There are more UNESCO World Heritage sites in Italy than in any other country in the world, but we're more than happy to simply spend our holiday exploring the exquisite beaches, coastline and islands of Italy. Like most travellers, we're extremely fond of Puglia, Venice and Sardinia, as well as the glorious coastline of the Italian Riviera.

 

If exploring Italy's coast and islands on foot is more your thing, check out our article of top Italian walking tours.

Take a look at these self-guided and guided cycling tours of Italy's coast and islands. The hardest part is to decide which bike trip to do!

 

 

 

 

Puglia is Italy’s gateway to the Orient. A land forged in history by a mixture of civilisations and cultures, it is bordered by the sea on two sides (the Adriatic Sea in the east and the Ionian Sea to the southeast). A region of unspoilt scenic beauty, follow by bicycle coastal paths surrounded by landscapes of red earth, olive groves and vineyards, admiring the unique ‘trulli’ (dry stone cottages) and ‘sassi’ (cave houses) along the way.

> View all cycling tours in Puglia
 

 

A relaxed trip that follows Sardinia’s southern coastline by bike, with a range of cycle options for kids and adults such as trailers and electric bikes. Even children under 2 can join thanks to baby seats on their parents’ bicycles! Sardinia is the second largest island in the Mediterranean so, even in the winter, there is plenty to see and do: pedal through small fishing villages, past lagoons packed with pink flamingos and ruins dating back to the Phoenician and Roman civilisations; explore the Genoese island of San Pietro; wander through Mediterranean vineyards and centuries-old olive groves; and take in the spectacular views of dramatic cliffs and white sandy beaches!

 

> View the Cycling in Sardinia bike tour
 

 

Follow coastal cycling paths along the Mediterranean, smell the sea air and experience a quieter side of the bustling Riviera. Starting in Nice, the capital of Côte d’Azur, you will explore the iconic Monte Carlo before crossing the border for a swim at the cove of Spiaggetta dei Balzi Rossi and a visit at the ceramics and porcelain hub of Albisola. The trip finishes at the birthplace of Christopher Columbus and one of Italy’s most understated cities: Genoa.

 

> View the Cycle Nice to Genoa bike tour
 

 

 

Explore three countries in one week on a cycling journey that offers the perfect combination of historic towns and seaside landscapes. From the canal city of Venice, pass peaceful fishing villages and grand palaces on your way to the little-visited plain of Friuli in northeastern Italy. With two border crossings to cycle through (Slovenia and Croatia), the journey ends in the Adriatic town of Porec, known for its Euphrasian Basilica, one of Europe’s finest intact examples of Byzantine art.

 

> View the Ancient Venetian Empire by Bike tour

 

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> View all walking and cycling tours of Italy here.

 

Have you decided which cycling tour you'd like to go on? Let us know in the comment section below. Don't forget to share this article with your cycling partner too!