Pedal along bike paths in two of Italy's finest bike-friendly regions! Begin your ride cycling through the lush meadows of the Venosta Valley with views of Alpine peaks and glaciers in the distance. Explore the historical relics in Italian cities and towns of Merano, Bolzano and Trento before moving into a smaller bicycle-friendly valley to Bassano del Grappa. In the last part of the trip we leave the mountains to pedal the best of the Po Valley and along the Brenta river to famed art cities of Vicenza, Padova and incomparable Venice. Explore some of the most famous Venetian Villas in Italy and end with a ride into Venice. This extended tour shows off northern Italy's natural and architectural splendor in a way that can only be experienced by bicycle.
***If this sounds great but you don't have time for the full 12 days, check out our Cycling Italy’s Alpine Valleys, which features the first 7 nights of this itinerary.***
* We are happy to match solo travelers who would like to share a room with someone of the same gender. If no match exists, due to hotel pricing, we will charge 50% of the private room charge. This charge will be collected at the time of the final payment. If a roommate assignment is available it will be refunded at the conclusion of the tour.
** For information about what your tour status means please see our FAQ page.
3 - two night stays, Small medieval walled town of Glorenza, Adige River riding, Merano and its chic thermal spa town center, Gondola ride and dinner in a traditional “maso” in a mountain valley, Dedicated scenic bike paths, Views to the Dolomites and the Alps, Guided visit of Trento, Land art installation visit of Arte Sella, Palladian Villas on the Brenta Riviera, Padova and Venice.
Includes
12 days, 11 nights' accommodation; meals as noted in itinerary; activities as listed in the itinerary including guided walks in Trento and Venice; and the usual (see below).
Learn more about what is included and what to expect on your Classic tour at the Classic Tour Style page.
DAY 1: Meet in Bolzano (Bozen) shuttle to Glorenza
Highlights: Medieval Glorenza, visit of Castel Coira, bike fitting, welcome dinner
Meet at 10 a.m. in Bolzano (Bozen in German) for our transfer to Glorenza where the cycling portion of our journey will begin. We highly recommend arriving a few days early in Bolzano to visit the archaeological museum and see its most famous resident, Otzi, a man from the Copper Age who was perfectly preserved in ice until his discovery in the early 90’s. In a few days we’ll pedal under the peaks where he was found, so take time to visit him and learn more about the area. This afternoon, we’ll visit one of the best preserved castles in the entire region, fit our bikes and enjoy a welcome dinner in a local restaurant.
Highlights: Lake and glacier views, bell tower in the lake, Burgusio castle, guided walk of Glorenza
This morning we’ll shuttle to the picturesque Alpine Lake Resia. We’ll bicycle around the gorgeous lake that hides the village of Curon beneath its waters. The only remnant of the village is its bell tower which rises from the midst of the lake. It's an exciting descent from here and you’ll have a chance to visit the Burgusio Castle before returning to Glorenza for a guided walk and a visit to its historic mill before a light dinner together. Anybody with free time or an interest in whisky can visit Italy’s only distillery located just outside Glorenza's city walls!
DAY 3: Ride Glorenza to Lasa and the chic town of Merano
Highlights: Bike paths along the Adige river, Lasa marble, the gardens of Traumannsdorf Castle, home of Forst beer
We’ll enjoy a quiet ride through apple orchards on the bike path to the small town of Lasa. Despite its small size, Lasa’s marble craftsmanship can be found worldwide. Interestingly enough Lasa’s first large order was 86,000 crosses and Star of David in the 1950's for U.S. military cemeteries around the world. After our visit of this impressive artisan industry, pedal along a pleasant bike path to Merano where you can explore its trendy streets and cafes, take one of the two well-signed walks around town, or enjoy Italy’s most famous gardens at Trautmannsdorf Castle. Rivaling Cortina d’Ampezzo as a destination for jet-setting European visitors to the Italian Alps, Merano has long been a mountain resort for heads of the Austrian Empire, European princes and princesses and modern day celebrities.
DAY 4: Ride Merano to Bolzano along the Adige river
Highlights: Langrein vineyards, apple orchards, old city of Bolzano/Bozen, special dinner
We’ll leave the Venosta Valley today and head back to the large town of Bolzano - or Bozen in German. Pedal through vineyards and apple orchards as the valley widens and then narrows as you approach the city under the shadow of the Firmiano Castle. The castle is now a museum founded by one of the world’s most famous mountaineers from this region, Reinhold Messner. Enter the city along tranquil bike paths and enjoy our centrally located hotel. This evening, a special gondola ride above town brings us to a local farm where we’ll enjoy views on the Dolomite mountains and hearty homemade dishes.
Highlights: Guided walk of Trento, train ride, Borgo Valsugana, hotel spa
This morning we’ll leave Bolzano by train and head to Trento, capital of the Italy's autonomous region of Trentino Alto Adige/ Südtirol. This compact colorful city center was the seat of the Council of Trent in the 16th century, where the Catholic Church held one of its most important councils for over 20 years to determine how to handle the Protestant Reformation. Enjoy a special visit of the city and castle before we take a short train ride to our next valley and the small town of Borgo Valsugana, a quaint village nestled between the striking cliffs of the Alps' foothills. You'll have time this afternoon to enjoy the hotel's spa.
Take a leisurely spin upstream along a gentle bike path that meanders through orchards, and skirts small villages - one of which hosts an interesting Scarecrow Museum featuring a few ‘retired’ scarecrows. A highlight along the way is Lake Caldonazzo where you can enjoy a refreshing dip. A special evening event in the mountains awaits!
Highlights: WWI fort, wooden bridge of Bassano, grappa
Continue your journey along the Valsugana bike path enjoying stunning views, and WWI forts that overlook the valley. The route follows "Via Claudia Augusta," an ancient Roman road which ran 550 km and crossed the Alps to link the Po valley (which is just south of us) and Germany (to the north of us). You'll slowly emerge from the narrow valley to reach the town of Bassano, with its iconic wooden bridge across the river. Bassano is a key producer of grappa and there are several distilleries in town.
Highlights: Marostica, "city of thousand towers", Palladio’s Vicenza and guided city walk
We leave the mountains to head south to the home of Andrea Palladio (1508–80), who is widely considered to be the most influential individual in the history of Western architecture. Vincenza prospered under Venetian rule from the early 15th to the end of the 18th century and his architectural designs, based on a detailed study of classical Roman architecture, gives the city its unique appearance.
Highlights: Palladian Villa La Rotonda, Padua or Padova
From Vicenza you will continue riding along the foothills of Monti Berici. Along the way, you can stop to visit the famous Palladian Villa la Rotonda's gardens. One of many Palladian villas of the Veneto, though this is the best-known and most influential. The palace was built for Paolo Almerico on his retirement from the Vatican. Our ride takes us to one of the oldest cities in Italy, Padova, or Padua, perhaps better known as the City of St. Anthony. Padova was the setting for most of the action in Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew. This city is also home to Italy’s second oldest university, the University of Padua, which fosters a colorful culture in this city of stunning architecture.
Highlights: Padova or loop ride in the Euganean Hills
Today's loop ride takes us into the volcanic Euganean Hills, that rise 300-600 meters from the Padovan-Venetian plain. These rolling hills are a picturesque as a backdrop on our pedal to Arqua Petaraca, a town that was home to Perarca, one of the 14th century's most famous poets and authors. If you prefer to explore Padova, today is a great day to take a break from the bike.
Highlights: Quiet roads and stunning architecture, Venice.
We continue our cycling journey towards the Venetian lagoon today, following the famed Brenta River which is dotted with small towns and stunning Venetian villas built between the 15th and 18th centuries. As you pedal along the “Riviera del Brenta” imagine what it was like to be a Venetian aristocrat traveling by boat between Padova and Venice at the height of the Venetian empire. We’ll reach the Venetian lagoon this afternoon and bid farewell to our bikes before spending our last evening together in the heart of Venice. We’ll celebrate the end of our ride tonight in style in Venice.
Our trip ends after a guided walk of Venice. We'll be back at the hotel around around 12 p.m. Venice requires several days of exploration and with its many tiny streets and canals it's easy to get off the beaten path.
If you wish to spend time in Bolzano prior to the tour, feel free to book the meeting hotel or any other hotel of your choice directly. You can find hotel recommendations for Bolzano, more for Italy and other destinations on our Travel Planning pages.
Note: As you are planning, remember that the hotels listed in our itineraries are our primary hotels and are - in rare cases - subject to change. Before you make arrangements, check with us if your tour departure is guaranteed. If your tour departure is out further than 6 months, please also check with us as there might be slight changes to the itinerary.
The below information will help you plan your arrival. For more tips or other routes, you might like Rome2Rio. The fare and timing information listed below is approximate.
We recommend flying into the Innsbruck Airport (INN).
How to get to the Meeting Hotel
Taxi from Innsbruck Airport to Innsbruck Hauptbahnhof (central station) (20 min/EUR 20-25)
Train from Innsbruck Hbf to Bolzano Bozen (several direct departures a day) (2 hours/fares vary)
Taxi from the Bolzano (Bozen) station to the Day 1 Hotel (5 min/EUR 10)
Look up Austrian train schedules at Oebb.at or Trainline.eu. Questions? See our information on taking trains in Europe here or ask us.
Day 12: Departure Information
Tour ends in Venice
Your trip ends on the final day after our guided walk of Venice back at the hotel at 12 noon. If you are extending your stay in Venice and would like to visit St. Mark's Cathedral and the Doges Palace, we recommend booking your tickets online in advance to avoid long lines.
The below information will help you plan your departure. For more tips or other routes, you might like Rome2Rio.
We recommend flying out of Venice (VCE)
Getting to the Venice Airport
Walk 10 min to the water shuttle stop San Zaccaria
Water shuttle Alilaguna (blue line) to Marco Polo Airport (50 min/EUR 10) or private water taxi from Calle Ruga Giuffa, about 4 min walk away (40 min/EUR 110)
Pre-Trip Planning Checklist
To do right after you booked!
Read through your Reservation Confirmation and After you Book Information (link sent to you by e-mail), it has important information to help you plan your trip!
Check the date on your passport. The expiration date should extend three months past your date of return to your home country.
Refer to your Tour Packet/Itinerary to see step-by-step arrival and departure information for your tour, meeting place and time, if a reservation on a complimentary ExperiencePlus! Shuttle (if applicable) is required, and other important information to help you plan your arrival and departure.
Reserve your flights after you know you have a confirmed tour departure. Please check with our office if you do not know if your trip is confirmed.
Book your pre and post-tour hotel nights.
Begin your chosen training program.
Final payment is due 90 days (120 days for Bike &Barge/Boat tours) prior to the tour start. Please refer to your Invoice and the Final Payment Reminder e-mail we send 10 days prior to the due date for detailed instructions.
We'll email you your access code to Digital Daysheets, Hotel Itinerary, Participant Roster, names and contact information of your Tour Leaders, emergency phone numbers, and other important departure information about 2 weeks prior to your tour start date. All this will be provided to you via a feature called Experiences via the RideWithGPS App (tracks available but not necessary for navigation on Classic, Expedition and Bike & Boat tours).
Day of Your Flight
Get as much sleep on the plane as you can. Pack your one day of cycling gear in your carry-on. See you soon!
What to Expect on Tour
Classic Tour Style
Learn more about what is included and what to expect on your Classic tour at the Classic page.
Gentle terrain includes mostly undulating/flat sections and a rare longer climb (less than 3 km - 2 miles) with an average grade less than 3%.
Rolling Hills
Rolling hills featuring multiple gentle slopes (average grade of 3-4%) usually less than 3 km (2 miles). There may also be an occasional shorter (less than 2 km -1 mile) but steeper climb. Or a longer climb where the average grade is less than 3%.
Hilly
Hilly terrain has climbs up to 3 km (2 miles) with an average grade between 4% and 6%. There may also be climbs longer than 3 km (2 miles), but with an average grade less than 4%.
Very Hilly
Very hilly terrain includes one or more climbs, some of which maintain an average grade (meaning you will have short sections both steeper and less steep in the same climb) of 7% and 8% for no more than 3 km (2 miles). There will also be some longer climbs, but with a lower average grade.
Mountainous
Mountainous terrain includes one or more climbs with an average grade over 8%. Mountainous rides can also include longer climbs (more than 5 km - 3 miles) with an average grade up to 6%.
Level 1 - 1.5
For those desiring gentle rides with a limited amount of climbing.
Level 5, also known as our Expeditions, are multi-week tours designed for strong riders looking for the challenge of riding across countries or continents.
Gentle terrain includes mostly undulating/flat sections and a rare longer climb (less than 3 km - 2 miles) with an average grade less than 3%.
Hilly
Hilly terrain has climbs up to 3 km (2 miles) with an average grade between 4% and 6%. There may also be climbs longer than 3 km (2 miles), but with an average grade less than 4%.
Very Hilly
Very hilly terrain includes one or more climbs, some of which maintain an average grade (meaning you will have short sections both steeper and less steep in the same climb) of 7% and 8% for no more than 3 km (2 miles). There will also be some longer climbs, but with a lower average grade.
Mountainous
Mountainous terrain includes one or more climbs with an average grade over 8%. Mountainous rides can also include longer climbs (more than 5 km - 3 miles) with an average grade up to 6%.
Tour Levels
Level 1 - 1.5
For those desiring gentle rides with a limited amount of climbing.
Level 5, also known as our Expeditions, are multi-week tours designed for strong riders looking for the challenge of riding across countries or continents.
Rolling hills
Hilly
Very hilly
Mountainous
Cycling Italy's Alpine Valleys
Bicycling Venice to Florence
