasons to get on two wheels too. Alongside the Kids Bike Academy, the resort area offers 5 km of family cycling trails, making it easy to enjoy a relaxed ride together. For something a little more playful, there is a 175-metre pump track with a 570 m² asphalt surface suitable for different experience levels. Younger riders have their own kids’ pump track, a closed circuit with rollers and berms designed to be navigated by shifting the body up and down rather than continuously pedalling – a fun way to practise balance, control and confidence on a bike.
Everything you need for the ride
The centre’s info point can help you discover regional cycling trails, tours for different levels, family cycling experiences, bike packages and shuttle services for customised outings. There are also organised guided tours tailored to mountain bike, road and trekking enthusiasts, making it just as easy to join an expert-led ride as it is to explore independently.
The Bike Center also makes the practical side of cycling refreshingly easy. Guests can rent premium mechanical and electric road, gravel and mountain bikes, as well as accessories and family-friendly equipment such as kids’ trailers and bike tow bars.
And you do not need to turn every ride into a sporting challenge. A gentle family cycle, a morning on the pump track or a few hours exploring the Parenzana can be just as rewarding as a serious road or mountain-bike adventure.
Walk, hike and see another side of Istria
Some landscapes are better explored slowly. Walking and hiking around Poreč reveal a quieter side of the destination, particularly outside the hottest summer months. Coastal paths wind past the sea and Mediterranean greenery, while trails further inland lead through forests, rolling countryside and the distinctive landscapes of Istria.
The Parenzana area is a natural choice for a relaxed walk, but there is much more to discover beyond Poreč. If you feel like venturing further, explore some of the region’s most scenic routes with our guide to hiking trails in Istria, from gentle walks to more adventurous outings.
Early morning and late afternoon are especially beautiful times to head outside, when the light softens, and the Adriatic feels wonderfully calm. Sometimes an active holiday is simply about walking a little further than usual because the surroundings make you want to keep going.
Swim whatever the weather – all year long
Being beside the Adriatic makes swimming a natural part of a stay at Pical Resort 5*, but the experience does not depend on sunshine. Heated indoor pools make it easy to enjoy time in the water throughout the year, whether you are looking for exercise, relaxation or simply a change of pace.
For those who like to start the day with a proper swim, the 25-metre indoor swimming pool is ideal for a few energising laps. Families have their own reason to head indoors too, with a family pool and slides turning swimming into playtime for younger guests.
It makes Pical Resort 5* particularly appealing for active breaks beyond the peak summer season. You can swim in the morning and then head outside to explore, with Poreč and the wider Istrian landscape right on your doorstep – ready for an afternoon of cycling, walking or discovering somewhere new.
Take your game to the tennis court
For anyone who prefers movement with a little friendly competition, tennis adds another dimension to an active stay. With 15 clay tennis courts available at the resort, there is plenty of room for a casual match, a morning practice session or a more energetic afternoon on court.
It is also a great option when travelling as a couple, with friends or with older children – active enough to get the heart rate up, but social enough to still feel very much like a holiday.
Recovery is part of the experience
An active day feels even better when recovery is built into it. At ESPA at Pical, the resort’s 1,300 m² wellness destination, time after your workout can become just as important as the activity itself. Warm saunas can help you slow down after a long bike ride; the thermal experiences invite muscles to relax, while treatments such as the ESPA Geothermo-Therapy Massage are particularly appealing after days spent hiking, swimming or playing tennis.
An active holiday, your way
What we like most about active escape at Pical Resort is that there is no fixed formula.
One day might begin with yoga and continue with cycling along the coast. Another could mean a swim, a leisurely walk into Poreč and an afternoon at ESPA. You could spend an hour on the tennis court, head to the gym before breakfast or simply choose a longer seaside walk because the weather is too beautiful to stay indoors.
A short break that feels surprisingly complete
And that is exactly what makes Pical Resort 5* so appealing for a short escape. It feels easy to decide, easy to reach and worth the two-day reset – with enough variety to make even a brief stay feel surprisingly complete.
There is time to move, explore, swim, slow down and enjoy good food by the sea, all without needing to plan a full week away. In that sense, the resort offers more depth than a weekend, without the commitment of a full holiday.
A couple of days can hold a bike ride through Istria, a morning swim, a walk by the Adriatic, time at ESPA and still leave space to do absolutely nothing.
