Tuscany Family Biking
North of Siena
Treat your family to Tuscany with a blend of biking, history and exploration. Our custom-designed routes are tailored to adults and kids alike. Discover medieval hill towns, such as the famed San Gimignano, crowned with impressive towers. Pedal past wheat fields and pastureland, stopping to taste truffles - and meet the dog that sniffs them out! While the younger set is off making pasta, adults savor Chianti wines at an inviting vineyard. Throughout the trip, delight in the friendliness of locals who enthusiastically share their culture and heritage. Join Backroads to tour Tuscany family-style!
Trip Planning Links
- Iconic hill towns of San Gimignano and Radda in Chianti
- Family-friendly routes past cypress trees, vineyards, grazing sheep and stone farmhouses
- Tour a medieval abbey, now a private estate producing its own olive oil and honey
- Savor classic Tuscan indulgences, including truffles, pasta and gelato
- A night of pizza- and cookie-making for the kids, and wine tasting and feasting for the adults
The Day-to-Day Itinerary
Days 1-2 Montaione
Meet in Florence
From the 16th-century chapels of San Vivaldo, our warm-up ride leads through picturesque countryside and several small towns
Enjoy a dinner of Tuscan specialties
Bike along the hills through the Egola River Valley, stopping en route for a truffle hunt and tasting
Savor a delicious Backroads picnic in the town of Palaia.
Day 3 San Gimignano
En route to San Gimignano, pedal through the town of Volterra, known for its alabaster and Etruscan and Roman ruins
Take in the spectacular views of San Gimignano’s towers from our secluded country home.
Days 4-6 Panzano
Head out on your bike to Monteriggioni and enjoy a leisurely lunch on your own
Explore the shops in Castellina and indulge in a gelato
Kids are in store for an evening of pizza- and cookie-making, while adults visit a family-owned winery for a tour and tasting before dinner at a local trattoria
Wonderful views abound during a ride through the heart of Chianti
Take a tour of Badia a Coltibuono ("Abbey of the Good Harvest"), followed by a gourmet picnic lunch
A festive final evening provides the perfect ending to our trip.
- Premiere Inns: These lodgings possess both elegance and authentic regional flair.
- Casual Inns: These lodgings are comfortable and appropriate to the area with such characteristics as authenticity, scenic settings and proximity to our activities.
- Deluxe Family Camping: We set up the tents (and take them down), handle every camp chore and perform culinary magic.
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Look at what other guests are saying about this trip!
Biking Tuscany was a great experience for my family. Our leaders were excellent and catered to our every need. Their knowledge of the region was excellent and they were a constant source of information. In addition, the chemistry between them was very energetic. The choice of lodging and cuisine was superb and offered a great sampling of the area. Thank you, Backroads. We will definitely return.- Bethesda, MD More about this Trip All Guest Reviews
For 30 years, Backroads has been perfecting the art of active travel. We are the tour experts. For biking tours in , trust our in-depth connections. To see all our biking tours click here. For our selection of award-winning walking and hiking tours click here. For our selection of award-winning multisport tours click here.
Tuscany Family Biking
MEDIEVAL MODERNITY: Casual Inns
Palazzo Mannaioni
Montaione (2 nights) A four-star hotel with a garden, lemon and orange tree grove, and a swimming pool.
Hotel Pescille
San Gimignano (1 night) Once a country villa, this hotel offers a swimming pool, unique rooms with brickwork flooring and spectacular views of San Gimignano’s medieval skyline.
Fattoria Valle
Panzano (2 nights) Situated just outside the village of Panzano, this former private residence is now a comfortably appointed hotel with a swimming pool that overlooks vineyards. Rooms have views of the surrounding valley and antique furnishings.
Tuscany Family Biking
Daily Mileage Options & Cumulative Elevation Gain
Routes For All Abilities
Every Backroads trip is designed to appeal to a wide variety of interests and fitness levels. We know your pace may vary from one day to the next-and your traveling companion's may differ somewhat from yours. So we present a range of mileage options, and each day you decide exactly what and how much you want to do.
| Activity Level | Average Time | Biking Average | Walking Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2-3 hours | 10-20 miles | 2-5 miles |
| 2 | 2-4 hours | 21-30 miles | 5-7 miles |
| 3 | 3-5 hours | 31-40 miles | 7-9 miles |
| 4 | 4-6 hours | 41-55 miles | 9-11 miles |
| 5 | 5-7+ hours | 56-75+ miles | 11-13+ miles |
Day 1
- Level 1
2 Route Options Available
- 8, 20 miles
- 0 - 1000 feet elevation gain
Day 2
- Levels 1 to 3
3 Route Options Available
- 20, 31, 38 miles
- 0 - 1500 feet elevation gain
Day 3
- Levels 1 to 3
3 Route Options Available
- 15, 20, 37 miles
- 1000 - 3000 feet elevation gain
Day 4
- Levels 2 to 4
3 Route Options Available
- 25, 37, 46 miles
- 500 - 2500 feet elevation gain
Day 5
- Levels 1 to 4
3 Route Options Available
- 18, 24, 45 miles
- 500 - 3000 feet elevation gain
Day 6
- Level 1
1 Route Option Available
- 9 miles
- 0 - 1000 feet elevation gain
On this Family Trip, liberal van shuttling is incorporated into the itinerary to facilitate our activities and mileage is kept moderate to enable you to spend more time exploring on your own.