We have spent years curating the best cycling routes in Italy to give you the chance to ride these roads. But our passion for cycling goes beyond the bikes and scenery —although that’s a big part of it!
When discussing the best cycling routes in Italy, there’s one name that never fails to appear —the Giro d’Italia, one of the cycling season’s most prestigious Grand Tours. Italy’s historic love of cycling forms part of the culture, and during these 3 weeks of the year, from The Dolomites to Tuscany and the Amalfi Coast, cyclists and fans gather in their hoards to watch the world’s best riders battle it out for the coveted pink jersey, the maglia rosa.
Over the course of the Giro d’Italia, the landscapes and scenery traversed by these riders create a scrapbook of natural beauty and majesty, revealing Italy’s diverse terrain and iconic sites, from sweeping coastal cliffs and rolling countryside to towering mountains and millenia-old cobbled streets. This is the magic of cycling in Italy.
At Eat Sleep Cycle, we relish the opportunity to make these scrapbooks come to life. We have spent years curating the best cycling routes in Italy to give you the chance to ride these roads. But our passion for cycling goes beyond the bikes and scenery —although that’s a big part of it!
We ride for the stories, the people, the memories and the culture that make our cycling tours of Italy something you’ll want to repeat year in, year out.
Traverse the Italian Alps & The Dolomites
Cycling in the Italian Alps is an unforgettable experience. Breathtaking mountainscapes set the scene for epic challenges that have tested even the world’s best riders, with legendary passos such as the Stelvio, Gavia and Mortirolo that draw cyclists in from around the world, eager to see for themselves just how tough they are.
Take a look at our Everesting Challenge, “Dolomites & Italian Alps” to really test yourself in the Italian Alps.
Riding the Italian Alps is about putting your training into practise and testing your limits, while revelling in your surroundings. Battling the Stelvio’s gradients and looking back and see the 48 hairpin bends —on the northern (Prato) side— is a view that will be hard to beat, as these tight, steep switchbacks ascend to the summit at 2,757 metres (9,045 feet).
Cycling in The Dolomites offers an equally monumental experience. Tackle the classic Passo Giau, the Sella Ronda —looping around the Sella massif and crossing four passes: Sella, Gardena, Pordoi and Campolongo— and the Passo Falzarego (2,105 metres/6,906 feet above sea level), boasting stunning views of the nearby peaks. Each climb presents a unique challenge, matched only by the beauty of the jagged limestone cliffs, alpine meadows and picture-postcard Alpine villages —it’s easy to see how the Dolomites are classed as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
You can also explore Italy’s mountain regions on the Eat Sleep Cycle Trans Dolomites Challenge — this tour is epic, rewarding and iconic. This eight-day tour offers a blend of point-to-point mountain routes, starting in Ravascletto and moving west. Highlights include legendary passes such as Passo Stelvio, Sella Ciampigotto, Passo Tre Croci, and the Passo Campolongo. Daily breakfasts, hearty picnic lunches, and scenic cafe stops ensure you’re fueled for every mile of this unforgettable Dolomites cycling experience.
Discover a route of epic and challenge, but absolutely unforgettable clibs on the Eat Sleep Cycle Classic Climbs of the Giro. This seven-day adventure is curated for veteran climbers, featuring up to 11 iconic Giro climbs, including epic ascents such as the Passo Stelvio, Passo Mortirolo, and Sella Ronda. Fully supported with daily breakfasts, picnic lunches, and dinners at local restaurants, this tour combines unforgettable climbs, breathtaking views and the best of Italian hospitality.
Timeless Tuscany – The Via Francigena to Rome
The Via Francigena is an ancient pilgrimage route that stretches from Canterbury in the UK, to Rome, Italy, crossing through the heart of Tuscany’s timeless landscapes. This historic path winds over rolling hills, past vineyards and through mediaeval towns, offering riders the unique experience of discovering one of Italy’s most renowned regions by bike. With plenty to explore in the way of road and gravel cycling, including the winding climbs of Crete Senesi, a section of the legendary Le Strade Bianche, and the nearby historic villages of Asciano and San Giovanni D’Asso.
Tuscany and the Chianti region provide cyclists with more than just scenery —they immerse riders in the local culture; stories and legends enriched with Italian heritage; traditional Tuscan dishes like handmade pici pasta, wild boar ragù, and pecorino cheese; and world-famous Chianti wines. The well-maintained roads and regional hospitality are proof of the locals’ appreciation for cycling, upholding a culture of respect for and among road and gravel riders, bikepackers, walkers and horse riders alike.
With 15 stages between the UNESCO-protected Siena hills and Rome, riding the Via Francigena to Rome introduces cyclists to the towns of Bolsena —and the Lago di Bolsena—, Montefiascone, San Gimignano, and Viterbo.
Book your place onto our Cycling Tour of Tuscany today, and experience this all for yourself!
Piemonte – The hidden gem
Piemonte might be one of the lesser known cycling routes in Italy, yet it is every bit as captivating as other Italian cycling adventures. Nestled between the soaring Alps and the Mediterranean Sea, Piemonte is primarily known for its world-class wines, delicious Alpine-inspired cuisine, and serene foothill landscapes. Top cycling routes in the area wind from the historic Torino through the vineyard-clad hills of Langhe, passing through the charming towns of Alba and Asti, and down to the sparkling Lago d’Orta coastline.
This northwestern region of Italy hugs the French border, bringing together a blend of Italian and French influences to its cuisine, architecture and culture. Cycling holidays in Piemonte, such as our seven-day Tour of Piemonte, are designed to showcase the best of the local landscape, culture and food, curating a 360º experience and provide riders with an authentic taste of Piemonte life. Highlights include both loops and point-to-point rides from some of the area’s most beautiful towns and sites, such as Alba, Sant Uffizio and Lago d’Orta, with the chance to sample Piemonte’s world-famous white truffles and wine.
The Prosecco Hills – Monte Grappa
Think iconic Italy, stunning scenery and colossal climbs —don’t let the name fool you! This popular region sits within the Veneto area of northern Italy, nestled between Venice and the Dolomites. The vineyard-clad hills create a truly special backdrop to an impressive selection of routes for gravel, road and MTB. The foothills of the Dolomites offer some lower-gradient climbs before rising into full-on elevation peaks, including the Passo San Boldo and Monte Grappa, two Giro d’Italia classics.
Monte Grappa is something of a mecca for proficient riders, and is often featured among the most iconic cycling routes in Italy. There are a grand total of 10 ways to the top. Our favourite starts in Bassano del Grappa, where we also lodge the night before on our Eat Sleep Cycle Processo Hills Tour. The climb stretches for a mighty 19 km at an average of 5.4%, reaching an altitude of 1,700 m, rewarding riders with views of the nearby Adriatic. A memorial to the fallen soldiers of the two great world wars sits proudly at the summit. You won’t be disappointed.
Puglia
Puglia sits in Italy’s iconic heel, a peninsula surrounded by the warm waters of the Mediterranean on one side, and those of the Adriatic on the other. This stunning region offers over 800 km of coastline, and with mild year-round temperatures, Puglia offers some of the most agreeable cycling conditions in the country. Regarding terrain and topology, Puglia is mostly gentle, with hills and coastal flats that make it ideal for all experience levels, including those new to cycling in Italy —riders can expect quiet country roads, rustic gravel paths, and scenic coastal routes.
The local food, slow pace of life, and charming villages and architecture translate into days of exploration, tasting, visits and routes that will immerse you in the authentic beauty of Italy. Like its northern cousin, Piemonte, Puglia might not initially conjure images of top Italian bike tours and cycling events. But Puglia is a diamond in the rough, with miles of roads and trails to explore, and hundreds of family-run bed and breakfasts, providing the ideal base from which to explore towns and villages while resting from the bike.
Want to find out more about cycling in Italy?
As soon as you’re ready to travel we would love to show you around Italy! Check out our Italy Cycling Tours online here.
If you have any questions, please do also give us a call on +34 972 754 301 or contact us online for more info!
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