Biker-Friendly Places to Stay in Northern Italy

Hotel Jonathan is in Natz, on the Natz-Schabs plateau above Brixen (Bressanone) in South Tyrol. The Wuerzjoch (Passo delle Erbe) climbs from the valley below towards the Val Badia, the Val Gardena leads to the Sella group, and the Puster valley runs east to the Furkel and Staller passes. Guests can garage their bikes, join a guided ride or get route suggestions. The plateau is quiet, with orchards and small lakes, and Brixen's old town is a few minutes away for dinner.

Hotel am Reschensee is in Reschen (Resia), on Lake Reschen at the top of the Vinschgau in South Tyrol, just below the Reschen Pass into Austria. The church tower standing in the lake at Graun is a short ride away, and the Vinschgau road leads south-east to Prad, where the Stelvio climb begins. The Swiss Engadin is close too. Bikes can be locked in a garage, and staff suggest routes. At this altitude the evenings are cool even in summer, so pack a warm layer.

Villa Franca is on the Via Lungo Sarca in Arco, beside the river Sarca, about 3 km from the northern tip of Lake Garda at Riva and Torbole. The town sits under a castle on a rock. From here the Gardesana roads run down both shores, and the Strada della Forra climbs through a gorge to Tremosine on the western side; check it is open before you go. The hotel has a garage for bikes and hands out route descriptions.

Hotel Sorriso is on the lakeside promenade at Levico Terme, on the Lago di Levico in the Valsugana, east of Trento. The Strada dei Kaiserjaeger, a narrow road of hairpins and tunnels, climbs from the valley onto the Lavarone plateau, and the Passo del Manghen, about 23 km away in a straight line, crosses north to the Val di Fiemme. The bikes have a garage, and the staff provide route descriptions. Evenings by the lake are quiet.

Albergo Gilda is on the Via Brenta in Caldonazzo, a village by the Lago di Caldonazzo in the Valsugana. The hotel offers guided rides. From here the Strada dei Kaiserjaeger and the roads over the plateaux of Lavarone and Folgaria are close, and the Passo del Manghen, about 23 km away in a straight line, leads north over the Lagorai mountains. Trento is a short ride west. Ask about parking for the bikes before you arrive.

Hotel Mondschein is in Eggen (Ega), in the Eggental valley east of Bolzano in South Tyrol. The valley road climbs from the Eggental gorge towards Obereggen and the Lavaze Pass, and the Costalunga Pass and the Val di Fassa are close, so the western Dolomites are on the doorstep. The hotel organises guided rides and can recommend routes. Garage parking is not listed; ask what the hotel has for bikes. Bolzano is about half an hour down the valley if you want a town evening.

Hotel Gran Paradis is in Campitello di Fassa, in the Val di Fassa in Trentino, close to Canazei. This is a classic Dolomites base: the Sella Pass and the Pordoi Pass start a few minutes up the valley, so the Sella Ronda loop over the Sella, Gardena, Campolongo and Pordoi passes can be ridden in a morning, and the Fedaia under the Marmolada is close. The owner rides a motorcycle, guided rides are offered, route tips are on hand and there is a garage. Start early in summer, before the traffic builds on the passes.

Hotel Villa Colico is in Colico, at the northern tip of Lake Como in Lombardy. The lake roads south along both shores are close, the Splugen Pass climbs north from Chiavenna into Switzerland, the Maloja Pass leads into the Engadin, and the Valtellina runs east to Bormio and the Stelvio, covered in our Dolomites and Stelvio guide. There is a garage for the bikes. Colico is a junction town with fuel and shops, so it works well as a stop on the way across the Alps or as a base for lake and pass days.

This hotel is in Obereggen, at the head of the Eggental in South Tyrol, below the Latemar. The Lavaze Pass to the Val di Fiemme and the Costalunga Pass to the Val di Fassa are both close, so the Sella group and the Marmolada are within an hour. The owner is a biker who leads guided tours; bikes go in a garage and you can ask for route tips. Obereggen is a ski resort, so in summer the evenings are quiet. Bolzano is about 40 minutes down the valley.

This hotel is in Steinegg (Collepietra), on a sunny terrace above the Eisack valley north-east of Bolzano in South Tyrol. The roads to Tiers and over the Niger Pass to the Karersee are close, and the Val Gardena and the Sella passes are within an hour. Riders are well looked after: a garage, guided rides with the owner, who rides, and tips on routes. Our Dolomites and Stelvio guide covers the wider area. Steinegg is a small village, so the evenings are calm.

Hotel Lory is in Molveno, on Lake Molveno below the Brenta Dolomites in Trentino. The road north through Andalo and the Paganella plateau, the climb to Madonna di Campiglio and the Campo Carlo Magno pass, and the run down to Lake Garda are all within reach. Bikes can be garaged, which is useful in a busy resort. Molveno is quieter than the big Dolomites passes further east, and the lake is a fine place for an evening walk after a day on the roads.

Hotel Continental is on the Via della Stazione in Nago, the village on the hill behind Torbole, at the top of Lake Garda. Riva is about 4 km away. The road down from Nago to Torbole has a wide view of the lake, and the eastern shore road leads south to Malcesine and the climb to Monte Baldo. The western shore and the Strada della Forra are reached through Riva. The hotel has a garage for the bikes.

Albergo Bellavista is on the Via Roma in Ravascletto, in the Carnia mountains of Friuli, under Monte Zoncolan, about 3 km away. Carnia is a quiet corner of the Alps with narrow roads and very little traffic: the Passo Rest crosses south towards Tramonti, the Nassfeld leads into Austria, and the Ploecken pass is about 9 km away in a straight line; check its status before you plan on it. There is a garage, and route descriptions are available.

Hotel Lodenwirt is on the Pustertaler Strasse in Vintl (Vandoies), at the western end of the Puster valley in South Tyrol. Brixen is about 13 km away in a straight line and Bruneck about 15 km. The Wuerzjoch (Passo delle Erbe), about 17 km away, leads to the Dolomites, and the Penser Joch and the Jaufen are reachable for a long day. Bikes stand in a garage, and you can ask for route descriptions.

Taubers Unterwirt is a hotel in Feldthurns (Velturno), a village on the terraces above the Eisack valley, about 7 km in a straight line south of Brixen. The Val Gardena road leads up to the Passo Gardena and the Sella group, about 21 km away, and the Wuerzjoch is about 18 km. The hotel has a garage for the bikes and gives out route descriptions. The village sits high above the valley traffic, with views over the vineyards.

Goldene Krone is a bike hotel on the Stadelgasse in the old town of Brixen (Bressanone). The Wuerzjoch (Passo delle Erbe) is about 14 km away in a straight line, the Passo Gardena about 22 km and the Penser Joch about 20 km, so the Dolomites and the passes north of Bolzano are both within reach. Goldene Krone garages the bikes and has written routes ready. In the evening, the arcades and the cathedral square are a short walk away.

Hotel Rauth is in Rauth (Novale), a small village above the Eggental near Deutschnofen, south-east of Bolzano in South Tyrol. The Lavaze Pass and Obereggen are close, and the Costalunga Pass leads to the Val di Fassa and the Sella group. With a rider in charge, you get a garage, guided rides and good local tips. Our Dolomites and Stelvio guide covers the wider area. The village is small and high, so expect cool evenings and a quiet night.

Villa Clara is on the Via Matteotti in Torbole, on the north-eastern shore of Lake Garda, a few minutes from the water. Torbole is the start of the eastern lakeside road towards Malcesine and the climb onto Monte Baldo, and the road up to Nago gives a wide view over the lake. Riva is about 3 km away. A garage keeps the bikes off the street, and the hosts can give you routes for the lake and the mountains to the north.

Hotel Reipertinger Hof is in Bruneck (Brunico), the main town of the Puster valley in South Tyrol, at the foot of the Kronplatz. The owner rides, offers guided rides and route descriptions, and bikes are kept in a garage. Some of the great Dolomite passes are within a short ride: the Wuerzjoch (Passo delle Erbe) about 16 km away in a straight line, the Furkelpass, the Gardena and the Valparola. Ask about guided ride dates when you book.

Hotel Condor is in St. Vigil in Enneberg (San Vigilio di Marebbe), in a side valley of the Val Badia in South Tyrol. The Furkel Pass (Passo Furcia) climbs from the village over to Olang in the Puster valley, and the Val Badia leads south to the Campolongo, Gardena and Valparola passes, all part of the classic Dolomites loops. Bikes are garaged, and guided tours and route advice are available. St. Vigil sits at the edge of the Fanes-Sennes-Prags nature park, so evenings are quiet.

Al Forte is a hotel in Arabba, the village at the foot of the Passo Pordoi and the Passo Campolongo in the Dolomites. Few places put more famous passes so close: the Pordoi is about 5 km away in a straight line, the Fedaia under the Marmolada about 4 km, and the Gardena, Valparola and Giau are all within a short ride. Arabba sits on the Sella Ronda loop. Bikes go in a garage and route descriptions are available. Expect traffic on the passes on summer weekends, so start early.

Almhof Call is a wellness hotel in St. Vigil in Enneberg (San Vigilio di Marebbe), a village in a side valley of the Puster valley, on the edge of the Fanes-Sennes-Prags nature park. Bruneck is about 8 km away in a straight line. The Furkelpass climbs from the village over to Olang, and the Gader valley leads south towards the Valparola and the Gardena. Route descriptions are on offer. The spa is welcome after a day on the passes. Ask about bike parking when booking.

Bike & Ski Hotel Diana is in Welschnofen (Nova Levante), in South Tyrol, on the road up to the Karersee and the Costalunga Pass. Bikes come first in the name, and the setup matches: garage space, an owner who rides, guided outings and route suggestions. From the village you can cross the Costalunga into Fassa for the Sella and Pordoi, and the Niger Pass road runs north to Tiers. Bolzano is about half an hour away through the Eggental gorge.

Hotel Garni Toresela is in Nago, above Torbole at the northern end of Lake Garda in Trentino. The Gardesana road runs south along the eastern shore towards Malcesine, the Monte Baldo road climbs high above the lake, and the Ledro valley and the Ballino pass lead west into the mountains. A garage, guided rides led by the biking owner and route help make it more than a lake hotel. As a garni, it serves breakfast only; Torbole and Riva have plenty of places to eat. Lake roads are busy in summer, so ride early.

Gasthof Residence Brugghof is in Kematen, part of Sand in Taufers (Campo Tures), in the Tauferer Ahrntal north of Bruneck in South Tyrol. The Ahrntal road runs up towards the main Alpine ridge, the Puster valley leads east to Toblach and the Three Peaks, and the Staller Sattel into Austria starts from the Antholz valley. The bikes have a garage, and the hosts share route ideas. As a Gasthof with residence rooms, it suits both short stays and longer bases. Sand in Taufers has a castle worth a visit.

Azienda Agricola Ca' Nova is a farm in Bogogno, in the province of Novara in Piedmont, south of Lake Maggiore. It is well away from the Dolomites: this is lake and foothill country, with the shores of Lake Maggiore and Lake Orta a short ride north and the roads into the Ossola valleys and towards the Simplon beyond. There is a garage for the bikes. A farm stay suits riders who want a quiet night and local food, and Milan Malpensa airport is close if you are hiring a bike.

Castel Latemar is by the Karersee, above Welschnofen (Nova Levante) in South Tyrol, below the Latemar and Rosengarten peaks. The Costalunga Pass (Karerpass) is just up the road and drops into the Val di Fassa, where the Sella, Pordoi and Fedaia passes start, so the core of the Dolomites is within an hour. The owner rides a motorcycle, runs guided rides and offers route tips, and there is a garage. Our Dolomites and Stelvio guide covers the bigger loops. The Karersee lake is a short walk for the evening.

Bike & Wellness Hotel Cristallo is on the Via de Vettorazzi in Levico Terme, in the Valsugana east of Trento. As its name says, it caters for riders: bikes go in a garage, and there are route descriptions for the area. The Strada dei Kaiserjaeger to the Lavarone plateau starts close by, and the Passo del Manghen, about 20 km away in a straight line, crosses to the Val di Fiemme. The spa is there for the evening.

Albergo Cavallino Bianco is in Rumo, in the upper Val di Non in Trentino, close to the border with South Tyrol. The Mendola pass is about 14 km away in a straight line, and the Gampen pass (Passo Palade) leads over to Merano. The upper Val di Non has quiet roads among orchards and woods, with Lago di Tovel and the Brenta Dolomites to the south. Bikes are put in a garage overnight.

Garni Vajolet is a breakfast-only hotel in Moena, at the southern end of the Val di Fassa in Trentino. From Moena the San Pellegrino Pass runs east towards the Agordino, the Costalunga Pass climbs west to the Karersee, and the road up the valley leads to Canazei and the Sella, Pordoi and Fedaia passes. Bike parking is not listed, so ask the owners. As a garni, it does not serve dinner, but Moena has plenty of restaurants. Our Dolomites and Stelvio guide covers the wider area.

Hotel Da Remo is in Tenna, on the ridge between the Caldonazzo and Levico lakes in the Valsugana, east of Trento. The Kaiserjaeger road (Strada del Menador) climbs from the lake shore in a string of hairpins and tunnels up to the Vezzena plateau, and the Asiago plateau and the Passo del Manghen are within reach. The hosts can give route tips for the area. Ask about bike parking before you go, as no garage is mentioned. The lakes make a pleasant change from the high passes on hot days.

Hotel Ludwigshof is in Truden (Trodena), a village in the south of South Tyrol, above the Adige valley and close to the Val di Fiemme. The owner rides, leads guided rides and gives route descriptions, and there is a garage. The Passo del Manghen is about 18 km away in a straight line, the Mendola about 16 km, and the Lavaze, San Lugano and the passes of the Fassa valley are within easy reach. Bolzano is about 20 km away.

Sporthotel & Residence Paradies is on the main street of Sulden (Solda), a village at the foot of the Ortler, at the end of a side valley off the Stelvio road. The Stelvio Pass is about 10 km away in a straight line, and the hairpins of the eastern ramp climb from Trafoi, just up the main valley. The Umbrail, the Gavia and the Reschen are within a day's loop. There is a garage, and route descriptions are on offer. The pass usually opens in late spring, so check before an early trip.

Hotel Tuenno is on the Piazza Alpini in Tuenno, a village in the Val di Non in Trentino, at the entrance to the valley that climbs to Lago di Tovel, about 9 km away in a straight line. The Val di Non is apple country, with orchards on its terraces, and the Mendola pass, about 17 km away, crosses to Bolzano. The Tonale and the roads towards the Stelvio are within a long day's ride. The hotel has a garage. Check access rules for the Tovel road in high summer.