Tuscany by bike: from Florence to Pisa
Hills, Cypresses, Villas, the hilly roads of the Tuscan vineyards
Highlights
Florence, an exceptional museum city
Vinci, San Gimignano, Siena, small towns of Italian charm
Lucca, its ramparts and charming cobbled streets
The city of Pisa, its tower and its lively historical center
The vineyards of Chianti
The story behind the trip
Tuscany, its green hills, its cypresses along the paths that lead to the most beautiful Italian villas. We were attracted by this beautiful postcard, international reflection of the destination. For a few years, we have welcomed in our team, Davide, a native of Italy who knows this region well. He grows and picks olives every year and produces a few liters of oil that he brings back to Brittany for our great pleasure. He told us beautiful stories and described the easy living in Tuscany.
It was then that we met a Breton woman living in Pisa. The journey by bike was taking shape with her. A few months later, we were on our bikes on these hilly roads. We found the green hills, the cypresses. We discovered the wines, the cuisine, the hospitality and the gentle way of life. Having fallen in love with the region, we are proud and happy to offer you this gourmet, bucolic and cultural stay.
Discover Tuscany by bike from Florence to Pisa
Tuscany is an enchanting region, renowned for its hilly landscapes and picturesque views.
On the horizon, there is always a ridge covered with slender cypresses that give this landscape its unique and photogenic character. A trip to Tuscany by bicycle allows you to fully appreciate the gentle green hills covered with vineyards and olive trees. As you pedal along at the end of summer, the smell of the vines and fresh olives mingle in the air, giving your cycling vacation a bewitching fragrance.
Tuscany is the cradle of the Renaissance, and this artistic influence is visible in the towns and villages you cycle through. Take time to visit museums, art galleries and churches to admire the masterpieces of famous painters and sculptors.
As you cycle through the Tuscan valleys, you will come across beautiful villas that once belonged to the European nobility. Some of them open their doors to you. The opportunity to discover lush gardens and rare furniture. Then by incredible winding roads, you enter small perched villages, where time seems to have stopped. The historical villages allow you to sit in beautiful squares to enjoy a refreshment and a Gelato! You can find artisanal ice creams on every corner, like in Vinci, the birthplace of Leonardo, famous inventor and painter of the Mona Lisa. A whole museum is dedicated to him.
Tuscany by bike is also :
- the discovery of the city of Siena, this charming medieval city built in the south of Chianti, rivaled Florence in the 1300’s. It is famous for its horse race and for the traditional arrival of the Strade Bianche cycling classic in early March.
- the beautiful city of Florence (Firenze), located in the heart of Tuscany. This city is both an open-air museum and a “museum city” because of the importance of its collections. Lovers of architecture and culture will appreciate the beautiful and lively city walks.
- Pisa and its famous leaning tower.
- San Gimignano, a fortified medieval village, sits on top of a hill that seems to dominate all the others. Its towers can be seen from dozens of kilometers away. They guide you by bike to their foot. Take time to explore its streets, cornetto in hand – a world champion ice cream parlour offers new and original flavors every week – and enjoy a spectacular sunset from the ramparts.
Tuscany is a land of bicycles and its Mediterranean climate, with warm, sunny summers and mild winters, makes for beautiful rides all year round. The light breezes that blow over the hills make your miles in the saddle very pleasant, even during the hottest months. Spring, September and October are particularly recommended for cycling with moderate temperatures and beautiful colors.
Fit From FLORENCE to RADDA IN CHIANTI 61km 1273m 
You get on your bike and leave Florence, but not without taking one last look at the city museum. Your route takes you through the Chianti hills to Greve in Chianti, about 25 kilometers from Florence. This town is considered the gateway to the Chianti region and is famous for its triangle-shaped Piazza Matteotti and its lively market. It is a good place to stop for lunch.
In the afternoon, after riding through the picturesque Chianti countryside, you will arrive in Radda in Chianti, a medieval hilltop village surrounded by walls. Enjoy your time here exploring the narrow streets, historic churches and surrounding wineries.
From RADDA IN CHIANTI to SIENA 51km 957m
You cycle through the southern part of the Chianti region. On beautiful winding roads, and some wide white roads (the famous Strade Bianche) you ride through picturesque landscapes and charming villages.
You pass by the Castello di Brolio, an impressive castle in the middle of a vineyard. It is a beautiful estate that produces wines of the Chianti Classico appellation. It offers tours and wine tasting.
Siena concludes this beautiful day. This medieval city is famous for its Piazza del Campo, which hosts horse races and the arrival in early March of the Strade Bianche cycling classic. In all the historical streets of the city, pay attention to the small badges on the facades. Representing an animal, they distinguish the neighborhoods that form the teams for the horse races.
From SIENA to SAN-GIMIGNANO 50km 774m
Through the vineyards and olive groves, you pedal from villa to villa. Built in the 17th century, they testify to the rich history of the region. Charming villages offer nice stops for a coffee, a soda or a gelato. In the distance, the towers of San Gimignano are already visible. They dominate the surrounding countryside. The city is one of the best preserved medieval villages in Italy and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
From SAN-GIMIGNANO to VINCI 74km 936m
The winding roads cross fields of vineyards and olive trees. Then the hills begin to grow smaller. You enter the Arno valley, cross the river and go up to Vinci.
Leonardo da Vinci’s birthplace, in the middle of the vineyards, opens its childhood home to you, which has been transformed into a museum with models of his legendary inventions.
From VINCI to LUCCA 59km 439m
Leaving Vinci, you will discover the Tuscan countryside by bike, which will no longer hold any secrets for you. You will see the town of Lucca, which has preserved its medieval charm and its 17th century wall. Enjoy a walk in the heart of the city.
LUCCA 31km 143m
This stage takes you to Pisa, at the foot of the Leaning Tower. After leaving behind the walls of Lucca, follow the Serchio River to take the Puccini bike path, which, far from the noise of traffic, leads you to Ripafratta, San Giuliano and its thermal baths, along the Pisan Mountains. From there, small country roads and paths along the monumental aqueduct of Nottolini lead you to Pisa. You have time to visit the historic center, the Piazza dei Cavalieri, the banks of the Arno and, of course, take pictures of the famous tower.
Return from Pisa by train.
- For a few more km 72km 460m
Return to Lucca through beautiful Tuscan hills, vineyards and majestic villas.
LUCCA
Your tour ends after breakfast.
Privilege Range
Opt for total comfort in charming 3 and 4 star hotels which offer all the services you need and a special welcome for you and your bikes.
Starting from 1510€/participant in Self Guided option | See detailed prices
Essential Range
You want to enjoy your itinerary without anything fancy. Our ”essential” range offers a simple accommodation for a good night’s rest in a simple hotel, guesthouse, rest house or hostel.
Quote on request | Contact us
Comfort Range
Our quality standard at Abicyclette. This type of accommodation includes 2 and 3 stars hotels. Depending on the itinerary, you might spend some nights in approved guesthouses. You enjoy a double bedroom with private bathroom and toilet and adapted welcome for you and your bikes.
Quote on request | Contact us
Price includes
- Accommodation: 7 nights in a Double room
- 7 breakfasts
- Luggage transfer
- Phone assistance 24/7
- Application fee
- The itinerary as detailed above trackable on the following supports:
- Loan of a GPS with full itinerary
- Cycling practical guide including restaurant recommendations for lunch & dinner
Price does not include
- bike rental (see option)
- Breakfast on day 1
- Lunches
- Dinners not included in "Price includes"
- Drinks during dinners (unless otherwise stated), visits not mentioned in “The price includes” and other personal expenses
A “homemade” stay made by a local partner, specialist in bike trips:
- Routes selected with the Abicyclette team for their tourist & cycling interests, fully marked, removed from traffic
- Accommodation offered for the quality of their welcome, atmosphere, services and gastronomy
- A great flexibility of organization which adapts to your needs and desires: you leave on the date of your choice! We check accommodation availability to ensure your departure.
Local support :
- A personalized reception on the first day of your trip by a local guide giving you the travel documents (reception and documents in English)
- Telephone assistance from the ABICYCLETTE VOYAGES team
- Local telephone assistance
- Luggage transfer service
A simplified route tracking:
- A road book to find all the useful addresses and tourist information, maps and a description of the circuit.
- A GPS to follow the route without ever looking for your way (bike support provided)
And also:
- The option of renting comfortable bikes, ideal for this route.
- The option of taking out a cancellation & multi-risk insurance covering you in the event of a problem or unforeseen event
We offer a high-end bike rental service. Our bikes are suited for road and gravel road long-distance cycling. Fully equipped and highly reliable, they are faithful travel companions.
Premium Titanium Hybrid BikeThe perfect combination of light and comfortable for long rides or the cyclists who wants performance but sitting in more of an upright position. The mixte version has step-through frame for easy mounting/dismounting. Titanium hybrid/mixte frame and carbon fork. Supplied equipment per bike
|  |
Aluminium-frame Hybrid Touring BikesOur hybrid bikes are ideal touring machines, equipped with Continental tires with anti-puncture layer, a solid rear rack for panniers or trunk bag, fenders, chain-guard and kickstand. The ladies/mixte version has step-through frame for easy mounting/dismounting. Supplied equipment per bike
|  |
Touring E-BikeOur e-bike fleet is made up of mostly Cannondale Mavaro and Tesoro, and Fantic 7 Days Living Easy models, with 625Wh batteries providing plenty of kilometers. With state of the art technology, our pedal-assist bikes are a fantastic option for cyclists who desire a little extra push. The ladies/mixte version has step-through frame for easy mounting/dismounting. Supplied equipment per bike
|  |
Getting here
Departure city : FLORENCE
Coming by car
- at 11h from PARIS
- at 12h from BORDEAUX
- at 7h from LYON
Coming by train
- Florence train station - 10h from Paris
Coming by plane
- Florence airport
Arrival city : LUCCA
Coming by car
- at 11h from PARIS
- at 11h from BORDEAUX
- at 7h from LYON
Coming by train
- Lucca train station - 12h from Paris
Coming by plane
- Pisa airport
*Parking: Since many of our clients travel by train or plane, we do not include parking in our packages. In addition, many accommodations don’t have the capacity to park a vehicle for the duration of your cycling vacation. So if you’re planning to arrive by car, we suggest you check parking options when you make your reservation. If you reserve a parking space at the first or last accommodation of your stay, you must pay the accommodation provider on site.
* Abicyclette Voyages accompanies you on demand, including transportation solutions.
How to get back to the starting point
- By train from Lucca to Florence in 1H30 (hotline)
- Return by car in 1h15 to your starting point
- Private shuttle: see detailed fares or contact us
Recommended equipment
Bike
- Hybrid Bike or Touring Bike or Gravel Bike
- 18 to 30-speed transmission
- 26- to 29-inch wheels
- Tires: 35 to 42 section, reinforced against punctures
- Disc brakes recommended
- 2 bottle cages
- Bell
- Front and rear lighting
Clothing and equipment
- Helmet (supplied with bike rental unless otherwise specified locally)
- 1 bike mount for smartphone to use the mobile route planner application
- Suitable cycling clothing:
- bib, shorts or tights: elastic and breathable, to facilitate movement and wick away perspiration
- Breathable T-shirts, synthetic or merino wool
- Breathable windbreaker
- Thermal or fleece jacket
- Waterproof jacket
- 1 pair of sunglasses
- 1 pair of cycling shoes
- 1 backpack or 1 or 2 carrier bags
- 1 or 2 water bottles (supplied with bike rental in France)
- 1 lock (supplied with bike rental)
- Technical details, recommended by the team for optimum comfort:
- 1 pair of gloves or mittens, depending on season and destination
- Padded bib (chamois)
- High-visibility vest or fluorescent belt
- Neck warmer and cap
Bike maintenance
- Emergency repair kit: 2 or 3 inner tubes, patches, pump, tire levers, multi-tools
- Maintenance kit: rag, oil, brake pads
Other
- A suitcase for your belongings carried in the vehicle (limited to one per person)
- Street clothes
- 1 pair of evening shoes
- Fleece jacket for the evening
- Toiletry bag
- Telephone and charger
Duration 8 days and 7 nights
Level Fit
Departure date From March 1st to October 31st
Destination Italy
See detailed prices
Personalized service 
FLORENCE
Welcome to Florence!