Classic Tuscany - Cycling Florence to Pisa
Classic Self-Guided - Florence to Pisa - 8 days
The best way to explore one of Italy's most famous regions, Tuscany, is to cycle through it while enjoying the perfect blend of culture, cuisine, history, and rolling scenery. Tuscany is known for its earthy wines, rich art history, architecture, and its welcoming people. From Piazza della Signoria in Florence to Piazza dei Miracoli in Pisa, you will cycle through living history, also stopping in Siena, San Gimignano, and Lucca. This bicycle tour starts in the heart of Tuscany along the Chianti "wine route", followed by an endless number of wine valleys where you can visit a local winery. After magnificent Siena our bicycle tour continues to San Gimignano, famous for its adorning towers, and Lucca, known for the well-preserved Renaissance walls encircling its historic city center. Lastly, you'll visit Pisa and its leaning tower. Join us and experience Tuscany by bicycle.
Request space on this Bicycle Tour »
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Day 1
Arrive in Florence
Highlights: Renaissance Florence, Uffizi Gallery
Arrive in Florence today and take in the city's rich history and its beauty: climb up Giotto's tower for a stunning view of the city below and the Duomo in the skyline; visit the Uffizi Gallery, or walk the Ponte Vecchio bridge for a striking angle. We will meet in the afternoon for a tour briefing and bike fitting, and give you suggestions for dinner.
Accommodation: Hotel Silla, or similar. Upgrades available - please inquire for details -
Day 2
Florence to Radda in Chianti
Highlights: The Chianti region
As you leave Florence you will climb some of Chianti's famous hills, on your way to Radda in Chianti, your home for the night. Stop in Greve for a visit of the main square and the famous Macelleria Falorni, producer of local salumi (cold cuts). Radda is a delightful a small town and was historically an important junction for traveler's heading to north and south.
Daily distance: 61 km (38 miles)
Elevation gain: +1273m (4176ft)
Accommodation: Hotel San Niccolo, or similar. Upgrades available - please inquire for details -
Day 3
Cycle to Siena
Highlights: Medieval town of Siena, Piazza del Campo
Cycle the south part of the Chianti Region, then take the afternoon to explore Siena. Italy's best-preserved medieval city rivaled Florence for dominance in Tuscany during the 1300s. You'll be transported back in time as soon as you enter the city walls.
Daily distance: 51km (31 miles).
Elevation gain: +957m (3140ft).
Accommodations: Hotel Il Chiostro del Carmine, or similar. Upgrades available - please inquire for details -
Day 4
Ride to San Gimignano
Highlights: The jewel village of Monteriggioni, San Gimignano
Your bike ride today takes you into the heart of Tuscany. You will pedal past vineyards, 17th century villas, and small towns on your way to San Gimignano, one of the best-preserved medieval villages in Italy and designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. San Gimignano is famous for its many towers, remnants from the 13th and 14th centuries.
Daily distance: 50 km (31 miles).
Elevation gain: + 774m (2540ft).
Accommodation: Hotel Leon Bianco, or similar. Upgrades available - please inquire for details -
Day 5
From San Gimignano to Vinci
Highlights: Olive groves and vineyards, Leonardo da Vinci's birthplace and museum
Our ride takes you through rolling hills peppered with small towns along the way. Your final destination is Vinci, the birthplace of Leonardo da Vinci. Here you'll have a chance to visit the house where da Vinci was born and a museum with scale models of his inventions.
Daily distance: 74 km (46 miles).
Elevation gain: + 936m (3070ft).
Accommodation: Agriturismo il Piastrino, or similar. Upgrades available - please inquire for details -
Day 6
Bicycle to Lucca
Highlights: Medici villa, bicycle countryside of Tuscany, 17th century wall
Climb the stairway to the Medici villa in Cerreto Guidi today for a great view as you continue west to Lucca, where you'll stay the next two nights. Lucca was a Roman town and one of medieval Italy's most prosperous city-states. Today, Lucca retains its medieval charm with its small shops and sidewalk cafes, as well as the beautiful 17th-century wall surrounding the town.
Daily distance: 59 km (36 miles).
Elevation gain: + 439m (1440ft).
Accommodation: Hotel La Luna, or similar. Upgrades available - please inquire for details -
Day 7
Loop ride to Pisa
Highlights: Leaning Tower of Pisa, Piazza of Miracles, Lake Massaciuccoli
Your last day of cycling takes you to Pisa where you can visit the Leaning Tower and the Piazza of Miracles (arriving there by bike is a grand experience!). Our route to Pisa takes you by Lake Massaciuccoli, where Puccini wrote many of his operas. After a stroll through Pisa, head back to Lucca to enjoy an evening "passeggiata" along the main pedestrian way, or explore its countless amazing alleys and piazzas.
Two options for your ride today - cycle to Pisa and return by train (with bike aboard). Or a longer loop ride, through lovely Tuscan hills, vineyards and stately villas.
Short option: 31 km (19 miles), with + 143m (470ft) elevation gain.
Long option: 72 km (45 miles), with + 460m (1509ft) elevation gain.
Accommodation: Hotel La Luna, or similar. -
Day 8
Tour ends
Highlights: Arrivederci!
After a breakfast buffet in your hotel, you're ready to continue your adventure wherever it may lead. We hope you have enjoyed cycling with us! Thanks for joining us and "buon viaggio"!
PLEASE NOTE: The final itinerary, including hotels and/or activities described here, are subject to changes according to availability. City hotel taxes are not included.
Includes | Includes: 7 nights in 3- and 4-star lodgings All breakfasts Bike fitting and briefing in English by our professional staff at tour start Access to smartphone app with tracks and digital roadbook Luggage transfers Not Included: Travel to and from the tour start and end Bicycle rental (see Prices tab) Entrance to museums or other activities City hotel tax (2 to 5 euro per night per person, to be paid locally by traveler) Any meals or beverages not indicated as included Any type of insurance (medical, trip cancellation and interruption, baggage, bike rental) Solo Traveler and Private Group departures available: please inquire. Lodging Upgrade: room upgrades are possible in some hotels - please inquire for prices and availability Extra nights: If you'd like to add nights before or after the tour, please inquire - we will be happy to provide a quote and add the nights to your tour package. Extra meals & activities: (please inquire for price and availability) Guided visit of Siena Wine tasting in Vinci (closed on Monday) Dinner in Vinci ________________________________________ Navigation and roadbook: On our self-guided tours, detailed tour information and route navigation tracks are provided through the free smartphone app Ride With GPS - our "digital roadbook" - which includes daily routes, maps, elevation profiles, and ride descriptions; schedules and hotel itinerary; cultural and sightseeing information, visit suggestions; emergency numbers and more, all stored in one organized, easy to use app. Downloading the app content also allows for offline mode navigation. Participants can also upload the routes to their own GPS device, and even print the detailed route notes before leaving home On our self-guided tours, GPS device rental, as well as a printed roadbook, are available at an optional extra fee: For more information on our navigation options, as well as the smartphone app, please read our blog: What's it like to navigate on our self-guided tours?. ________________________________________ Luggage transfers Luggage transfers are included in your package. The luggage is normally collected from 09.30 at the reception of the hotel and is delivered at the following hotel by 15.00 hrs. Please use the luggage tags provided by Cycle Europe on all your luggage being transferred. Please have your luggage ready before the driver comes to collect it, otherwise you may have to pay a local taxi for the service. Please consider that the luggage is not insured during the transport. You need to have your own insurance. Do not leave valuables or fragile items in your luggage. Normally, the luggage transport service cannot be used by participants to skip the cycling stage. In case you need help to skip the cycling stage, please contact our emergency number and we will arrange it for you. PLEASE NOTE : The final itinerary, including hotels and/or activities described here, are subject to changes according to availability. City hotel taxes are not included. Tour code: itbs3564 |
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Countries | Italy |
Begin/End | Florence/Pisa |
Arrive/Depart |
Starting point: Hotel Silla - Via de' Renai, 5, Firenze We recommend flying into Florence Airport (FLR) , but you can also fly into Pisa Galileo Galilei Airport (PSA) The meeting time for our self-guided tours is typically set between 2pm and 4pm. We recommend travelers plan accordingly allowing plenty of time to arrive at the determined meeting place. Please note a late fee may be applied for late arrivals - please see our terms page for details Ending point: Hotel La Luna - Via Fillungo, Corte Compagni, 12, Lucca We recommend flying out of Pisa Galileo Galilei Airport (PSA), but you can also fly out of Florence (FLR), Rome Fiumicino (FCO), or other Italian airports Airport transfers: Private airport transfers available if you prefer to be driven from airport to hotel in a private vehicle transfer, please inquire for cost - we will be happy to include this service in your tour package Final arrival and departure instructions along with other detailed pre-travel documents, will be e-mailed prior to your travel, with information specific to your departure (including the actual hotels used on your tour dates, which may vary from the hotels listed above.) |
Total Distance | 348 - 352 km (217 - 220 miles) |
Daily Distance | 48-68 km (30-42 miles) |
Rating | 301 |
Notes | Difficulty description: Mostly hilly with some good climbs, average daily elevation gain of about 500m (1500 feet). Few unpaved country roads. |
Terms | Terms & Conditions |
Dates | Prices | Single Supplement | |||
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Dates | This tour is available between March 1 and October 31 Starts every Friday. Other start days available by request (extra fee applies). Please note that starting on certain days of the week will make some visits (such as museums or tastings) impossible. Most museums in Florence are closed on Mondays, so we discourage starting tour the previous Monday. Solo traveler departures are also available (only one person on the departure), with a supplemental fee of €925. This fee includes the cost of the single/double room supplement, as well as a GPS unit with the pre-loaded routes. Group Discounts are available for participants booking together on the same departure! Please inquire for details through our contact form below. For more ways to save, see our Discounts and Promotions ________________________________________ *2025 prices: per person, based on double occupancy; minimum 2 participants per departure. High-season dates: : May 1 – June 15 and September 1 to October 15 (all other tour departure dates are considered low season.) 2024 Confirmed departure dates: Oct 4, 11, 18 2025 Confirmed departure dates: Coming soon (please inquire!) ________________________________________ Bike Rental options: We offer quality bikes in different styles, all great options for this bike tour. Our bikes are maintained and delivered in optimal working condition. The prices below are per bike for the duration of the tour, including delivery to starting point in Florence and collection from ending point in Lucca. Bike rental rates Aluminum hybrid: €160 Premium Titanium road or hybrid: €200 Touring E-bike (hybrid with straight handlebar): €280 Tandem: €295 (priced per bike, for 2 cyclists) Tag-along or kid trailer: €80 Bike rental insurance is available for purchase with all our rental bikes – see details in the Bike Rental Insurance section of our Terms and Conditions page. For detailed specs and photos of our bikes, see our website - Bike Rentals Italy. ________________________________________ If you are looking for challenging cycling in Tuscany, our Postcard Southern Tuscany tour (8-day) can also be done back to back with this tour for a Grand Tour of Tuscany! Don't want to break a sweat but still explore this amazing region? You can with our top-notch e-bikes! ________________________________________ Additional useful information: • Do you have any questions about how our bike tours work? Check out our FAQs page! • Curious about the difference between our Classic and Casual self-guided tours? See our blog on Casual Self-Guided Tours. • We offer various tools for navigation - this page details what it's like to navigate on our self-guided tours. • If the self-guided formula isn't right for you, check out this blog introducing the differences between Guided and Self-Guided Tours. |
Prices | Price per person: €1495 (low season) €1595 (high-season) |
Single Supplement | €325 fee (in double room for single use) |
Next Step | Request space on this Bicycle Tour » |
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This particular tour is for reals. It is not for anyone who hasn’t specifically trained to do 40 miles and 3000 feet of climbing day after day. But if you are a serious cyclist, it is great. We got to see so much of the countryside and stay in cool towns we likely never would have. Radda, San Gimignano, and Lucca were particularly good. It was fun to ride through the city gates, get food and drinks, and do a little shopping each day (not much in Radda).
Becky J.
USA
2023 -
We wanted a trip in Tuscany that would allow us to balance riding and touristing. We also needed a route that would be challenging for two cyclists and acheivable for one on an eBike. We didn't realize how good the RideWithGPS information and maps would be. As soon as we saw them, we realized the printed roadbook is completely unnecessary and I think they could be completely removed. Everything was spectacular. The hotels are great, the routes are great, and the service made the whole trip easy. This was one of our best vacations. Everything that Cycle Europe provided worked great and made it an easy trip, so we could simply enjoy ourselves.
Jeff B.
Canada
2023 -
10 out of 10: We really appreciated Sara Lettereli's help throughout planning, orientation, and the trip itself. (Our favorite part was) experiencing the culture of Tuscany and its people and rich history, architecture, art, agriculture, landscape and food
Tom H., USA, 2021
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10 out of 10: Excellent customer service. We started out working with a few different outfits, but Sara Letterelli was by far the most responsive contact we had. She was able to meet all of our picky requests and kept us informed throughout the whole process. Beautiful scenery and fun cycling. Thank you for a most wonderful and memorable trip!
David M., USA, 2022
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Really a great route and strong package of maps, etc were provided. It was a great experience and I look forward to another trip. Loved Radda.
Anonymous
September 2018 -
"What was your favorite experience on this trip?" The cities we stopped in and the people we met. Family meal in Vinci especially pleasant
Bob L.
USA
September 2018 -
The step by step directions were perfect. They were exactly on-spot and got us to our destinations. The hotels were great for the level we chose. We especially liked the hotel in San Gimignano with the balcony that overlooked the valley. Very nice! It all was wonderful. Of course the biking was the favorite, especially the routes out of Florence to Radda. Our tour advisor, Stefania, was outstanding! She created this special tour based on the dates and locations and sites we wanted to see. She gave us travel tips for cities that were before and after our tour. She gave recommendations for guided tours in Florence that was outstanding. She earned our confidence in your company as we planned the details together many months in advance. The bikes, the route and the hotels were perfect. The luggage arrived just as planned each day. The weather was even perfect! Thank you Stefania!
Brent P.
Utah, USA
May 2017