Italy is the pre-emanate location to ride in Europe, with a balance of many elements coming together to create the ultimate riding experience each and every day; visually stunning landscapes from north to south, challenging, long and iconic climbs, many of which have been made famous by the Giro d’Italia, an abundance of quiet, tiny roads to explore, and mostly more considerate motorists. There’s also the diverse and interesting history lesson you get to ride through each day; from the renaissance villages of Tuscany to the Greek, Arabic and baroque-touched island of Sicily, and the still very Austrian influence in the Dolomites.
Then of course, there is the food and wine journey you experience off the bike, which is diverse from region to region, and next level in terms of quality. This is an integral element to completing the perfect day, day after day, as you explore the best bike rides in Italy.
Here we’ve curated what we believe are the top 5 cycling routes in Italy, including a few that most cyclists haven’t heard of, which makes this a perfect target list to add to your bike bucket list for 2026.
1. Passo dello Stelvio – Bormio, Lombardia
Yes, most of you will have heard of Stelvio, but it is just one of those climbs that needs to be on the list, as it’s a climb that every rider must complete at some point, and is absolutely one of the best bike rides in Italy.
Starting in the town of Bormio, this is a 26km monster that just doesn’t let up. As soon as you leave the hotel, the road starts to go up and while it’s unrelenting, it’s a jam-packed visual feast; with tunnels carved out of the rock wall, waterfalls crashing down next to the 30+ hairpin corners, and on a quiet day, the little marmots frolicking in the pastures, before you take on the deceptive, but beautiful, last 4km.
This a climb that best suits a rider who has prepared well for taking on the challenge of riding in the mountains, and the continual pushing required, both physically and mentally, that goes with climbing epic mountains. Depending on the weather, your preparation and how you’re feeling on the day, you can ride just one or both sides of ‘the Stelvio’ in one day – making this either a 46.4km and 1685m elevation challenge with 42 hairpin bends, or a 96.7km, 3460m elevation monster and 90 hairpins, if you climb both sides.
Post ride, Bormio is a beautiful medieval alpine village, which is perfect to relax in and restore, either in the main piazza, by the river, or at one of the thermal bath houses. No trip to Bormio and Stelvio is complete without a glass of the local amaro, Braulio post dinner.
To experience this ride in 2026, join us on our Stelvio & Dolomites Cycling Tour.
2. Coastal Magic on the SS18 - Maratea, Basilicata
Riding south along the Mediterranean coastal road from Campania and arriving into the beautiful medieval village of Maratea, Basilicata, is magic.
The Cilento Coast south of Salerno is a paradise for riding, but there is one stretch of road that stands out above them all as you enter Basilicata. Known as the SS18 or ‘Tirrena Inferiore’, it is nothing short of spell binding. You ride along a road that is carved out of the edge of a cliff, hanging above the most stunning shimmering sapphire water below, and with a vista of cliffs cascading into the sea further ahead.
This is a ride and region that is utterly mesmerising due to its natural beauty, engineering feats and slow rustic pace of life.
This ride is definitely in our best cycling routes Italy and best suits cyclists who want to explore an area that is off the well-touristed path, which doesn’t have a great volume of traffic, and requires a medium level of preparation for its medium level of elevation.
Off the bike, you have the option to explore the beautiful ancient hillside village of Maratea, head further up the hill to the town’s iconic ‘Christ the Redeemer’ statue with incredible views across the Mediterranean Sea to Calabria, or spend your time relaxing on the beach and swimming in the crystal-clear water, or in the town’s quaint little port with restaurants and bars serving dishes featuring only what’s in season from the garden or the sea.
To experience this ride in 2026, join us on our Giro Cycling Tour or our Cilento Coast Cycling + Multi Adventure Tour.
3. Gran Sasso National Park - Abruzzo
We believe that the region of Abruzzo and in particular the area of the Gran Sasso National Park is going to be the next Italian cycling hot spot…. and rightly so.
Only 2 hours from Rome, the Gran Sasso and Monti della Laga National Park is a vast protected territory of diverse, natural riches. From mountain peaks such as the Corno Grande, the highest peak of the massif at 2912m and the entire Apennine mountain range, to the vast plains of Campo Imperatore and valleys where almond trees, vineyards and olive groves are dotted amongst ancient villages and castles, the stunning scenery and quiet roads go on forever.
Climbing Gran Sasso is hands down one of the best bike rides in Italy and best suited for someone who wants to challenge themselves with a long climb, who loves descending and is wanting to ride through stunning, untouched natural beauty on quiet roads.
The highlight of this ride is when you reach the summit; the landscape opens up to a high plateau, allowing you to roll along and take in all of the magnificence, without having to push.
Post ride, you have the chance to deepen your experience of this still very authentic Italian region and culture with immersive visits to the region’s artisanal producers of olive oil, liquorice root liqueur and pecorino cheeses, before sampling their famous arrosticini – small lamb skewers cooked on charcoal. Delizioso.
To experience this ride in 2026, join us on our Giro Cycling Tour.
4. Hidden Tuscany - Crete Senesi
Tuscany is a region that is filled with superb areas to ride, but one of our favourite areas is in and around the pure magic of the Crete Senesi, south of Siena. There are just a handful of roads in this region, with some being gravel and used by both L’Eroica and the Strade Bianche, and one that is the link between the stunning regions of Chianti and the Val d’Orcia.
This is a truly beautiful and unique route and one that is amongst the best cycling routes Italy, with the stunning landscape continually changing. Starting in the green, forested Chianti wine region, you’ll pass stone hamlets, historic castles, vineyard after vineyard, and abundant olive groves, as you climb and descend. After an hour, the landscape opens up and you’ll float along a ridge with rolling hills that fall away from both sides of the road. Another hill, another town, another descent, this ride continues as you roll south and experience the open landscape changing once more to spectacular eroded barren hills. Here you bounce along another ridge line as you take in this iconic, lunar-like landscape of soft, rolling clay hills, punctuated by cypress-lined farmhouses and medieval villages. This is the Crete Senesi and it is quintessential Tuscany.
This ride is for an experienced rider who has prepared for the day, and who enjoys continual undulation, as it has around 1700m of elevation across 80km.
After rolling past the last village, you’ll descend into a forested gully and take the final climb past golden fields of wheat, arriving to the town of Pienza. This ride is a true Tuscan adventure.
Post ride is all about unwinding on a bougainvillea shaded terrace to soak up the view of the valley and Monte Amiata beyond, before exploring the stunning renaissance town of Pienza and pearl of the Val d’Orcia.
To experience this ride in 2026, join us on our Tuscany Cycling Tour in June or September/October.
5. A Sardinian Interior Adventure
When most people think of riding in Sardinia, they picture the island’s coastal roads and the turquoise blue of its magnificent surrounding Mediterranean sea. However, the ride we feature here as one of the best bike rides in Italy is far from that. This is a ride best suited to adventurers who like rugged beauty, exploring the road less travelled, climbing through a unique geological landscape, and experiencing the rustic and authentic side of an unspoilt pocket of Sardinia.
Starting with a climb from a thriving little town up to Monte Albo, also known as the ‘Sardinian Dolomites’, the desolate and eerie landscape is perfectly paired with an imposing massif of exposed and jagged limestone.
After reaching the summit of the day’s ride, you’ll have a thrilling 35km undulating and winding descent, with an extravaganza of visual elements before you, as you fly down the mountain. With the grand Monte Albo limestone ridge to one side, you’ll see little herds of goats and their shepherds by the roadside, picture-postcard-perfect Sardinian hamlets that feel like they have been deserted, and the mesmerising Supramonte limestone range coming closer with every kilometre. From start to finish, this ride feels like an island adventure, mixed with a wild west escape. It is simply awesome.
Off the bike, settle into one of Sardinia’s most beautifully appointed hotels and enjoy their hospitality, amenities and connection to Sardinian life and art. Visit one of the many artisan producers of the ‘Nepente di Oliena’, a particular version of the local red wine, Cannonau di Sardegna, or dine with locals in a home restaurant and enjoy Sardinia’s much loved ‘maiolino’ cooked over charcoal. This is authentic Sardinia at its best.
To experience this ride in 2026, join us on our Sardinia Cycling + Multi Adventure Tour.
Enjoy the best bike rides in Italy - the A'qto way
From famous climbs to well-known regions with hidden destinations, and rides that have hardly hit the radar of most cyclists, Italy has it all. Along with the famous climbs, for us, the benefit of choosing rides that are in off-the-beaten-path destinations in Italy is that there are less people and congestion, and still undiscovered elements which elevate your riding experience to a different dimension; with more space, both physically and mentally, to see and feel the places you ride, you can experience what we call the ‘new luxury’ – the quiet and still authentic beauty of Italy.
At A’qto, our mission with our Italian cycling tours is to create the perfect day, every day. It starts with coffee, always includes a ride through diverse and stunning landscapes that has been designed to challenge, but not break you, and finishes with an immersive experience into the local Italian customs and culture; from boutique stays in family run hotels and vlllas, to dining at authentic family run osteria, bars and cantinas, where we share the very best food and wine from each region, and enjoying time and personal interactions with real and local people, out tours are about the ride and so much more.
Are you looking to ride and explore beyond the ordinary in 2026? Click here to find out more about our immersive, small group Italian Cycling Tours and Holidays.
