Ciclismo Classico
No doubt about it, if you want to go to Italy, you’ve got to look into Ciclismo Classico. Their level of expertise in all-things-Italian is unsurpassed, reflected in the more than 30 trips that they offer. Each trip includes lots of activities, and they even offer specialty trips that focus on things such as yoga and photography. In the past couple of years they have added additional countries, including a Tour de France trip.
Companions – The main thing that Ciclismo Classico clients have in common is an interest in experiencing Italy to the fullest. That's a passion that crosses age, income and riding ability lines. Many of their routes are surprisingly long, so some of your companions are strong bicyclists, but there is no shame in using the SAG van, either. Night time socializing holds a high priority in Italy (food, wine and conversation are the national pastimes), so even though your companions may not have planned to, there will be plenty of fun nighttime activities. Going single is encouraged, and you don’t have to pay a supplement if willing to share a room.
- Operator Type:
Full-Service Operator - Website:
http://www.ciclismoclassico.com/ - Price Tier:
$$$ - Avg Price Per Day:
$506 - Services:
Bike Provided, SAG Van, Tour Guide - Country:
Austria, France, Ireland, Italy, Switzerland
22 Reviews
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I’ve currently completed 3 Tours with Ciclismo Classico. I’m a 52 year old fit woman who often travels alone on these tours. Each Ciclismo Classico cycling tour was fantastic. “Bike Across Southern Italy” from the heel to the toe was an advanced tour with fabulous, challenging climbs, epic scenery and attentive, fun guides. No detail was overlooked and I felt like I had earned each meal after every challenging ride. Snuggling up in a luxurious hotel room every night was also a well-earned gift. That tour was a 50th birthday gift that now keeps giving to me each year. I can’t get enough of the CC’s Tours.
My second tour with the company was “Mediterranean Island Hopping. “ We rode down the length of Corsica for 5/6 days and then Sardinia. Again, jaw dropping beauty, challenging riding for an intermediate tour, and hotels that left you begging for another night. The guides again were fantastically attentive and inspiring, the food was delectable, and the other guests were boatloads of fun.
The third trip I took with them this April 2025 was in Sicily, “La Bella Sicilia”. Another intermediate tour that took us down the eastern side of Sicily and then up to the Aeolian Islands of Salina and Lipari.
Challenging, gorgeous rides, architecturally invigorating towns like Siracusa, Modica, Ragusa, and Taormina. We even hiked Mt. Etna. The Aeolian islands were picturesque and quaint. Guides were super, food was delicious, and hotels were ultra comfortable.I love, love, love ❤️ ❤️❤️Ciclismo Classico. Give them a call for your next tour. They offer many different types for all interests and activity levels.
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I’ve been on 6 CC tours and will be doing another in September. Every tour is amazing. Everything is well thought out – the routes, hotels, restaurants, the “extras” (walking tours, wine tastings, canoe trip, etc. – there’s always something). The routes avoid traffic and are spectacular. Hotels are amazing – I’ve stayed in converted monasteries and a French castle. Food is plentiful and delicious, focusing on what the locale features – almost always a visit to a Michelin star restaurant. The guides have generally been with CC 10+ (even 20+ years) – they know their stuff, are a lot of fun, and are wizards at adapting to special needs or issues that arise. There is always a range of abilities and energy, but anything goes – ride ahead, hop in the van; the goal is for everyone to enjoy their trip. I’ve been on several tours in Italy but also France, Portugal, Salzburg to Prague; there’s a lot to choose from. I go single and never feel like a third wheel, it’s a group of like-minded people that have a wonderful time together.
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From initial inquires, through booking and on to the actual tour itself it was a smooth, professional and fun process. Tracy Lockhart was super nice, helpful and quick to respond. She ensured my requests from food to bicycle size to booking the extra pre arrival night was handled properly and with ease.
I can’t say enough good things about Gianpaolo Fosco Canazei and Enrico Chierici. These guys were just super fantastic!!! From pre trip introductions, to verifying dietary preference, bike fit, resolving my pedal problems (tie wraps are an amazing solution) securing lights, etc. they just made sure the bikes were right.
Then there was their leadership and friendship throughout the tour. Setting a fun tone and expectations for each day, helping us along the way with whatever we needed, preventing us from getting lost, suggesting restaurants for OYO meals, their genuine passion for what they did was evident every day in every way.
The bikes were great, nice quality, well maintained and fun to ride. Hotels and accommodations were excellent. The more basic ones were clean and nicely located, and the fancy ones were, well, fancy and a real treat!
Suppose the only issue was the Van breaking down and fortunately it happened at a time / location where we had 2 nights at the same hotel and the weather was good so it was not as if there was a need to give 5 of us a ride. Had circumstances been different it could have been an issue so I’d suggest getting a newer more reliable van going forward – though sure you know this! 🙂
Was impressed with how well the ferry cancellation was handled and we were lucky that the van was able to get on the alternate ferry with us, but a backup plan was in place in case it hadn’t worked out.
When the time comes for a GPS upgrade would suggest checking out the Wahoo. I’ve used both Gamin and Wahoo on bike trips (don’t own either) and while simpler I find the Wahoo better, perhaps because it is simpler. The screen is easier to read in bright light and the route easier to follow. The touch screen on the Garmin, while nice in theory isn’t so go in practice.
Went on the Mediterranean Island Hopping tour in May / June 2025 which over 12 days / 11 nights took us through Corsica and Sardinian and it was an amazing and wonderful trip. The scenery of both Islands with the azure blues of the Mediterranean made for a visually stunning adventure.
The daily bike routes provided nice distances and if you wanted a break the van was there for support. There were some additional activities such as a visit to Filitosa a megalithic site and a sailing excursion that added to and rounded out the overall experience.
Overall had a wonderful trip and from the initial booking through the tour to the final departure it was a great experience.
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I had a horrible interaction with the company owner, Lauren. She was incredibly rude and pompous during an email exchange. Reflective of an organization. I recommend other Bike Tours companies, as there are several much better than these guys.
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My wife and I just got back from Italy after doing 1 1/2 tours. Let me explain. We first did the Tuscany Green Tour the last full week of September, which was marvelous. Then, since I wanted to ride in the L’Eroica ride in Gaiole again, we joined up with that tour a few days ahead of the Eroica event. This customizing of our trip to Italy to include two cycling experiences is where the Ciclismo staff’s customer service really shined. Since I came up with this idea kind of late, they worked to make arrangements to get us into the tour, arranging the car transfer from Florence, getting us into the group hotel during the busy Eroica weekend, and having both the carbon and vintage bikes ready for me. Whereas I could’ve been viewed as a trouble, they welcomed us in an already full tour group.
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Ciclismo Classico trip advisor review
Seeing the world on wheels
My husband and I and several friends just finished our 2nd bike trip with Ciclismo Classico, cycling the Spanish coast and the Doral valley in Portugal.
Our first trip was to the Piedmont région of Italy
Our friends have gone 5 and 2 times previously, to France , Austria and different regions of Italy. What better way to see the world, stay fit , and taste the best
Food and wines of each region? Ciclismo is a high end bike touring company
Which provides experienced guides , van support and arranges luxury accommodations , usually 4& 5 star hotels as well as a range of casual to fine dining and cultural experiences such as wine tastings and history walking tours . After a day of riding , the comfort level of the hotels is greatly appreciated.Since we are recreational cyclists who haven’t done multi-day riding before Ciclismo having experienced guides who focus on safety and support the rides was essential. The guides serve as bike and experience guides. Each day has a full schedule of riding , sightseeing, dining and cultural experiences.
To have the best experience , choose the region which has terrain and weather
which matches up with your skills and comfort level. Last year , we were undertrained for
The hills in Piedmont in the Fall and this year , we could handle the hills in Portugal but were challenged By the 90+ F temperature in late August. Notwithstanding our mismatch in skills and comfort in hot weather , we had an absolutely wonderful time. The supportive guides and the well planned out routes with navigational garmins and cue sheets plus the other cyclists we met makes us want to repeat the experience every year. Our group had couples , a father and son, 3 friends and 2 solo riders who came alone but left with a bunch of new friends. I’m more of an athletic beginner than an intermediate in terms of
steep and long hills and average distances. Both of our trips have been intermediate. Most days have extra loops for those who want to ride more so that seems like a good compromise
for riders who want to do 30-35 miles / day vs. 40-50 miles. Cyclists who
figure out which routes are the best fit , can cycle multiple days with the most comfort. Be sure to read Ciclismo’s tips on how to pack and train and the FAQs.We loved our two bike trips in every respect and are already planning to sign up for next year. A shout -out to the guides of Ciclismo for being top notch in terms of safety and comfort and also making the trips fun and informative.
NW cyclist
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We just got back from the Ciclismo Munich-to-Verona bike tour with Dana, Frank and Jiacopo as our guides (it was a group of 19 riders, so there were 3 guides). As is always the case with Ciclismo, the guides were superb, the company was good, and the rides were doable for everyone (3 riders used E-bikes to conquer the Alps!). It was our 4th tour with this company, and we will definitely be doing another. A very enjoyable experience.
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Ciclismo Classico provides an exceptionally intimate, in-depth experience in pedaling in Italy. The guides, the routes travelled, the places you stay , the food you eat, the wine you drink, the people you meet, the history and culture you learn, and the laughs you share are all superb. Just can’t say enough good things about CC. My husband and I have been on three other good bike trips with another company in the Mediterranean; there is a qualitative difference with CC- they are hands down the best !
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I would not recommend this company- we were constantly rushed,had to always stay in a group, guides were both sick,( one was on antibiotics) pace was way too fast and bikes were sub standard and not maintained.
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First time biker. First time bike trip. Excellent Adventure. Tour guides were articulate, knowledgable, very helpful…no burn out on trip. Great everything. Boston Office Staff very very helpful with pre/post accomodations and reassurances regarding trip.
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This was our 2nd bike trip to Europe. I selected Ciclismo due to the fantastic support they offered BEFORE we left for Italy! They were very patient to answer all my questions about taking our own bike on the trip, and arranged for the careful transport after. The guides are top rate and almost tripped over themselves to make our trip.
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We are a family of four, kids aged 10 and 13, and we just returned from the 8 day Tuscan Fantasy tour. Our 3 guides did everything in their power to make our trip safe and enjoyable and to make us love Italy. The other riders were very friendly, the accommodations were beautiful and the routes great. They made all of the kids on the trip feel successful — no matter how long they rode in the sag — adults too!
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The accommodations were stunning. Having travelled with B&R, Backroads and CC, I’d say that Ciclismo Classico hotels are almost as good as that of Butterfield and Robinson. We’ll be going back next year for a tour that combines hiking and biking. No one else offers such a variety of types of trips in Italy..
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Every year we take a trip with Ciclismo Classico. They just seem to keep getting better and better. The guides know so much about Italy that you’ll end up learning a lot … whether you want to or not!
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We have just returned from our 5th trip in Italy with Ciclismo Classico. You couldn’t ask for a better overall experience than CC offers. Our guides were fantastic: their insights into the culture, language, food, wine and history of Italy make travelling with CC a truly memorable experience.
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I went to Portugal, a country that I am very familiar with. The guides were excellent but not that knowledgeable of the history of the regions. Culture is defined in this context essentially as eating and drinking, although thankfully there were two guided tours. Also, IMHO, the hotels – and their meals – are way too oppulent for an activity such as cycling, and the cost is therefore too high. Great routes, too many breaks to eat along the way.
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We went on the Charming Pousadas of the Alentejo in December 2012 with PortugalBike, run by Jose and Cristina. We thoroughly enjoyed the beautiful country-side, the mystical pousadas and Jose/Cristina’s hospitality. Cristina and Jose are energetic, thoughtful, and interesting tour leaders whose enthusiasm about Portuguese culture was contagious. The itinerary was also very well planned and reasonably priced. Overall a very worthwhile trip!
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My husband and I chose Ciclismo back in 1998 because of its Italy focus. We have been on 14 tours, one every year, since then. The Arlington based staff is friendly and helpful, the tours are well chosen and well run. Though Ciclismo has expanded its horizons to include more of the world, we have stayed with the Italy tours and can’t praise the mostly native Italian guides enough. Not only are they knowledgeable about everything Italian, expert bike handlers and mechanics, they are without exception, interesting and fun people to spend time with. We are currently planning tour number 15.
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First, the trips are lovely and many of the tour-leaders are good to excellent. Although the best leader we knew has left the company recently. The real gripe here is the double standard of how the business is run. To wit, a couple summers ago Ciclismo cancelled a CONFIRMED trip only four weeks before, forcing my parents to rebook flights if they wanted to join another trip. Ciclismo did not compensate at least my parents for the rebooking of the flight (to a different city). Again, the trips themselves were fine, and this is why parents tolerated this business practice which they otherwise would not have.
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You can find out if you go with ciclismo classico on their Sardina Blue trip rated athletic beginner. You will need as your guides Simone, Andrea and Christina. I’m not sure, however, that it will ever be repeated in quite the same manner as the trip ended with a very authentic (and good) dinner at Simone’s mother’s house. She has a very sharp wit (one knows where Simone got his from) but she would need the patience of Job to do it again with such a bunch of cyclist expressing their true pleasure throughout the meal. While our singing may not have been up to the truly extraordinary singing of the Sardinian quartet we heard, we certainly tried. We were also treated to three meals (and a cooking lesson) with Roberto Petza-Michelin rated chef, who came to us for two of them and we rode to his restaurant for one of them. Each meal was a true culina!
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I’ve taken four Ciclismo Classico tours, each one a delight. The guides are very experienced both in the culture/geopraphy of the area and in cycling technique and maintenance. The hotels are always terrific and the food is fantastic. With Ciclismo, you get more than a riding vacation – you get a true cultural experience, making some lifelong friends along the way. I highly recommend giving Ciclismo Classico.
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Took the 11-day Bike Across Italy. Simply a fabulous trip. A good friend had said that the difference between Ciclismo Classico Classico and other tour companies in Italy was the quality of the tour leaders. They were right. Marcello Bonini and Henrick Murphy were excellent guides and companions. Marcello was simply Italian to the core. He loved his country in all its aspects, and made every effort to expose his “regazzi” (us) to all its charms. He was also a superb cyclist and obviously enjoyed “going off the front” with some of us when the opportunity presented itself. But neither he nor Henrick ever lost sight of the importance of the group and the group experience, so we all had a marvelous time. Henrik, on the other hand, loved Italy as only someone from the misty Northern Isles could and shared that perspective, which was not always the same as Marcello’s. Also an excellent cyclist, he too made sure that everyone in the group felt completely at ease and comfortable with one another.
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