Dolomites Cycling: tips for your best cycling holiday in Italy

Dolomites cycling is an experience of inestimable charm. In 2009, these mountains have been declared World Heritage Site by Unesco. They are 18 peaks over 3,000 m high, and they will stun you with their exceptional views, uncontaminated landscapes, sunrises and sunsets with different shades each time.

There are many small towns across the Dolomites: Trento, Bolzano, Belluno, Pordenone and Udine; they extend on 231 thousand hectares. They would rather welcome a more refined class of visitor and they are a place beloved by cyclists who like to spend the holidays biking. Yes, if you are wondering it, you can visit the Dolomites by bike and enjoy an unforgettable experience. An adventure where you will feel the beauty of nature in your own skin. Your finish lines will be the cities, rivers and lakes you will meet.

MTB Dolomites itineraries

Dolomites mountain biking is like riding in the clouds while the scent of flowers tickles your nostrils and the soft wind caresses your face. What is the best known route that will give you this feeling?

Sella Ronda, which allows you to experience the most exiting Passes of the Dolomites: Pordoi Pass (2.239 m), Sella Pass (2.240 m), Gardena Pass (2.121 m) and Campolongo Pass (1.875 m). This MTB Dolomites itinerary is 55 km long and is a classic for cycling enthusiasts who celebrate this route with the SellaRonda Bike Day, are you interested in? Take a look at the official site of the event.

On the other hand, if you are looking for strong emotions, confront yourself with the Stelvio Pass: one of the most prestigious hills in Europe. You will find yourself at about 1,900 meters altitude and you will have to measure against 48 hairpin bends in 28 kilometers. That’s not all. You will have to field all your skills to overcome ramps with 15% slope.

Here is another route: the cycle path of the Dolomites, created on the track of the ancient railroad. It will be a small trip among the most beautiful mountains in the world and will let you discover woods, lakes, streams. Where does it begin? From Dobbiaco to Calalzo di Cadore (or vice versa).

By riding and stopping from time to time, you will also know the architectural history of the cities. How you can succeed? Crossing the towns of Cortina, San Vito di Cadore, Borca di Cadore, Vodo di Cadore, Cadore Valley, Pieve di Cadore and Calalzo di Cadore.

Veneto bike tours

There are many kinds of bike tours in Veneto: you can choose between linear or loop tours. You will start from the northern mountains to reach the southern plains. The most famous itineraries, as I revealed to you in advance, are certainly the Dolomites cycle path, with its spectacular scenarios, and Sella Ronda.

In the central area, there is an itinerary that will let you travel back in time, to the Roman Empire. I’m talking about the Claudia Augusta Street, a road the Romans built to connect with Germany and that marks a meeting point between two different cultures. This route allows you to continue along the Danube cycle lane.

You have another option to enjoy your passion for cycling: ride on the Brenta cycle path. It runs parallel to the route I have just mentioned and connects Venice to Caldonazzo. What will you see there? Many vegetation and medieval villages rich in art and tradition.

From the Asiago Plateau a 100 km itinerary begins: it twists and turns through Veneto and Trentino. Even this bike ride will be a dive in history, because there are several fortifications of the First World War.

Go southwest to Lake Garda. Yes, by riding your bicycle you can climb among the mountains, which stand out against the lake, and see it from above. To enjoy this sight, among the cycling itineraries in Veneto, I recommend you the loop tour between Peschiera del Garda and San Zeno di Montagna.

Finally, do not miss the cycle path linking the Adige River to the Po River and the loop tour on the Euganean hills. In the first 35 km long itinerary, you will cycle on a real cycle path, but at some stretches you will have to continue on low-traffic volume roads. During your trip, you will be able to admire the channels of Adigetto, Scortico and the White Canal. The second route, however, is a loop and flat tour, and extends along the Regional Park. It runs along rivers and hamlets.

Lombardy bike race

Racing bikes in Lombardy are a daily tool, you will find a mountain bike parked in every Lombard courtyard. There are many organized cyclists who, over the weekend, spend their time riding along the most distinctive itineraries. But what are those?

We start from the via Francigena. The starting point of this route is Val d’Aosta and, in ancient times, it connected Rome to England. In Lombardy, it begins from the Sesia River and goes to Pavia.

Another unmissable itinerary is the Giro di Lombardia which starts from Como and arrives in Bergamo. Its symbols? The Sormano and Ghisallo hills, starting from Bellagio and ending near the little church of Madonna del Ghisallo, who protects the cyclists. Into the chapel there are important pieces of cycling history. You can admire the bikes of Coppi, Bartali and Moser.

Another famous itinerary is the Lake Como Tour. You will ride for 15 kilometers along the lakeside and you will go through Cernobbio, Menaggio and Mandello del Lario villages to reach finally Lecco.

There are other mountain bike itineraries in Lombardy. Try the Lambro River cycle path, this one of the Adda River and the loop tour of the three parks (Monza Park – Colli Briantei Park- Montevecchia Park).

Read more: Best things to do in Bellagio Lake Como

Dolomites mountain biking: the Marathon

You have always wanted to join the Maratona dles Dolomites (Dolomites Marathon), haven’t you? This race, the most important for enthusiasts, attracts cyclists from all over the world and runs among the Dolomites, between Trentino-Alto Adige and Veneto.

The first edition took place on July 12, 1987: 166 cyclists rode for 175 kilometers and 7 Dolomites Alpine Passes. It usually takes place on the first Sunday of July.

The central part of the path is Sella Ronda that crosses the alpine valleys connected to the dolomitic valleys. The cyclists must climb the passes of Campolongo, Pordoi, Sella, Gardena, Giau and Falzarego to reach La Villa and then come back to Corvara.

Dolomites cycling holidays: how to get to the bike routes?

The Dolomites are well-connected and served by a good road network, rail network and good local bus service. Yes, you can enjoy Dolomites cycling holiday without fear of being isolated.

If you want to get there by car, you have to go to Trentino Alto Adige by driving on the Brenner motorway A22. To get to Rovereto and Vallagarina, indeed, you can take Rovereto – Lake Garda motorway exit , while you must take Trento motorway exit for Monte Bondone, Val di Sole or the Trento uplands.

To get to the Dolomites by train, use the railway network covering the Verona-Trento-Brennero-Monaco area. The main stations to go down are those of Rovereto and that of Trento.

If you choose the coaches in the Trento station, the Trentino Trasporti Esercizio offers you a lot of buses to go to the main areas of the Dolomites.

Read more: How to get from Malpensa Airport to Milan city center

Dolomites bike tour: your experience

In this article I tried to give you some tips to cross the Dolomites by bike. In this way, you can spend your holidays differently: you will be alone with the nature, your mountain bike, so many cities to see.

Have you already enjoyed this experience? Let’s talk together in the comments below. And if you want to reach the Dolomites in complete comfort, choose and hire our luxury vehicles with personal driver.