Bicycling on Your Italian Vacation

Italians are very big on biking. There are lots of bike clubs and you'll see bike riders on the small roads of Italy every weekend when the weather permits. Drivers look out for bicyclists so it's relatively safe to ride on the road sides.

Italy also has some serious bike races such as the Giro d'Italia, similar to the Tour de France. This year's Giro d'Italia started May 12 on the island of Sardinia, crossing over the sea from Cagliari to Salerno near the Amalfi Coast, and riding north through the center of Italy. Much of the race will take place in the mountains of northern Italy, going from the west coast to the eastern border and finally back to Milan on June 3. See the Giro d'Italia route map on steephill.tv bike travelogue.

If you want to have that kind of adventure on your Italian vacation you can tour Italy with America's only winner of the Giro d'Italia, Andy Hampsten. Read more about his tours in Cycling Italy with a Pro. Don't worry, you won't have to cycle like the pros and you'll have time for some great food and wine in the evening. If you prefer more leisurely tours or even independent biking, we have some other options in our Bicycling in Italy listings. Or hop over to France for bike tours on the Tour de France route.