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Florence to Rome
On this tour, you'll explore 3 of Italy's regions: from Tuscany through Umbria into the Latium region. From the Renaissance metropolis of Florence through the agricultural countryside to Caput Mundi Rome. You'll enjoy dream landscapes, rivers, and lakes as well as rich history and culinary highlights. This is a guided bike trip into the pulsing heart of Italy.
Highlights
- Umbria, the green heart of Italy
- Impressive Etruscan towns: Florence to Perugia
- Assisi, city of Saint Francis
Learn More
Learn more about our guided tours or see more bike tours in Italy.
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![Tuscany Siena Countryside Italy (photo:fabriziolunardi)]()
![Florence Italy (photo:heidikaden)]()
![Florence Italy (photo:drewdempsey)]()
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![Florence Rome Heart Bike Tour]()
![Assisi Italy (photo:francescobaistrocchi)]()
![Florence Rome Heart]()
![Rome Colloseum Italy (photo:spencerdavis)]()
![Grapes Vineyard Italy Tuscany (photo:amitjanco)]()
![Pasta Italy Rome (photo:mariedehayes)]()
![Sunflowers Italy Vinci (photo:paulgreen)]()
![Rome Trevi Fountain Italy (photo:andreyomelyanchuk)]()
![Assisi Province Perugia Italy (photo:fernandotavora)]()
![Florence Italy Roofs (photo:drewdempsey)]()
![Umbria Italy (photo:edoardobusti)]()
![Rome San Clemente Church Rome Italy Flnd2guillenperez]()
![Rome Dining (photo:marialauragionfriddo)]()
![Rome Spanish Steps (photo:danielbasso)]()
![Umbria]()
![Pasta Rome Italy (photo:maxgriss)]()
![Rome Ruins (photo:maurograzzi)]()
![Florence Italy Ponte Vecchio (photo:ilseorsel)]()
![Florence Italy (photo:kyndallramirez)]()
![Florence Italy (photo:giuseppemondi)]()
![Rome Vatican City Italy (photo:calebmiller)]()
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Daily program
Day 1: Arrival
At 5:00pm, we meet in the hotel lobby for a guided city walk around the capital of the Renaissance. The rest of the evening is free to spend.
Overnight in FlorenceDay 2: Florence – Piazzano (22 miles/36 km)
After breakfast we are leaving Florence by train and reach the fertile Chiana Valley of which beauty already Goethe raved about. On small side streets we pedal southwards. The smooth ridges are often crowned by mighty forts which go back to the Etruscan settlement. One of the oldest and for sure the most beautiful settlements is Cortona.This place stretches high above the lowlands, enchanting with an incomparable panoramic view over the Chiana Valley and its tangle of alleyways and squares. We invite you to lunch before we ride our bikes back to the valley. In the afternoon we reach our destination.
Overnight in PiazzanoDay 3: Piazzano – Perugia (28 miles/46 km)
Just like Hannibal with his Punic army, we approach Lake Trasimeno. Soon we roll across the battlefield where he vanquished the Romans in 217BC. Our 16-mile ride along the lake reveals beautiful views on the sea and its islands. In the afternoon we get to Perugia, where we are going to stay the night. Also the nice spa area invites you to relax.On a guided city walk we get to know the extraordinary city with its crooked streets and numerous cultural monuments. A special highlight is the underground part among the Rocca Paolina. There is enough time for an aperitif on one of the lively places before dinner in one of the best restaurants in the city.
Overnight in PerugiaDay 4: Perugia – Montefalco (24 miles/39 km)
In the morning, we take the bus to Assisi. Hardly any other town in Umbria has preserved its medieval character as well as Assisi. The highlight of our city tour with a local guide is the Church of St. Francis, decorated with the wonderful frescoes by Giotto.In the afternoon, our cycling tour starts with a panoramic route through the olive groves on the flanks of Mount Subiaso to Spello. Situated a little below Montefalco, our secluded accommodation has its origin in the 16th century. The wide parks have the ideal setting for finding relaxation and rest.
Overnight in MontefalcoDay 5: Montefalco Loop (19 miles/30 km)
In the morning we will visit Montefalco, the balcony of Umbria. The small town arises far beyond the surrounding area and provides a fantastic surrounding view of the splendid landscape. If the day is fine, one can see Perugia und Spoleto. The Etruscan establishment awaits you in the San Francesco church with the fresco cycle of Benozzo Gozzoli, a true work of art. Afterwards, there is enough time to stroll through the pleasant small town and to linger on the main square, before we mount our bikes and leave the Falkenberg in a haste. Grapes thrive on the sunny slopes of Montefalco, from which several of the best wines in Italy are pressed, which is reason enough for us to visit one of the numerous wine estates in the afternoon. Enjoy a second night in Montefalco.
Overnight in MontefalcoDay 6: Montefalco – Rieti (30 miles/48 km)
Our morning route to Spoleto passes mostly on flat terrain. We load our bikes and take an escalator to get to the old town. A round walk takes us through a maze of narrow streets and places to the cathedral and the Ponte delle Torri. After that a bus takes us to a place called Piediluco, situated directly on a beautiful lake. After having lunch, you could even take a refreshing bath before our bikes carry us on southwards.Soon we will have reached the border to the Latium region. The landscape seems to be wilder here. Our destination for today is the beautiful city Rieti which luckily was spared from the earthquake in August 2016. As on Sunday, since lunch is included in the tour price, the evening is free to spend. There are numerous excellent restaurants.
Overnight in RietiDay 7: Rieti – Rome (22 miles/35 km)
After breakfast a bus takes us up to the Sabine mountains to the Lago del Turano. Craggy cliffs tower high in the air all around the lake. It is hard to believe that we are just a few miles away from the rolling hills of the Tuscany and Umbria region. Passing the little town Castel di Tora, we cycle along the lake.Our route continues through cliffy landscape before our bus takes us to Rome. There is enough time for a city walk to the Colosseum or to take an aperitif before we meet for dinner in a typical restaurant.
Overnight in RomeDay 8: Departure
In the morning we do a city walk through the antique part of Rome. We visit the Colosseum (from the outside) and the Forum Romanum. Our walk ends at the statehouse with a wonderful panoramic view over the city. By noon our trip ends at the hotel. From there you can get to the train station or different airports by public transport or a cab.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, otherwise cycling is free nature without any disturbing car traffic. Many flat sections with just short ascents. Only on the sixth day there is a section of more difficult track.
Hotels
These are sample hotels and may vary by availability.
Hotel Albani, Florence
www.hotelalbanifirenze.comVilla Piazzano, Piazzano
www.villadipiazzano.comHotel Brufani Palace, Perugia
www.brufanipalace.comVilla Santa Barbara, San Luca
www.hotelvillasantabarbara.comHotel Quattro Stagioni, Rieti
www.hotelquattrostagionirieti.itMercure Centro Colosseo, Rome
www.mercure.itInterested 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, ItalyTour end
Nearest airport and train station: Rome, ItalyIn order to participate completely in the travel programme, your flight would have to land at the latest 3pm. Your return flight from Rome can be planned from 2pm onwards.
Tips on getting to and from your tour
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Dates
May 13, 20*; Sep 16*, 23*, 2023 (minimum 8 participants; *indicates fully booked)
Prices
Tour package
Per person, double occupancy €2139 Single use room (1 person/1 room) €2638 Bike Rentals
Electrically assisted bike €219 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
- Touring bike rental including a a waterproof double-sided luggage bag
- 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):
- Hybrid touring bikes
Bikes available on this tour at an additional cost (must be reserved in advance at the time of booking):
- Electrically assisted bikes (upon request)*
*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.
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Route Map
Maps are for information purposes only and reflect typical routes between overnight locations. They may not reflect your actual route.
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Reviews
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★★★★★ Christine Comi 2 days ago
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
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BikeTours.com staff reply from BikeTours.com June 2, 2023
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.
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★★★★★ Ricard60 October 7, 2019
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
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★★★★★ Poetry64 June 22, 2019
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
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★★★★★ Charlie October 1, 2018
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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