We'll be on the Rick Steves Venice/Florence/Rome tour April 28-May 7. I would love to include a day of biking and usually ride rail trails (or some gentle rolling hills, nothing extreme) for about 20 miles. I've never used an ebike but would be open to try it. Any recommendations on guides and recommended sights around Florence or Rome? We'll see all the biggies on the group tour, so the bike ride could be a 1/2 day enjoying the countryside/village life.
Posted by
Chicago
611 posts
I was in Rome in September 2022 and wanted to bike the Appian Way, but ended up walking it instead because my plans had changed and I needed to get back to the city.
The Appian Way is great for bicycling. It was Ancient Rome's most famous road, stretching hundreds of miles to Rome's southeast coast. There are bicycle rental agencies at the start of the trail. From the city center, where I was staying, I took a bus to the trail head.
A good destination is Aqueduct Park, which is a roughly 10-mile ride from the start of the trail. Along the route, you will see dozens of fascinating antiquities. And in Aqueduct Park, you'll see aqueducts.
However, be careful. The 2,000-year-old stones are sometimes uneven. Bicycle slowly and wear a helmet. I saw a young woman who had fallen off her bicycle. Everyone else on bicycles was doing well.
Posted by
California USA
4148 posts
In 2019 our two teenaged granddaughters took this class and loved it! They met at the bike shop and headed up into the hills with a guide,then returned about an hour later for a cooking class. They took a second, cooking only class from this same company on another day.
Posted by
Centennial, CO, USA
1898 posts
We used Cicloposse for a couple of week long trips in Italy. They offer a one day bike tour from Florence https://cicloposse.com/florence-bike-tour As well as other day trips from other cities in Tuscany. I can totally recommend them!
The hills in Tuscany are NOT ROLLING ! Be prepared for climbing. If you are not an avid cyclist, rent an ebike.
We LOVE riding in Italy, e-bikes are fun. We never had ridden an e-bike, but rented them for a 9 day tour in Sicily last fall, sure make the hills disappear , and the riding more enjoyable, rather than work. You will get exercise, just with a little "assist"