Are you ready to be knocked off your feet by the sublime natural beauty of the Mediterranean queen full of harmonious contrasts offering dynamic and engaging scenery? We sure hope so, as the crystal clear waters, outstanding cuisine, lovely ancient villages and epic panoramic views are only the surface of what Italy has to offer. The best way to absorb this vibrant country is to hop on the bike and ride those dreamlike trails leading you to the best local wineries, majestic castles, or hidden green oasis somewhere in between the meadows. Booking one of the best Italy cycling tours brings so much more to the experience as you have experts leading you through some of the most exciting parts of the country.
There are many types of Italy guided tours, including Italy food tours and great Italy hiking trips, but when you are on your bike, you are free to opt-in or out of many activities and, thus, truly feel what it is like to be free in the middle of this paradise. We gathered some of the best Italy bike tours offering extraordinary rocky views, green hilltops, friendly locals and superb traditional Italian dishes. We hope you are more convinced now that it is time to prepare for this cycling trip and to experience some of the greatest moments of your lives.
Fantastic Road Bike Holidays In Italy For Every Preference!
Venice to Florence – Self Guided By Cycle Europe
Suppose you are just starting to bicycle and want to combine a lighter cycling tour with breathtaking views and local Italian flavors. In that case, this tour might be the perfect solution for your next vacation. Join this Italy bike tour from Venice to Florence and explore the streets of Chioggia, capture the captivating Venetian Lagoon, discover Comacchio’s “Trepponti” bridge and admire the immanent beauty of Florence.
The magic starts in Chioggia and the Venetian Lagoon, after which you follow the way to the Po River Delta. Further along the path, enjoy the museum in the Valley of Commachio and the last capital of the Western Roman Empire – Ravenna. After seeing Dante’s Tomb, through Faenza, you head to the dynamic landscapes of Apennines. From the old Etruscan city of Fiesole, you get to enjoy Florence’s view as an introduction before arriving in this timeless Italian renaissance beauty. This tour in northern Italy includes tasty local dishes, accommodation, roadbook, map and luggage transfers.
Cycle Tuscany By Intrepid Travel
Tuscany’s lush slopes, vineyards and olive groves, along with surreal mountain peaks and charming cities, leave no one indifferent. Choose this guided cycling tour in Italy and discover Lucca’s tree-lined city walls, explore Leonardo da Vinci’s home town, or sip Italian espresso at Piazza dell’Anfiteatro.
This route from Florence to Pisa offers magnificent Italian scenery that is best enjoyed on a bike. Following the Arno River out of Florence, you will arrive in the town of Vinci, where you can visit the Museo Leonardiano with machines and models dedicated to Leonardo da Vinci. From the medieval hilltop town of Barga, you continue to see the “real” Italy – Garfagnana. After the picnic and sightseeing in Lucca, you get to see the Leaning Tower of Pisa.
Seven nights in a hotel, breakfast each morning, two lunches, transportation and picnics in Gargafana and Lucca come together with this cycling tour.
Cycle Cilento & the Amalfi Coast By Exodus Travels
This tour offers memorable biking through Italy’s stunning Campania region, where you will experience the still-preserved traditional way of living. In between cycling, taste the best olive oil and swim in the crystal clear sea.
From Palinuro cycle along the most incredible coast of Southern Italy, and then turn to the Mingardo Canyon and the village of San Severino. Further down the trail, you will arrive at the peninsula of Capo Palinuro to the medieval village of Pisciotta, where you will try their fantastic olive oil. Have lunch in Santa Maria di Castellabate and maybe go for a swim in the sea. After a nice break, take a train to Salerno and enjoy the ride to Minori, Amalfi, Praiano and Positano. Finish the tour off with the optional boat trip to the island of Capri.
Enjoy the inclusiveness of this package; meals, accommodation, domestic flights, a professional guide and local bike hire are all part of the tour.
Ultimate Dolomites Adventure By Active Adventures
Active Adventures is not a regular adventure tour. With this 9-day hike and bike trip you will create moments that will stay with you your whole life. The rocky views, green hills, lovely villages and the local people you will meet along the way simply must be experienced firsthand. Cortina d’Ampezzo in the heart of Trentino’s Dolomites will win your heart from the first glance.
Arrive in Tre Cime de Lavaredo and try a family made lunch in an Italian refugio while overlooking the majestic rocky formations. Climb up to Cortina and arrive in the Refugio Fodara Vedla. Look around you to take in the uniqueness of the massive peaks to the south, east and north. Later on, hike to Refugio Fanes, Alta Badia and Setsass Dolomiti Range. Finish the tour off with Galleria del Lagazuoi, an enthralling open-air and underground WWI museum.
With this all-inclusive tour, you get transportation from the beginning to the end of the trip, all the mouth-watering meals, accommodation in the local refugees and two experienced guides per trip.
Cinque Terre: Hike, Bike & Kayak
One of the most popular Italy destinations and often included in guided tours of independent Italy trips, the Cinque Terre‘s scenic towns are a fantastic place for both cycling and hiking. Their natural hiking trails offer breathtaking views and with this bike tour you can also cycle along dramatic cliffs over the azure Mediterranean Sea and if time and weather allow, enjoy gorgeous sunsets.
With this Italy bike tour organised by Intrepid Travel you will cycle but also hike and kayak through this part of the Liguria region where the geographical beauty gives both amazing views and some physical challenge.
As far as accommodation goes, single travellers will share a room with another traveller of the same sex. However, if you prefer not to share, you can book a single room with an additional charge, subject to availability.
Piedmont – The paradise for gourmets By Feuer und Eis
Known for its unsurpassed wine quality, Piedmont has been attracting sommeliers and wine lovers for decades. However, wine is not the only specialty you will find in this gourmet Eden. It is their old culinary tradition, as well as hazelnuts, truffles and cheeses.
Start this tour in Alessandria and visit Piazza della Libertà and Piazza Duomo or enjoy thermal springs in Acqui Terme. Ancient monuments and a grand Gothic cathedral, along with vineyards, await you in Asti, in the heart of Monferrato. Discover the longest river in Italy, the river Po, settled in Casale Monferrato and feel the simplicity of village lifestyle surrounded by the green meadows.
Accommodation, breakfast each morning, transport, including luggage transfer from hotel to hotel are all part of the tour price. You also get a highly designed route guidance and detailed tour information when embarking on this adventure.
South Tyrol – Just like that! By Feuer und Eis
Hit the road with this cycling tour through South Tyrol and explore this area connecting the Mediterranean climate and the Italian Alps. Once Austrian, South Tyrol is now an autonomous province bursting with breathtaking rivers, admirable mountains, and gorgeous lakes waiting to be seen by all the passionate explorers.
Start your cycle in the heart of the Dolomites through the Olang Reservoir along the Rienz River. After Appiano, go to Lake Caldaro, where you can swim between May and September. Follow the “Wine Route” to arrive at the oldest winery in South Tyrol in Andrian. Unwind in the spa town Merano, and the next day head to Malles, where you can discover the entire valley following the Adige cycle path. Finish the 8-day tour with cycling routes from the upper Valle Isarco to the Franzensfesteund.
When booking this cycling tour, you get seven nights and seven breakfasts, as well as the transportation and some additional detailed travel documents such as route maps and route description.
Cycling the Wine Trails of Umbria, Self-Guided By Exodus Travels
It doesn’t get much better than breathing in the spirit of beautiful Umbria while cycling to the local winery and watching the fields of sunflowers surrounding you. Along with enchanting nature, Umbria offers historical and cultural abundance sweetened with heartwarming locals that welcome you throughout your journey.
Day one of the tour begins with a light ride through the Teverone Valley and an optional uphill road to Trevi, the capital of the olive oil industry. Breathtaking scenery accompanies you while you embark on your journey to Spoleto towards the Apennines. Explore Montefalco, the “balcony of Umbria”, and visit some of the cheap trattorie or osterie serving the local wine in San Francesco. Take a taxi or cycle to the Roman walled town of Bevagna, after which you will end up in the scenic medieval village of Gualdo Cattaneo. On your last day, cycle the “Wine and Art Road” to Brufa before returning to Spello.
Sleeping in hotels, meals, luggage transfer, route maps and local bike hire are included in this cycling tour.
Heart of Veneto Self-Guided Cycling By Exodus Travels
This tour flawlessly combines slightly more challenging routes with gentle rides to admire all the pure and intact nature surrounding you along the way. Offering the experience of the “original” countryside of Italy, you can absorb the beauty of the olive groves, vineyards, calm lakes and cute villages and genuinely enjoy your days in the heart of Veneto.
The first day of the tour is reserved for the ride through the Paduan plain to Bastia market, after which you can discover Francesco Petrarca’s birthplace. From the calming Lake Fimon you go uphill to into the Berici Archaeological and Natural Park. On the way to the historic UNESCO city of Padova, try original gelato and taste some wine in Castegnero or Nanto. Visit the famous Villa Rotonda and Palladio’s town of Vicenza. On your last day, go the hills into the Liona region and follow the Strada del Recioto.
This tour provides GPS route navigation and high-quality bikes that will ensure a safe cycle all the way. You also get accommodation and delicious breakfasts.
Cycling Puglia & Matera By Exodus Travels
Located in the middle of the Adriatic and Ionian Sea, the regions Puglia and Basilicata offer surreal landscapes, old traditional trulli houses and luscious Italian cuisine. Discover what it is like to directly explore the south of Italy from your bike and create life-long memories from this cycling tour.
Begin your cycling adventure from Madera and witness how the villagers still live in the same houses their ancestors built 9,000 years ago. On the second day of your tour, you will arrive in Ostuni, recognizable for its white buildings, where you will spend the night. Continue pedaling to Oria, famous for its 13th-century castle and historic cobbled streets and stunning architecture. Explore Gallipoli, the “Ionian Pearl”, and swim in the Ionian Sea. After the ancient Messapian town of Otranto, we head to the Baroque city of Lecce.
A tour leader follows you during this whole South Italy tour. Every morning you get breakfast with vegan and vegetarian options. Additionally, the accommodation, transport and local bike hire are part of the package.
Cycling the Coast and Mountains of Cilento By The Natural Adventure Company
Be one of the first tourists that cycle to some of the secluded parts of coastal Italy, and become one with the remarkable landscapes full of gentle uphills and downhills, guaranteeing you an unforgettable trip.
During this tour, you will explore the ancient town of Paestum, located on the coast of the Tyrrhenian Sea, revealing its widely known Doric temples. The coastal village San Marco di Castellabate can be your starting point to visit the small islet of Leucosia. Head to Perdifumo and Mercato Cilento, circle around Mount Stella and look in the direction of beautiful Amalfi Coast and Capri. Witness the medieval spirit residing in the village of Pisciotta and continue to explore the untouched nature rarely visited by tourists. The views only get better when arriving at Capo Palinuro, one of the most famous Cilento National Park spots.
The tour offers many essential services such as luggage transfers, detailed route notes, breakfasts and accommodation for eight nights – indeed one of the best Italy bike tours available.
Cycling in Sardinia By Exodus Travels
If you have never visited the unsurpassed beauty of Sardinia before, this might be the perfect chance. Join this tour and see why this could be the best road bike holiday you ever had. Limestone ridges, sparkling sandy beaches, historical sites and healing Mediterranean vegetation portray only the surface of this everlasting natural jewel.
Warm-up your legs and start exploring this unique nature in the southwest of Italy from the Sinis wetlands – home to colonies of pink flamingos and other birdlife. Continue to Costa Verde and smell the powerful green vegetation surrounding you. Go downhill to Fontanamare and Portoscuso to take the local ferry to the fishing village of Carloforte. Enjoy the sublime surroundings of Costa del Sud, offering you white beaches and inviting coastal pools.
Vegan and vegetarian meals are provided along with the regular breakfast each day. With the knowledgeable guide that accompanies you during your journey, you can ask anything you are interested in. Finally, take well-deserved rest after days full of cycling in the 3-star hotels and agriturismos.
