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Cycling Italy’s Lakes District

Cycling Italy's Lakes District
  • Length 7 days
  • From USD$4550
  • Style/Level Classic 3.5
  • Countries Italy
  • Begin/End Verbania / Como
See related tours
Italy’s Lakes District has always been a transition zone between peninsular Italy and Alpine Europe. This series of lakes created by the melt-water of alpine glaciers enjoys a unique micro-climate that harbors olive and citrus groves, exotic botanic gardens, villas, and extraordinary vistas. Long an attraction for writers and artists, the Lake District provides an incomparable bicycle experience. You’ll cycle from Lago Maggiore to Lake Lugano and Lake Como on this tour.

***If this sounds great but you’d prefer a longer tour, check out our Cycling Italy’s Lakes District Plus! tour.***

Highlights

  • Lake Maggiore, Stresa, Lake Lugano, Lugano, Switzerland, Campione d’Italia, Lake Como, Madonna del Ghisallo Bicycle Museum, Two 2-night stays

Includes

Keep in mind

We work hard to maintain consistency across all of our tours, but some trips have unique differences. Here are some things to keep in mind about this tour.

The currencies on tour will be Euros in Italy and Swiss Francs in Switzerland, though Euros will be accepted in Switzerland as well. Please note that it is not possible to withdraw Euros from ATMs in Switzerland with US-American credit cards.

This is a hilly/mountainous area so be prepared for some steep climbs and descents every day.

Date Price Private room fee Note
Jun 20-26, 2025 USD$4550 USD$550 Departure confirmed to go!
Book it
Sep 5-11, 2025 USD$4550 USD$550
Book it
DateJun 20-26, 2025
PriceUSD$4550
Private room feeUSD$550
NoteDeparture confirmed to go!
Book it
DateSep 5-11, 2025
PriceUSD$4550
Private room feeUSD$550
Note
Book it

Download Itinerary

We’ll send you a link to a full day by day tour itinerary that can be downloaded and printed so you can review all the details online and offline. This packet also includes details about what to expect on tour and arrival and departure details.
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Open all days
  • Total distance 208 km (128 miles)
  • Average daily distance Average distance per riding day 44 km (27 miles)
  • Tour style Classic
  • Tour level 3.5

Highlights: Italy’s most famous Alpine lake, Stresa, the Borromean Islands

Meet this afternoon in Verbania, on the shores of Lake Maggiore, perhaps the most celebrated lake in Italy’s lake district. Surrounded by 7,000 foot alpine peaks Lake Maggiore enjoys a warm micro-climate that has attracted vacationers since the Milanese aristocracy began building villas here in the 17th century. Come early and visit the Borromean Islands, including Isola Bella and Isola dei Pescatori (of the “fishermen”), the villas of Stresa, and the botanic gardens of Pallanza. We fit bicycles this afternoon and will suggest a warm up ride for you on a bike path along the lake. Welcome dinner together.
Hotel for September 5, 2025 departure still pending.

Meals : Dinner
 Lodging : Grand Hotel Majestic , Hotel TBA

Highlights: Ferry across Lake Maggiore, Lugano Switzerland, Rail to Trail Bike Path to Ponte Tresa, Swiss chocolate

Enjoy the views across Lake Maggiore and into the high Alps as we ferry across Lake Maggiore to Laveno, the only natural harbor on the east side of the lake. From here you’ll pedal into the Cuvia Valley and over a small pass into Val Ganna where we join a rails to trails bike path to Ponte Tresa, where we will cross the border into Switzerland. Your ride continues along Lake Lugano for more great views on the Swiss Alps before arriving in the bustling city of Lugano, your destination for today.

Meals : Breakfast, Dinner
 Lodging : Hotel International au Lac

Highlights: Explore the bustling city of Lugano, loop ride

This morning you have plenty of options: take a little more time to explore this vibrant city’s museum opportunities; or take the funicular to the top of Monte Bre’ for a spectacular view over the lake. For those who want to ride there is the chance to go for a ride along the shores and hills of Lake Lugano your climbing efforts will be rewarded with great views of the lake and surrounding mountains.

Meals : Breakfast
 Lodging : Hotel International au Lac

Highlights: Lake Lugano climbing towards the Swiss/Italian border, or ferry on Lugano Lake back to Italy

Unlike Lake Maggiore and Lake Lugano, which are shared between Italy and Switzerland, Lake Como is strictly Italian. Lake Como (also called Lario) is one of the most beautiful of the Italian lakes. It is famous for its villas, including Villa d’Este in Cernobbio and Villa Carlotta in Tremezzo. There is a shorter (15 km – 10 miles) and easier ride option available. We’ll spend the next two nights on the shores of Lake Como.

Meals : Breakfast, Dinner
 Lodging : Hotel Rusall

Highlights: Villa Melzi, Villa Serbelloni, Madonna del Ghisallo Bicycle Museum

There are plenty of opportunities to explore today: Visit the lakeside gardens of Villas Melzi and Serbelloni; ferry to Varenna and visit the gardens of Villa Cipressi and Villa Monastero. If you are looking for a cycling challenge you can pedal to the internationally known Madonna del Ghisallo chapel and bicycle museum at the top of the pass near Magréglio, not far from Bellagio.

Meals : Breakfast
 Lodging : Hotel Rusall

Highlights: Como, lakeside riding

Our ride today takes us along the Lecco arm of Lake Como and up a short climb to Asso. From here we head downhill towards the plain. Our destination is the famous city of Como at the southern-most end of Lake Como.

Meals : Breakfast, Dinner
 Lodging : Albergo Firenze

Highlights: Como

Stick around and explore this lovely city or head to Venice or Milan both well-connected by train. Whatever you do enjoy!

Meals : Breakfast

Visit our Tour Level page to learn more about terrain levels and how we determine day and tour levels.

Pre-trip planning checklist

Italy travel planning page

See all trip photos

  • A blast; lifetime experience. A great ride! Looking forward to the 2019 tour!

    Kurt D., Greeley, CO – September 2018

  • Thank you for a fun tour!

    Gina L., San Francisco, CA – September 2018

  • We went into this trip thinking it would be a trip of a lifetime. Very quickly, we figured out that there was no way that we could only have this experience once in our lives and are already dreaming of the next one. I loved the cycling, including the scenery and the independence of cycling either with my husband, on my own or with others from the group at a pace of my choice. I loved that our days had a great balance between cycling, sight seeing, food, and downtime. I loved the guides sharing their culture with us and getting to know the interesting people in our group. Thanks for everything. We can”t wait to go again!

    Eileen M., Fort Collins, CO – August 2018
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