New for 2025! This itinerary offers the best of our classic Venice to Pisa tour, in a condensed but still epic tour!
A perfect blend of Italian art, culture, and cuisine awaits you on this unforgettable bike tour from the Adriatic to the Tyrrhenian Sea. Starting in Ravenna, the last capital of the Western Roman Empire and renowned for its stunning mosaics, you'll cycle through picturesque landscapes and charming villages, cross the verdant Apennines, and discover local culinary delights like olive oil, wine, and pecorino cheese along the way. In Florence, you’ll marvel at world-class masterpieces. The tour culminates in Lucca, a charming medieval city known for its well-preserved defensive walls that still encircle the historic center. Before the journey ends, enjoy a final loop ride to Pisa, where you can strike a pose in front of the world-famous Leaning Tower and cycle all the way to the nearby Tuscan coast, completing an unforgettable Italian adventure!
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Day 1
Arrive in Ravenna
Highlights: Byzantine mosaics, 8 UNESCO World Heritage Sites
Arrive in Ravenna today, once the capital of the Western Roman Empire. Your centrally located hotel allows you to walk to Dante's Tomb and the UNESCO World Heritage mosaics of San Vitale, Sant'Apollinare Nuovo and the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia this afternoon. Don't miss these early Byzantine churches with their colorful mosaics that draw travelers from around the world, as well as the beautiful Renaissance historical center of Ravenna.
Accommodation: Hotel Palazzo Galletti Abbiosi, or similar. Upgrades available - please inquire for details. -
Day 2
Welcome meeting and bike fitting, Cycle to Faenza
Highlights: Faenza International Ceramics Museum and Renaissance Town Square
Meet our staff in the early morning to fit bikes and get ready for your tour ahead. Exiting Ravenna you have the choice to visit another very important Byzantine masterpiece: Sant'Apollinare in Classe. Cross the plains through fruit orchards and arrive at Faenza. Your hotel is a restored convent near the central square of this regional market center and famous ceramics town. Enjoy the bustle in the market square and the main "piazza" which is always full of bicycle riders of all ages. Faenza is world-renowned for its hand-decorated ceramics; we recommend a visit to the International Ceramics Museum as well as several of the local artists' studios specialized in this colorful pottery.
Daily distance: 53 km (33 miles)
Elevation gain: +167 m (548 ft)
Accommodation: Hotel Vittoria, or similar. Upgrades available - please inquire for details. -
Day 3
Over the Apennines
Highlights: Bicycle the Apennines and the Mugello.
You will head into the Apennine mountains today, passing first through the colorful medieval village of Brisighella. Take a break and pick up some snacks for the climb. If you decide you prefer to take the train up and over the mountains, feel free to do so! For those who decide to bicycle, begin the climb over the Apennines - remember to look around as you pedal since the scenery changes dramatically as you leave the plains and enter the mountains. Just before you reach the toughest part of the climb there is a very conveniently located train station, from where you could choose to hop on for the last and toughest part of the climb. You'll spend the night in Ronta, a small mountain town where you'll enjoy the clean and crisp mountain air. Dinner is included tonight.
Daily distance: 64 km (35 miles)
Elevation gain: + 1286 m (4219 ft)
Accommodation: Albergo La Rosa, or similar. Upgrades not available -
Day 4
Florence
Highlights: Fiesole and its Etruscan ruins, Renaissance Florence, Uffizi Gallery
There's a small climb this morning to Vetta le Croci, then it's downhill to the old Etruscan city of Fiesole, where you'll enjoy a great view of Florence rising from the valley floor. Glide down into Florence on your bike. The rest of the afternoon is yours to explore this capital of Renaissance Italy.
Daily distance: 41 km (26 miles)
Elevation gain: + 444 m (1456 ft)
Accommodation: Hotel Silla, or similar. Upgrades available - please inquire for details -
Day 5
Florence rest day
Highlights: Renaissance Florence, Uffizi Gallery, Accademia
Spend the day exploring marvelous Florence and its countless jewels: climb up Giotto's tower for a stunning view of the city and the Duomo; visit the Uffizi Gallery or the Accademia; or walk the Ponte Vecchio bridge across the Arno for a different striking view of the city.
Accommodation: Hotel Silla, or similar. Upgrades available - please inquire for details. -
Day 6
Vinci
Highlights: Olive groves and vineyards, Leonardo da Vinci's birthplace and museum
After breakfast, you'll head out of Florence and down the Arno River valley for a beautiful day of riding in the Italian countryside. There is a bit of a climb as you'll cross Mount Albano, but worth it for the spectacular view. You destination is Vinci, the birthplace of Leonardo da Vinci, where you'll have a chance to visit the house where he was born and a museum with scale models of his inventions.
Distance: 40 km (25 miles)
Elevation gain: + 568 m (1863 ft)
Accommodation: Agriturismo il Piastrino, or similar. Upgrades available - please inquire for details -
Day 7
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 that surrounds the town.
Daily distance: 58 km (36 miles).
Elevation gain: + 424 m (1391 ft)
Accommodation: Hotel La Luna, or similar. Upgrades available - please inquire for details -
Day 8
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.
Three 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. If you are up for the challenge, add an out and back ride all the way to the Tuscan coast and dip your toes in the Tyrrhenian Sea!
Short option (cycle to Pisa, return to Lucca by train): 31 km (19 miles), with + 143m (470ft) elevation gain.
Long option 1: 61 km (37 miles), with + 367m (1205ft) elevation gain.
Long option 2: 77 km (48 miles), with + 527m (1729ft) elevation gain.
Extra ride to the coast: additional 29 km (18 miles), with 108m (350ft) elevation gain.
Accommodation: Hotel La Luna, or similar. Upgrades available - please inquire for details. -
Day 9
Tour ends in Lucca
Highlights:
After breakfast, our journey across Italy comes to an end. Hopefully you are off to explore Rome and its many museums or the stunning Lakes District to the north. 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 8 nights in 3- and 4-star lodgings; All breakfasts; 1 Dinner with drinks on day 3; 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 not indicated as included; City hotel tax (2 to 5 euro per night per person, to be paid locally by traveler)*; * due to the 2025 Rome Jubilee, some cities may charge a higher per night tax; 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) Dinner in Ravenna Dinner in Faenza Coooking class in Faenza Olive Oil Tasting in Brisighella Guided visit of Florence 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: itbs4335 |
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| Countries | Italy |
| Begin/End | Ravenna / Lucca |
| Arrive/Depart | Starting point: Hotel Palazzo Galletti Abbiosi - Via Di Roma 140, Ravenna - We recommend flying into Bologna Guglielmo Marconi Airport (BLQ) - Take the monorail from Bologna airport to Bologna main train station, then a train to Ravenna. The meeting time on this self-guided tour is typically set at 8:30am on day 2. 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 Getting to Pisa airport: 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 | 287-328 km (178 - 204 miles) |
| Daily Distance | 31-64 km (19-45 miles) |
| Rating |
101
to
201
About Tour Ratings » |
| Notes | Difficulty description: The first day cycling the flat Po Valley prepares you for more challenging rides upon reaching the Apennines. Gentle, continuous climbing cycling over the mountain pass (with option to take a train and skip this entire ride, or skip some parts of the ride). The following days in Tuscany are mostly hilly, with a relatively flat final ride to Pisa. E-bikes also make this tour accessible to everyone! |
| Terms | Terms & Conditions |
| Dates | Prices | Single Supplement | |||
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| Dates | This tour is available between March 1 and October 31 Starts every Tuesday. Other start days available by request (extra fee applies). Please note that starting on certain days of the week will make some visits impossible (such as museums or tastings). Solo traveler departures are also available (only one person on the departure), with a supplemental fee of €845. 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.) 2025 Confirmed departure dates: April 1 May 6, 27 June 10 ________________________________________ 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 Ravenna and collection from ending point in Lucca. Bike rental rates Aluminum hybrid: €180 Premium Titanium road or hybrid: €225 Touring E-bike (hybrid with straight handlebar): €315 Tandem: €335 (priced per bike, for 2 cyclists) Tag-along or kid trailer: €90 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. ` ________________________________________ Continue exploring Tuscany! This tour can be linked to our Postcard Southern Tuscany tour, for a deep discovery of this fabulous Italian region. ________________________________________ 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: €1570 (low-season)* €1670 (high-season)* |
Single Supplement | €375 fee (in single room or double room for single use) |
| Next Step | Request space on this Bicycle Tour » |
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“10 out of 10 - We both were so impressed with the service we received from Cycle Europe. Our questions were answered promptly, and when changes needed to happen, the company accommodated us promptly and helpfully. The accommodations were varied and all provided a wonderful rest after a long day of biking. The route was beautiful, ....the motorists were respectful.... We greatly appreciate all the help that Cycle Europe provided us. Thanks for a wonderful experience.”
– Kathy and Tom Kiernan (USA)