Cycling Tours in the Dolomites
Self-guided bike tours through the UNESCO peaks — road, gravel and MTB routes from the high passes down to Venice and Trieste.
The Dolomites — a UNESCO World Heritage range of pale limestone peaks — are one of Europe's greatest cycling destinations. Our self-guided Dolomites cycling tours run from the legendary high passes around the Sella massif to the gentle old-railway greenway down to Venice, with road, gravel and mountain-bike itineraries to match. Every tour includes hotels, daily luggage transfer, GPS tracks and travel insurance from €559 per person.
Whether you want to test yourself on the Pordoi and Gardena climbs, roll downhill through Cadore on a traffic-free cycle path, or cross from the peaks to the Adriatic at Trieste or Jesolo, you will find the right Dolomites bike tour below. Long Alpine crossings such as Munich-to-Venice and Innsbruck-to-Venice also thread the range — browse them among our Italy cycling tours.
10 Dolomites cycling tours
From the Dolomites to Venice: Cycling the Old Railway Trail
8 days · Self-guided · From €829 per person
View tour detailsThree Countries, Fifteen Lakes: Cycling from the Dolomites to Slovenia
7 days · Self-guided · From €969 per person
View tour detailsHotel-Based Cycling Tour at the Foot of the Dolomites
7 days · Self-guided · From €989 per person
View tour detailsGrand Tour of the Dolomites by Road Bike
8 days · Self-guided · From €989 per person
View tour detailsGrand Tour of the Dolomites: Cycling for Sportive Riders and E-Bikers
8 days · Self-guided · From €989 per person
View tour detailsWhy cycle the Dolomites
UNESCO peaks and legendary passes. The Sella Ronda loop links the Pordoi, Sella, Gardena and Campolongo passes in a single day of switchbacks beneath the pale Dolomite walls — some of the most spectacular road cycling anywhere in the Alps.
A gentle greenway to Venice. Not every Dolomites route is a climb. The old Calalzo-Cortina railway is now a traffic-free cycle path that drops steadily through the Cadore valleys to the Piave and on to the Venetian lagoon — ideal for leisure riders and families.
Road, gravel and MTB in one range. From Prosecco-hill road tours to the Natural Parks MTB routes and the gravel run to Jesolo, the Dolomites pack every kind of cycling into a compact, well-signposted region.
Three cuisines as you descend. Speck and strudel in South Tyrol, Teroldego and cheese in Trentino, and the UNESCO Prosecco hills of Conegliano-Valdobbiadene as you roll toward the sea.
Cycling in the Dolomites — frequently asked questions
When is the best time for a cycling tour in the Dolomites?
The Dolomites cycling season runs from June to late September. High passes such as the Sella, Pordoi, Gardena and Fedaia are typically open and snow-free from mid-June to mid-October, with July and August the warmest and busiest months. June and September offer quieter roads, long daylight and daytime temperatures of 18-25 °C in the valleys, cooler at altitude — always carry a wind layer for the descents.
How difficult is cycling in the Dolomites?
It depends on the route. The high road-bike loops around the Sella massif involve 1,000-2,000 m of climbing per day and suit fit, experienced cyclists (e-bikes make them far more accessible). But the valley routes — above all the old Calalzo-to-Venice railway trail — are gentle, largely downhill and traffic-free, perfect for leisure riders. Daily distances range from 30 km on the gravel and family routes to 90 km on the sportive road tours.
Can you cycle from the Dolomites down to Venice or Trieste?
Yes — two of our most popular itineraries do exactly that. The "Dolomites to Venice" route follows the old Calalzo-Cortina railway, converted into a gentle downhill cycle path through Cadore and the Piave valley to the Venetian lagoon. The "Dolomites to Trieste" tours drop from the peaks through Carinthia, the Julian Alps and Friuli Venezia Giulia to the Adriatic, in road-bike and self-guided versions.
Are there gravel and mountain-bike tours in the Dolomites?
Yes. The "Dolomites to Jesolo" gravel tour links the mountains to the Adriatic on mixed surfaces, while the "Dolomites Natural Parks" MTB tour explores the protected parks on trails and forest roads. Both come with GPS tracks, luggage transfer between hotels and the option of a gravel or mountain e-bike.
What food and wine should I try on a Dolomites bike tour?
The Dolomites straddle South Tyrol, Trentino and the Veneto, so the table changes as you ride: speck, canederli (bread dumplings) and apple strudel in the German-speaking north; Trentino cheeses and Teroldego wine in the valleys; and, as you descend toward Venice, the Prosecco hills of Conegliano-Valdobbiadene, a UNESCO wine landscape.
Explore more Italian cycling tours
Beyond the Dolomites, Italy offers Umbria, Puglia, Tuscany and bike-and-boat itineraries from Venice — all self-guided with hotels and luggage transfer included. For inspiration across the continent, see our guide to the best bike tours in Europe.