Florence to Tuscany E-Bike Tour: Small Group, Farm Lunch & Monastery

Summary

Ride ancient Etruscan roads from Florence to Fiesole then taste olive oil at a quiet family estate

You’ll trade Florence’s bustle for rolling Tuscan hills on an e-bike day trip with a local guide, riding ancient roads past Fiesole to hilltop monasteries and Michelangelo’s childhood haunts. Share fresh bread, cheese, fruit, wine and laughter at a small family estate before heading back — it’s the kind of day that lingers long after you leave.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Explore Fiesole and Tuscan countryside

• Start at hilltop town of Fiesole
• Enjoy panoramic views of Florence
• Visit Leonardo da Vinci's test site
• Ride along Via degli Dei ancient road
• Reach monastery inhabited by monks
• Visit Michelangelo's childhood home in Settignano
• Experience scenic views of Tuscan countryside

Top questions

How far is the e-bike tour from Florence?

The tour starts just 4 miles from Florence in Fiesole—about 20 minutes by public bus or car.

Is lunch included on this Tuscany e-bike tour?

Yes, lunch is included: fresh bread, seasonal fruit and veggies, local cheese, olive oil, and house wine at a family estate.

How many people are on each tour?

This is a micro-group experience with a maximum of 4 participants plus your native guide.

Do I need to be an experienced cyclist?

You should be able to confidently ride a bike and handle moderate hills; e-bikes make it easier but some fitness is needed.

What if I’m traveling with kids?

Kids’ back seats are available for children up to 47 lbs (22 kg), max two per group.

Are there any famous sights along the route?

You’ll pass ancient Etruscan roads, Michelangelo’s childhood home near Settignano, Leonardo da Vinci’s flight spot in Fiesole, and Monte Senario monastery.

What should I wear or bring?

Cycling shorts are recommended; avoid sandals or flip-flops. Check weather before coming and dress accordingly.

Is transportation from Florence included?

No hotel pickup is provided but Fiesole is easily reached by public bus (line 7) or car; free parking nearby if needed.

What’s included

Your day includes premium e-MTB rental with helmet, guidance from a native Tuscan expert who sets the pace just for your group of four or fewer, stops for fresh bread and fruit at local farms along the way, entry into peaceful hilltop monasteries or Michelangelo’s old neighborhood depending on season, plus an outdoor meal at a family-run estate featuring olive oil tasting, regional cheeses like pecorino or buffalo mozzarella, house red wine straight from their cellar—and plenty of bottled water as you go.

What’s the experience like?

Ever wondered what Tuscany smells like when you’re not stuck behind a tour bus? I didn’t, until we pedaled out of Florence on e-bikes with Marco — just four of us and him, rolling up through Fiesole while the city got smaller behind us. The air was sharp with cypress and something sweet I couldn’t place. Marco said it’s wild fennel. He waved at an old woman tending tomatoes by the road; she shouted something back that made him laugh, but he didn’t translate. Felt like we were in on some local secret.

The ride itself wasn’t hard (thank you, e-bike), but it was real — dusty tracks, bits of old Etruscan road poking through the gravel. At one point we stopped where Leonardo da Vinci supposedly tested his flying machine. Honestly? I mostly noticed how quiet it was except for birds and our own tires crunching. Later, we climbed higher than I expected — up to this monastery on Monte Senario where monks still live. It smelled like cool stone and pine needles inside. We didn’t stay long; just enough to catch our breath and look out over the hills.

Lunch was my favorite part, though I probably embarrassed myself trying to ask for more pecorino in Italian (Marco grinned and helped me out). We picked up bread and fruit from a tiny farm stand — peaches so ripe they left juice on my hands — then ended up at a family estate with olive trees everywhere. Someone’s nonna handed us plates piled with cheese and poured red wine that tasted earthy in a good way. We ate outside under fig trees, talking about everything from football to Dante, sun warm on our backs. I still think about that view sometimes when I’m stuck in traffic back home.