Cycling tour in San Marino and Italy – for southerners!

Day 1Welcome to Italy and charming Verucchio

Finally, Italy! After landing at Bologna airport, we head towards Verucchio, a charming medieval town in Emilia-Romagna. The transfer takes about 1.5 hours, and along the way, we get our first glimpses of the Italian landscape.

Upon arrival, a lovely welcome dinner awaits at the restaurant Al Mastin Vecchio. Here, we gather around the table, get to know our fellow travelers better, and enjoy a taste of Italian cuisine (included). A wonderful start to the days ahead!

After dinner, we check in at the hotel and settle in. Now it's time to look forward to the first cycling adventures!

Lunch on this day is on your own (not included).

Day 2From Verucchio via San Marino to historic Urbino

Today, a truly fantastic cycling stage awaits through rolling hills, charming medieval towns, and a landscape that practically begs for an extra photo stop!

After a hearty breakfast, we get on our bikes and pedal towards the first highlight of the day: San Marino! The small republic is perched high in the mountains, with its capital spectacularly situated on a mountaintop. Narrow medieval streets and a panoramic view that is truly worth the climb await us here!

Next, we follow quiet, lightly trafficked roads south through the Italian hilly countryside. It goes up and down here, with lovely climbs, fun descents, and constantly changing vistas. Along the way, we find a pleasant spot for a well-deserved lunch break (included).

Today's destination is Urbino, one of Italy's beautiful Renaissance cities and a UNESCO World Heritage site. The city has long university traditions, and the combination of historic buildings, cobblestone streets, and a vibrant student life gives Urbino a very special atmosphere.

We spend the night within the ancient city walls, so you can simply park your bike and soak in the surroundings!

In the evening, we gather for dinner at a local trattoria (included). Italian food, great company, and plenty of impressions to discuss after today's stage!

Day 3From Urbino to San Pietro – rolling hills and idyllic Italian villages

Today, we will truly experience the Italian countryside! Narrow, winding roads, green hills, and villages appearing between the crests—this is Italy at its absolute best!

We leave Urbino with a wonderful descent, followed by a few kilometers of relatively flat terrain. We must expect some traffic for the first twenty kilometers or so, but gradually the roads become quieter, and we reach deep into the countryside of the Marche region.

Here, an increasingly rolling landscape awaits, with small roads weaving through hills and valleys. Along the way, we stop for a good lunch break (included) before continuing higher up. The final kilometers offer several climbs and winding roads towards today's destination, San Pietro.

And what a place to end the cycling day! Here, our accommodation will be split between two locations—some in the old castle, others in hotel rooms by the restaurant. The place is especially known for its food: rustic, local dishes prepared with quality ingredients and genuine Italian passion for food.

The view is nothing to complain about either! From the heights, we look out over the beautiful, undulating landscape, and far in the distance, we glimpse the Adriatic Sea as a blue stripe on the horizon.

In the evening, we gather for a group dinner (included). After around 95 kilometers on the bike, the local specialties will surely taste even better!

Day 4From green hills to the Adriatic Sea – with Strada Panoramica as the grand finale

Today, we're heading all the way out to the Adriatic Sea! But before we can take off our cycling shoes and feel the sand between our toes, another fantastic stage through the Italian landscape awaits.

We start by following the ridges toward the medieval town of Corinaldo. Here, we cycle with sweeping views in all directions, and eventually, the Adriatic Sea appears on the horizon. Corinaldo is known for its well-preserved city walls and charming medieval streets—a perfect place for a cappuccino before we continue!

Next, we set our sights on the coastal town of Fano, where the landscape gradually opens up and the sea draws closer and closer. From here, we follow cycle paths along the Adriatic coast, with sea breezes, beaches, and Italian coastal life providing a lovely contrast to the mountains and hills of previous days.

But we are not quite done with the hills yet!

The final cycling experience of the day is the famous Strada Panoramica, a favorite among local cyclists. The road winds through the hilly coastal landscape, with spectacular viewpoints and curves that make the final kilometers an adventure in themselves. There will be climbs, fun descents, and plenty of reasons to stop for a photo!

We take a pleasant lunch break along the way (included) before finally rolling into Gabicce Mare, where we will spend the last night of the tour.

After checking in at the beach hotel, perhaps a well-deserved dip in the Adriatic Sea sounds tempting? In the evening, we gather for a final farewell dinner at the hotel's restaurant (included). A wonderful opportunity to toast to four eventful days in Italy, plenty of elevation gain, and great shared experiences!

Day 5A final bike ride along the Adriatic Sea before heading home

The last day in Italy, but luckily we are not quite done with cycling just yet!

For early risers, perhaps a morning swim in the Adriatic Sea before breakfast appeals? Afterwards, we hop on our bikes for one last ride in the beautiful landscape around Gabicce Mare.

This time, the route heads inland, where we visit the charming medieval towns of Gradara and Saludecio, among others. More of the small, winding roads we have grown so fond of over the past few days await here, complete with rolling hills, lovely villages, and stunning views along the way.

Back at the hotel, we gather for a late, shared lunch (included). One final opportunity to enjoy Italian food and great company before we have to pack up and head for home.

Around 4:00 PM, the bus departs for the airport, where the flight leaves at 8:05 PM. Dinner on this day is on your own and is not included.

Five days of cycling, medieval towns, Italian flavors, and lots of elevation gain have come to an end. Thank you for joining the trip—and for all the wonderful memories along the way!

The itinerary is preliminary; changes may occur.