Cycling in Italy

La bella vita in Bici!

The region

Cycling seems to have been partly invented in Italy. Or at least the passion for racing. Here you will also find homages to the great cyclists such as Pantani, Coppi, Bartali and Binda. A cycling holiday in Italy is inseparable from la dolce vita and cycling. Cycling in Italy is possible all year round. Italy consists of several beautiful cycling regions.

If you go cycling in northern Italy, you can find some of the most challenging climbs in the Dolomites (Trentino and South Tyrol). Passo Giau, Passo Fedaia and, of course, the Sella Ronda. During a cycling holiday on the border with Slovenia, you can indulge yourself when cycling in Italy. To the west, you'll find the Mortirolo and the Stelvio and to the (north-)west you'll reach the Italian Alps. In the Aosta valley you will find several beautiful climbs, such as the Colle delle Finestre. Sestrière is also a beautiful cycling climb.

Northern Italy: South Tyrol, Trentino, Lombardy, Piedmont, Veneto, Friuli, Aosta, Liguria

Central Italy is all about Emilia Romagna and, of course, Tuscany. These two regions are fantastic for a cycling holiday in Italy, both on road bikes and gravel bikes. Adjacent Umbria and Le Marche are also great for cycling. Around the capital Rome, things are a little different, but even there you will find beautiful cycling paths in Abruzzo, for example.

Central Italy: Emilia-Romagna, Tuscany, Umbria, Le Marche, Lazio, Abruzzo

If you are planning a cycling holiday in southern Italy, bear in mind that the facilities are not as good. In Campania, especially around the Amalfi coast, you can rent a bike well and find many beautiful (and sometimes quiet) routes. In Puglia, too, you have many good options for climbs, routes and infrastructure. The regions of Basilicata and Calabria are a lot more rugged in that respect. Very nice for cycling, though!

The islands of Sardinia (one of the world's five blue zones) and Sicily are cycling destinations par excellence. Sicily is often the setting for the Giro d'Italia. Sardinia is more pure beauty.

Southern Italy: Molise, Campania, Calabria, Puglia, Sicily, Sardinia, Basilicata

Why you want to go to Italy

Cycling in Italy is a unique and unforgettable experience. Italy has some of the most beautiful and challenging cycling areas in the world, making it a perfect destination for both beginner and advanced road cyclists, gravel bikers and mountain bikers. In fact, a cycling holiday in Italy never disappoints.

Want to ride the most beautiful gravel paths and go to the 'university' of cycling? Then go cycling in Tuscany right away. Known for its rolling hills and picturesque landscape, this area is a favourite of all cyclists. The well-known and famous Strade Bianche, which takes place annually in Tuscany, showcases the best that Tuscany and perhaps Italy has to offer for road cyclists and gravel bikers.

Would you rather just climb high mountain passes amid pointed rock formations? Then go cycling in the Dolomites, in the north-east of Italy. The Dolomites offer spectacular and challenging terrain for both road and gravel bikers. The famous Maratona dles Dolomites, a one-day cyclosportive that takes place annually, attracts thousands of cyclists from all over the world. The Giro delle Dolomiti and the Sportful Dolomiti Race are cool events.

Besides Tuscany and the Dolomites, Italy also offers a wide variety of other destinations for cycling. Do you want guaranteed cycling in the sun? Then head to Sicily or rugged Puglia (Apulia). Want other beautiful climbs in the mid- and high mountains? Piedmont's Apennines and Alps offer plenty of entertainment. Emilia-Romagna offers lots of variety. Cesenatico is a place of pilgrimage for cycling fans, but further inland you have beautiful climbs and great routes for road and gravel bikes.

What to watch out for

When planning a cycling trip to Italy, it is important to consider the time of year. The best time for cycling is from April to June, when the weather is mild and the roads are less crowded. For mountain biking, the best time is from June to September, when the trails are dry and the weather is warm.

If you plan to cycle in the Dolomites or other mountain areas, it is best to avoid the summer months of July and August. Temperatures are very high then and the roads often more crowded because of all the tourists.

The islands are easy to travel all year round, but be aware of the opening hours outside the well-known tourist seasons. In November, December and January, many tourist regions and especially restaurants and bars are closed.

If you are planning a cycling holiday in Italy, especially in the north of Italy, there is a wide range of rentals and dedicated cycling hotels.

The best cycling hotels in Italy

Italy is bursting with good hotels, not just for cyclists. But before you go blindly booking a hotel, we can name some hotels that you should at least consider when booking a cycling holiday in Italy.

Dolomites-east: Melodia Del Bosco. If there is one hotel in the Dolomites around Alta Badia that breathes cycling, it is Melodia del Bosco. Owner Klaus Irsara is an avid cyclist himself and he has been hosting groups of cyclists in his beautiful accommodation for years. You may also know him from 'La Pedalata‘.

Dolomites west/Bormio: La Funivia. This hotel is a favourite with Stelvio goers. Not only because of its location but also its facilities.

Lake Garda: Garda Bike Hotel. Are you riding from the Dolomites to Lake Garda? Or do you just want to cycle at Lake Garda at all? Garda Bike Hotel is then the destination. You can rent your bike there, or take it with you, and there are special cycling packages, for example with laundry service included. What more could you want?

Rimini/Cesenatico: Lungomare Bike Hotel. This hotel is not Cycling Destination Approved for nothing. Here you lack nothing as a cyclist. A 'breakfast for champions', bike rental, bike cellar, key facilities, guided tours and all under the watchful eye of the late Marco Pantani. Want to book? This can be done immediately.

The best cycling hotels in the Dolomites (South Tyrol/Alto Adige)

Kees out for the Giro d'Italia - Week 3

La Pedalata: Bikepacking from Bormio to Alta Badia and back

Kees in the Giro d'Italia - week 2

Giro d'Italia 2025 - Un giorno prima: The first week full of heroism, rain and gravel

Tuscany Trail: The heart of gravel beats in Tuscany

Travel and accommodation

If you want to cycle in Italy, there are several ways to reach this beautiful cycling country. We briefly list the different options:

Car: Italy does take some touring by car, but certainly the north is easily accessible. Do count on more than a day, with a stopover in Switzerland. The advantage is that you can bring your own bike.

Train: Italy's train network is fine as is its connection to the Swiss network. By night train, you'll be in Switzerland or Austria in no time and from there, . Check Nightjet, for example.

Aeroplane: The most frequently chosen option. Direct flights depart from Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Eindhoven, Groningen and Maastricht Airport to Verona, Turin, Milan, Pisa, Florence, Naples, Sardinia and Sicily, among others.

Hotels: Italy has a huge number of suitable cycling hotels. You can find lots of different options on the following two websites

- https://www.italybikehotels.com/hotels

- https://luxurybikehotels.com/

We ourselves are big fans a beautiful borgo in Puglia, a fattoria or agriturismo in Tuscany or just a beachfront hotel in Emilia-Romagna.

Also read our articles on our trips to the different areas. There you will also find tips on hotels.

Cycling routes Italy

On our Komoot page you will find a number of route collections with beautiful routes from the beautiful Italian country. Among others, Le Vie Del Bike but also the routes of the Extra Giro, Bolzano and Piedmont