Published on: 1 April 2013  | Last updated: 17 March 2018

One of my favourite river rides and quite possibly one of the nicest in Italy. If you’re riding south-to north you’ll gradually start to see the mountains appearing on the skyline.

The route is mainly traffic free and on asphalt - although there are a few sections on the first half of the route (if you’re starting from Pavia) where the tarmac has deteri­orated and is a bit rough.

As well as being a great ride in its own right the route provides a useful connection between the Po and the lakes - as well as an option if you are riding to or from the Milano Malpensa airport.

Map and altitude profile

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The Ticino cycleway follows the course of the Ticino river between the city of Pavia on the Po and the town of Sesto Calende on the Lago Maggiore. While it’s named after the Ticino, for most of its length the cycleway runs along the banks of the Naviglio Bereguardo and the Naviglio Grande.

The first section of the route is on quiet roads before the route picks up the Naviglio di Bereguardo at, you guessed it, Bereguardo. This takes us to Abbiategrasso where there’s a junction with the Naviglio Grande. The Naviglio Grande goes east towards Milano and north towards the Lago Maggiore.

The section from here is the most beautiful. The Naviglio takes almost all of the way into Sesto Calende, with a short but very scenic section by the river into the town itself.

Options

At Pavia the route connects with the Ciclovia Francigena (until recently called the Ciclovia dei Pellegrini) part of the eurovelo 5 - the cycling version of the Via Francigena. At Sesto Calende you can pick up my Tour of the Western Lakes or the Lakes of Lombardia and Piemonte tour.