Giro di Ćiro
Thirteen kilometres through the canyon, along an old railway.
This route once carried Ćiro, the narrow-gauge train that linked Sarajevo and Pale. Today it is a cycling trail through the Miljacka canyon: nine tunnels, two bridges, rock cuttings and a river you can hear for most of the way. The gradient is gentle because it still follows railway logic, which makes it comfortable even if you do not ride often.
- Distance
- about 13 km
- Tunnels
- 9
- Bridges
- 2
- Average gradient
- 2.5–3.5%
01
The canyon opens after the first tunnel
The Giro di Ćiro project opened around 13 kilometres of prepared trail between Sarajevo and Pale. From the Sarajevo side it starts near City Hall and Dariva, and then the canyon narrows: rock on one side, the Miljacka on the other, and the mouth of the first tunnel ahead. An average gradient of 2.5 to 3.5 per cent means you climb almost without noticing.
The ride is worth it for the setting rather than the distance: cool tunnels, the sound of water, stone cuttings and traces of old infrastructure. Leave time to stop and take photographs, but always move your bike out of the path.
02
Nine tunnels and a surprising chill
The tunnels are the most striking part. Solar lighting keeps them lit, but the temperature inside can be noticeably lower than outside - a relief in July, and a reason to carry a light layer in May. Sound changes, tyres run differently on the surface, and every exit reopens the canyon.
Bring your own lights regardless of the tunnel lighting, both for visibility and in case the system is not working. Adapt your speed to walkers, other cyclists and damp surfaces, especially after rain.
03
Where to start and where to stop
The key decision is whether you ride one way or return along the same trail. A one-way ride needs transport arranged in advance for people and bikes; riding back doubles the distance, the time and the water you need. Groups of mixed fitness should agree a turning point before tiredness becomes the topic.
Hotel Forest is a natural finish when you climb towards Pale: a meal, a shower and a calm end to the day instead of driving back into the city. Ask reception about bike transport in advance - bike racks are not standard.
Hotel Forest
A route for the experience, not the record
This is a trail to ride slowly. Nine tunnels, a river and a century of railway history do not reveal themselves at speed - which is exactly why they stay with you.
Ridden carefully, the old railway corridor becomes the finest way to understand how close Pale and Sarajevo really are.
A calm base for every day