Twisty Tuscany (Self Guided Tour)

Ten days from the Austrian Tyrol down to Tuscany and back, ridden alone with the navigation already sorted. The route crosses the Dolomites and Lake Garda on the way south, which means the journey is as good as the destination.

Verona comes first, then Bobbio in the Apennine foothills, a village on the old pilgrim road with a hump-backed medieval bridge. La Spezia follows on the Ligurian coast, at the southern end of the Cinque Terre, then Pisa.

Florence is the turning point and the operator’s description of it as an open-air museum is fair enough. The city holds more Renaissance art per square mile than anywhere on earth, and the practical advice is the same as for any Italian city on a motorcycle: park it and walk. The roads around Florence are the real draw though, the vineyard lanes and ridge roads between the hill towns, and they are best taken slowly. The return runs back north through Bassano del Grappa and the Dolomites.

Edelweiss include a choice of BMW motorcycle, accommodation at one of three tiers from guest houses to four star superior, and the route materials, with no guide by design. Flights are separate and the inclusions are not itemised in full on the operator’s page. Prices run from 2,530 to 2,590 euros per person for 2026 depending on hotel category. For a rider who wants Italy but would rather not ride to a group’s timetable in city traffic, the self-guided format removes most of the friction.