Florence to Rome: Bike through the Heart of Italy
7 nights from €2469
4.63Experience the exquisite Italian countryside
WHILE THIS TOUR IS NO LONGER OFFERED, WE’RE HAPPY TO SUGGEST OTHER EXCITING OPTIONS. GET IN TOUCH TO EXPLORE YOUR ALTERNATIVES!
Discover the beauty of three irridescent Italian regions: biking from Tuscany, through Umbria, and into the Latium region.
Begin your journey in the Renaissance gem of Florence, 'Birthplace of the Renaissance', then cycle through enchanting, picturesque countryside until you reach the 'Eternal City' of Rome, known as Caput Mundi. Along the way, immerse yourself in enchanting vistas, meandering rivers, and serene lakes, indulging in Italy's wealth of history and renowned gastronomic delights.
Join a glorious guided biking adventure - an exhilarating exploration into the vibrant soul of Italy.
Daily Program
Please note an English speaking tour cannot be guaranteed on all departure dates. Please inquire before booking.
Day 1: Arrival in Florence
At 5:30 pm, you'll meet in the hotel lobby for a glorious guided city walk around the 'Birthplace of the Renaissance' - Florence. The rest of the evening is yours to relax in, perhaps enjoying a glass of wine in a streetside cafe or perusing Italy's idyllic piazzas.
Overnight in Florence.
Day 2: Florence – Piazzano
22 miles/36 km
After breakfast, you'll leave Florence by train to reach the fertile Chiana Valley, famously lauded by Goethe. Pedal southwards along small sidestreets, admiring ridges often crowned by commanding forts dating back to the Etruscan settlements. One of the oldest and most beautiful of these is undoubtedly Cortona. Cortona stretches high above the lowlands, enchanting its visitors with an incomparable panoramic view over the Chiana Valley and its tangles of alleyways and squares. Enjoy lunch before riding your bike back into the valley, pedaling into Piazzano in the afternoon.
Overnight in Piazzano.
Day 3: Piazzano – Perugia
28 miles/46 km
Follow the route taken by Hannibal and his Punic army as you approach Lake Trasimeno. Soon, you'll ride across the battlefield where he vanquished the Romans in 217 BC! Today's 16-mile ride alongside the lake reveals beautiful views over the tranquil water and lush islands.
In the afternoon, you'll reach today's destination of Perugia. A lovely spa area invites you to relax. Later, a guided city walk will introduce you to this extraordinary city's crooked streets and numerous cultural monuments. A special highlight is the underground venture among the Rocca Paolina. Savor an aperitif in one of Perugia's lively establishments before sitting down for dinner in one of the city's best restaurants.
Overnight in Perugia.
Day 4: Perugia – Montefalco
24 miles/39 km
In the morning, board the bus to Assisi. Hardly any other town in Umbria has preserved its medieval character as well as this place. The highlight of the city tour with a local guide is the Church of St. Francis, exquisitely decorated with Giotto's wonderful frescoes.
Your afternoon's cycling tour starts with a panoramic route through the fragrant olive groves on the flanks of Mount Subiaso. Cycle through Spello until you reach your accommodation, a secluded gem just below Montefalco which dates back to the 16th century. The large parks here provide an ideal setting for peaceful relaxation.
Overnight in Montefalco.
Day 5: Montefalco Loop
19 miles/30 km
In the morning, enjoy a visit to Montefalco, the 'Balcony of Umbria'. This small town rises far above its surroundings, providing a stunning view over splendid landscapes. If the day is fine, you'll be able to see Perugia and Spoleto on the horizon.
Cast your eyes over the San Francesco Church, including its fresco cycle of Benozzo Gozzoli - a true work of art. Afterwards, there's enough time to stroll through the pleasant town and linger on the sublime main square before hopping back on your bike.
Grapes drip from the vines on the sunny slopes of Montefalco and are used to produce some of the best wines in Italy. That's reason enough for your visit to one of the region's numerous wine estates in the afternoon!
Overnight in Montefalco.
Day 6: Montefalco – Rieti
30 miles/48 km
Your morning route to Spoleto takes place mostly on flat terrain. You'll load your bikes and take an escalator to get to the old town. A round walk will see you wandering through a maze of narrow streets to the cathedral and Ponte delle Torri.
A bus then takes you to Piediluco, situated directly on a tranquil lake. After enjoying lunch, you're welcome to take a refreshing dip before your bike carries you southwards.
You'll soon reach the border with the Latium region, where the landscape looks much wilder. Your destination for the day is the beautiful city of Rieti, which was fortunately spared by the earthquake of August 2016. Tonight, dinner is for you to seek in one of the city's numerous excellent restaurants.
Overnight in Rieti.
Day 7: Rieti – Rome
22 miles/35 km
After breakfast, a bus will take you up into the Sabine Mountains to the Lago del Turano. Craggy cliffs tower high in the air all around the lake here, and it's hard to believe you're just a few miles from the rolling hills of the Tuscany and Umbria regions. Passing the little town of Castel di Tora, you'll cycle alongside the lake. Your route then continues past the cliffs to meet the bus, which will take you to Rome. Upon arrival in the 'Eternal City', there's enough time for a city walk to the Colosseum or an aperitif before dinner in a typical Rome restaurant.
Overnight in Rome.
Day 8: Departure
In the morning, enjoy a city walk through the antique area of Rome. You'll see the Colosseum (from the outside), as well as the Forum Romanum. Your walk ends at the statehouse, which offers a wonderful panoramic view over this enchanting city. The trip ends at the hotel at noon. From there, public transport or a taxi will take you to the train station or a number of airports.
Hotels
These are sample hotels and may vary by availability.
Florence: Hotel Albani
Piazzano: Villa Piazzano
Perugia: Hotel Brufani Palace,
San Luca: Villa Santa Barbara
Rieti: Hotel Quattro Stagioni
Rome: Mercure Centro Colosseo
Interested in visiting other areas before or after your tour? Visit our hotels page to learn more about lodging options.
Bikes
Bikes available on this tour and included in the tour costs (must be reserved in advance at the time of booking):
- Standard touring bikes
Bikes available on this tour for a discount (must be reserved in advance at the time of booking):
- Electrically assisted bikes
*More about electrically-assisted bikes >
All above bike rentals will be equipped with the following at no additional charge:
- Waterproof double-sided pannier
- Rotalis waterbottle souvenir
Pedals:
The bikes will have flat pedals. If you want to bring your own pedals, please bring your own shoes and also the necessary equipment to change the pedals.
Helmets:
Helmet rental is not available on this tour. We recommend that you bring your own helmet for safety and hygiene purposes.
Bike Protection:
Bike protection can be purchased at the time of booking. You can read more about that HERE.
Surface and terrain
This tour takes place on paved country roads and packed gravel lanes. You'll experience very little traffic, and your guides are always on hand to stop traffic at busy crossings.
On the second day, short tracks with a bit more traffic feature. Otherwise, cycling is in open nature without any disturbing car traffic. The route features many flat sections with only short ascents. Only on the sixth day is there a section of more difficult track.
How to get there
Tour start
Nearest airport and train station: Florence, Italy
Tour end
Nearest airport and train station: Rome, Italy
In order to participate completely in the travel programme, your flight would have to land by 3:00 pm at the latest. Your return flight from Rome can be planned from 2:00 pm onwards.
Tips on getting to and from your tour.
Reviews
- ★★★★★ Ajit Venkatraman
Good solid bike tour with great food and tours
Guide was very knowledgeable . The lunches were excellently prepared by driver . The accommodations except at one hotel were all top notch and bags were transported to rooms efficiently .
My one comment is not on tour itself but the process . I did not know that the guests were all from Germany and Austria and most of the tour was in German . The guide was bi lingual but had to translate just for me .
If I had known the guest list did not have non English speakers I may have booked another date .- What was the date of your tour?
- May 18
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- As expected
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- First-time bike tourists
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
- ★★★★★ Ildiko Mikos
Picture Perfect
Fabulous ride through the heart of Italy. Rotalis went above and beyond to make the trip comfortable and fun. Snacks and daily lunch picnics were exceptional and a highlight for me. Our group consisted of 12 Germans and 3 Americans, so the guides needed to translate all into both languages. Sometimes that was a bit tedious. Dinners were above average, but I wish we had more opportunities in the cities to select our own restaurants and menu options. This would enable more free time, as well. The hotels were all great, except those in Rieti and Rome. But overall loved the trip and would highly recommend it.
- What was the date of your tour?
- May 2024
- How many tours have you completed?
- 0
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- Much easier
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- First-time bike tourists
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
- ★★★★★ Melinda Moore
10/10 recommend
We biked with Rotalis and had two amazing guides. Our stays were beautiful and the ride through the Italian countryside was amazing. I had a scary fall off my bike and our guides helped me to the hospital and were there to make sure I was comfortable through the whole process. Even with needing stitches and bandaging, the trip was so so fun and I would absolutely recommend to anyone interested in a different kind of travel experience.
- ★★★★★ MARIA GARCIA
Fantastic trip!
This was an amazing experience through these regions of Italy. The guides were phenomenal, friendly, and always prepared for any contingencies. The hotel choices were great, same as the restaurants. I would personally like a bit more cycling every day but if that wasn’t an option, the trip is fantastic as it is. I can’t wait to go on another biking experience, highly recommend!
- ★★★★★ Christine Comi
Lovely look at rural Italy
Of the tour group of 15 people, only 3 of us spoke English. We didn't know this tour was actually being executed by Rotalis, a German touring company. It was still a wonderful experience but not what we were expecting. Also, most of the group was using e-bikes. This meant that the cruising pace was much faster than I think it would have been if everyone was riding on their own power. I was one of 3 people riding on my own power and found it a real work out every day.
- What was the date of your tour?
- May 20-27, 2023
- How many tours have you completed?
- none
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- As expected
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- First-time bike tourists
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
BikeTours.com staff reply from BikeTours.com
Hi Christine,
Thanks so much for sharing feedback with us. This tour is run by our local partner and can be booked by anyone, so an international group is likely. Although, we will make a better effort in the future to inform our guests of the group dynamic. There has been a shift in recent years, with more and more people using electric bikes than ever before. Understandably, this puts regular bike users at a disadvantage and we understand it was probably not the most comfortable experience. We’re sorry for these inconveniences and we truly hope you were able to enjoy your vacation all things considered. We will do better about how we advertise e-bikes versus regular bikes. We appreciate your comments immensely.
- ★★★★★ Ricard60
Fantastic holiday
Our trip through Italy was wonderful. Our guides Florian and Nicki looked after us in everyway. Very informative and worked so hard to make our trip memorable. Every hotel was top quality. Every meal delicious and excellent guided tours around Florence, Rome, Assisi and Perusia. This was our first cycling holiday, we we're a bit wary, but we loved it and it won't be our last.
- What was the date of your tour?
- 24 sep
- How many tours have you completed?
- 0
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- Somewhat easier
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- Solo travelers, First-time bike tourists, Families with teens
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
- ★★★★★ Poetry64
Guide made the trip superior.
The elderly people on my tour kicked my butt with their level of skill in bike riding.
The guide was fluent in English and very experienced leading groups, she was fantastic.
The driver had no problem negotiating small turns with a trailer full of bicycles. He also prepared picnic lunches. The food was superior.
I feel lucky that the weather was somewhat hot, but no rain.- What was the date of your tour?
- June 8
- How many tours have you completed?
- First time
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- Somewhat harder
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
- ★★★★★ Charlie
Beautiful Ride.
Our ride was a wonderful way to see the Italian countryside from Florence to Rome. The riders were similar in skills (7 of 8 retired) and the routing matched our skill set. The guides (furnished by Rotalis) were knowledgeable and accommodated requests from our team quickly and to everyone’s satisfaction. There were a few very short instances where the ride was on busy roadways when we transitioned from one backroad to another. The guides did not rush the transition and were focused on safety during those transitions.
At each stop things were in place and there was no confusion. Meals and lodging provided by the tour were greatly appreciated.
If you want to see Italy at a human scale (not at 60 mph), this is a wonderful way to do it. We will go back!
- What was the date of your tour?
- September 2018
- How many tours have you completed?
- This was #2
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- Somewhat easier
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- Solo travelers, First-time bike tourists
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
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