With rolling hills and steep mountains, vineyards and incredible food, few places on Earth can match Italy for a cycling holiday. Here are seven of the Best Cycling Tours in Italy:
(Photo: tripaneer.com)
Believe the hype – Italy lives up to all expectations when it comes to cycling. From the lightning strike Stelvio Pass in the Ortler Alps to the postcard sun and sea of the Amalfi Coast, and everything in between, Italy truly has something for every cyclist. Cheap, plentiful food – legend has it you are never further than 50 metres from a pizza rossa – and cycling-friendly locals, not to mention rocket fuel espressos and Chiantis, mean that being on two wheels really is the dolce vita in this southern European country. Whether you want to act like you’re in the Giro, get off the beaten track, or just use it as an excuse to drink some Prosecco, there is a cycling tour for everyone in Italy – here are seven of the best:
6 Day Dolomites Cycling Tour in Corvara
Starting off with something challenging, this tour heads to the Dolomites, arguably one of the most beautiful Italian destinations for cycling. You’ll need to be fit, otherwise there is an option to rent an e-bike, but it’s still designed for amateurs so there is a relaxed and friendly vibe. It begins in Corvara, situated in a basin-shaped valley, and each day is a different route, going up to a maximum of 80kms for a day. There are some truly epic and infamous passes included, namely the 2,236m Giau, with its snaking hairpin bends, and Gardena, with views of the Sassolungo, the Sella and the Pizes de Cir peaks. If you are looking for a way into more serious cycling tours in the mountains, this six days/ five nights adventure is an excellent taster session. From €1,375.
Book at tripaneer.com
5 Days Prosecco Road Cycling Holiday in Veneto, Italy
(Photo: tripaneer.com)
As the name suggests, this isn’t just about smashing it all day on the bike. Based around Veneto, home to Italy’s much-loved cities of Venice and Verona, it is also a wine buff’s heaven, with rolling vineyards and boutique wineries dotting the landscape. You’ll ride some challenging climbs such as Passo San Boldo, as well as passing the beautiful Lake of Lago and Lake of Santa Maria, as famous foodie hotspots like Osteria Senz’Oste and Valdobbiadene., known for its Prosecco Superiore wines. It’s a great mix of cycling and food and drink – you can ride off those extra calories the next day – and with everything well explained from the enthusiastic guide. From € 1,080.
Book at tripaneer.com
8 Day Fully Guided Road Cycling Week Between Tuscany and Umbria Intensive Program
Right, time to get serious. This tour may not tackle the high Alps or Dolomites but Tuscany is full of rolling (and gorgeous) countryside and you’ll be putting in more than 100km a day some days. The trip takes in medieval towns and villages, passing ancient sites such as the 1500 Renaissance palace in Gradoli and the city of Orvieto, found on the flat summit of a large butte of volcanic tuff. The guided ride will be about right for amateur club riders and anyone who pedals more than 100km a week, with accommodation each night in the granary of a castle in the village of Grotte di Castro. From € 1,770.
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Cycling Italy’s Piedmont Plus! Lake Maggiore
(Photo: tourradar.com)
This 12-day bucket list tour is for the strong of leg and deep of pockets. At nearly 5,000 Euros per person, it’s not cheap, but takes in a lot of ground. Everything is, as you might expect, included, from food to accommodation, and starting in Cueo south of Turin, the tour heads deep into the Alps, loops through wine villages, and hits the Italian Lake District. It’s not particularly intense, but all the better to enjoy the stunning scenery. From €5.368.
Book at tourradar.com
8 Day Amazing Puglia Cycling Tour
The south of Italy can feel very different to the north; more rugged and less constrained, it is wilder often in both the landscape and the way of life. Puglia, along the boot of Italy, is a place of dramatic coastlines, turquoise waters, tumbledown towns, and tables full of olives and focaccia. This tour features six days of guided cycling through olive groves and valleys, past ancient ruins, and stopping for picnic near to where the Ionian and Adriatic Seas meet. Practically everything is included, plus a feel of getting off the tourist trails and seeing some of the real Italian countryside. The only thing is, this level of all-inclusive cycling comes at a price, although it comes down considerably depending on the size of the group. From €4,420.
Book at tripaneer.com
Cycling in Sardinia
Sardinia is second only to Sicily in size when it comes to islands in the Mediterranean but it still retains a sense of adventure, magical cuisine and secret destinations like few other European holiday destinations. It’s also perfect for cycling, as long as you are not someone who can’t get on two wheels without roads being impeccably laid tarmac. Skirting empty white beaches with crystal-clear sea, limestone ridges and deep gorges, this is definitely a more exciting tour than many others, taking in much of the parts of Sardinia most tourists never get to see. For something away from the cycling crowds, Sardinia is hard to beat. From €2.052.
Book at bookmundi.com
Cycling in Sicily
Another island adventure, this tour takes in the lesser-visited south east of Sicily, travelling from Palazzolo Acreide to Syracuse. The trip passes no less than six Unesco baroque towns in the region, as well lost landscapes of farmlands, deep gorges and dramatic coastal scenery. Incredible local food and wine can be sampled on the way, with the guide picking out the best regional spots. With small groups, and an emphasis on eating, riding and experiencing everything together, you’ll come away with a few more cycling buddies than you arrived with. From €1.881.
Book at bookmundi.com