Varese cycling experience
This 4 day guided cycling experience based in Varese explores roads between Lake Maggiore & Lugano.
Perfect for intermediate/advanced riders who love climbing.
4 nights and 3 days of cycling. The Weekender Bike Tour usually starts on Friday and ends on Tuesday in Varese and it's based on one hotel.
Varese is a hillside town located in Lombardy, close to Piedmont and to Switzerland, at the foothills of the Italian and Swiss Pre-Alps, 25 km in a crow flies from Milan Malpensa Airport and can be reached in a 43-minute train ride every hour (no change).
How to Get Here.
The terrain around is a mix of hills, mountains, several lakes (including Maggiore, Lugano, Varese and other minor lakes), and valleys, making it a great place for road cycling.
Varese offers a blend of flat routes around the lakes, gentle rolling hills, and challenging climbs in the nearby mountains.
The area is a popular training ground for Australian cyclists living in Europe.
The AIS European Training Centre is located in Gavirate along the shores of Lake Varese.
Every year Varese hosts the UCI Gran Fondo World Series Tre Valli Varesine.
In 2018 Varese hosted the Gran Fondo World Championships.
While the roads around Varese offer good cycling with relatively light traffic, we'll prioritize back roads for a quieter ride. Although drivers are generally aware of cyclists, riding single file, not side by side, is a crucial safety precaution, especially when cars are close.
Learn more about the best tourist attractions around.
Road cycling experience based in Varese
Welcome to the weekender road bike tour based in Varese!
This is a draft. The program gives an idea of how the rides could go, but the group will decide together how far they ride each day, how much they climb, and how fast they go.
Get your three days of cycling started with a loop around Lake Lugano. There are some lovely flat stretches where you can just spin along and enjoy the scenery, like the lakeside village of Morcote ( with its colorful houses and its castle), the Monte Generoso and the Monte Lema. While the lake isn't surrounded by towering mountains, the rolling hills provide ample opportunity for invigorating climbs that will test your endurance and reward you with good vistas.
On day 2 you can ride the most beautiful sections of UCI Gran Fondo World Series Tre Valli Varesine which takes place every year in Autumn.
Prepare for a winding route that snakes through verdant hills and valleys, offering glimpses of three stunning lakes: Lugano, Brinzio and Varese. The route features a series of demanding climbs and thrilling descents. Rest assured, the route has been carefully curated to avoid boring stretches and busy main roads, ensuring a more enjoyable and safe cycling experience.
On day 3 you can make a beeline for the East shore of Lake Maggiore,
The return ride takes you inland, through the forested hills north of Varese. Here, you'll tackle a few final climbs, offering panoramic views of the surrounding countryside.
2026 Weekender road bike tour prices per person in Euro
Start location:
Varese
End location:
Varese
Duration:
4 days, 4 nights, 3 days of cycling
Maximum limit:
8 riders
Minimum:
2 riders
Level of difficulty:
intermediate and advanced
Terrain:
Mostly undulating, rolling hills, gentle climbs, sometimes challenging climbs
challenge route 94 km - 58 km
challenge route 1,600 m - 5,250 ft of climbing
Others key topics below at the end of the page, so you can ensure you are getting a smooth and enjoyable experience.
2026 scheduled dates
Weekender Tour Varese
July 2nd – 6nd 2024
August 13th – 17th 2024
October 8th – 12th 2024
Other dates are possible and we can create a departure for you.
Please contact us, so we will see how we can help you.
This tour requires a minimum of two riders to run.
Book with confidence with our flexible: Terms & Conditions .
Included in guided bike tour:
- 4 Nights in double room
- 4 High-calorie continental breakfasts
- 3 Packed lunches, strengthened and protein content snack with bananas and sandwiches
- 3 Post ride lunches when you go back to the hotel
- 3 Dinners (No on Sunday)
- Standard double occupancy
- A skilled bike guide
- Any travel by ferry or train along the rides
- Maps and information material
- The digital map of the routes drawn by us, so you can look at it on smartphone dispaly
- Workstand tool bench for basic maintenance
- Washing and cleaning area for bikes
- Daily laundry service for your cycle clothing
- Free Internet Wi-Fi
Not included:
- Bike hire
- 1 Dinner (on Sunday)
- Travel insurance
- Medical and physiotherapy services
- Transportaton to and from Varese
- Entrance fees Castles, Villas, Museums
- Any extra-beverage and other extras at dinner
Weekender Road Bike Tour
Details / Daily Routes
You can get our exclusive links to Cycling Routes Selection Map for highlighting your daily rides.
Expect small groups up to 8 riders with a guide leading the way on the road. The reason is to ensure the best riding. In such a way we can garantee you the best quality and attention. If there are more guests, it is better a split-up in two bunches during the daily rides.
We usually meet at the bikes at 8.00/8.30 in the morning, getting back to the hotel in the afternoon at 14.00/15.00, so you can enjoy a post ride lunch. The rest of the day is relax time.
We all together leave, as a team, with our packed lunch. A coffee stop, stops for lunch along the way and for regrouping are suggested during the daily ride.
Main route and extended route.
Typically the daily ride follows a loop design, offering a dual option (a main route and a B-side option), allowing you to choose your difficulty on the fly.
The two routes are the same on the first part and on the last one of the daily ride. Instead the middle part offers a main route (easier) and an extended (longer/more elevation) route. So you can take the shortcut or tackle the longer/more extended way. In such a way there is the opportunity of splitting up, meeting and regrouping before going back together to hotel for the post ride lunch in the afternoon.
Basically the tour is for intermediate / enthusiast cyclists, but you can tackle tougher rides if you are comfortable and if you are an advanced cyclist.
When you’re riding you’ll always have at least one guide on the road with the bunch.
The guide leads the way on the road giving you the flexibility to ride at your own pace expecially along the climbs, regrouping at the top. The pace is respected, and the group structure is designed so the slowest rider never feels like a burden. There is no vehicle support during the ride.
The programme suggests the structure for the bike tour, however the bench will collaboratively decide on the daily riding arrangements, including distance, elevation and pace.
Please take a look at others key topics below at the end of the page, so you can ensure you are getting a smooth and enjoyable experience.
Learn more about the CLIMBS in the Italian and Swiss Lake District on Google Maps.
Sometime you have to tackle technical descents. They are taken at your own pace. There is zero pressure to climb down. Safety first, always.
Please note that all routes are subject to change depending on local conditions.
If you have any specific questions or want advice for your next bike tour, feel free to message us.
We’d be happy to share our tips with you.
1 ~ Thursday - Arrival
Assembling your own bike or delivery of rental bike and pre-tour briefing.
Accomodation: Hotel Ungheria Varese. It's a family-run hotel.
2 ~ Friday, 3 ~ Saturday, 4 ~ Sunday
Several rides start from Varese.
Typically the daily ride offers a dual option: a main route and an extended route (longer/more elevation).
Some of them:
- Campo dei Fiori (45 km - 28 mi; 540 m - 1,770 ft) or (61 km - 38 mi; 1,200 m - 3,940 ft),
- Lake Maggiore in the inside (73 km - 45 mi; 850 m – 2,780 ft) or (74 km - 46 mi; 950 m - 3,120 ft),
- Lake Maggiore and Lake Lugano (97 km - 60 mi; 950 m – 3,120 ft) or (99 km - 62 mi; 1,260 m - 4,130 ft),
- Lake Como (81 km - 50 mi; 650 m – 2,130 ft) or (117 km - 73 mi; 1,470 m – 4,820 ft),
- Sant'Antonio and San Michele (61 km - 38 mi; 1,200 m – 3,940 ft) or (75 km - 47 mi; 1,750 m – 5,740 ft),
- Lake Lugano easy (84 km - 52 mi; 500 m - 1,640 ft) or (88 km - 55 mi; 700 m – 2,300 ft),
- Lake Lugano up and down (113 km - 70 mi; 1,500 m – 4,920 ft) or (135 km - 84 mi; 2,250 m – 7,380 ft),
- Try the UCI GranFondo Tre Valli Varesine (84 km - 52 mi; 1,200 m – 3,940 ft) or (98 km - 61 mi; 1,600 m – 5,250 ft) .
Accomodation: Hotel Ungheria Varese. It's a family-run hotel.
5 ~ Monday - Departure
Breakfast and departure.
Key topics to ensure a smooth and enjoyable experience.
It is all about making sure we are on the same wavelength and have a cracking rides!
These rides are suitable for intermediate and advaved riders.
Intermediate / enthusiast cyclists
Your typical number of weekly rides at home: 2 or 3
On a typical ride you’re comfortable doing up to 80-100 km (50-62 mi) with up to 1,000 m (3,280 ft) of elevation gain.
You are comfortable on a few daily climbs with average grades up to 6–10% (at your own pace) and have good bike handling skills on corners and descents.
Steady, brisk pace.
You should be prepared to be in the saddle for at least four hours a day and to enjoy a few challenge.
Advanced / challenging cyclists
Your typical number of weekly rides at home: 3 or 4
On a typical ride you’re comfortable doing over 100 km (62 mi) with over 1,000 m (3,280 ft) of elevation gain.
You are comfortable on more climbs with average grades up to 6–10% (at your own pace) and have good bike handling skills on corners and descents.
Fast, sustained pace.
You should be prepared to be in the saddle for several hours a day.
The Spirit of the Rides
Our cycling outings are all about leisure and discovery. Forget the stopwatch: we focus on the joy of riding together and appreciating the Italian-Swiss landscapes. We maintain a non-competitive, social pace where taking a moment to photograph a view is part of the experience. Safety and group cohesion are our priorities—no one is ever left to ride alone.
On the Road
We carefully select quiet secondary roads to stay clear of heavy traffic. While we stay together on the flats, the climbs are yours to enjoy at your own speed; we simply regroup at the summit. Our rides include planned breaks for a morning espresso and cake, and we enjoy our packed lunches in scenic spots. Staying hydrated is easy, as we’ll pass numerous local fountains to refill your bottles.
Weather & Safety
While we aren't afraid of a little rain, your safety is paramount. If the forecast predicts dangerous conditions or weather so poor it would ruin the fun, we’ll simply reschedule and find the best alternative for you.
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Photographer: Lakes Northern Italy Bike Tours
Copyright: Lakes Northern Italy Bike Tours
Credit: Lakes Northern Italy Bike Tours
