Web code IT001

Italy / Bolzano – Verona – Venice

Dolomites to Adriatic

An extraordinary cycle route will let you discover unique landscapes, art cities and the largest European thermal district. From the superb Dolomites, part of the UNESCO world heritage list, you will start cycling along the river Adige valley, crossroads between people and cultures. Heading south you will reach the palm-lined shores of Garda Lake and then romantic Verona, the town of Romeo and Juliet. In Vicenza you will be fascinated by the architectural genius of Palladio, who made the town his personal showcase. Further on you will reach the Euganean Hills and their renowned thermal district, the largest in Europe. Beautiful Padua, cradle of arts, will open the way to the Venetian lagoon, where the timeless fascination of Venice has lured passersby for centuries (and still does).

Bolzano – Verona – Venice

Photos (19)

5 Client reviews

Day by Day
Route profile
How to get there
Accommodation and meals
Bikes and accessories
Accompanying material
By your side
Client reviews

Day by Day

map
1. Bolzano
Individual arrival. Located along the Isarco river, bilingual Bolzano has always been at the crossroads between the Mediterranean and central Europe. Today it is an important commercial and tourist centre.

2. Bolzano – Trento (65/70 km)
You will start riding along the River Adige cycle path, through orchards and the vineyards of the renowned Wine Route. Half way between Bolzano and Trento you will reach Salorno, which represents the linguistic border between the German and the Italian world. It is possible to shorten the stage by taking the train in several train stations along the way.

3. Trento – Desenzano/Peschiera (50 km by bike + ferry)
The river Adige will take you to Rovereto, famous for its museum of modern and contemporary art. After a short ascent to Passo di San Giovanni, you will enjoy a superb view over the Garda Lake and the little town of Torbole. Then in Riva del Garda you will take a ferry to reach the southern part of the lake.

4. Desenzano/Peschiera – Verona (60/35 km)
After crossing the hilly landscape surrounding the Garda Lake, you will meet again the river Adige, which will take you into Verona, one of the most important and beautiful cities in the Veneto region. Worth visiting are: the Roman Arena, the Church of San Zeno and Juliet’s House.

5. Verona – Vicenza (70/35 km)
Cycling in the countryside at the foot of Mounts Lessini, among the vineyards you will reach the castle of Soave. Further on the fortress of Brendola will show you the way to the Berici hills and to Vicenza.
The old city centre is characterized by beautiful private palaces and public buildings by Andrea Palladio, the famous 16th century architect known all over the world. It is possible to shorten the stage by taking the train in San Bonifacio.

6. Vicenza – Padua thermal district (50 km)
Cycling out of Vicenza, along the cycle path of the river Bacchiglione, you can admire the Palladian masterpiece Villa La Rotonda and the frescoes of Tiepolo at Villa Valmarana (entrance included). Then, past the hamlet of Montegalda, you will head towards the Euganean Hills, where you will have the chance to relax in a 4* spa resort in the largest European thermal district.

7. Padua thermal district – Mestre/Venice (55 km)
Along the cycle path of the Battaglia Canal you will pass through Padua, home to one of the oldest Italian (and European) universities and rich in art and history. From here, along the Piovego Canal, you will reach Stra and will follow the Brenta Canal, overlooked by the countryside villas of the ancient Venetian nobility (Villa Pisani, Villa Malcontenta, Villa Widmann) until you reach Mestre, Venice mainland. You can choose to overnight in Venice with a supplement.
Please note that in Venice (apart from Piazzale Roma and train station Santa Lucia) it is forbidden to cycle, and also to push your bike by hand.

8. Mestre/Venice
Departure after breakfast. Transfer back to Bolzano on request when booking the tour.

Due to organisational reasons, 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 caused by roadworks, which cannot be foreseen; in this case please follow the indications you will find on site.
In case of strike, bad weather conditions, technical breakdowns, safety problems or any other reason preventing the regular departure of the ferry boat (from Riva del Garda to Peschiera/Desenzano), the ferry boat company can delay, cancel or deviate the navigation without notice.
In case of cancellation the ferry boat service will be replaced by alternative means of transport (usually by bus). The same applies if the ferry boat service is no longer foreseen (for example at the end of the season).
Route profile
- Total length: 290/355 km
- Total vertical up: 570/1,120 m
- Terrain: 90% tarmac, 10% unpaved
- Train connections among the overnight stays: day 2, 3, 4 and 5
- Possibility to shorten the itinerary by taking the train: day 2, 3, 5 and 7.
As a whole it is an easy to manage itinerary, riding on secondary streets with low traffic or paved bike paths. There are light hilly bits with short uphill sections.

Easy cycling in mostly flat areas, with only few short climbs and descents. Little effort required, suitable for most people. This tour is also suitable for children. The longer stages, from Bolzano to Trento and from Verona to Vicenza, can be shortened by taking the train.
How to get there

Bolzano is connected with the following airports:
Innsbruck: 120 km, Verona: 150 km, Bergamo: 240 km, Venice: 280 km, Treviso: 280 km, Milan: 300 kmc

Trains
For further information on timetables and prices you can consult the following website: www.trenitalia.com
Accommodation and meals
We personally choose all the hotels mindful of your comfort as well as the proximity to cycling paths and any relevant local sites.

According to your category of choice you will be accommodated in:
- Cat. A: mainly 4* hotels, with some 3* hotels
- Cat. B: mainly 3* hotels, with some 2* hotels
The overnight in Padua thermal district for both categories will be in a 4* Wellness Hotel with swimming pools.

All rooms have en suite facilities. All 3/4* hotels have air conditioning while in the category of 2/3* hotels there may be some cases of accommodation without air conditioning. Some hotels located in mountainous places of northern Italy can be without air conditioning (even in category A).

When you book the tour please specify the type of room requested:
- double room is a room with one double bed
- twin room is a room with two single beds
- triple room is usually a room with one double bed and a single bed or a rollaway.
On request 7th night of the tour in Venice instead of Mestre with delivery of the bikes in Mestre.
Bikes and accessories
Girolibero’s City bikes are available in various sizes in unisex/women’s or men’s models. At the moment of booking, you can choose among the following bikes:
- City bike 27-gear Shimano Deore
- City bike 7-gear Shimano Nexus with back-pedal brake
- Standard Road bike with carbon fork
- E-bike
- Tandem
Features:
- aluminium frame
- mudguard
- rear rack
- comfort gel saddle
- anti-puncture Schwalbe tyres
- ergonomic bicycle grips
- Speed Lifter system
You can also rent helmets for adults as well as children’s bikes and devices:
- Child seat: it is suitable for a maximum payload of 22 kg (0-4 yrs).
- Child trailer: with one seat and suitable for children who cannot ride a bike (0-4 yrs). The child trailer is designed for a maximum payload of 30 kg. More info on www.croozer.com.
- Follow-me tandem: a clever latch system enables the child's bike to lock firmly onto the tail of the adult bike as and when necessary (4-7 yrs). Adjustable only for the kids bike wheels size 20". The maximum weight of the child can be 27 kg. More info on www.followmetandem.co.uk
- Child bikes: bike frames with 20” and 24” wheels
- Family tandem: this is an innovative solution for cycling with one child (aged 4-12).

Please note that child seats, child trailers and follow-me tandems can only be mounted on unisex City bikes 27-gear Shimano Deore.

Accessories
All rented adult bikes are equipped with:
- 1 cycle computer
- 1 Ortlieb one-sided saddlebag
- 1 front bar bag or 1 map holder
- 1 water bottle (0.75 l)
- 1 repair kit per room: 1 spare inner tube, glue, patch, a pump, 2 allen keys and tyre levers
- 1 combination bike lock
At the moment of booking you can also rent helmets, suitable for head circumferences from 54 to 61. All helmets have a certification mark according to the DIN EN 1078 (CE) European norm.
Accompanying material

The Information Pack (one per room) includes:
- final hotel list: due to overbooking or organizational needs your hotel list may be changed just before your arrival
- luggage labels to be fixed at each piece of baggage, which has to be carried
- hotel vouchers to be given to the reception of each hotel on your arrival
- Garda Lake ferry-boat voucher: give this voucher to the ticket office in Riva del Garda to get your passage by ferry-boat to Peschiera or Desenzano del Garda
- ice cream voucher: you can enjoy a free ice cream in one of Vicenza's most famous ice cream parlours
- Villa Valmarana ai Nani voucher: you can enjoy a free entrance ticket to this beautiful villa in Vicenza, famous for Tiepolo’s frescoes (www.villavalmarana.com).

Girolibero Greens booklets:
1) Travel Guide with valuable information about the history, artistic heritage, landscapes and natural treasures of the areas visited on the tour. Plus: local events, some great anecdotes, suggestions on how to make the best of an extended break along the route, and tips on local wining and dining.
2) Detailed Maps of the itinerary: in colour and scaled 1:75.000/50.000, an altitude profile chart and maps of any historic city centres you would visit.
3) Roadbook describing the cycling route, stage by stage. Great on its own or in conjunction with the maps.
By your side

Welcome briefing
In Bolzano you will meet our representative who:
- will present you the tour
- will deliver you the bikes
- will be at your disposal (about 30 minutes) for any questions you may have.

Staff support
The exact time and place of the meeting will be specified in the Final Tour Details. We kindly ask you to advise if you cannot attend the meeting.

For the whole duration of your bike tour, you can contact us:
- office +39 0444 1278430 from Monday to Friday 8:30-13:00 and 15:00-18:30
- emergency phone number every day 8:00-20:00 which will be specified in the Final Tour Details.
5 Client reviews
- Prue & Rachel, Australia
  
  Departure 2017
  
  Online from 09 October 2017
  
  Thank you for another wonderful trip, Bolzano to Venice this time. This was a beautiful trip and Rachel and I really appreciated the many direction signs along the way, detailed map, excellent accomodation and friendly and helpful bag delivery service. Your organisation is impressive!
  Attached is a photo to submit from Riva del Garda.
  We look forward to coming back for another trip some day!
- Alda
  
  Departure 08-15 July 2017
  
  Online from 22 August 2017
  
  Molto piacevole, bei paesaggi e tante opportunità culturali.
- Oddmund, Norway
  
  Departure 2017
  
  Online from 31 March 2017
  
  A few weeks back in Norway, we still think of (and speak of) our tour from Bolzano to Venezia, and of the pleasant visit to your offices.
  
  We enjoyed it thoroughly, both the cycling and the visit, and will naturally look upon Girolibero as our preferred supplier for our next tours.
  
  As we mentioned in Vicenza, all was fine with our tour, the roadbook and the other guides were very precise and helpful and the hotels were nice and easy to find. The meals were OK, but since most of the stops were in attractive and great cities, we would have preferred to have some of the dinners in restaurants outside the hotel and also to have more time to explore the cities. As we mentioned, an opportunity to stop over an extra night in one or more of the cities would have been welcomed by us.
  
  All in all, we are very satifed. Say hello and thank you from us to all of your colleagues.
  
  On behalf of the Norwegian team
- U., Deutschland
  
  Departure 2016
  
  Online from 07 November 2016
  
  Etwas spät, aber ich möchte nicht versäumen Ihnen eine Rückmeldung über unsere Radtour "Etschradweg bis Venedig" zu geben.
  Begeistert waren wir von dem 1.Teil unserer Tour. Wunderschöne Landschaft, immer bergab und sehr gut zu befahren. Wobei uns auch der 2. Teil gefallen hat.
  Die schönen kleinen Ortschaften durch Wein- und Obstplantagen, sehr schön. Leider oft auf der Straße ohne Fahrradwege. Alles war sehr gut ausgeschildert, wir hatten selten Mühe, den Weg zu finden. Über die " grünen Pfeile " waren wir immer sehr erfreut.
  Die Unterkünfte waren gut ausgesucht. Nur in Meran wären wir gerne mehr im Centrum gewesen.
  Von Verona nach Vicenza wären wir gerne durch die Berge über Arcugnano geradelt. Leider war die Strecke dann doch etws zu lang. Vielleicht hätten wir eine Übernachtung mehr einlegen sollen. Venedig war toll aber viel zu voll!!
  Im Rückblick würden wir diese Tour gerne noch einmal radeln, nur etwas später im Jahr. Vielleicht Ende September, da ist es weniger heiß.
  Ihnen vielen Dank für die gute Ausarbeitung. Wir haben und werden girolibero weiter empfehlen.
  
  Liebe Grüße aus dem kühlen Norden
- Martina
  
  Departure 13-20 August 2016
  
  Online from 10 September 2016
  
  Nuova, interessante e da rifare

At Girolibero we believe in rewarding our customers: choose the most beautiful pictures or a video of your holiday, you can win a travel voucher worth € 300!