Italy by bike - Bolzano, Vérona and Venise

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 of Venice 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 is at the crossroads between the Mediterranean and Central Europe. It is now an important commercial and tourist center.

 
Day 2 - Bolzano - Trento - 65/70 km

 
You start your cycling trip in Italy along the Adige River cycle path, through the orchards and famous vineyards of the Wine Route, take this opportunity to admire the scenery. 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 from several stations along the way.
 

Day 3 - Trento - Desenzano / Peschiera - 50 km by bike + ferry

The Adige River takes you to Rovereto, famous for its Museum of Modernity and its
contemporary art. After a short climb to Passo di San Giovanni, you will enjoy a great view of Lake Garda and the small town of Torbole. Then at Riva del Garda, take a ferry to reach the southern part of the lake.

 
Day 4 - Desenzano / Peschiera - Verona - 60/35 km

 
After crossing the hilly landscape of Lake Garda, discover the Adige River, which will take you to Verona, one of the most beautiful towns in the Veneto region!
To visit : the Roman arena, the church of San Zeno and the house of Juliet.
 

 
Day 5 - Verona - Vicence - 75/40 km

Go by bike to the foot of the Lessini Mountains! Through the vineyards of the region, you will have the chance to pass in front of the castle of Soave. Take advantage of this moment to admire it and take a break. Further on, the Fortress of Brendola will show you the way to the hills of Berici and Venice. The old city center is characterized by beautiful private palaces and buildings by Andrea Palladio, the famous 16th century architect known all over the world. It is possible to shorten the stage by taking the train to San Bonifacio.

 
Day 6 - Vicence - Padua spa district - 50 km

Walk along the Bacchiglione river on the cycle path and admire the Palladian masterpiece “Villa La Rotonda”. Then after the hamlet of Montegalda, you will head to the Euganean Mountains, where you will have the chance to relax in the largest European spa district.

 
Day 7 - Padua spa district - Mestre - 55 km

Today go for a ride on the Battaglia Canal cycle path, you will pass through Padua, home to one of the oldest Italian (and European) universities, rich in art and history. From there, along the Piovego Canal, you join Stra and follow the Brenta Canal, dominated by the country villas of the old Venetian nobility (Villa Pisani, Villa Malcontenta, Villa Widmann) to Mestre.

 

Day 8 - Mestre 

Departure after breakfast. Transfer to Bolzano on request when booking the stay.

General informations :

• 8 days and 7 nights
• Standard version accommodation comfort level: 2 and 3 *
• Comfort level of comfort version accommodation: 3 and 4 *
• Prices for children: contact us.

The dates :

Departure Saturdays and Sundays from 30/03 to 12/10 and Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 30/04 to 4/09

• Low season: 30/03 to 19/04 and 28/09 to 12/10
• Mid season: 20/04 to 10/05 and 7/09 to 27/09
• High season: 11/05 to 06/09

Included :

• 7 nights hotel accommodation with breakfast
• Application including maps, points of interest and GPS tracks
• Luggage transport
• 4-hour ferry cruise on Lake Garda
• Ice cream in the best ice cream parlor in Vicenza
• Hotline service

Not included :

• Local taxes (around 10-15 €)
• Anything not mentioned in the "included" section
• Transport to the place of departure

The options :

• VTC or VAE rental
• transfer Mestre-Bolzano (bike included, min. 2 people) available on Saturday and Sunday
• Additional night at the start or end of the tour
• Bike theft insurance (for rented bikes)
• cancellation insurance

Levels :

1 2 3 4 5 6

Ground :

Land: 90% tarred, 10% unpaved.
Possibility to shorten the route by taking the train: days 2, 3, 5 and 7.
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.

Weather :

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

Technicality:

Cycling: 35 to 70 km per day or 2 to 5 hours of cycling.
Partly marked itinerary, useful roadbook and map reading.

Bibliography:

Cycling maps and guides in Italy on cartovelo

Additional nights:

An additional night is offered to you at the start and end of the tour.

Food :

- Breakfasts: generous (coffee, tea, chocolate, milk, butter, bread, jam, orange juice) or buffet
- Lunch: not included
- Dinner: not included. Restaurants near the accommodation.

The bike :

- Rental bicycle: If you rent a bicycle, it will be given to you on the day of your arrival at the 1st hotel. A security deposit will be requested.
At the end of the tour, you will have to leave this bike at the last hotel and notify reception. We will take care of his return.

- Personal bike: We do not recommend bikes with small tires. Hybrid bikes and mountain bikes are excellent. Remember to check your bicycle before setting off.
At the end of the tour, you will need to take care of your own bicycle.

Assistance:

Assistance in case of breakdown (except punctures).

Luggage:

They are transported by a courier or by our team and limited to one piece of luggage per person (max. 20 kg).

Roadbook :

He understands :

• the final list of hotels: due to overbooking or organizational needs, your hotel list may be changed just before your arrival
• hotel vouchers to be presented at the hotel reception upon arrival
• luggage tags
• Ferry ticket to Lake Garda: present this voucher at the Riva del Garda ticket office to get your ferry passage to Peschiera or Desenzano del Garda
• Ice Cream Voucher: You can enjoy free ice cream at one of the most famous ice cream parlors.

Transport :

- By train: It takes 10 hours by train to reach Bolzano from Paris.
- By car: Bolzano is approximately 966 km from Paris. Motorway to Bolzano via Rome.
- 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.

Cancellation insurance :

In order to guarantee the reimbursement of costs in the event of cancellation of your stay, you can take out cancellation insurance. To learn more about insurance, click here.

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.