Would you like to spend an alternative holiday in Apulia and would you like to see Salento by bike?
Great! Because in this article we will explain exactly how to visit the most beautiful locations and how best to organise your cycling trip. Salento is confirmed as one of the coolest destinations for spring-summer 2023, one of the most popular holiday destinations for Italians and foreigners alike. In fact, our beloved Salento peninsula never ceases to surprise and intrigue new tourists and confirm the regulars who adore it.
This is certainly due to the variety of attractions, places of interest, history, art, food and wine, culture, archaeology and the vast natural heritage it possesses. And it is precisely for this reason that Salento is a destination suitable for everyone, including sports and cycling enthusiasts. But let’s go to the point and discover together which are the best cycling routes in Salento!
Salento by bike: when to go?
If you are wondering what is the best time to visit Salento by bike, we’ll tell you straight away: the right time is up to you!
Every season has its pros and cons:
Salento by bike in winter
The roads are less busy, the weather is always uncertain (if this is not a problem then don’t mind!), some restaurants may be closed, especially at lunchtime, and it gets dark very early;
Salento by bike in summer
In between you can stop for a swim and refresh yourself, the day lasts longer and you enjoy your trip more, on the other hand it may be too hot, the roads are busier and places are crowded;
Salento by bike in autumn
The roads and places are less busy, the weather is mild but often uncertain and there are fewer hours of daylight than in summer;
Salento by bike in spring
The climate is perfect, neither too hot nor too cold, the places and roads are quieter, the light lasts longer, but some activities may still be closed.
One might deduce, therefore, that the best time to cycle around Salento is in spring and autumn, but it always depends on the type of trip you want to make.
Best bicycle touring routes Lecce
Do you want to start from Lecce for your Salento bike tour? Here are the best cycle touring routes in Lecce:
Lecce – Otranto: about 48 km;
Lecce – Acaya: about 12 km;
Lecce – Santa Maria al Bagno: about 34 km;
Lecce – Cerrate: about 18 km;
Lecce – Gallipoli: about 50 km;
Lecce – Santa Maria di Leuca: about 100 km;
Lecce – Santa Cesarea Terme: about 74 km.
Salento cycle paths
Cyclotourism is a growing sector in Europe and Italy, and the figures recorded in Puglia are no different. As a result, services are increasing, contributing to slow and responsible tourism. Let us therefore see which are the main cycling routes in Salento:
Acaya – Lepore Airport: 3 km, footpath, dirt road;
Arnesano – Lecce: 6 km, road, asphalt roadbed;
Calimera (circuit 2): 10 km, road, asphalt roadbed;
Torre Specchia – San Cataldo – Frigole: 21 km, cycle/pedestrian path, mixed ground;
Torre Specchia – San Foca – Melendugno: 54 km, cycle/pedestrian path, asphalt roadbed;
Tour of the two seas – from the Adriatic to the Ionian Sea via Lecce: 116 km, road, asphalt roadbed;
Trepuzzi percorso della Salute: 6 km, cycle path, asphalt road surface;
Trepuzzi via Zona Industriale: 1 km, cycle path, asphalt roadbed;
Veglie (ring): 12 km, cycle path, asphalt roadbed.
For all information on Salento cycle routes, visit the cycle path website.
Organised Salento cycling tours
Do you want to go from Lecce to Gallipoli by bike? Or do you want to do the Otranto cycle route? Maybe you prefer to take a bike tour inland? You don’t know which are the cycle paths in Gallipoli? If you have too many doubts and dilemmas and find it difficult to organise your trip, you can choose an organised Salento cycling itinerary, in a group or individually. There are, in fact, several companies that can plan everything for you:
If, on the other hand, you would like to participate in Salento bike tours, there are several associations that take care of this, such as Salento bici tour, Slowactivetours, Salentoadventure, or if you are looking for Salento mtb tours, you can contact Naturalmentenelsalento. Finally, we recommend Salentobici, which also deals with bike and mtb rental in Salento.
Salento gpx tracks
Do you need gpx tracks of Salento? You can download them on the Cammino del Salento website or you can use Komoot, an app to download to your smartphone, which allows you to plan your route and enjoy exciting experiences in the nature.
Salento cycling itinerary
After all this information, we would also like to suggest one of the best Salento itineraries by bike:
Visit Lecce and start from there;
Lecce – Gallipoli 60 km: visit Galatina, Galatone and Gallipoli;
Gallipoli – Santa Maria di Leuca about 73 km: stop at some of the most beautiful beaches in Salento and visit some of Salento villages such as Ugento, Presicce and Specchia;
Santa Maria di Leuca – Otranto 60 km: visit Castro, Santa Cesarea Terme and Otranto;
Otranto – Lecce about 60 km: stop at Alimini Lakes, Bauxite Quarries, Torre dell’Orso, Grotta della Poesia and Acaya.
