Lake Garda & the Veneto
Italy Bike Tours
Bike from Verona to Venice & beyond
- Tour Type
- Skill Level
- Length8 days
- Prices from€1380 Rates
- Book This Trip
Overview
On this guided and supported bike tour from Lake Garda all the way to Venice, you will pedal across the Veneto, a lovely corner of Northern Italy, nestled against the Italian Alps. On dedicated bike paths and rural country roads, you will roll through picturesque villages and historic art cities.
You will visit the majestic and beautiful Lake Garda, as well as Verona, Mantova, Vicenza, Padova, and Venice - all unique cities that blend history, charm, and modernity. In Vicenza, discover the architectural wonders of Andrea Palladio from the 16th century, considered to be the most influential individual in the history of Western architecture.
This is also wine country, home to some of the more important Italian wines, where you can sample Valpolicella and Soave wines from the protected vineyards along the Alps’ foothills, as you make your way east toward La Serenissima - the majestic city of Venice.
Highlights
- Mantova
- Lake Garda and surroundings
- Valpolicella wine area
- Vicenza and Palladio’s architecture
- Palladian villas
- Venice
- Guided and supported cycling
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Itinerary
Day 1: Meet in Verona and transfer to Volta Mantovana, 2 mi. (4 km)
Day 2: Mantova loop ride, 43 mi. (69 km)
Day 3: Lake Garda and Valpolicella, 26 mi. (42 km)
Day 4: Pedal through wine country to Verona and Soave, 41 mi. (67 km)
Day 5: Vicenza and Palladio’s architecture, 23 mi. (37 km)
Day 6: Cycle to Padova among the Palladian villas, 26 mi. (42 km)
Day 7: Venice
Day 8: Tour ends in PadovaAll distances are approximate.
Day 1: Meet in Verona, 2 mi. (4 km)
Individual arrival to Verona. Meet the group and tour leader at the Verona train station in the mid-afternoon, from where you will transfer to your lodging for the next two nights. The hotel is located in the center of Valeggio sul Mincio and offers cozy rooms, furnished in a simple yet elegant way. You will be fitted for your bike and then take a test ride on the nearby cycle path to Borghetto sul Mincio, a picturesque village located on the river connecting Lake Garda with the lakes around Mantova to the south. In the evening, you will enjoy a welcome dinner with your fellow travelers. (D)Accommodation: Al Cacciatore Hotel and Restaurant (2 nights)
Day 2: Mantova loop ride, 43 mi. (69 km)
Today, you will pedal south along the bike path to reach the impressive city of Mantova, with its pretty lakes built around it as fortifications and now serving as a great green area around the city. Mantova was home to the princely Gonzaga family, who ruled for several centuries between the 14th and the 18th centuries and who made Mantova an artistic, musical, and architectural center. Visit the Palazzo Ducale and Palazzo del Tè, as well as the Piazza Virgiliana, Castello San Giorgio and Piazza delle Erbe before returning to your accommodations. (B)Elevation: 745 ft. (223 m) total climbing
Accommodation: Al Cacciatore Hotel and RestaurantDay 3: Lake Garda and Valpolicella, 26 mi. (42 km)
The route leads north today along a delightful bicycle path to reach the shores of Lake Garda, one of Italy’s most famous lakes nestled south of the Italian Alps. Visit the historic and colorful town of Peschiera del Garda, on the waterfront, before continuing along the eastern shore to climb a bit onto a ridge leading into the vineyards of the Valpolicella wine area. This area grows the grapes that make Amarone wine, one of Italy’s strongest red wines. Support shuttle will be available. You will overnight in a historic villa tonight, surrounded by vineyards! (B)Elevation: 1745 ft (532 m) total climbing, most of it on the last hill to reach your accommodation
Accommodation: Villa San Giorgio or similar
Day 4: Pedal through wine country to Verona and Soave, 41 mi. (67 km)
You continue along rolling foothills today to leave the Valpolicella area and enter Verona, famous for its arena which is still today used for outdoor theatre. Have lunch in the center of town, visit Juliet and Romeo’s balcony and then continue out of town to arrive in Soave, another small wine village. The medieval castle and its fortifications that dominate the town stand in stark contrast to the softer vineyards that line the hills. Enjoy a wine tasting and meander through the small town as our hotel is centrally located. (B)Elevation: 846 ft. (258 m)
Accommodation: Locanda ai Capitelli Residence or similar
Day 5: Vicenza and Palladio’s architecture, 23 mi. (37 km)
The route leads to Vicenza, another famous art city that prospered under Venetian rule from the early 15th to the end of the 18th century. Its most famous son is surely Andrea Palladio whose work has been declared the biggest influence in Western architecture since his time. His architectural designs, based on a detailed study of classical Roman architecture, gives the city its unique appearance and you can see many of his villas and buildings still standing. (B)Elevation: 1378 ft. (420 m)
Accommodation: Key Hotel or similar
Day 6: Cycle to Padova among the Palladian villas, 26 mi. (43 km)
Leave Vicenza along the foothills of Monti Berici. You will enjoy an optional stop at the famous Palladian Villa la Rotonda's gardens, the best known and most influential of Andrea Palladio’s villas. Continue riding to reach one of the oldest cities in Italy, Padova (or Padua) also known as the City of St. Anthony. Padova’s claim to history is not only being home to Italy’s second oldest university and still a vibrant university city, but it also acted as the setting for most of the action in Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew. (B)
Elevation: 282 ft (86 m)
Accommodation: Art Hotel Al Fagiano or similar
Day 7: Venice
You will take the train into Venice for the day, to explore the less well-known areas of the “Serenissima”. From the train station, visit the Jewish Ghetto, the Cannaregio neighborhood and the Fondamente Nuova before arriving near the Rialto bridge. From here, you’ll have free time to visit the more famous parts of Venice. Regroup later this afternoon to return to Padova together for our celebration dinner in a local restaurant. Raise a glass of white wine, the traditional Venetian aperitif, or a classic spritz to our journey together across the Veneto region. (B)Accommodation: Art Hotel Al Fagiano or similar
Day 8: Tour ends in Padova
For those wishing to continue their time in Veneto or Northern Italy, Padova is a great starting point. Venice is a short distance away – a bucket list destination for ending your dream Italian holiday. The Lakes and Dolomites regions of Northern Italy are also nearby. If there is further travel in your plans, please let us know and we’ll be happy to provide suggestions. If your travels end today, we will provide tips for arriving to nearby Venice, Milan, Treviso or Verona airports. (B)You can view all of our bike tours in Europe & beyond or look at our featured trips, tours, specials, and news.
Hotels & Bikes
You will be accommodated in unique 2, 3, and 4-star hotels and inns. On the detailed day to day itinerary, you will find a sample hotel list. Final hotel list will be based on availability.
Bicycles
Touring Bike
Standard Touring Bike
- Aluminum frame & fork
- Step-through or horizontal bar frame
- Flat handlebars
- Platform pedals (you may bring your own pedals!)
- Shimano Deore 3x10 drive train
- Continental Contact 700 x35 tires
- Solid rear rack
- Chain guard
Premium Titanium Touring Bike
- Titanium frame with carbon fork
- Step through frame or horizontal bar frame
- Flat handlebars
- Platform pedals (you may bring your own pedals!)
- Shimano SLX 3x10 drivetrain
- 700x25 tires
- Solid rear rack
- Chain guard
Accessories
- Cyclometer
- Bell
- Lock
- Pump
- Water bottle cage
- Under seat pack that contains a spare tube, tire irons, & patch kit
- Rear rack back
- Helmet
Electric Touring Bike
Cannondale Mavaro or Frantic 7 Days Living Easy
- Aluminum frame
- Front suspension
- 625Wh Bosch Powertube battery
- Bosch Performance Line mortors
- 700x40 Schwalbe Delta Cruiser Plus tires
Accessories
- Cyclometer
- Bell
- Lock
- Pump
- Water bottle cage
- Under-seat pack that contains a spare tube, tire irons, & patch kit
- Rear rack back
- Helmet
Featuring state-of-the-art technology, e-bikes 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 bikes. Please note that electric bikes are heavier than regular touring bikes and are not meant for cyclists with little or no experience.
Inclusions
What’s Included
- 7 nights lodging in charming, 2, 3, & 4-star hotels & inns
- Breakfast
- 1 dinner with local wine
- 1 guided wine tasting
- Shuttle from Verona train station to starting hotel
- Train tickets to Venice on Day 7
- GPS navigation tracks provided via Ride with GPS
- Bilingual English/Italian cycling guide
- Support vehicle & local driver on most days (basic English)
- Hybrid touring bike rental (aluminum step-through frame, Shimano Deore components, rear rack, cyclometer, bell, lock, pump, water bottle cage, water bottle, under-seat pack that contains repair kit with tube, tire irons, and patch kit
What’s Not Included
- Meals or activities not specified
- Travel & transportation to and from tour start and end
- GPS device (available for supplement)
- Rear pannier(s) can be requested for a supplement
- Gratuities
Dates & Pricing
Dates
2022
September 16, 2022*
*6 people needed to confirm a departure. If you are interested in the above date, we can update you regarding the status of this departure. This tour is also currently available for private groups and families.
Please Note
- Rates are based on double occupancy
- Tour prices are based on the fuel costs at time prices are set, often months or years in advance. In rare cases, additional fees may apply for fuel cost increases.
- Information to read before you book
- We recommend purchasing trip insurance
- Please see our FAQ
Pricing
Group departure date
September 16, 2023*
Twin/double: $ 2075 £ 1197 $ 1,857 € 1380 ₪ 4950 NZ$ 2299 kr 14694 $ 1,437 Single supplement: $ 271 £ 156 $ 242 € 180 ₪ 646 NZ$ 300 kr 1917 $ 187
*Please inquire regarding the status of this departure
Extra Options
Upgrade in touring bike rental (titanium frame): $ 90 £ 52 $ 81 € 60 ₪ 215 NZ$ 100 kr 639 $ 62 GPS rental: $ 68 £ 39 $ 61 € 45 ₪ 161 NZ$ 75 kr 479 $ 47 * *pending availability
Rear pannier: please ask
Child trailers, tag-along bikes, & tandems are available for rental based on availability. Please ask.
Extra Info
Skill Level — Easy–Moderate
Great tour for novice cyclists in terms of daily distance and terrain type. You will cycle 159 mi. (254 km). Please check each day’s itinerary details for total distance of climbing for each day. Good command of the bike is required as well as good balance due to possible starting and stopping quickly and negotiating popular bike paths (when cycling in or near cities and towns, you will share the road with local traffic). Also ideal for experienced cyclists who desire shorter days on the bike and plenty of time to enjoy daily destinations and activities.
Airport Info
Your tour begins in Verona and ends in Padova. Closest largest international airport to both the tour start and end is Venice Marco Polo (VCE), located 114 km from Verona and 20 km from Padova. Other arrival and departure airports are possible as well. Travelmath is a good site to research all your options.
Local Travel
Italy is well connected by a well-developed rail system and public transportation. From Venice Marco Polo airport, you will utilize first a shuttle bus to Venezia Mestre train station. The ATVO shuttle service and also the bus ACTV line 15 leave every 30 minutes. Travel time is approx 30 minutes and tickets cost €8 per person. More information can be found at www.atvo.it. From Venezia Mestre train station to Verona there are frequent train departures to Verona with travel time approx 1 hour depending on time of departure and type of train. Cost is approx €17 per person. Return travel at end of your tour from Padova to Venezia Mestre takes only one-half hour. Onward travel by shuttle to Venice Marco Polo airport (VCE).
Climate
The shores of Lake Garda, the largest Italian lake, enjoys a temperate microclimate, which is mild enough to allow the cultivation of grapes, olives and citrus trees. Please check local conditions before your arrival. A good website to research regional weather including average high/low temperatures, average rainfall, and more is weatherbase.com.
Important to know
DOCUMENTS
Before you travel, please check your country's passport and visa requirements and the passport and visa requirements of the country/countries you plan to visit. For US citizens, the US Department of State website is a good source of information. The Country Information tab in the International Travel section provides details about passport validity, blank passport pages required, etc. For our other international clients, please be sure that you research your own country's travel requirements. It is each traveler's responsibility to ensure proper documentation.
*Important note: Please check the status of the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) 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.
Covid-19 Info
Country Entry Requirements
Due to the changing requirements for entry, it is imperative that you stay up to date on requirements set by the country/countries that you are visiting. Please visit our Travel Restrictions Tool page and the country/countries government webpage for this information.
Tour Operator
This tour is run by CycleEurope.
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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