Lake Garda: Stowed away in northern Italy, Lake Garda is among the most sparkling settings in this beautiful part of the world. The southern part of the lake is home to diverse landscapes that weave in and around the Mincio River, making it an ideal location for your Italy cycling holiday. Think vineyards, medieval towns and a chance to explore the Sirmione peninsula and its colourful alleyways.
Puglia: Situated in the heel of Italy’s famous ‘boot’ shape, Puglia is an understated gem. It’s the perfect destination if you want coastal views of the Adriatic Sea, as well as beautiful scenery inland. You’ll pass ancient olive groves and fennel fields, stopping at quaint villages en route. Highlights in this region include the UNESCO-listed town of Matera, the historic coastal city of Monopoli, and Gallipoli with its island off the mainland.
Tuscany: Central Italy is a glorious place for a bike trip – and Tuscany’s landscape offers so much. It’s a notoriously romantic place, with olive groves, vineyards and hilltop towns scattered across the region. From Montepulciano to Siena and the Chianti hills, you can take in endless serene landscapes. You’ll also pass through the Renaissance-rich city of Florence, which holds the greatest concentration of museums, churches and artworks in the world in its city centre.
Sicily: As the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, Sicily is a playground for anyone embarking on a cycling holiday in Italy. A plethora of civilisations once settled here, including Greeks, Phoenicians, Romans, Arabs and more, giving you plenty of history to take in. The southernmost part of the island will see you pedalling through Baroque marvels like Ragusa, Modica and Noto as you work through farmlands and soak up exquisite coastal scenery.
Amalfi Coast: The UNESCO-listed Amalfi Coast is growing in popularity – and for good reason. Expect a colourful array of hilltop towns as you cycle on some of the most scenic routes in Europe, passing through Positano and Amalfi as you go. With a cycling tour, you’ll have the great advantage of being able to stop by livelier destinations but still have the freedom to whizz over to more secluded spots.
Audrey Marshall Cycling in SicilyIt was our first organized cycle trip and we discovered that everyone else in the group had already been on multiple Exodus holidays. We just had the best time and definitely want to do another one next year.
Alex D Cycling in SicilyI chose this tour with a clear focus on the cycling experience. I was hoping to take in memorable scenery, ride comfortably at a natural pace and enjoy the route. Unfortunately, the trip fell short of these expectations in a few key areas.
First, the routes through rural sections were very uninspiring, with views dominated by agricultural plastic greenhouses, alongside prolific litter and fly-tipping along the roads.
Second, the group pacing felt restrictive. For large sections, we had to ride in single-file behind the tour guide due to being on main roads with a large volume of traffic. The pace was often very slow and I felt unable to ride at my own speed, which made it difficult to catch a breeze or fully enjoy the ride.
Finally, a warning to those who don’t like intense heat – don’t book at the beginning of September! The heat on our trip was extreme, with daily temperatures all week of around 34C. A number of riders struggled significantly with heat exhaustion and in my view, this period is simply too hot for an enjoyable cycling trip. I don’t know if it was a direct consequence of the heat, but we had multiple pit-stops en route for water and to rest. I found this so disruptive and unnecessarily prolonged the day. A 28 mile bike ride should take 3 hours, instead it seemed to take all day with the frequent mini-breaks. Combined with the uninspiring scenery on the actual bike rides and the fixed pace in large sections, it made for a challenging and frustrating experience. I would strongly recommend reviewing the route selection and advising future guests on the reality of early September temperatures.
Our experts have provided advice and tips to answer the most common questions cycling holidays in Italy. Get in touch if you need any more information.
Our expert local guides know the scenic backroads, the best viewpoints, and the quieter ways into even the busiest spots. With perfectly paced routes and charming stays, this is Italy by bike as few ever experience it. We know just where to pause for the best view of the rolling lemon groves and glittering bays – and the perfect photo stops with friends, old and new.
Yes. All our Italian cycling trips are small group tours with 5 to 16 people , so you’ll enjoy a sociable yet personal feel throughout. Whether you choose an e-bike adventure or a traditional road cycling trip, our guides know how to adjust a derailleur, recommend the best post-ride spritz, and explain the history of a ruined monastery – in one breath.
Most of our cycling holidays in Italy are graded Moderate (Activity Level 3), ideal for those with a decent base fitness. Expect a mix of flat, hilly, and occasionally demanding terrain, with distances averaging 30 to 37 miles (50 to 60km) per day. For example:
E-bike options are available on many tours for those wanting extra support. Read more about our activity levels for cycling trips.
Absolutely. Many of our cyclists travel solo, and our small group format is ideal for sharing the road and the ride with like-minded people.
Cycling in Italy is a carefully designed blend of landscape, culture and connection. Some favourites include cycling from Puglia to Amalfi Coast on an e-bike,
crossing the country from the cave dwellings of Matera to the clifftop villages of Amalfi. Cycling in Sardinia leads you past flamingo-filled wetlands, ancient Phoenician ruins, and gleaming beaches like Portixeddu. On Cycle Cilento & Amalfi Coast, you’ll ride to 2,500-year-old Paestum and follow one of the world’s most scenic coastal roads. Cycling in Sicily takes you through the baroque jewels of the Val di Noto, past citrus groves and canyon landscapes. But the real highlights happen apres-cycle: the shared dinners and drinks, the sneaky ocean dips and the swopping of numbers of new friends from all over the world.
Always. We like to think they’re baked in like a good focaccia. You might wander the whitewashed alleys of Ostuni before dinner, visit an olive oil mill in Puglia, or stand among ancient Greek columns at Paestum. Local cuisine, family-run wineries, and traditional cooking (or chocolate tastings in Modica) form the heart of each day. One traveller shared: “The cave room, the trulli stay, the Masseria with its own wine and oil, the morning swim in Otranto — every stop had a story.”
We carefully choose each route for its wow-factor – and some surprises along the way. Our tours explore a mix of Italy’s most spectacular and lesser-known regions, from the heel to the toe, the coast to the hills. In southern Italy, you might ride across Puglia, with its trulli-roofed villages like Alberobello and stone city of Matera. On the island of Sicily, you’ll pedal through the baroque towns of Modica and Noto, with ample photo stops among the citrus groves. In the southwest corner, Sardinia’s Costa Verde offers a wild landscape of dunes, Phoenician ruins and sea breezes. Meanwhile, the Cilento and Amalfi Coast, south of Naples, rewards riders with more than just great drinks spots – vineyard-covered hills, sparkling bays and ancient temples.
We choose stays that add local flavour to every ride – and not just at mealtimes. In Puglia, Masseria Bosco offers vaulted ceilings, a cooling pool and olive grove views, while Sicily’s Feudo Bauly surrounds you with heritage and home-cooked dishes from the Corsino family. On the Cilento Coast, Agriturismo Zio Cristoforo serves up rustic charm and in Palinuro, you might check in at Santa Caterina – home to the town’s oldest ice cream shop. It’s rest, reward and regional flair – rolled into one.
Yes, and they’re a game-changer. Our Italy Coast to Coast by E-bike tour lets you cross from the Adriatic to the Tyrrhenian without breaking a sweat (unless you want to). You’ll still earn your views – like the cinematic arrival in Sorrento – but with a little extra power on the climbs. Prefer pedal power? Ask our team about standard road bikes.
Spring (April to June) and autumn (September to October) are ideal. You’ll enjoy warm temperatures, quiet roads, and landscapes in full bloom or golden glow. Summer brings the heat, great for coastal dips and longer days, but perhaps a little sweatier inland. Whatever the season, we’ve timed our cycling tours to make the most of it.
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