Published on: 20 March 2016 | Last updated: 9 January 2020
National and international routes
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The Via Claudia Augusta
The Via Claudia Augusta is an international route that starts near Augsburg in Germany. It follows traffic-free cycleways as far as Trento. At Trento you have the option of either continuing to Verona on a traffic-free cycleway beside the Adige, or going to the Lago di Caldonazzo in the hills above Trento, where it picks up the Ciclabile della Valsugana which you can follow into Bassano del Grappa. There’s a quiet road route between Trento and the lake —or you can take the train or a bike-shuttle.
Read more: Via Claudia Augusta
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München-Venezia (Munich-Venice)
The München-Venezia is a new cycle route that makes use of the Ciclabile delle Dolomiti to provide a new long-distance route through the Südtirol and Veneto to Venezia. It follows traffic-free cycleways through the Dolomites into the Veneto. It also follows the Girasile cycleway along Sile river from Treviso.
Read more: München-Venezia cycle route
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The Ciclopista del Sole (eurovelo 7)
The Ciclopista del Sole is the Italian section of the eurovelo 7 it will take you from the border with Austria to the coast south of Rome. It will take you as far as Mantova (or the Lago di Garda or Verona if you prefer) on traffic-free cycleways.
Read more: Ciclopista del Sole (eurovelo 7)
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The Ciclovia Alpe-Adria Radweg
The Ciclovia Alpe-Adria Radweg runs from Salzburg in Austria to Grado on the Adriatic coast. The Italian section is called the FVG1. It is has two long sections of traffic-free cycleway; from the border with Austria to Resiutta and then the final section from Cervignano del Friuli to the coast.
Read more: FVG1-Ciclovia Alpe-Adria Radweg
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eurovelo 8 (Ciclovia del Po e delle Lagune)
The eurovelo 8 route crosses Italy with France at one end and Slovenija at the other. For much of the way it follows traffic-free cycleways along the river Po. There are also long traffic-free sections as it follows the Adriatic coast.
Read more: eurovelo 8
Local and regional routes
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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)
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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.
Read more: East to West through the Dolomites
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Ciclabile delle Dolomiti (Südtirol-Veneto)
The Ciclabile delle Dolomiti (formerly the Lunga Via delle Dolomiti) is possibly Italy’s most scenic cycleway with some gorgeous views of the Dolomites. It follows an old railway line for 64 kilometres from Toblach (Dobbiaco) through Cortina d’Ampezzo in the heart of the Dolomites, to Calalzo di Cadore.
Read more: Ciclabile delle Dolomiti (formerly the Lunga Via delle Dolomiti)
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FVG1 (part of the Ciclovia Alpe-Adria Radweg)
The FVG1 (part of the Ciclovia Alpe-Adria Radweg) has a long section of high-quality traffic-free cycleway along the old rail line via Tarvisio near the Austrian border.
Read more: FVG1 Ciclovia Alpe-Adria Radweg
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The Pusterbike cycleway (Südtirol)
The Pusterbike cycleway runs through the Pustertal (Val Pusteria) in Italy’s German-speaking region of the Südtirol (Alto-Adige), which as you’d expect has its own distinctive character and atmosphere.
Read more: Pusterbike cycleway (Südtirol)
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The Val di Sole cycleway (Trentino)
The Trentino offers possibly the best selection of cycleways of any Italian region. The 34-kilometre Val di Sole cycleway is a great example.
Read more: The Val di Sole cycleway (Trentino)
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The Val Rendena cycleway
The Val Rendena cycleway (Trentino) is another of Trentino’s great little cycleways (also 34 kilometres) in the Brenta Dolomites. You can combine it with the Val di Sole cycleway.
Read more: The Val Rendena cycleway.
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The Ciclovia delle Isole (Veneto)
This cycleway takes you island-hopping along the eastern fringes of the venetian lagoon. Watch fishermen cooking their breakfast on a harbourside barbeque. Find a place to leave your bike and take a traghetto into the main island of Venezia - or explore some of the other islands like Burano with its houses painted in gorgeous colours.
Read more: Ciclovia delle Isole.
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The Vinschgau cycleway (Südtirol)
The Vinschgau cycleway (Vinschgau Radweg or Ciclabile della Val Venosta) runs for 78 kilometres between the Lago di Resia (Reschensee) on the border with Austria to and Meran. A beautiful and deservedly popular cycleway, it is also part of the Via Claudia Augusta international cycleway.
Read more: The Vinschgau cycleway
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Ciclovia del Mincio (River Mincio cycleway)
The Ciclabile del Mincio is a 35-kilometre cycleway along the river Mincio linking Peschiera del Garda in the Veneto and Mantova in Lombardia. The cycleway is an important link in the Ciclopista del Sole (eurovelo 7) but is also a very popular day-ride.
Read more: Ciclovia del Mincio (River Mincio cycleway)
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The Destra Po cycleway (Fe20)
The river Po flows from its source near the border with France to the Adriatic coast. This 92-kilometre route goes from the beautiful city of Ferrara to the coast, following the right bank of the river on a high-quality surfaced cycleway along the top of the massive 10 metre-high flood defences along the river’s banks.
Read more: The Destra Po cycleway (Fe20)
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Through Austria along the River Drau from Toblach to Tarvisio
This route takes the Drauradweg cycle route from Toblach (Dobbiaco) in Italy to Lienz in Austria, and then following the Drau (Drava) river on to Villach where it turns back towards Italy and Tarvisio. It links the networks of cycleways in the Südtirol, the Austrian Tirol, Friuli Venezia Giulia region and Slovenija.
Read more: Through Austria along the River Drau from Toblach to Tarvisio
Overview map
Map of national and international routes in North-East Italy. Click on the route for links to go direct to the guide or to the theme page (links open in a new window).
Map: FT-map-NE-Italy-overviewshow map in overlay | FT-map-NE-Italy-overview show map in new window
Get in touch
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