Lakes and mountains • Italy Cycling Guide

Published on: 26 February 2016 | Last updated: 8 January 2020

Lakes

The Western Lakes

A 250-kilometre road tour that takes in five lakes. Three of the bigger lakes: Lago Maggiore, Lago di Lugano and and the Lago di Como, as well as two smaller lesser-known gems: the Lago d’Orta, Lago di Mergozzo. The route avoids the busier roads and there are sections of cycleway. There’s relatively little climbing, except for one classic climb to the chapel of the Madonna del Ghisallo - patron saint of cycling. This is a loop, so you could avoid it, but it would be a shame to miss the great views of the Lago di Como.

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Lakes of Lombardia and Piemonte

This route is a great option if you’re looking for an accessible route that links the major Italian lakes. Based on the Laghi di Lombardia route prepared by the by the FIAB (Federazione Italiana Amici della Bicicletta), it’s particularly valuable in providing a link between the Lago di Como and the Lago di Garda –a densely-populated area where without local knowledge it would be easy to go wrong.

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Mountains

The Mountains of Lombardia

A 227-kilometre tour through northern Lombardia and a little bit of Switzerland. From the Lago di Como (200m) to the Little Tibet and on to the border with Trentino taking in some classic mountain passes. You could add in side-trips to more great passes including the Passo dello Stelvio or combine this tour connects with the Dolomites tours for an epic ride across the mountains of northern Italy.

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East to West through the Dolomites

Italians will tell you that the Dolomites are the most beautiful mountains in the world. And if you see them at sunset you’ll think maybe they have a point. As well as the glamorous mountains the area is a fascinating meeting point of languages and cultures. The site has guides to two routes through the Dolomites: one goes from East to West and the other goes the other way.

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Mountain valleys of Piemonte

This tour explores the alpine valleys between France and Italy on the western side of the Italian region of Piemonte. Like much of the Italian Alps, the area is a fascinating mosaic of languages and history. The area deserves to be better known: if you’re looking for great mountain scenery, unspoilt alpine villages, authentic Italian towns, then this area has it all.

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The Julian Alps

A short cross-border tour in the beautiful Julian Alps which are shared by Italy and Slovenija. The route skirts round the Trglav national park, visiting lake Bled and Bohinj and the of the emerald-green Soča river.

361 kilometres almost entirely on surfaced cycleways and roads. Quiet roads with some long stretches on traffic-free cycleways. Moderately challenging.

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The Dolomites West-East

This 460-kilometre route route starts near the Trentino-Lombardia border and takes you through to Carnia in Friuli-Venezia-Giulia. There’s also a variant with a spectacular descent to the Lago di Garda. The tour connects with the Mountains of Lombardia tour, and you can combine it with the Dolomites East-West to make your own personalised itinerary.

Read more: The Dolomites (West-East)
National parks of the Apennines

A 770-kilometre route along Italy’s Great Divide riding through the chain of national parks along the Apennines of central Italy. It starts in Abruzzo and ends in Toscana taking in Umbria and Le Marche.

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