Discover Italy's Art Cities Cycling from Venice to Florence!
Bike - Self-Guided Tour
Overview
A Casual version of one of our most popular tours in Italy! On this recently-updated itinerary, you will discover how art and history, stunning scenery and landscapes, charming towns and cities, and of course great food, can make a cycling holiday in the "bel paese" so special. Starting in charming Chioggia on the southern edge of the Venetian lagoon (think mini-Venice, sans the masses), through the natural beauty of the Po River Delta and the bridges of Comacchio, on to fabulous Ravenna and the Renaissance capital of Florence, and many little gems in between, this tour features five days of gentle pedaling in the heart of Italian culture and cuisine. Along the way you'll cross three distinct regions of Italy (Veneto, Emilia-Romagna and Tuscany), crossing vineyards, farms, fruit plantations and olive groves, charming small towns and renowned cities.
Highlights
- Venetian Lagoon and Chioggia
- Ravenna, Byzantine mosaics
- Faenza and its famous ceramics
- Brisighella, Fiesole
- Cycle over the Apennines
- Florence, the Renaissance capital
- Cycling quiet roads through lovely countryside and olive groves
Daily itinerary
Day 1 Day 1 - Welcome to Chioggia and the Venetian lagoon
Highlights: Canals and colorful alleys of "Little Venice"
Welcome to Chioggia and the Venetian Lagoon! Take a walk and explore charming Chioggia, admiring the canals, bridges and the lively pedestrian main street. You may even take a test ride along one of the islands in the lagoon, crossing over on the local ferry boat.
Daily distance: optional ride of 17 km (11 miles), or cycle as much as you desire today.
Accommodation: Hotel Domus Clugiae, or similar.
Day 2 Day 2 - Pedal the Po River Delta
Highlights: Chioggia, bicycle quiet roads, sleep in a country farm estate
We leave the Venetian lagoon today towards the Po River Delta. Enjoy cycling on levee roads and birdwatching. Grab some picnic supplies from the local grocery store or stop at a cafe for lunch today. Those who want extra mileage can enjoy a great ride into the delta this afternoon. Our destination tonight is a lovely country farm bed and breakfast.
Daily distance: 58 km (36 miles)
Elevation gain: + 208 m (683 ft)
Terrain type: mostly flat
Po Delta extra loop ride: 43 km (27 miles) Elevation gain; + 157 m ( 515 ft)
Accommodation: Agriturismo Forzello, or similar. Upgrades not available
Day 3 Day 3 - Comacchio
Highlights: Comacchio and its "Trepponti" bridge
Our destination today is a small lagoon town that at one point was more powerful than Venice in the 700 and 800s. The lagoon town of Comacchio, has a fabulous museum that showcases a Roman boat and its cargo that was excavated from one of the canals. Built on 13 islands this town is now landlocked but surrounded by the Po River and fresh water wetlands.
Distance: 74 km (46 miles)
Elevation gain: +156 m (511 ft)
Terrain type: mostly flat
Accommodation: B&B Al Ponticello, or similar.
Day 4 Day 4 - Ravenna
Highlights: Wetlands, bird viewing and beautiful mosaics, bustling town
We pedal along the Valley of Comacchio wetlands towards Ravenna. Ravenna was the last capital of the Western Roman Empire and home to more early Christian mosaics than any other city in Western Europe. You can walk to Dante's Tomb and the mosaics of San Vitale, Sant'Apollinare Nuovo and the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia this afternoon, as our hotel is near all the city sights.
Daily distance: 63 km (39 miles)
Elevation gain: + 202 m (662 ft)
Terrain type: mostly flat
Accommodation: Hotel Centrale Byron or similar.
Day 5 Day 5 - Ravenna to Faenza
Highlights: Faenza International Ceramics Museum and Renaissance Town Square
Exiting Ravenna you have the choice to visit another very important Byzantine masterpiece: Sant'Apollinare in Classe. Cross the plains through fruit plantations and arrive to 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 mileage: 53 km (33 miles)
Elevation gain: 163 m (534 ft)
Terrain type: mostly flat
Accommodation: Hotel Vittoria, or similar.
Day 6 Day 6 - Over the Apennines to Florence
Highlights: Brisighella, one of the loveliest hamlets in Italy; Bike (or train) over the Apennines; Renaissance Florence
Today you'll cycle out of Faenza to Brisighella, through fruit farms and olive orchards, with the Apennine mountains in plain view. You may also choose to skip cycling today and take a lovely train ride from the Faenza train station, up and over the Apennines to Florence.
A 15 km bike ride away, the medieval village of Brisighella (officially on the list of "The Loveliest Hamlets in Italy"), is a picturesque town worth the stop (on your bike, or by train). After exploring its alleys and piazzas (or even a walk up to the fortification perched on a hill above), the ride continues over rolling terrain to Marradi, just inside the Tuscan border, where you may choose to stop cycling and catch the train to Florence (with bikes aboard the train); or cycle to the following train station at Borgo San Lorenzo. You may even cycle all the way into Florence for the complete crossing of the Apennines! Many wonderful options to cross over the mountains from Emilia-Romagna and end your adventure in Tuscany!
* Option 1: end your cycling in Faenza, leaving the bikes at the hotel; and catch the train to Florence from the Faenza train station (with your luggage at hand) The train ticket to Florence is included in the tour package price.
* Options 2 and 3: Cycle to Marradi (37km / 23miles with 345m / 1131ft elevation gain) or cycle to Borgo San Lorenzo (72km / 44miles with 1298m / 4260ft elevation gain); in both towns, you can get on the train to Florence with your bike. Or cycle all the way to Florence hotel (104 km / 64 miles with 1785 m / 5850 ft elevation gain). In all cases, Cycle Europe will transfer your luggage to the Florence hotel. The fee for the optional ride on day 6 is €145 per person, plus 1 additional bike hire day (includes bike pickup and luggage transfer to Florence hotel, minimum 2 people).
Accommodation: 31.10 Art Hotel Firenze, or similar.
Day 7 Day 7 - Tour ends in Florence
Highlights: The grand Florence; Arrivederci!
After breakfast in the hotel, you're on your own and ready to explore Florence - visit Michelangelo's David at the Accademia, Botticelli's Birth of Venus and the other masterpieces of the Uffizi Gallery - or simply stroll the grand lanes and lovely alleys of this fabulous city. We will provide plenty of suggestions for exploring.
PLEASE NOTE : The final itinerary, including hotels and/or activities described here, are subject to changes according to availability.
Difficulty description
Gentle terrain down the Adriatic Coast with more challenging rides as we enter the Apennines. First 5 days are flat, last few days include climbs (with option to take a train over the mountain pass). A top notch introduction to Italy and its culture.
Visit our Tour difficulty level page to learn more about terrain levels and how we determine day and tour levels.
Map
What's included
- 6 nights in 2-,3- and 4-star hotels and B&Bs of similar quality
- All breakfasts
- Train tickets from Faenza to Florence Santa Maria Novella train station
- Luggage transfers are not included on our Casual tours, and are offered as an optional extra (see pricing section)
- All Casual self-guided tour inclusions
Optional activities
- Cooking classes available in various tour locations! Organized by Le Cesarine, experts in Italian culinary experiences. You will be hosted by a local at their home - your "Cesarina" - in a class that lasts about three hours, during which you will help the Cesarina prepare three courses. In the fourth and final hour, you will enjoy the meal (lunch or dinner) which you prepared during the class. Water and one bottle of house wine for every 3 people are included.
- Guided visit of Ravenna (approx. 3 hours)
- Dinner in Ravenna
- Dinner in Faenza
- Olive Oil Tasting in Brisighella (only if cycling to Florence)
- Guided visit of Florence
Dates and availability
This tour is available between March 1 and October 31
Starts every Saturday. 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). Because most museums in Florence are closed on Mondays, we discourage starting in Chioggia on the previous Monday or Tuesday. In addition, because there can be more weekend traffic on the road over the Apennines, we discourage starting in Chioggia on Tuesdays or Wednesdays.
2025 Confirmed departure dates:
Coming soon (please inquire!)
________________________________________
Does crossing Italy from coast to coast sound appealing? On our legendary Bike Across Italy from Venice to Pisa Tour (12 day), you will continue from Florence to Pisa, hitting more grand destinations in Tuscany like Vinci and Lucca.
________________________________________
Tour Code: itbs3995
Prices
Low season: € 740
2025 dates: Mar 1 - Apr 31; Jun 16 - Aug 31; Oct 15-31
High season: € 840
2025 dates: May 1 – Jun 15; Sep 1 - Oct 15
Prices per person, based on double occupancy; minimum 2 participants per departure.
Single supplement: €225 (in double room for single use).
Solo traveler departures: €350 (only one person on the departure). Includes the single/double room supplement and a GPS unit with the pre-loaded routes.
Extra nights are available: please inquire.
Luggage transfer option: €445 for 1-4 travelers
Options for getting to Florence on day 6:
• Option 1: End cycling in Faenza, catching a train to Florence with your luggage on hand (train ticket included in tour package price)
• Option 2: Cycle to Borgo San Lorenzo or Florence: €145 per person, plus 1 additional bike hire day (includes bike pickup and luggage transfer to Florence hotel, minimum 2 people). Train ticket not included if taking train from Borgo San Lorenzo to Florence
City hotel tax not included in tour package (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
GPS device rental, as well as a printed roadbook, are available at an optional extra fee:
- GPS device rental: €50
- Printed roadbook: €45 (second copy of printed roadbook €15)
See the What's Included section for details on included navigation tools
Group Discounts are available for participants booking together on the same departure! Please inquire!
For more ways to save, see our Discounts and Promotions
Bike rental
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 Cortina and collection from ending point in Bolzano.
Bike rental rates
Aluminum hybrid: €120
Premium Titanium road or hybrid: €150
Touring E-bike (hybrid with straight handlebar): €210
Tandem: €225 (priced per bike, for 2 cyclists)
Tag-along or kid trailer: €60
Pannier rental: €40 per person (quality waterproof panniers, set of 2)
Please note: an additional bike hire day (including bike pickup and luggage transfer to Florence hotel) will be applied for those cycling to Florence on day 6.
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.
Trip planning
Starting point
How to get there and away:
Venice Marco Polo Airport (VCE) / Pisa Galileo Galilei Airport (PSA) or Florence Airport "Amerigo Vespucci
"Starting point: Hotel Domus Clugiae - Chioggia
We recommend flying into Venice Marco Polo Airport (VCE)
- To get to Chioggia you can take a taxi, or take a bus from Venezia airport to Campo Marconi in Chioggia (about 90 minutes). From there, it’s a 10-minute walk, or 5-minute taxi ride to your hotel.
Private transfers are available: please inquire for prices and details
- Tour arrival: from Venice airport to Chioggia starting hotel
Ending point
Ending point: Arthotel 31.10 - Via Frà Bartolomeo, 21, Firenze
We recommend flying out from Florence airport (FLR), but you can also fly out from Venice (VCE) airport. They're both connected to Florence city center by train.
Flying out from Florence:
- From the hotel, take a taxi to the airport. Agree on a fare before entering the taxi. Travel time to the airport is about 15/20 minutes, depending on the traffic.
- By public transports: you can take a 10-minute walk to the train station (or a taxi). From there, you can catch a shuttle bus to the airport (approx. 30min ride)
Flying out from Pisa:
- From the hotel, take a taxi to the Pisa airport. Agree on a fare before entering the taxi. Travel time to the airport is about 1h30min, depending on the traffic.
- By public transports: you can take a 10-minute walk to the train station (or a taxi). From there, you can catch a train to Pisa Centrale train station, then the People Mover to the airport (approx. 1h30min tot. ride)
Private transfers are available: please inquire for prices and details
- Tour departure: from Florence hotel to Florence airport
Long-term parking
- You may choose to leave your car in Venice Tronchetto and take public transportation to Chioggia for tour starting point. At tour end in Florence, take train back to Venice parking lot.
- Or, choose to leave your car in Chioggia (tour starting point) parking lot. At tour end in Florence, take train back to Venice, connect to Chioggia by public transportation.
Photo gallery
Customer reviews
Click to read past traveler reviews
We had an amazing trip, thank you for everything!
- Gina L. (USA, 2023)
10 out of 10 - Our route was definitely off the beaten path for tourists from the US, and we loved that! The itinerary was perfect for our group. The route, hotels, bikes were arranged for us by CycleEurope. Otherwise, we were self-guided supported by maps and a GPS, and it was great fun! The route was well planned - primarily on secondary roads, through small towns and interesting countryside. Our lodging was in very nice European hotels. The hotels expected us, accommodated our bikes and early check-in, and always had great recommendations on restaurants.
- Dianne G. (USA, 2022)
10 out of 10: A lovely relaxed bike tour thru the Italian countryside. Not too strenuous except for one day, which was manageable. Very good accommodations and easy access to sites and restaurants.
- Dan S. (USA, 2022)
10 out of 10: Extremely well organized with quality, friendly accommodations and top notch equipment. The bikes were phenomenal. The luggage transfers and logistics were flawless.
- Jane K. (USA, 2019)
10 out of 10: I had a great time with my friends and I can?t wait to do it again next year!
- Priscila N. (2019)
10 out of 10: A nice cruise on the backroads of Italy. I loved the food, the buildings and the history.
- Charles P. (USA, 2019)
I gave Cycle Europe an A on overall. Sara was the best.
- Bruce H. (USA, 2019)
The bicycles were very nice. Cycling the back roads through orchards, vineyards and farmland. The food was wonderful, the fruit delicious, the wine tasty. Cycling by the beach and over canals. Plenty of history to soak up.
- Jim P. (USA, 2019)
Everything was really great. We really enjoyed the Agriturismo hotel in San Basilio. I want to highlight the great on-the-road service we received. When we called, you were easily accessible and within 3 hours, you had a mechanic out to take care of it. I thought that was terrific and continues to give me the confidence I need to take another self-guided trip. That is a story that I think is meaningful to most who want to take a self-guided tour. I am certainly capable of changing tubes and making bike adjustments, but the concern for me (and likely others) is if a more difficult bike problem happens. You showed that you have great support for that situation. Overall, my daughter and I thoroughly enjoyed our tour and would love to do another with your company. Thank you for all you did for us.
- James N. (USA, 2017)
My favorite experience on this trip? Small towns . Quiet roads. Time with my son.
- Steve B. (USA, 2016)
The notes were very inclusive - I like that there were sections that said this is a tricky area, or it's the road just after the yellow house - it made things very easy. The first hotel was beautiful - the next b&bs were nice - all people were very courtious and helpful and friendly. We arrive at a couple places early - it was POURING RAIN - everyone let us into our rooms early - our luggage was always waiting for us. GREAT!! It was so nice seeing the countyside - seeing things that we would never normally see - pink flamingos in Italy?? I think the senery was prettier later in the trip, but riding on flat lands for a few days got us in shape to climb. I liked the ideas that you put in to go visit different places, as well as history of the areas. It was a very good experience. My husband and I have already talked about doing another tour. The experience was great. Thank you!
- Nancy & Dennis H. (USA, 2015)
Loved the hotels. Our meal at the hotel in Faenza was outstanding. Most of our breakfasts were excellent. The scenery was beautiful. Forgot to mention that the bikes were great, no flat tires! Also, Sara was great explaining the tour etc. to us and giving us pointers. And Stefania answered all our questions beforehand. Great job!
- Carol M. (Canada, 2015)
My favorite experience was visiting Ravenna! Such a great city with such great things to see, but I''d never really heard of it before. Loved the trip, thank you so much!
- Kelly D. (USA, 2014)
Tops on our list would have to be the excellent organization and directions that were provided. I was a little nervous about doing a self guide tour, but the directions were so clear that my doubt was gone after the first day. Also, the friendly people that we met along the way and the quiet back roads that we traveled stand out as highlights. We loved the smaller towns that we passed through. To be honest, having the trip end was my least favorite part. We had such a great time. I just want to thank you again for such a wonderful trip. Everything was first rate from the pre-trip planning and communication to the bike fitting, bikes, route and sights to see along the way.
- Dan C. (USA, 2014)
Our favorite experience was riding along the lagoon with all the pink flamingos and that little bitty ferry that took us across the river! We really, really, really enjoyed ourselves and could not have been happier. Well, maybe if we had had tail winds, we would have been happier. : ) We will definitely book another tour with you guys. Thank you, Stefania. Our trip was really the most enjoyable thing we have ever done as a couple.
- Cathline M. (USA, 2014)
