Touring Bike (EB)
£112 for 7 days
La vita è bella, and nowhere more so than Tuscany. Rolling hills draped in vineyards, cypress-lined avenues, hilltop villages, Renaissance cities, and world-class cuisine make this one of the most celebrated cycling destinations on earth. This 8-day self-guided holiday from Montecatini Terme to Florence takes you through the very heart of the region.
Starting from the elegant spa town of Montecatini Terme, the route heads south through Lucca — with its remarkable intact city walls, and on to Pisa, where the Leaning Tower needs no introduction. The Colline Pisane bring the first proper climbs before the medieval towers of San Gimignano come into view. Siena, the Chianti wine region, and the villages of Castellina and Greve fill the final days before Florence welcomes you with the Ponte Vecchio and the Uffizi.
Daily stages range from 22 to 45 miles. The terrain is rolling to hilly, and the tour is rated athletic, the hills of the Berici and the Chianti are real. Two categories of accommodation are available: Cat A in 3-star and 4-star hotels; Cat B in 3-star hotels throughout.
Select the tour you are interested in to view the itinerary.
Montecatini Terme is Tuscany’s elegant spa town, set among the gentle Valdinievole hills. Magnificent thermal baths, well-kept parks, and stylish squares give the town a distinctly belle époque character. A highlight is the historic funicular up to Montecatini Alto, with splendid views over the surrounding Tuscan countryside.
Example accommodation: Grand Hotel Croce di Malta ****
The route heads south-west through the small medieval wine town of Montecarlo, where one of Tuscany’s rare white wines is produced. A ride along the top of Lucca’s remarkably intact Renaissance walls — wide enough for carriages and now lined with trees — is one of the most memorable cycling moments of the tour. The route continues to the coastal plain and Lake Massaciuccoli before arriving at Pisa’s famous Piazza dei Miracoli.
Example accommodation: Hotel Republica Marinara ****
Leaving Pisa along the Arno, the route crosses into the gentle hills of the Colline Pisane, where sweet vineyards, olive groves, and peach orchards line the road. Small medieval villages cling to hilltops as you make your way to the spa town of Casciana Terme, your overnight stop.
Example accommodation: Albergo Roma, Casciana Terme ***
A demanding but beautiful day cycling through vineyards and softly rolling hills along picturesque paths towards San Gimignano. Just before you arrive, the iconic silhouette of 14 medieval towers — built as symbols of rival families’ power — appears through the haze. Once owned by noble families, these towers still define the town’s enchanting skyline.
Example accommodation: Hotel San Michele ***
The stunning Tuscan landscape along today’s route makes the occasional climb barely noticeable. By the time you reach the fortified village of Monteriggioni, you feel transported to the Middle Ages. The undeniable highlight of the day is the architectural masterpiece of Siena — its magnificent Gothic cathedral, the shell-shaped Piazza del Campo, and the maze of medieval streets make it one of Italy’s most captivating cities.
Example accommodation: Hotel Italia, Siena ****
Breathtaking vineyard views open on a beautiful mountain road heading north into the heart of Chianti. A break in the stone village of Vagliali for a cappuccino sets you up for a ride along a ‘white road’ — the classic Chianti strade bianche — through vineyards and deciduous forests to the lovely village of Radda. A final stretch into Castellina in Chianti, one of the region’s most characterful villages, completes the day.
Example accommodation: Hotel Colle Etrusco ****
The final day of cycling crosses a plateau with spectacular views before dropping into Greve, the capital of the Chianti wine region, with its charming triangular piazza. A long descent then carries you down to the Arno plain and into Florence along its northern approaches, arriving at the Ponte Vecchio. This jewel of the Renaissance, with its incomparable concentration of art and architecture, is the perfect finale to a week of Tuscan beauty.
Example accommodation: Hotel Michelangelo Firenze ****
After breakfast your tour comes to an end in Florence. Florence Airport (FLR) is around 4 km from the city centre and has flights to UK airports, or Pisa Airport (PSA) is around 1 hour by train and offers more frequent UK connections. A return transfer to Montecatini Terme runs every Saturday for those wishing to collect a car.
We recommend flying to Florence Airport (FLR) or Pisa Airport (PSA) and returning from Florence Airport (FLR) or Pisa Airport (PSA).
£112 for 7 days
£196 for 7 days
£308 for 7 days
Not available for hire
Getting to Montecatini Terme
By plane: Florence Airport (FLR) is around 45 minutes from Montecatini Terme by bus, with flights from London and other UK airports. Pisa Airport (PSA) is around 1 hour 15 minutes by train and offers more frequent UK connections, served by Ryanair and easyJet from multiple UK airports. Bologna Airport (BLQ) is around 1 hour 30 minutes by train.
By train: From London St Pancras, take the Eurostar to Paris Gare du Nord, cross Paris to Gare de Lyon, then a TGV to Turin or Milan and onwards to Montecatini Terme. Total journey time is around 11–12 hours, or comfortably overnight.
Getting home from Florence
Florence Airport (FLR) has direct flights to several UK airports and is just a 15-minute tram or taxi from the city centre. Pisa Airport (PSA) offers more routes and is around 1 hour by direct train from Florence Santa Maria Novella. A return transfer from Florence to Montecatini Terme is available every Saturday morning for £71 per person (plus £51 for your own bike) — advance booking required.
Bikes are not included. You are welcome to bring your own bike or hire one. Please see our bike hire section for details.
Flights are not included. Please refer to the what's included section for full details.
We will confirm your booking within 48 hours of receiving your enquiry. Please wait for confirmation before booking flights or making other travel arrangements.
Most itineraries include cycling on most days, with some rest or shorter days built in. Please check the itinerary for day-by-day details.
The latest you can book is 9 days before departure. This gives us enough time to confirm arrangements and accommodation.
You will receive full travel details, including accommodation, meeting points and local contacts, 3 to 5 weeks before departure.
