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What is the sum of 9 and 7?

Destination Italy

The land of longing in the south

Islandhopping Italy

Travel through Tuscany or the Aeolian Islands by boat & bike. Gently rolling hills, colourful volcanic formations, magnificent architecture, azure blue sea, a language that sounds like music and plenty of dolce vita are all guaranteed on a journey to Italy. Historic sites, vibrant culture, unique cities, mouth-watering cuisine, and delicious wine: a holiday in Italy stimulates all your senses!

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Our Bike Tours in Italy:
Experience la dolce vita in Tuscany

typical landscape of Tuscany with hills and cypress trees

Discover Tuscany: A holiday in Italy at its very best

Tuscany, formally Tuscia, is a region in central Italy and was the heart of the Renaissance. Its name is derived from the Etruscan people who settled in the region in ancient times. The Tuscan countryside is characterised by lines of cypress trees, vineyards and olive groves scattered across rolling gold-green hills. What complements the breath-taking nature of the region better than delicious Tuscan food and wine! This cycling holiday is a true feast for the senses. A holiday in Tuscany is not complete without a visit to the island of Elba, one of the best places to visit in Italy. The country’s third largest island captivates with its lush nature and rich history.

 

Another must-see island is Isola Giglio, located in the very south of the Tuscan Archipelago. Isola Giglio is a scenic gem, boasting spectacular mountains, woods, unspoilt nature, and crystal-clear sea. On our Sail & Bike tour you will have the opportunity to discover these Tuscan treasures for yourself. Follow in the footsteps of the Etruscans and Romans by hybrid bike or mountain bike, and learn of the folk who settled the then undiscovered region of Tuscany.

 

Top attractions on our tour include the ruins of the fortified Roman city of Cosa, the nature reserve, Duna Feniglia, and the historical medieval town of Magliano di Toscana. Fortezza Spagniola in the picturesque old town of Porto Santo Stefano is also a fascinating monument to marvel at on arrival before the tour. Should you choose to extend your stay, a beautiful, short excursion to the natural hot springs in inland Tuscany, just over an hour’s drive away from Porto Santo Stefano, is the perfect way to relax your muscles after a week of cycling.

 

View down onto a small bay with clear, blue waters, small sailing boats and a rocky coast

Sicily & the Aeolian Islands by bike and on foot: a volcanic wonderland

On the Aeolian Islands, which are a UNESCO World Heritage Site, you can experience Bella Italia in a particularly diverse way. In addition to the seven main islands of Lipari, Vulcano, Salina, Filicudi, Alicudi, Panarea and Stromboli, the archipelago off the north coast of Sicily also includes a large number of small uninhabited islands and rocky cliffs jutting out of the sea. The archipelago is of volcanic origin, some of the volcanoes are still active today and have created a wonderful world of colourful rock formations.

 

On our cycling + hiking & boat trip Sicily and the Aeolian Islands, you can go on an exploration tour by bike or on foot. Discover enchanting nature as well as traditional island villages and look forward to delicious Italian food on board and ashore. The list of sights and activities is long: swim in the famous Venus Basin at Capo di Milazzo or take a hike on the Vulcano della Fossa, marvel at the "fire slide" on the island of Stromboli and stroll through the picturesque village of Canneto on Lipari!

 

The spectacular volcanic islands with the affectionate nickname "Seven Sisters" leave nothing to be desired! Want more Sicily? Then simply extend this trip with our four-day Hotel & Bike Sicily add-on program (extension program not yet online), which will take you from Villafranca to the interesting towns of Messina and Taormina and all the way to Catania.

View of Mount Etna from the city of Catania

Facts about Italy

 

Climate and Best Time to Visit Italy

The Italian climate is subtropical though there can be great variation in the weather between the different regions. In northern Italy, the climate has an alpine influence; due to the higher altitude, winters tend to be cool to cold. The cities in the Po Valley experience light frost and the occasional snow. Summers are mostly mild.

 

Central Italy, thanks to the influence of the Mediterranean, has milder winters and warm to hot summers. The climate in the South of Italy is mirrored by its flora: the region is home to a number of stone pine groves, a tree species typical of the Mediterranean, and one which can hardly withstand temperatures lower than 0°C (32°F).

 

Southern Italy and the Italian islands have a warm, Mediterranean climate almost all year round. Autumn comes late, winters are mild and humid with daytime temperatures between 10°C (50°F) and 15°C (59°F), and spring arrives early. Summers can be extremely hot, with temperatures often climbing above 40°C (104°F). Due to the low rainfall, droughts are a common problem in the region.

 

The average hours of sunshine per year also varies depending on the region with around 1,250 hours in the north, 1,700 hours in central Italy and over 2,000 hours in the very south and in Sicily.

 

The Adriatic Coast and the Italian Mediterranean Sea are the perfect place for a true Mediterranean holiday. The best time to visit Italy for a cycling holiday is from April to June and September to October. Pleasant temperatures between 18°C (64°F) and 27°C (81°F) make even the most demanding tours enjoyable.

 

The summer months from July to October are perfect for a seaside holiday. Temperatures during this time often climb above 28°C (82°F) and water temperatures remain a pleasant 23°C (73°F) until the autumn.

Entry Requirements for EU and Swiss citizens

All EU and Swiss citizens require a passport or an identity card, valid for at least 3 months after your planned date of departure, in order to enter Italy. All countries that are members of the Schengen Agreement can normally enter Italy without passport control. However, it is obligatory in Italy to be able to identify yourself at any time if requested. You will be required to show an identity card if you hire a car as well as at hotels and at airport check in.

 

We also recommend bringing your driver’s licence in case you decided to extend your trip and wish to hire a car. In this case, a credit card is also required. In case of an emergency, it is a good idea to photocopy your licence and ID card at home before you leave on your holiday or alternatively to scan them and email the copies to yourself.

 

Private persons carry goods purchased in other EU Member State counties that have already been taxed without difficulties. The condition for bringing such goods into Italy is that they are exclusively for personal use.

 

Radurlaub Zeitreisen GmbH does not assume any liability for the correctness of the information given here. You can obtain the latest information from the responsible consulate of your country.

 

Entry Requirements for other internationals

Valid identification documents/passports are essential for entry into Italy. Please make sure that you have these in your possession and that they are valid for at least three months after your planned date of departure.

 

We advise you to contact the responsible authority in your home country to inquire about current entry regulations (possible visa requirements) as we cannot take responsibility for any incorrect information.

 

Please note that provisional passports and replacement documents are generally not recognized. Children (regardless of the age) must always present a child identification card or passport.

Please see the pages below for further information:

 

Link to entry-requirements Italy

Link to Italy-visa informations for us-citizens

Substitute ID documents after misplacement

Please contact the responsible authority in your home country for further information on entry regulations (especially in case off lost/substitute documents).

 

Private persons carry goods purchased in other EU Member State counties that have already been taxed without difficulties. The condition for bringing such goods into Italy is that they are exclusively for personal use.

 

We recommend bringing your driver’s licence in case you decided to extend your trip and wish to hire a car to do so. For this a credit card is also required. In case of an emergency, it is a good idea to photocopy your licence and ID card at home before you leave on your holiday or alternatively to scan them and email the copies to yourself.

 

Radurlaub Zeitreisen GmbH does not assume any liability for the correctness of the information given here. You can obtain the latest information from the responsible consulate of your country.

Currency

The official currency in Italy is the euro.

After embarkation, you will have enough time to find an ATM or a bank to change money.

Most of the ports where overnight stays are planned will have ATMS or currency conversion offices.

Traveller’s cheques are not recommended.

Boaticon on wavy line