ITALY CYCLING MAP & HIGHLIGHTS
As the northeast of Italy disappears into the Dolomites and the northwest aligns with the Alps, cyclists endure or enjoy steep climbs and mountain vistas. Head south to Venice or the Piedmont region, where the Panoramica del Monferrato and Strada del Vino, respectively, set a more relaxed scene for Italy cycling holidays. Cycling to the west of the Apennines from the five fishing communities of the Cinque Terre to Pisa reveals Ligurian waves melding into Tuscan folds. Follow the coast south and you’ll find the Bay of Naples and the beautiful Amalfi Coast. Finally, Puglia, in the southeast ‘heel’, provides peaceful paths to wild beaches, while Ostuni, Gallipoli and Otranto prompt time out of the saddle in between the Ionian and Adriatic.
Our Italy cycling Holidays
Matera to Puglia cycle in Italy
Nestled between the Adriatic and Ionian seas
From
£1599 to £1999
8 days
inc UK flights
Cycling tours in Italy, Dolomites to Venice
One of Europe's unique mountain landscapes
From
£1799 to £1999
8 days
inc UK flights
Dolomites cycling holiday in Italy
The Dolomites, while avoiding the need to ride up any long climbs
From
£1729 to £1749
8 days
inc UK flights
Umbria to Tuscany cycling & cooking holiday
Cycling and cooking holiday between Umbria and Tuscany
From
€1120 to €1160
6 days
ex flights
Puglia cycling tour
Reasonable easy cycling. Excellent bikes. Good weather.
From
£1749 to £1859
8 days
inc UK flights
Cilento and Amalfi Coast cycling holiday, Italy
Rocky ridges set between small picturesque inlets
From
£1749 to £1999
8 days
inc UK flights
Trieste to Pula cycling tour, self guided
Self-guided cycling tours through Italy, Slovenia and Croatia
From
€620 to €760
8 days
ex flights
Cycling holiday across Italy, Puglia to Sorrento
Ride across the boot of Italy
From
£2099
8 days
inc UK flights
Sicily cycling holiday in Italy
Ride through Sicily's UNESCO sites of Siracusa, Noto, Modica and Ragusa
From
£1699 to £1999
8 days
inc UK flights
Tuscany cycling holiday through Siena & Chianti
Cycle the most evocative and romantic landscapes
From
£1699 to £1899
8 days
inc UK flights
Umbria self guided cycling holiday, Italy
Easy cycling across ancient towns and vineyards
From
€790 to €2300
7 days
ex flights
Cycling holiday in Italy and Switzerland
Cycling with the spectacular scenery of the Italian Lakes
From
£1979
8 days
inc UK flights
South Tyrol to Verona cycling holiday in Italy
Explore the South Tyrol, Lake Garda & Verona
From
£1375 to £1775
8 days
ex flights
Lake Garda cycling holiday in Italy
Easy center-based cycling holiday by Lake Garda
From
€355 to €405
5 days
ex flights
Venice cycling holiday, Italy
Venetian countryside surrounded by olives, poplars and cherries
From
£1245 to £1299
8 days
inc UK flights
Lake Garda to Venice cycling holiday, Italy
Easy linear cycling holiday from Verona to Venice
From
€635 to €875
8 days
ex flights
Cycling Tour de France climbs in the South Alps
Cycle the undiscovered south French Alps cols Tdf
From
€1050
8 days
ex flights
Sicily self guided cycling holiday in Italy
A wonderful introduction to Sicily's south-east
From
£2109
9 days
inc UK flights
Tuscany cycling holiday, small group
Cycling Tuscany the hills surronding Siena and Val D'Orcia
From
€900
5 days
ex flights
Italy self guided cycling and culinary tour
Delight in Italian cuisine on this self-guided tour
From
£1165 to £1385
7 days
ex flights
Pisa to Florence cycling holiday in Tuscany
Cycle between two iconic cities and pedal through delightful Tuscan landscapes
From
£1779 to £1799
8 days
inc UK flights
Dolomites to Lake Garda self guided cycling holiday
Self guided cycling holiday through beautiful Italy
From
£990 to £1325
7 days
ex flights
Matera to Lecce cycling holiday in Italy
Discover the jewels of Southern Italy from Matera to Lecce
From
€710 to €1710
8 days
ex flights
Self guided Puglia cycling holiday
Cycle the heel of Italy in the sun drenched region of Puglia
From
£1030 to £1325
7 days
ex flights
Cycling holiday in Umbria, Italy
The peace of Tuscany & Umbria by bicycle
From
£1050
8 days
ex flights
Self-Guided Cycle Venice to Porec holiday
A self-guided cycle journey through Italy, Slovenia and Croatia
From
£1075 to £1255
18 days
ex flights
Dolomite valley cycling holiday in Italy
Incredibly scenic tour through dramatic mountain landscapes
From
€1145 to €1785
8 days
ex flights
Tuscany self guided cycling holiday in Italy
Experience local Tuscan life on two wheels
From
£1679
8 days
inc UK flights
Sardinia cycling holiday in Italy
Cycle past abandoned mines and gleaming white beaches
From
£1599 to £1749
8 days
inc UK flights
Umbria self guided cycling holiday in Italy
Journey into a world of sun-drenched landscapes
From
£1595 to £1659
9 days
inc UK flights
1.
Amalfi Coast
2. The Dolomites
3. Italian Lakes
4. Lombardy
5. Piedmont
6. Puglia
7. Sardinia
8. Sicily
9. Tuscany
10. Umbria
11. Venetia
2. The Dolomites
3. Italian Lakes
4. Lombardy
5. Piedmont
6. Puglia
7. Sardinia
8. Sicily
9. Tuscany
10. Umbria
11. Venetia
Amalfi Coast
1. Amalfi Coast
Cycle just a short distance from the curvature of the famed Amalfi Coast and you'll discover a world away from the hairpins that leave you just as exulted but without the stress. Cycling north from Capo Palinuro towards Positano, Ravello and Salerno unveils the Bay of Naples. Pedal to ancient Greek settlements and seaside villages, with steep climbs and plenty of freewheeling to the beach.
The Dolomites
2. The Dolomites
Italians are famed for drama and there’s no more dramatic stage for cyclists than the alpine routes and classic cols of the Dolomites. However, there are also some lovely leisurely rides from beautiful Bolzano where fruit orchards and vineyards run adjacent to the Adige River and tracks lead past Lake Caldaro en-route to Tyrolean treats in the traditional mountain villages of Ora, Egna and Salorno.
Italian Lakes
3. Italian Lakes
Lake Como combines chic cafe culture with one of Giro di Lombardia's classic climbs: the Muro di Sormano. Lake Garda allows for leisurely cycling with cheeky short cuts by ferry to Riva del Garda and the lakeside town of Desenzano. From massive Maggiore, sharing shores in Lombardy and Piedmont, to glacial Lugano, set close to Switzerland – Italy’s Lake District always reflects well on cyclists.
Lombardy
4. Lombardy
Monte Grappa, the Padova and Vicenza hills, and the foothills of Monte Baldo, all come into play on a cycling holiday in Lombardy which is why this region of northern Italy is often best left to the purists. Autumn is an exquisite season to cycle in Lombardy with the added bonus of the Il Lombardia Gran Fondo adding to the wish list for cyclists seeking challenges and Lycra-clad action.
Piedmont
5. Piedmont
Practically half of the northwest Italian region of Piedmont is mountainous with the Alps creating an exquisite natural border with France and Switzerland. Cycling in Piedmont leaves nothing to the imagination with a series of 50km stretches encapsulating the agricultural Montferrato hillsides, topped with vineyards, churches and castles, which lie between Torino, Asti, Alba and Bossolasco.
Puglia
6. Puglia
As the heel of booted Italy, Puglia serves cyclists with an enviable variety of countryside and coastal scenes all the way from Matera in the north to Santa Maria di Leuca in the south. Landscapes are flat, and distances are easy-going - don’t expect too many challenges. Prepare to pedal to the unique architecture of Alberobello and the ancient sites of Otranto, as well as seafood stops in Savelletri.
Sardinia
7. Sardinia
Find yourself in fishing villages and flamingo-fringed wetlands as you cycle Sardinia’s Costa Verde. Here, flat routes follow golden beaches and the foothills of the Monte Linas provide more of a challenge. Ferry rides to the islands of San Pietro and Sant' Antioco unlock further cycling secrets off the west coast of Italy, including rocky routes along headlands and sandy coves overlooking the Med.
Sicily
8. Sicily
What better way to work off one too many cannoli than cycling in southeast Sicily. From Syracuse to Scicli via Capo Passero you’ll pedal past plantations of olives and through the lower valleys of the Iblean Mountains, with average daily distances of 50km. Enjoy a good combination of challenging canyon climbs and flat coastal plains plus an abundance of ancient and natural history.
Tuscany
9. Tuscany
Set between the Apennines and the Med, Tuscany always appeals, with the iconic sights of Pisa and the Renaissance art of Florence offering options for free days after time spent freewheeling. From the medieval ramparts of Vinci and the baths of Montecatini Terme, to Castelnuovo di Garfagnana and the Cinque Terre coast, cycling in Tuscany can be challenging but rewards are unforgettable.
Umbria
10. Umbria
Take your time on a self guided cycling holiday in Umbria or tackle the route from Florence to Rome via hilltop towns, back roads and felt-green fields. Umbria’s uncrowded undulations are ideal for cyclists with yellow seas of sunflowers and towns like Perugia, Assisi and Spoleto punctuating the journey. Discover medieval monuments, ancient basilicas and some darn fine early morning coffee.
Venetia
11. Venetia
The region surrounding Venice is rarely seen by the cruise and coach brigade, but places like the Paduan Plain and the Berici Hills are picture perfect, with excellent pedalling past vineyards and villages en route to lakeside picnics or gelati on a peaceful piazza. Explore in the Euganean Hills or visit Vicenza, Verona or Venice, feeding mind, body and soul in one trip.
Our top Italy cycling Holiday
Matera to Puglia cycle in Italy
Nestled between the Adriatic and Ionian seas
From
£1599 to £1999
8 days
inc UK flights
Small group travel:
2021: 8 Sep, 12 Sep, 15 Sep, 26 Sep, 3 Oct, 17 Oct
2022: 3 Apr, 17 Apr, 24 Apr, 1 May, 8 May, 15 May, 22 May, 29 May, 5 Jun, 12 Jun, 19 Jun, 26 Jun, 3 Jul, 10 Jul, 17 Jul, 24 Jul, 31 Jul, 7 Aug, 14 Aug, 21 Aug, 28 Aug, 4 Sep, 11 Sep, 18 Sep, 25 Sep
2021: 8 Sep, 12 Sep, 15 Sep, 26 Sep, 3 Oct, 17 Oct
2022: 3 Apr, 17 Apr, 24 Apr, 1 May, 8 May, 15 May, 22 May, 29 May, 5 Jun, 12 Jun, 19 Jun, 26 Jun, 3 Jul, 10 Jul, 17 Jul, 24 Jul, 31 Jul, 7 Aug, 14 Aug, 21 Aug, 28 Aug, 4 Sep, 11 Sep, 18 Sep, 25 Sep
Travel Team
If you'd like to chat about Italy cycling or need help finding a holiday to suit you we're very happy to help.
More about Italy cycling
The best time to go on a cycling holiday in Italy is May or September although the further south you cycle the longer the season extends.
Cycling and Italy have been linked long before Signore Wiggo took to his trike and if you’re looking to find out more then read our Italy cycling holidays travel guide.
Cycling holidays in Italy come in all shapes and sizes, from relaxing foodie tours to challenging mountain rides.
Although Italy’s Amalfi Coast has long been a haven for glitz and glamour, it’s also provided cyclists with some of the world’s most scenic coastal rides.
Cycling in Puglia has a lot to recommend it: the heel of Italy’s boot is flat, as well as dry and sunny.
Cycling in Sardinia lets you explore the island’s magnificent natural beauty while avoiding overcrowded beaches and resorts.
Read our top 10 cycling holidays in Italy and find out where you could be pedalling off to in the not too distant future.
Find out what our Italian cycling experts have to say about where to ride, what to pack and why preparation is the key to successful cycling holidays, in our Italy cycling advice.
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