Classic Tuscany E-Bike tour
Italy Bike Tours
Bike from Florence to Lucca (including Pisa) on an electric bike
- Tour Type
- Skill Level
- Length8 days
- Prices from€1530 Rates
- Book This Trip
Overview
This bicycle tour starts in the heart of Tuscany, Italy's most famous region. If Tuscan hills have intimidated you in the past, take heart! We are offering this itinerary as an electric bike tour, the perfect solution to provide a slow travel experience, biking the terrain with ease, with energy to spare to experience the art, history, food, and wine.
For those up to the challenge, you can request one of the quality hybrid bikes available and bike under your own steam.
Bike and stroll through living history in Italy's most famous region, from Piazza della Signoria in Florence to Piazza dei Miracoli in Pisa, through Siena, San Gimignano, and Lucca.
Highlights
- Renaissance Florence
- Wines and vineyards of Chianti,
- Majestic Piazza del Campo in Siena
- San Gimignano and its medieval towers
- Leaning Tower of Pisa
- Walled Lucca
- Castles, villages, art, and history
- Incredible views from world-famous hills
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Itinerary
Day 1: Florence
Day 2: Florence - Radda in Chianti, 38 mi. (61 km)
Day 3: Radda in Chianti - Siena, 30 - 32 mi. (48 - 52 km)
Day 4: Siena - San Gimignano, 31 mi. (50 km)
Day 5: San Gimignano - Vinci, 42 mi. (68 km)
Day 6: Vinci - Lucca, 36 mi. (58 km)
Day 7: Lucca - Pisa - Lucca, 44 mi. (70 km)
Day 8: End of tourAll distances are approximate. Due to circumstances beyond control, weather conditions or provisions issued by local authorities, the itinerary may be subject to some changes before and/or during your holiday. For example, along the way you may find temporary deviations/detours caused by roadwork, In this case, please follow the directions posted on site.
Day 1: Florence
Arrive in Florence and take in the city's rich history! Climb up Giotto's tower for a stunning view of the city and the Duomo, visit the Uffizi Gallery, or walk the Ponte Vecchio bridge for a striking view of the city. Welcome meeting and bike fitting is offered on this day. Please provide your arrival information once arranged.Option:
Dinner in Florence
Accommodation: Hotel SillaDay 2: Florence - Radda in Chianti, 38 mi. (61 km)
As you leave Florence you'll climb some of Chianti's famous hills. You will want to stop in Greve for a short visit of the main square and the famous Macelleria Falorni, producer of local salumi. Radda is a delightful, small town and was an important junction for travelers heading to the north and south.Option:
Snack at very traditional “macelleria” in Greve (1 glass of wine, local cold cuts and cheeses)
Accommodation: Hotel San NiccolòDay 3: Radda in Chianti - Siena, 30 - 32 mi. (48 - 52 km)
Cycle the south part of the Chianti Region, then take the afternoon to explore Siena. Italy's best-preserved medieval city rivaled Florence for dominance in Tuscany during the 1300s. You'll be transported back in time as soon as you enter the city walls.Options:
Dinner in Siena
Guided tour in Sienna
Accommodation: Chiostro del CarmineDay 4: Siena - San Gimignano, 31 mi. (50 km)
Your bike ride today takes you into the heart of Tuscany. You will pedal past vineyards, 17th-century villas, and small towns on your way to San Gimignano, one of the best preserved medieval villages in Italy and designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. San Gimignano is famous for its many towers, remnants from the 13th and 14th centuries.Option: Dinner in S. Gimignano
Accommodation: Hotel Bel SoggiornoDay 5: San Gimignano - Vinci, 42 mi. (68 km)
Your ride takes you through the rolling hills peppered with small towns along the way. Your destination is Vinci, the birthplace of Leonardo. Here you'll have a chance to visit the house where he was born and a museum with scale models of his inventions.Option: Wine tasting in Vinci (closed on Mondays)
Accommodation: Hotel Monna LisaDay 6: Vinci - Lucca, 36 mi. (58 km)
Climb the stairway to the Medici villa in Cerreto Guidi today for a great view as you continue west to Lucca, where you'll stay the next two nights. Lucca was a Roman town and one of medieval Italy's most prosperous city-states. Today, Lucca retains its medieval charm with its small shops and sidewalk cafés, as well as the beautiful 17th-century wall that surrounds the town.Option: Dinner in Lucca
Accommodation: Hotel La LunaDay 7: Lucca - Pisa - Lucca, 44 mi. (70 km)
our last day of cycling takes you to Pisa, where you can visit the Leaning Tower and the Piazza of Miracles. Our route to Pisa takes you by Lake Massaciuccoli, where Puccini wrote many of his operas. After a stroll through Pisa, head back to the less-touristy town of Lucca to enjoy an evening passeggiata along the main pedestrian way.
Option:
Cooking class*
Accommodation: Hotel La Luna
*Cooking class available in either Florence, Siena, or Lucca (includes tasting meal at the end). Since you spend two nights in Lucca, this is a great location for the experience. or perhaps the evening of your arrival in Florence? You decide. Classes are offered through Le Cesarine, a company that organizes culinary experiences in the homes of locals. Your class will last about 3 hours, during which you will help the Cesarina prepare 3 courses. In the 4th and final hour, you will enjoy a meal (lunch or dinner) consisting of the courses you prepared during the class. Water and one bottle of house wine every 3 people are included.
Day 8: End of tour
After a breakfast buffet in your hotel, you're ready to continue your adventure, wherever it may lead. Buon viaggio!View all our bike trips, specials, and news along with hundreds of other bike tours in Europe.
Hotels & Bikes
Please see each day’s detailed itinerary for the accommodations that are generally used. Of course in the event of lack of availability, you will be offered a hotel of equal quality. Most of the accommodations are in 3 and 4-star establishments. Upgrades are possible in some hotels. Just ask.
Bicycles
Electric bike
The bikes included for this tour are Winora Sinus i10 2020 model e-bikes. These bikes feature state of the art technology and are a fantastic option for bicycle travelers who need a little push. Although you still have to pedal the E-bike drive provides a nice boost for your efforts. For example, when your pedal stroke increases to get up a hill so does the amount of power the electric motor outputs. Less effort on your part translates to less power assist. These bikes come with rapid-fire shifters that operate in the same way as a regular hybrid bike.
Hybrid bike
The aluminum hybrid bikes are ideal touring machines. They are equipped with Continental Contact 700×35 tires with an anti-puncture layer, a solid rear rack for panniers or trunk bag, fenders, chain-guard, and kickstand. The geometry and the Ergon GP2 grips allow for a comfortable position and the reliable 3×10 Shimano Deore drivetrain won’t leave you out of gears on a steep climb. The Hybrid Mixte bike offers a step-through frame for easy mounting and dismounting. All bikes come with a cyclometer, bell, lock, pump, water bottle cage/s, a water bottle, an under-seat pack that contains a spare tube, tire irons, and patch kit.
Inclusions
What’s Included
- Accommodations for 7 nights in 3 to 4 star hotels
- All breakfasts
- High-quality electric bike (Kalkhoff or KTM). Weight: 23 kg.
- Accessories: Map holder, rear rack bag, helmet, water bottle, cyclometer, pump, lock and an under-seat pack that contains a spare tube, tire irons, and patch kit
- Roadbook and maps
- Preloaded GPS
- Luggage transfer
- GPS
What’s Not Included
- Lunches and dinners
- City taxes
- Touring, road, or tandem bike (can be requested!)
- Bike protection
- Travel Insurance
Dates & Pricing
Dates
2021
Weekly departures every Thursday, March 1 through October 31, 2021
Other weekday departures may be possible on request. Supplement may apply.
Please Note
- Rates are based on double occupancy
- Information to read before you book
- We recommend purchasing trip insurance
- Please see our FAQ
Pricing
Twin/double: $ 2462 £ 1387 $ 2,417 € 1530 NZ$ 2645 kr 15755 $ 1,899
Single supplement: $ 467 £ 263 $ 458 € 290 NZ$ 501 kr 2986 $ 360
Solo traveler supplement: $ 1287 £ 725 $ 1,264 € 800 NZ$ 1383 kr 8238 $ 993
Extra Options
Florence
Twin/double, from: $ 97 £ 54 $ 95 € 60 NZ$ 104 kr 618 $ 74 Single supplement, from: $ 68 £ 38 $ 66 € 42 NZ$ 73 kr 432 $ 52Siena
Twin/double: $ 109 £ 62 $ 107 € 68 NZ$ 118 kr 700 $ 84 Single supplement: $ 76 £ 43 $ 74 € 47 NZ$ 81 kr 484 $ 58Lucca
Twin/double: $ 117 £ 66 $ 115 € 73 NZ$ 126 kr 752 $ 91 Single supplement: $ 60 £ 34 $ 58 € 37 NZ$ 64 kr 381 $ 46Extra nights do NOT include extra day bike rental.
Extra day e-bike rental: $ 32 £ 18 $ 32 € 20 NZ$ 35 kr 206 $ 25
Dinner in Florence and/or Sienna*, per person/per meal: $ 40 £ 23 $ 39 € 25 NZ$ 43 kr 257 $ 31 Dinner in San Gimignano*: $ 35 £ 20 $ 35 € 22 NZ$ 38 kr 227 $ 27 Dinner in Lucca*: $ 45 £ 25 $ 44 € 28 NZ$ 48 kr 288 $ 35 * Dinners consist of 3-course set menus (some restaurants allow multiple-choice menu). Drinks are not included. Please check the scheduled time of your dinner, as some restaurants in Italy open for dinner as late as 7:30 or 8:00 pm.
Snack at very traditional “macelleria” in Greve (1 glass of wine, local cold cuts, and cheese): $ 19 £ 11 $ 19 € 12 NZ$ 21 kr 124 $ 15Guided tour of Sienna, per group up to 12 ppl.: $ 241 £ 136 $ 237 € 150 NZ$ 259 kr 1545 $ 186 Wine tasting in Vinci: $ 19 £ 11 $ 19 € 12 NZ$ 21 kr 124 $ 15 Cooking class, minimum of 2: $ 129 £ 73 $ 126 € 80 NZ$ 138 kr 824 $ 99 Extra day e-bike rental: $ 32 £ 18 $ 32 € 20 NZ$ 35 kr 206 $ 25
Florence airport - Florence:
1 - 3 ppl: $ 80 £ 45 $ 79 € 50 NZ$ 86 kr 515 $ 62 5 - 6 ppl: $ 88 £ 50 $ 87 € 55 NZ$ 95 kr 566 $ 68 Lucca - Pisa airport:
1 - 2 ppl: $ 129 £ 73 $ 126 € 80 NZ$ 138 kr 824 $ 99 3 - 6 ppl: $ 145 £ 82 $ 142 € 90 NZ$ 156 kr 927 $ 112 Lucca – Florence airport:
1 - 2 ppl: $ 209 £ 118 $ 205 € 130 NZ$ 225 kr 1339 $ 161 3 - 6 ppl: $ 225 £ 127 $ 221 € 140 NZ$ 242 kr 1442 $ 174Extra Info
Skill Level — Easy–Moderate
Rating a tour is one of the most difficult things that we do. One person’s easy may be another’s moderate. Generally, a tour in Tuscany would be rated moderate to difficult. However, we are offering this favorite itinerary as an electric (battery-assisted) bike tour in which you will tackle Tuscany’s famous hills on your terms! It can be as easy or difficult as you want, depending on the level of assitance you use. It is your choice! You will cycle a total distance of 348 - 352 km (217 - 220 miles) with a daily distance of 48 - 68 km (30 - 42 miles). The terrain is hilly and there are good climbs daily, sometimes with elevation gain of about 500 m (1500 feet). Please note that electric bikes are not meant for those who never cycle or cycle only occasionally. Battery assisted bikes are heavier and require good balance and good control. For those who prefer to ride this tour on a regular bicycle, you will be provided with a lightweight titanium hybrid bike (approximately 11 kg) or a high-quality titanium road bike (approximately 8 kg).
Airport Info
You have three options for your arrival depending on your own personal travel plans.
- Option A: Flying into Florence Airport (FLR)
- Option B: Flying into Pisa International Airport Galileo Galilei(PSA)
- Option C: Flying into Rome International Leonardo da Vinci Airport
Local Travel
Arrival to Florence:
From the airport by shuttle bus to Florence’s main train station, Firenze S. Maria Novella. Tickets may be purchased on board (one-way ticket: €6; round trip ticket: €10). Taxi from bus station to hotel (costs about €10 plus €1 per piece of luggage).
Arrival to Pisa:
There are frequent departures of the PisaMover Bus, which takes you to the central station in Pisa, train to Florence, and then taxi to your first hotel.
Arrival to Rome:
The train (Leonardo Express) takes you to Stazione Termini, Rome central station (€14/32 minutes). There are direct trains from Stazione Termini to Florence. The ride takes 1.5 - 2.0 hours depending on the type of train. Taxi to first hotel.Climate
The climate in Tuscany is generally mild with differences depending on the geography of each area. The coast and valleys tend to have hotter summers than the hills or mountains although the coast benefits from breezes off the sea for cooler temperatures even in those warmer months. Please check local conditions before you travel.
Remarks
Your luggage will be collected from 09.00 at the reception of the hotel and is delivered to the following hotel by 15.30. Each piece of luggage must be marked with a visible luggage tag. If your luggage is not ready by the time the driver comes to collect it, you may need to have to pay directly for a local taxi for the service
Important to know
A few things to consider before you book your E-bike tour
- Pedal-assist e-bikes give you a constant nudge on your ride and conform to your pedal cadence and torque – up to 25 km per hours, they are a solid help on the climbs and they increase your average speed
- Electric bikes are heavier than a regular bike so they handle differently
- Bikes come with 700×40 Schwalbe Energizer Pro tires that are made specifically for e-bikes. The tires feature an anti-puncture layer, good grip, and minimal rolling resistance.
- Though the bikes are very quiet the electric engine does produce a light but constant noise.
- The bikes can be ridden without assist though as mentioned above they are much heavier than a regular bike.
- Operating range depends on many factors such as the assistance level, gear switching behavior, route profile, headwind, temperatures but in general the average range of the battery packs is 110km (68 miles).
Travel Documents
It is each traveler's responsibility to ensure that you are in compliance with the country or countries you plan to visit. This includes and is not limited to passport validity, visa requirements and acquisition, blank passport pages required for your destination (s), etc.
US citizens: A good website to research the requirements of the Schengen Agreement and entry into other countries is travel.state.gov.
Non-EU and EU residents: Please research the requirements of your country of residence for international travel and your destination country or countries.
*Important note: Please check on the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) status as once implemented, this will be required to visit any of the 26 Schengen-member countries for tourism, business, medical, or transit. This is an additional check on security rather than a visa.Extra Stay
Of course you will want to stay longer! Just ask us for extra night information
Tour Operator
This tour is run by Cycle Europe.
We value the strong relationship we have with our local partners and the services we provide.
We are not a broker.
We do not inflate tour prices.
We are simply travelers helping travelers.Would you like to learn more About Us? How about What Makes Us Different than other companies?
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