Bolzano to Verona Trip Report

This easy four night, self-guided short break starts in the mountains and follows the Adige River downhill towards Lake Garda, finishing in the historic city of Verona.

...is very straight forward. Verona train station is easy to reach from the airport by bus (€6) and then I caught a comfortable fast train to Bolzano (1 ½ hours).

The first two days of cycling follow the well signposted, flat cycle path by the Adige river to the lakeside town of Riva. Then you take a ferry across the length of Lake Garda (take a good book, relax and enjoy the stunning scenery), to reach the southern shores. The final day’s cycling took me alongside a canal into Verona. The good news is the cycling is almost all downhill or flat, plus there are options to shorten the days by choosing an easier itinerary or hopping on a train.

Although Bolzano is in Italy it has strong Austrian influences, having been part of the Austrian Tyrol region until the end of World War I. It was interesting to see road signs in both Italian and German and how, as I headed further south, the architecture becoming more distinctly Italian. There are also many excellent local beers to sample in traditional bars.

...are mainly 4 star hotels. They are of a good standard and location with ample food in the morning to fuel you for your day’s cycle.

The 27 gear bikes have a handy handlebar bag or map holder and a waterproof Ortlieb pannier to carry anything for the day. The comfortable gel saddle eased the miles along more quickly, and the tyres lived up to their manufacturer’s claim of being puncture resistant!

...are excellent and very easy to follow. The cycle computer fitted to your bike tracks your daily kilometres, so you can easily follow your progress on the route notes (as well as the map!). My number one tip is to read up on the next day’s itinerary the evening before to plan any sightseeing. The in-depth destination guide lists places of interest on your map.

A trip to Italy is not complete without trying the local artisan ice cream, look out for the ‘artigianale’ sign outside the parlour. There are plenty of places to try fresh pasta and local pizza too!