Last Updated on 7 October 2024 by Cycloscope
The 9 Best Self-Guided and Guided Bike Tours and Cycling Holidays in Italy: North/Centre/South
Italy is our country and we have explored it from North to South, islands included. In this guide, we have selected the best guided and self-guided bike tours in Italy. We have divided the tours into geographical areas: Northern Italy, Centre Italy, and Southern Italy.
The are different trips according to how much time you want to spend cycling and the difficulties. Of course, the guided tours are more expensive but they can be interesting for the insight into the local cultures, especially in the more remote areas, where is quite rare to find someone who can speak English. On the other hand, the self-guided bike tours leave you more freedom and the ability to travel at your own pace.
Northern Italy:
- Self-Guided Cycling Tour – 8-Day Tour Barolo Hills Piedmont
- 8-Day Bike Tour in the Dolomites
- Leonardo Greenway – From Milan to Como Lake
Centre Italy:
- Rome Self-Guided City Experience
- 4 Days Guided E-Bike Tour in Ascoli Piceno
Southern Italy + Islands:
- 3 Day Bike Tour from Matera with Meals Included
- 8 Days South West Sardinia Bike Tour
- 3 Days Etna E-Bike Tour
- 1 Day Mt. Vesuvius E-Bike Tour
Northern Italy
7 Nights 8 Days Self-Guided Cycling Tour – Barolo Wine Hills Self-Guided Tour
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About the Region
Piedmont, or Piemonte, is a northwestern region bordering France and Switzerland, known for its immense gastronomical variety, from white truffles to world-famous wine (Barolo and Monferrato just to mention a few) to cheese, chocolate (maybe you have heard of Nutella).
But not only food and wine, the region has cultural and historical importance; Turin, the capital of the region was the capital of Italy and home of the Savoy, playing an important role in the Unification of Italy. Piedmont is also famous for its stunning peaks, probably the most famous is Monte Rosa, the second highest mountain in Italy (4,634 m), and the Maritime Alps National Park and for its valley and lakes, a paradise for wine lovers.
Self-guided bike tour in lower Piedmont
- Location: The bike tour starts and arrives in Alba
- Difficulty: Moderate – Expert
- Style: Road Cycling
- Duration: 8 days – 7 nights
Highlights of this bike tour:
- Alba
- Enoteca Regionale del Barolo
- Mombarcaro
- Asti
- Open-air art installations by Chris Bangle
8-Day Guided Bike Tour in the Dolomites
About the Region
Trentino Alto Adige, or Südtirol is an Italian autonomous region bordering Switzerland Austria. The region is famous for its amazing mountains, lakes, valleys, and, of course, food and wine. It hosts 4 UNESCO sites, the 10% of the Alps mountain lake.
During the winter, Trentino Alto Adige is a ski and winter sports destination and during the summer hiking and cool weather attract a lot of people. Among the most famous mountain ranges is the Dolomiti, declared a UNESCO site in 2009, for its unicity, vertical walls, and narrow valley well preserved and protected.
8-Day Guided Bike Tour in the Dolomites
- Location: The bike tour starts from Panchià
- Difficulty: Moderate physical fitness level
- Style: MTB or E-bikes
- Duration: 8 days – 236 km
This 8-day tour can be done with a MTB or an electric bike, starting from Panchià and going around the Fiemme Valley through unpaved paths, cycling ways, and old railroads, completely traffic-free.
The itinerary includes several mountain passes, requiring a good fitness level. You will ride a total of 236km with an elevation variation of 3380 meters. You will have plenty of free time to enjoy the landscape, relax, or join other activities, such as hiking or rafting. The bicycles are included, and the tour is organized by ITALY CYCLING TOUR, you can read the company reviews here.
Highlights of this bike tour:
- Valle di Fiemme, Fiemme Valley
- Caldaro Lake
- Cavalese waterfall
- Carezza lake
- Pampeago Pass
- Passo Rolle
- Passo San Lugano
- Pordoi Pass
- Canazei
Leonardo Greenway – From Milan to Como Lake
About the Region
Milan is the capital city of the Lombardy region, where the largest commercial hub of the Country is located. But the region is not only a grey industrial area, it is rich in nature, forests, mountains, and waterways. Milan, in the past, was more similar to Venice, full of canals, called Navigli, dating back to the Middle Ages. Follow the waterways and rivers you can quickly reach Como Lake, one of the main tourist destinations in the Region.
4-Day Bike Tour from Milan to Como
- Location: The bike tour starts from Naviglio della Martesana, Milan
- Difficulty: Easy
- Style: road bikes or E-bikes
- Duration: 4 days – 75 km
Bicycles are included. This tour is an amazing opportunity to discover the surroundings of Milan, completely immersed in nature, history, and cultural landmarks off the beaten path. Once reach the Como Lake, the train ticket to bring you back to Milan is included. This bike tour is ideal for those who are spending some time in Milan and want to explore the area in depth.
Highlights of this bike tour:
- Naviglio della Martesana
- Adda River cycling path
- Crespi d’Adda workers’ village UNESCO site
- Castello Visconteo
- Leonardo Ferry
- Lecco
Centre Italy
Rome Self-Guided City Experience
Explore Rome at your own pace with this app-based self-guided tour. Offering itineraries for walking or public transport, the app provides audio narration about Rome’s history and landmarks.
With offline access, you can navigate without the internet, making it easy to explore independently. Featuring over 130 points of interest, this flexible tour lets you discover Rome’s highlights while learning about its rich culture and history on your own schedule.
4 Days Guided E-Bike Tour in Ascoli Piceno
A journey to discover southern Marche offers the chance to explore ridges, vineyards, national parks, and artistic cities. This lesser-known region provides authentic local experiences. Expert guides accompany travelers along scenic country roads and elegant paths throughout the tour, with a support car available for assistance and luggage transport.
The seasonal grape harvest celebration offers the unique opportunity to engage in traditional peasant festivities, including a lively evening banquet where grape pressing is accompanied by local folklore and regional culinary delights. Marche is renowned for its wines and fried olives, making it a must-visit destination for food and wine enthusiasts.
Highlights of this bike tour:
- Monti Sibillini National Park
Southern Italy
3 Day Bike Tour from Matera with Meals Included – guided tour
About the Region
Matera is the capital of Basilicata, a Southern Italian Region. It has always been scarcely populated, a region of emigrants, and the population is decreasing by around 2% every year. Besides the economic struggle, the Region is amazing. Matera, called città dei Sassi (city of the stones), has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1993 and was nominated European Capital of Culture in 2019.
The “stones” were inhabited since the Paleolithic period, in 1952 the Italian government tried to relocate the people still living there because of the poor conditions and malaria outbreak. Finally, thanks to European Union aid and promotion, Matera was regenerated with great success, being now a vibrant city center. This success story was featured around the world, from the shame of Italy, Matera became one of the most unique UNESCO sites in the world.
3 Day Bike Tour around Matera
- Location: Matera, Basilicata, Italy, Europe
- Duration: 3 Days
- Distance: +/- 90 miles (140km)
- Difficulty: Moderate – Expert
- Style: Road Cycling
This tour starts from Matera, in the Southern Region of Basilicata, still uncontaminated and off the beaten path. The scenery will never be boring, wild nature and historical places coexist in a beautiful and harmonious way. Not less importantly, there is almost no traffic along these roads and, as you can imagine, the food is fantastic. It is possible to rent electric bicycles for this tour, but it is not included in the price.
Highlights of this bicycle tour:
- Matera
- Riserva Naturale San Giuliano – San Giuliano natural reserve
- Grassano
- Pietrapertosa
- Gallipoli Cognato Regional Park
8 Days South West Sardinia Bike Tour – Self-Guided
Sardinia’s southwest coast is perfect for cycling, with its unspoiled landscapes and scenic routes. This private bike tour offers a hassle-free way to explore, taking you from the Sinis Wetlands through the Costa Verde to Pula along the Costa del Sud.
The tour provides a ready-made map and detailed route notes, allowing you to explore at your own pace. A support vehicle handles luggage transport, ensuring a smooth and enjoyable journey without the need for planning or hotel bookings.
3 Days Etna E-Bike Tour
About the Tour
This thrilling three-day e-bike tour takes adventurers from the sea to the summit of Mount Etna, Europe’s highest active volcano.
After arriving at an agriturismo by the Ionian Sea, guests embark on their journey from San Marco Beach, climbing along the Alcantara River. They explore the Alcantara Valley’s natural beauty, visiting ancient farmhouses and enjoying views from Castello Lauria before returning for dinner and rest.
On day two, riders head toward Mount Etna, navigating an ancient Roman road and crossing old lava fields. They experience the stunning landscape and wildlife before arriving at a mountain chalet for the night.
The final day features the climb to Mount Etna’s summit, where riders encounter a lunar-like landscape of lava fields and stunning vistas. After taking in the views from 3,000 meters, they descend to the village of Milo to conclude the adventure with a delightful Sicilian dinner and local wine before departing the next day.
3 Days Etna Bike Tour
Location: Etna, East Sicily
Difficulty: Moderate
Style: E-MTB
Duration: 3 days
Mt Vesuvius E-Bike Tour
This e-bike tour begins in the Vesuvius Valley, where participants are picked up from their hotel and transported to the starting point. Riders navigate the asphalt road leading to the crater, surrounded by the lush vegetation of Vesuvius while enjoying stunning views of the valley below.
As they ascend, the landscape gradually shifts to more barren terrain. Upon reaching the summit, riders leave their e-bikes and continue on foot to explore the crater’s perimeter.
National Park guides are available to share insights into the geology, flora, and fauna of Vesuvius, along with its historical significance to the local population. After the visit, the group descends back to the valley and returns to the van tour starting point.
More Cycling Routes in Italy