Italy

VBT’s Italy overflows with the abbondanza spirit that Italians famously embrace. Endless miles of breathtaking coast invite long, invigorating bike rides and rewarding walks. Staggering mountain vistas are traversed by biking and walking routes whose ease may surprise you. Lush vineyards and olive groves lead to medieval hilltop villages. All the while, a history that stretches beyond the mighty Roman Empire is a short ride or stroll away, and a celebrated cuisine and world-renowned wines greet you at every table. It’s little wonder our Italy bike tours and walking tours are among our most popular.

Few biking trips and walking tours are as richly rewarding as a VBT active vacation in Italy. We’ve carefully chosen your routes for scenic beauty, cultural immersion and opportunities to nourish your body, mind and spirit. In the culture-rich cities, too, you’ll feel the inspiration of magnificent art and architecture – in ancient Rome, canal-lined Venice, Renaissance Florence and beyond – and experience Italy’s famous hospitality up close.

Nothing compares to an invigorating ride or leisurely walk amidst the undulating green hills of Tuscany. Follow cypress-lined lanes past Sangiovese vineyards, a preview of the wine tastings to come. Stop to say “buon giorno!” at olive oil distillery.  Browse the Renaissance treasures of Florence. And if you wish, climb a hill town road, where a medieval village – and perhaps a chat with the café owner - rewards you at the top.

For seaside splendor, Italy is home to thousands of miles of coast dotted with charming fishing villages. The Maremma’s scenic beauty on the Tyrrhenian Sea points to picturesque wine roads, protected reserves and ancient ramparts. In Puglia, on the deep blue Adriatic, you’ll fit right in with the gentle pace of living, exploring walled cities, cliffside paths and the conical, whitewashed trulli houses of the Itria Valley. Our bike trip in Sicily lets you pedal among Greek, Roman and Moorish grandeur in the shadow of Mt. Etna.

Farther north, alpine wonders are your glorious backdrop as you trace the shores of Lake Como by foot and ride into the Piedmont countryside past vineyards and forests teeming with truffles. Or cycle into the magnificent valleys and storybook villages of the Dolomites, their massifs piercing the sky.

No matter your biking or walking vacation with VBT, farm-to-table cuisine greets you at every turn. Pasta in light, delicious cream or tomato sauce. Hearty seafood risotto. Fresh cheeses and fine wines. And, of course, there’s always time to stop along the road for gelato.