I love to bike in Italy, and there are so many cycleways and cycle routes to enjoy. I never go alone because I do not know them, but there are many bike clubs that organize day tours on Saturday and/or Sunday. There are also trains that provide coaches for the bikes; so it is easy to do part of it by train.

Here are some notable routes:

the Ciclopista del Sole (eurovelo 7). Italy’s first long-distance cycle route it runs from the border with Austria to Rome and then the coast of Lazio;

An in-depth guide to the Italian section of the eurovelo 8 international cycling route that comes into Italy from Slovenia, follows the Adriatic coast and the river Po before crossing into France near Ventimiglia and Nice;

FVG1 the Italian section of the international Ciclovia Alpe-Adria Radweg route from Salzburg to the Adriatic Coast. There’s also a link (the FVG1A) which takes you into Slovenija

München-Venezia cycle route a guide to the Italian section of a new international route between Munich and Venice

Through Austria along the River Drau from Toblach to Tarvisio a really handy link between the Italian regions of the Südtirol and Friuli Venezia Giulia, it’s also a good option if you want to visit Austria, Italy and Slovenija

A comprehensive guide to the Italian section of the Via Claudia Augusta, a popular international route starting Augsburg in southern Germany. Depending on which option you choose it will take you to Venezia, or Verona, or the Lago di Garda, or the river Po.

For now I only did the Friuli Venezia Giulia and the Austrian cycleways and cycle routes.

There’s a point near Tarvisio where the borders of Austria, Slovenija and Italy meet. It’s more than a geographical meeting point, but a meeting point of languages and cultures. If you’re looking for a cross-border tour then this is a perfect place. Add into the mix the fact that there are excellent connections on cycleways and quiet roads, and some of the lowest border crossings in the Alps, and Friuli Venezia Giulia makes a great gateway to Italy as well as a destination in its own right.

The two major international routes that pass through Friuli Venezia Giulia are the FVG1 and the FVG2. The FVG1 forms part of the Ciclovia Alpe-Adria Radweg that starts in Salzburg and heads to Grado on the Adriatic coast. The FVG2 is part of the eurovelo 8 route that crosses Italy with France at one end and Croatia at the other.

As well as the two major international routes there are two less well-known routes that will of of interest to international travellers:

The FVG3 is part of the Ciclovia Pedemontana cycle route that follows the arc of the Alps across northern Italy

The FVG4, which starts on the border with Slovenija and heads west via Cividale del Friuli, Udine and Pordenone before reaching the Veneto near Sacile,