Florence to Rome: E-Bike through the Heart of Italy

Experience the exquisite Italian countryside from the comfort of an e-bike

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.

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Highlights

• Florence, 'Birthplace of the Renaissance'
• Umbria, the green heart of Italy
• Impressive Etruscan towns, including Perugia
• Assisi, city of St. Francis
• Rome, 'The Eternal City'

Learn More

Learn more about our guided tours or see more bike tours in Italy.

Interested in adding to your itinerary? Take a look at our cycling day tours in Florence and Rome.

Daily program

Day 1: Arrival in Florence
At 5:00 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.

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.

Hotels

These are sample hotels and may vary by availability.

Hotel Albani, Florence
www.hotelalbanifirenze.com

Villa Piazzano, Piazzano
www.villadipiazzano.com

Hotel Brufani Palace, Perugia
www.brufanipalace.com

Villa Santa Barbara, San Luca
www.hotelvillasantabarbara.com

Hotel Quattro Stagioni, Rieti
www.hotelquattrostagionirieti.it

Mercure Centro Colosseo, Rome
www.mercure.it

Interested in visiting other areas before or after your tour? Visit our hotels page to learn more about lodging options.

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.

Dates

Prices

Included services

• 7 nights accommodation
• Breakfast
• Luggage service
• Guide during the whole tour
• 5 multi-course dinners with water
• 1 multi-course lunch with water
• All visitors and tourist taxes
• All transfers as mentioned in the tour description
• All entry fees as mentioned in the tour description
• Victoria electric bike with Bosch motor
• Support vehicle
• City tours in Florence, Perugia, Assisi, and Rome
• 2 travel guides
• Wine tasting

Bike rentals

Bikes available on this tour and included in the tour costs (must be reserved in advance at the time of booking):

• Electrically assisted bikes *

Bikes available on this tour for a discount (must be reserved in advance at the time of booking):

• Hybrid touring bikes

*More about electrically-assisted bikes >

All above bike rentals will be equipped with the following at no additional charge:

• Saddlebag (water-repellent), rear
• 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.

Tour Company