Northern Italy by bike, from Bolzano to Venice via Verona and Lake Garda

Cycling the Dolomites, from Bolzano to Venice

Set off on an extraordinary cycle route in Italy that will introduce you to unique landscapes, cities of art and the largest European spa district!
 
Depart from the beautiful Dolomites which are part of the UNESCO heritage, to follow the Adige valley to the palm grove bordered by the shores of Lake Garda to arrive in the romantic city of Verona.
In Venice, you will be fascinated by the architectural genius of Palladio. This cycling trip takes you to the Euganean Mountains and their famous spa district. Finally, join the “Belle Padua”, cradle of the arts of Venice which opens the way to the Venetian lagoon which has attracted the curious for centuries.
 
Highlights of the stay:

• Bolzano, Venice and Verona
• The dolomites
• Palladian architecture
• The spa district of Padua
• Adige and Lake Garda

Day 1: Bolzano
Arrival in Bolzano, located along the Isarco River. The city lies at the crossroads between the Mediterranean and Central Europe. Today, it is an important center for trade and tourism.

Overnight in Bolzano.

Day 2: From Bolzano to Trento (70 km)
Begin your biking tour in Italy by riding along the Adige River, through the orchards and famous vineyards of the Wine Route. Take this opportunity to admire the scenery. You may decide to leave the cycle path to reach Lake Kaltern. Halfway between Bolzano and Trento, you will reach the city of Salerno, which represents a linguistic border between Germany and Italy. It is possible to shorten the stage by taking the train at several stations along the way.

Overnight in Trento.

Day 3: From Trento to Peschiera (50 km by bike then ferry, 4.5 hours)
The Adige River leads you to Rovereto, famous for its Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art. After a short climb to Passo di San Giovanni, you'll enjoy a superb view of Lake Garda and the small town of Torbole. Once in Riva del Garda, take a ferry (included) to reach the southern part of Lake Garda.

Overnight in Peschiera.

Day 4: From Peschiera to Verona (35 km)
After crossing the hilly landscape of Lake Garda, discover the Adige River, which will take you to Verona, one of the most beautiful cities in the Veneto region! Highlights include the Roman Arena, the Church of San Zeno, and Juliet's House.

Overnight in Verona.

Day 5: From Verona to Vicenza (75 km)
Biking at the foot of the Lessini Mountains! Through the vineyards of the region, you'll have the chance to pass by the Soave Castle. Take this moment to admire it and take a break. Further on, Romeo and Juliet's Castle in Montecchio Maggiore will point you towards the Berici Hills. Your destination for the day is Vicenza. The old city center is characterized by beautiful private palaces and buildings by Andrea Palladio, the world-renowned 16th-century architect. It's possible to shorten the stage by taking the train from San Bonifacio.

Overnight in Vicenza.

Day 6: From Vicenza to Padua (50 km)
Cycle along the Bacchiglione River on the cycle path and admire the Palladian masterpiece, Villa La Rotonda. Then, after the hamlet of Montegalda, you'll head towards the Euganean Hills, where you'll have the chance to relax in the largest spa district in Europe. Take a 10 km detour for a complimentary wine and oil tasting.

Overnight in Padua.

Day 7: From Padua to Mestre (55 km)

Today, set off along the Battaglia Canal, passing through Padua, home to one of the oldest Italian (and European) universities, rich in art and history. From there, along the Piovego Canal, you'll reach Stra and follow the Brenta Canal, dominated by the country villas of the ancient Venetian nobility (Villa Pisani, Villa Malcontenta, Villa Widmann) to Mestre.

Overnight in Mestre.

Day 8 - Mestre
Departure after breakfast. Transfer to Bolzano upon request when booking your stay.

 Variants of the stay program :
For reasons of organization, weather conditions or provisions issued by the authorities, the itinerary may be subject to modifications before and / or during the stay. These may be temporary deviations caused by works unpredictable roads; in this case, please follow the directions on site.
In the event of a strike, bad weather conditions, technical breakdowns, safety issues or any other reason preventing the departure of the ferry (from Riva del Garda to Peschiera / Desenzano), the ferry company may delay, cancel or divert the navigation. without notice.
In the event of cancellation, the ferry service will be replaced by other means of transport, usually by bus.

General information:

• 8 days and 7 nights
• Accommodation comfort level:
  • Standard version: 3*hotels
  • Comfort version: 3 and 4* hotels
• Child rates: contact us

2026 Dates:

Departures on Saturdays and Sundays from March 28 to October 17

Additional departures on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from April 21 to September 23

Departures possible on other days for groups of 6 or more

• Low Season: March 28 to April 17 and September 26 to October 17
• Mid Season: April 18 to May 8 and September 5 to September 25
• High Season: May 9 to September 4

Included:

• 7 nights’ accomodation with breakfasts
• 4 hours 30 minutes ferry cruise on Lake Garda from Riva to Peschiera / Desenzano del Garda (day 3)
• Ice cream in the best shop in Vicenza
• Wine and oil tasting Padua
• Luggage transport from accommodation to accommodation 
• Access to a GPS App
• 7 days a week telephone assistance 

Not included:

• Transport to departure point
• Lunches, dinners and drinks 
• Parking
• Entrance fees for visits  (Venice…)
• Personal expenses
• Tourist taxes (to be paid on site)
• Anything not listed under “included” 

Options:

• Standard bike or ebike rental
• Extra night in Bolzano or Mestre (on request)
• Transfer Mestre-Bolzano (min. 2 people) available on Saturday and Sunday and also on Tuesday between April 28 – September 29
• Theft guarantee for rented bike             
• Multirisk cancellation insurance 

Level:
1 2 3 4 5 6

Terrain:

• Land: 90% tarred, 10% unpaved.
• Overall this is an easy to manage route on light traffic side roads or paved cycle paths. There are some slightly hilly pieces with short uphill sections.

This course is also suitable for children. The longer stages, from Bolzano to Trento and from Verona to Vicenza, can be shortened by taking the train.

Climate:

Hot and dry summers. June and September are the most pleasant months.

Technical details:

• 35 to 75 km per day, about 3 to 7 hours of cycling
• Partly marked route

Bibliography:

Cycling maps and guides in Italy on cartovelo

Meals:

• Breakfasts: buffet (coffee, tea, chocolate, milk, butter, bread, jam, orange juice)
• Lunches: not included
• Dinners: not included

The bike:

• Rental bike: 27-speed bike or ebike equipped with panniers, repair kit and lock. Rental bikes will be delivered to the first hotel. At the end of the tour, please leave the bike at your last hotel and inform reception. We will take care of its return.  
• Personal bikes: we do not recommend bikes with small tires. Mountain and hybrid bikes are excellent. Please check your bike before departure. You will be responsible for your own bike at the end of the tour. 

Assistance:

7 days a week assistance (except punctures, which are not covered).

Luggage:
Luggage is transported by courier and limited to one piece per person (maximum 20 kg).

Roadbook: 

You will receive your roadbook with luggage tags by mail before your departure. 

Transport:

• By train: Bolzano train station
• By road: Bolzano is approximately 966 km from Paris
• By plane: Bolzano is connected to the following airports (Innsbruck: 120 km, Verona: 150 km, Bergamo: 240 km, Venice: 280 km, Treviso: 280 km, Milan: 300 km)

Multirisk Cancellation insurance:
To guarantee reimbursement in the event of cancellation of your stay, you may take out our multirisk cancellation insurance. Click here for more information.

Variants of the stay program :
For reasons of organization, weather conditions or provisions issued by the authorities, the itinerary may be subject to modifications before and / or during the stay. These may be temporary deviations caused by works unpredictable roads; in this case, please follow the directions on site.
In the event of a strike, bad weather conditions, technical breakdowns, safety issues or any other reason preventing the departure of the ferry (from Riva del Garda to Peschiera / Desenzano), the ferry company may delay, cancel or divert the navigation. without notice.
In the event of cancellation, the ferry service will be replaced by other means of transport, usually by bus.