Biking the Via Francigena: Lucca to Rome

This cycling tour is suitable for most regular cyclists. You’ll spend much of the day in the saddle and you should be experienced with this to enjoy your holiday.

Before your tour, we recommend cycling a couple of consecutive days, so you get used to riding back-to-back days and incorporating some hilly terrain into your routine. Be sure to take into account the daily distances and elevation changes outlined in your itinerary.

The terrain is varied, and usually on quiet country lanes, backroads, and easy dirt track, with the occasional short stretch on busier roads through towns.

There are longer or steeper ascents/descents. Tuscany is renowned for its hilltop towns and villages, meaning most days finish with a climb.

The route is mostly on asphalt though be prepared to ride on rougher sections with sandy gravel sections on some of the backroads.

This tour is graded moderate. Within the tour individual days may vary in difficulty - some rides may be slightly more difficult or easier than the overall grade suggests, and the grading is based on riding a standard hybrid bike.

Accommodation on this tour is a mix of locally-run 3 and 4-star hotels and B&Bs, hand-picked to make sure you enjoy your stay - expect a warm welcome, traditional hospitality and good local food and drink, with some properties offering an outdoor pool. Rooms are en suite as standard.

We always try to use the properties detailed in your accommodation information, but because of limited availability we may occasionally need to book an alternative of the same or better standard - we'll let you know in advance, and any supplement will be agreed with you first.

Yes, solo travelers are very welcome. There will be a supplement because some costs, like transfers, aren't shared. Or if you'd like to book a single room, just ask. These are available for a supplement.

Breakfast is included every day. Lunch and dinner are at your own expense, which leaves you free to explore. Purchase a packed lunch from your host, pick up picnic supplies from a local shop or market, or stop at a cafe en route. In the evening, unwind over dinner somewhere local.

This tour runs from April to the end of October, and you can start on any date within the season. Spring - April, May and June - is a lovely time to cycle, and autumn, especially September and October, brings a beautiful golden and red landscape. July and August can be very hot, so you'll want to start early to beat the heat, perhaps with a long lunch stop and a late afternoon finish - this is also a good time to consider upgrading to an e-bike.

Luggage transfers between overnight locations are included in this tour. We ask you to limit your luggage to one bag of up to 20kg/44lbs per person.

It's vital that you adhere to these limits. Heavier bags, or additional items might not be transferred, and you may be charged locally. Airlines may have different allowances, but our luggage handlers do not have the same capacity or equipment, and their health and safety is our priority.

This cycling route doesn't follow the pedestrian pilgrim route of the Via Francigena, since the trails there aren't always suitable for bikes, so you won't be following the usual pilgrim waymarking. Instead, you'll mainly follow the brown cycling signs for the Via Francigena, which closely track the official pedestrian route.

Navigation is straightforward using our app which has maps, tracks and daily route info. Simply download the information and tracks for offline use and follow the route on your phone. Once on the trail you do not need signal for the app to work and follow your progress.

Getting to the Start
The tour starts in Lucca, in the heart of Tuscany. Both Pisa and Florence airports are good options for getting there, with onward trains to Lucca from either. From Pisa Airport, there's a direct bus to Lucca taking 50 minutes, or you can take the 10-minute train to Pisa Centrale and then a direct 30-minute train on to Lucca (check Trenitalia for times) - a good option if you fancy a stop to see the Leaning Tower of Pisa on the way. From Florence Airport, the quickest route is by direct bus, taking 55 minutes from Terminal 2, or by train from Florence Santa Maria Novella station, taking around 1 hour 20 minutes.

Getting from the End
The tour finishes in Rome. If you're flying home from Rome Fiumicino Airport, it's just a 30-minute train from Rome Termini station. If you're returning via Florence Airport, it's a 1 hour 30 minute train from Rome Termini to Firenze Santa Maria Novella station, then a 15-minute tram on to the airport. If you're returning via Pisa, you can take a train changing in Florence.

You'll need your standard cycling gear. Bike hire comes with a pannier rack and bag, a pump, lock, a basic repair kit, and handlebar phone. On booking, our Tour Info will give you a complete packing list.

Since you'll have your bike with you, shortening or skipping sections may not be easy. For the best local advice on transport options for cyclists, please consult your accommodation provider or reach out to our local bike partner, where applicable.

We hire bikes suited to the terrain, including e-bikes for a bit of extra assist, in a range of sizes - just let us know your height when booking so we can get your frame right. If you would like to bring your own bike then, in the majority of cases, this is not a problem - please contact us to talk it through. We encourage all cyclists to wear a helmet, and it is law in many countries across Europe. We recommend bringing your own helmet for hygiene and safety reasons, however on most tours you can hire one.

The following bikes are available for hire:

Hybrid Bike: Touring ONE, a lightweight aluminium trekking bike with an adjustable stem, 8-speed Shimano derailleur, hydraulic disc brakes, Trelock lights, a comfort saddle and durable wheels.

E-bike touring step-through: Winora Sinus 9, with a Bosch Performance Line motor and Bosch PowerTube battery.

Road bike: Wilier Triestina GTR, with a Shimano Ultegra groupset and carbon frame.

E-bike road bike: Wilier Centro1 Hybrid, with intelligent servo assistance and a carbon frame.

Tandem bikes aren't available on this tour, and brand and model may vary depending on availability. Please let us know your height for bike sizing, and your head circumference if you'd like to hire a helmet.

Bike hire includes a spare inner tube, a repair kit and pump, a pannier bag, a lock, a water bottle holder and, for e-bikes, a battery charger. Gravel and road bikes are only recommended for experienced cyclists comfortable with that riding position and the fitness it demands.

We highly recommend that you have travel insurance when you book with Macs Adventure. Your policy should cover medical treatment (including repatriation and emergency evacuation by air ambulance or helicopter), injury, death, third-party liability, and trip cancellation