Cycling holidays & tours in Italy

Why choose Italy for your cycling holiday? In Italy, the bicycle is more than just a way to travel; it’s a part of the national identity. From the legendary heroes of the Giro d’Italia to everyday riders pedalling through piazzas, cycling is woven into the rhythm of Italian life. Whether you’re climbing a quiet mountain road or pausing at a village café, you’ll feel it in the shared language of the bike and the warm welcome extended to those who travel on two wheels.
Cycling routes in Italy mean a ride through landscapes shaped by centuries; straight Roman roads that still connect hilltop towns, vine-covered valleys where life moves with the seasons, and coastal stretches where the scent of salt and rosemary fills the air. Along the way, you’ll experience the generous hospitality and regional flavours that transform every meal into a celebration. In Italy, food, culture, and the love of cycling are inseparable.

Top destinations for cycling in Italy
In Sardinia, cycle between quiet fishing villages, hidden coves and windswept coastlines. It’s a place where traffic is light and the pace of life slows with every kilometre you pedal. Tuscany offers a rhythmic ride through gently folding hills, framed by stone farmhouses and olive groves. Routes here blend idyllic rural scenes with cultural landmarks, from hilltop towns to Renaissance cities.
In Lombardia, cycling routes weave between lakes, valleys, and vineyard-covered slopes. Around Lake Garda, ferries connect scenic towns, allowing for flexible, circular riding with postcard-worthy views at every turn.
The Veneto region, near Venice, is ideal for more leisurely touring—flat, fertile terrain meets a network of riverside paths, historic villas, and quiet provincial roads.
For iconic alpine drama, the Dolomites and Italian Alps deliver legendary climbs, high-altitude passes, and cinematic landscapes. It’s a paradise for road cyclists and mountain bikers alike, who thrive on mountain air. 

Ways to ride in Italy
Italy’s diverse terrain means there’s a route for every rider, and this is the reason that bike touring in Italy is perennially popular. From smooth tarmac to ancient gravel, the variety keeps every ride fresh and engaging.
Compact distances between towns allow for frequent chances to stop and relish local food, cultural sights, or to take in the view. Whether you're out for a few hours or a full-day tour, the landscape naturally invites exploration.
With a growing network of cycle paths, trails, well-maintained roads, and a deep-rooted respect for cyclists, Italy offers more ways to ride and more reasons to keep going..

“Bikes have always been part of my life, giving me a sense of freedom since I was a child riding around the Sardinian countryside. Today, cycling through Italy – from the vineyards of Tuscany to the mountain passes of the Dolomites – still gives me that same feeling. On a bike, you notice everything: the scent of herbs on the road, a chat in a village café, the warmth of people you meet. It’s the most genuine way to experience the country.” Naomi Lindfield, Skedaddle Italia

Terrain 
Italy’s landscapes offer an extraordinary tapestry for cycling—Sardinia’s limestone cliffs and hidden coves contrast with Tuscany’s undulating mosaic of vineyards and olive groves. The Dolomites challenge riders with jagged peaks and steep ascents, while the northern terrain blends gentle rolling hills and scenic lakes, providing varied routes to suit every style of cycling.

Climate
Cycling conditions in Italy reflect its geographical diversity: Sardinia basks in Mediterranean warmth year-round, whereas the Alpine and Dolomite regions experience cooler mountain air, especially at higher elevations. Transitional seasons bring crisp mornings and golden light, ideal for those who prefer temperate weather and fewer tourists. Northern Italy is ideal for summer cycling while we tend to focus our trips in the South more around spring and autumn.

Infrastructure
Italy’s cycling infrastructure utilises charming and quiet back roads that wind through ancient villages, along with a network of dedicated cycle paths near urban and tourist areas, ideal for bike trips in Italy. Old gravel roads like the Strade Bianche are perfect for cyclists seeking a route away from the beaten track. 

Food and Drink
The gastronomic journey in Italy is as varied as its terrain: indulge in Sardinia’s fresh seafood and robust Vermentino wines, savour Tuscan Chianti alongside locally sourced cheeses, enjoy hearty mountain stews and polenta in the Dolomites, or taste Puglia’s renowned olive oils and orecchiette pasta. Italian food is nutritious, restorative and indulgent, perfect food for cyclists after a day in the saddle.

Discover our coast-to-coast ride across Sardinia to reveal a landscape unlike anywhere else in Europe. Quiet roads curve through wind-sculpted hills, cork oak forests, and the pale limestone towers of Ogliastra. Pass through villages where ancient languages are still spoken and experience the vibrancy of Sardinian life. 

Follow the ancient path of the Via Claudia, a Roman trade route that once carried wine, oysters, and silk across the Alps, now reimagined as a quietly powerful cycling route through mountains and time. This journey from Austria into northern Italy offers sweeping alpine vistas, serene river valleys, and a tangible sense of history with every turn of the pedal.

Italy offers high-mountain cycling at its most exhilarating. Our Giants of the Giro trip begins by riding from the spa town of San Pellegrino Terme deep into the Alps and Dolomites, where vast castles overlook valleys carved by glaciers and legendary climbs rise into the clouds. With routes shaped by the Giro d’Italia and landscapes framed by the Austrian and Swiss borders, this route is a must for every mountain lover.

Cycling through Italy’s northern Lake District on our own Tour of Lombardy, we encounter the Lakes of Lombardia, which offer an ever-changing landscape of glistening waters, wooded hills, and winding roads that thread between elegant towns and the quiet pre-Alps. With a balance of steady climbs and flowing descents, this route captures the subtle drama of the region—where light dances on the water and every ascent opens up a new perspective on the land below.

Tuscany invites cyclists to explore sculpted hills, olive groves, and medieval villages where history lingers in narrow streets and ancient towers. From relaxing spa towns to world-renowned wine regions like Chianti and Montalcino, this Giro della Toscana – tour of Tuscany blends diverse terrain with rich local flavours and iconic landscapes.

The masterpiece of our Italian cycling tours is the Italy Grand Traverse. On this journey, you’ll witness Italy’s rich tapestry unfold around you, from the sun-drenched olive groves of the south to the elegant piazzas of the north. Each region reveals its own distinct identity, with subtle shifts in dialects, customs, and cuisine as you move through the country. Enjoy hearty southern specialities to refined northern fare, while you traverse 10 UNESCO World Heritage sites and 5 National Parks and cycle through historic cities like Lecce, Assisi, Siena, and Venice.