3 of the best bike tours in Italy

1. Dolomites with CyclingHero

Best for iconic Alpine climbs, dramatic mountain scenery and the freedom to ride at your own pace with local support.

Cyclist riding gravel roads in Fanes (photo credit: CyclingHero)

Key information

Route: A seven-day, six-night supported self-guided road cycling tour, starting in Treviso and continuing through the Prosecco Hills, Cortina d’Ampezzo and Corvara. The trip includes transfers between riding areas.

Terrain: Paved roads, from rolling vineyard hills to long Alpine climbs, steep gradients and winding mountain descents.

Difficulty: Challenging to very challenging, depending on your chosen routes. Options range from 266 to 502 kilometres, with 5,270 to 12,180 metres of climbing across the trip.

Highlights: The Prosecco Hills, Passo San Boldo, Tre Cime di Lavaredo, Passo Giau and the famous four-pass Sellaronda circuit. Some climbs feature on optional longer routes.

Logistics: Six nights in boutique hotels, with breakfasts, luggage transfers, airport transfers, route navigation and daily vehicle support included. Road bikes and e-bikes are available to hire.

Best time to visit: June and September are particularly good choices for mountain cycling, with July another option. July and August tend to be busier, and mountain weather can change quickly.

For more information: Dolomites Cycling Exploration

The riding

This tour begins in the Prosecco Hills, where vineyard roads and rolling countryside provide an introduction to the week. There are gentler routes around Soligo, alongside tougher options that include climbs such as Pianezze and the winding Passo San Boldo.

From here, a transfer takes you into the Dolomites, where the landscape changes dramatically. Towering limestone peaks, long mountain climbs and winding roads become the focus. With two nights in Cortina d’Ampezzo, there is time to explore routes around Lake Misurina and, for those wanting a bigger challenge, the steep ascent towards Tre Cime di Lavaredo.

The journey then continues towards Corvara, with route options taking in famous passes such as Falzarego, Valparola and Giau. The final full day of riding offers the classic Sellaronda circuit, linking Passo Gardena, Sella, Pordoi and Campolongo. Stronger riders can extend the route with additional climbs.

There is plenty of climbing throughout the trip, but you do not have to tackle every major climb. CyclingHero provides different daily routes, allowing you to choose the distance and difficulty that suit you.

What we love

What appeals to us about CyclingHero is the combination of independent riding and practical local support. You can choose your route and set your own pace, without having to ride as part of a guided group.

The team provides daily route information, GPS navigation and nearby vehicle support. Their Companion App also includes climb details, local insights and live support-van tracking.

We also like the variety of the itinerary. Starting among the vineyards of the Prosecco Hills before heading into the Dolomites gives riders two contrasting sides of northern Italy. There is the chance to tackle famous Giro d’Italia climbs, enjoy the mountain scenery and return to comfortable accommodation at the end of each day.

What else they offer

CyclingHero offers supported self-guided road and gravel cycling holidays across northern Italy. For experienced climbers, its six-day From the Dolomites to the Stelvio tour links famous Dolomites passes with Alpine climbs including the Stelvio, Gavia and Mortirolo.

There are also gravel-focused trips exploring quieter tracks in the Dolomites, alongside event-based packages for rides such as the Maratona dles Dolomites and Sellaronda Bike Day.

More information

• Cycling the Dolomites, our detailed guide to the region, including the best climbs, routes, accommodation and local tips from CyclingHero.
• CyclingHero’s Dolomites Cycling Exploration, with the full itinerary, route options and booking information.
• CyclingHero’s Dolomites cycling holidays, for more information about its road, gravel and event-focused tours.

2. Tuscany with Gusto Cycling

Best for rolling vineyard roads and classic Italian cycling culture with great food and wine.

Cycling near Pienza – same section as filmed in the scene used in the Gladiator film (photo credit: Gusto Cycling)

Key information

Route: An eight-day ride through Chianti, Siena and Val d’Orcia, with gentler options around Lucca and the coast.

Terrain: Mostly rolling, with constant ups and downs; some flatter areas in the north and near the coast.

Difficulty: Moderate overall, not high mountains, but plenty of climbing through repeated hills.

Highlights: Hilltop towns, vineyard views, cypress-lined roads, white gravel routes, and standout food and wine.

Logistics: Florence and Pisa are the main airport gateways; where you stay makes a big difference to the riding style.

Best time to visit: Spring and early autumn are best; summer can be very hot and busy.

For more information: Cycle Holidays in Tuscany

The riding

Tuscany is all about rolling roads, vineyard-clad hills and one beautiful hill town after another. This is not the place for huge Alpine passes, but do not underestimate it: the constant ups and downs soon add up, and the riding often feels tougher than the profile suggests.

Around Chianti, Siena and Val d’Orcia, expect quiet rural lanes, cypress-lined roads, big views and regular glimpses of the white roads that have made Strade Bianche famous. These strade bianche add a distinctive Tuscan flavour and a strong connection to the region’s deep cycling heritage, which also includes L’Eroica and generations of Italian pros.

Terrain is generally moderate rather than extreme, with gentler options around Lucca and the coast for those after easier miles. Florence and Pisa make straightforward gateways, while your base has a big influence on the style of riding – from classic inland hill routes to flatter northern or coastal spins.

What we love

Gusto Cycling‘s Tuscany tour delivers that rare mix of iconic scenery and genuine cycling substance. We love that it is not just beautiful, but steeped in bike culture too – from the legacy of Strade Bianche and L’Eroica to the sense that these roads are part of Italy’s racing story.

Add in medieval towns, superb food, excellent wine and routes that reward as much for the café stop as the climb, and it is easy to see the appeal.

What else they offer

Gusto Cycling specialises in tailor-made cycling holidays in Tuscany, built around riders’ budgets, interests and preferred pace, with a strong emphasis on enjoyment over endurance. They also offer event-focused packages for bucket-list rides including Maratona dles Dolomites, L’Eroica and Strade Bianche, combining deep local knowledge with personalised planning and trusted on-the-ground support.

More information

• Cycling in Tuscany, including more tips from Gusto Cycling on your options in the region.
• Gusto Cycling’s website, with details on the tours and event packages you can book.

3. Sardinia with Saddle Skedaddle

Best for quiet, rugged riding with wild coastal views and a more adventurous, off-the-beaten-track feel.

The coast near Buggerru on the Costa Verde (photo credit: Lighttrapper Photography via Saddle Skedaddle)

Key information

Route: A selection of eight-day cycling tours in Sardinia, best known for rides around Alghero and Bosa on the west coast, the Sinis Peninsula and Costa Verde, plus the east coast around Costa Smeralda, Santa Maria Navarrese and Cala Gonone.

Terrain: Mixed, there are flatter areas on the Campidano Plain, around the Sinis Peninsula and north of Alghero, but much of the island is rolling, hilly or mountainous.

Difficulty: Moderate to challenging overall. There are no huge Alpine giants, but there are demanding routes, and inland roads and passes can still be hard work.

Highlights: Quiet secondary roads, wild coastline, turquoise water, the rugged interior, villages, archaeological sites and strong food culture all add to the appeal.

Logistics: Cagliari, Olbia and Alghero are the main airport gateways, and ferries from mainland Italy, Corsica and Sicily are another option.

Best time to visit: April to June and September to October are the best months for riding; July and August are often very hot, regularly over 30°C.

For more information: Cycling Holidays & Tours in Sardinia

The riding

Sardinia offers a more rugged, remote feel than many cycling destinations in mainland Italy, with quiet roads, wild scenery and a strong sense of space. The riding is mixed: there are flatter pockets on the Campidano Plain, around the Sinis Peninsula and north of Alghero, but much of the island is rolling, hilly or mountainous.

Some of the best-known routes combine sweeping coastal roads with tougher inland climbs, especially on the west coast around Alghero and Bosa or on the east around Santa Maria Navarrese and Cala Gonone. For road cyclists, the appeal lies in quiet secondary roads, dramatic coastlines and long, demanding days without the pressure of Alpine giants.

Gravel riders are equally well served, with tracks through the island’s rugged interior and less developed southwest. It is a destination for riders who enjoy variety, scenery and a little adventure, with Alghero, Cagliari and Olbia offering the main gateways.

What we love

This trip from Saddle Skedaddle shows Sardinia at its wild best. We love the contrast between turquoise coastal roads and the island’s quieter interior, where tiny villages, archaeological sites and a slower lifestyle make the riding feel genuinely immersive. Add in the strong food culture, low-traffic roads and the choice between scenic road riding and more adventurous gravel routes, and it offers a memorable mix of beauty and authenticity.

What else they offer

Saddle Skedaddle offers cycling holidays across Europe, Asia, Africa and the Americas, with a programme that ranges from classic road tours to gravel, leisure, mountain bike, family and adventure-focused trips. They run small group departures as well as tailor-made holidays for private groups, drawing on more than 25 years of experience to match riders with trips that suit different interests, styles and ability levels.

More information

• Cycling Sardinia, our full guide to the region with tips from Saddle Skedaddle on where and when to travel.
• Saddle Skedaddle’s website, which lists their tours across the world with details on how to book.

What’s next?

• Cycling Italy, our central hub where you can find all our Italy cycling guides.
• 12 best Italy bike hotels, our pick of where to stay when planning your trip to Italy.
• Cycling in the Alps, an overview of the best Alpine cycling destinations.
• 9 of the best cycling holidays in Europe, if you want alternatives to Italy (which does still feature in this guide)
• 15 of the best European cycling routes, with details on the Via Francigena cycle route from Switzerland into Italy.

Clare Dewey is a cyclist with a passion for travel. She set up epicroadrides.com in 2018 to help make it easy for cyclists to explore the world by bike. Today her mission is still inspiring cyclists to discover new places on two wheels - and doing what she can to make sure they have the best possible time while they're there. Clare has visited 50+ destinations around the world, many of them by bike.

Want to connect with Clare? Find her over on LinkedIn.