Sicily by gravel bike

The best gravel bike routes in Sicily

Sicily is a region that has recently entered the world of gravel so it is not yet fully mature. However, its network of provincial roads is the largest in Italy at over 15,000 kilometres. Paved forty years ago and today often unpaved, or nearly so, with very little traffic, these are in fact cycle paths that cross the most beautiful villages of inland and coastal Sicily. A gravel trip to Sicily is an incredible experience not to be missed for any reason in the world.

To select the best gravel itineraries in Italy, we have taken into consideration some parameters such as compatibility with a 2 to 14 day holiday, the accessibility of the itinerary by means of transport and the presence of cycle tourism services in the surrounding area.

What are the best gravel bike routes around Sicily?

The best gravel routes in Sicily are:

Sicily Divide
Grand Cycling Tour of Sicily
Barocco’s Cycleway by gravel bike
Magna Via Francigena by gravel bike
Etna by gravel bike
Favignana by gravel bike
Lipari by gravel bike
Salina by gravel bike

1. Sicily Divide gravel bike route

Sicily Divide is a permanent itinerary for gravel bicycles, or mountain bikes, which crosses the center of Sicily. The itinerary was designed to be traveled from Trapani to Catania, or from Palermo to Catania, but you can decide to do the “reverse” version from Catania to Trapani or from Palermo to Trapani. Whichever direction you want to travel, it is always possible to collect the Divider’s Pass free of charge in authorized centers before leaving and the journey certificate once you arrive at your destination.

2. Grand Cycling Tour of Sicily

The grand cycling tour of Sicily is a cycling itinerary that goes around Sicily on a gravel bike. The route tries to stay as close to the sea as possible and only moves away from the coast when it is not possible to ride safely on main roads. You cross by bicycle all the most important tourist destinations of Sicily such as Taormina, Cefalù, Palermo and Catania and a series of beaches and nature reserves which are among the most important of the whole island.

3. Barocco's Cycleway by gravel bike

In 1693 a terrible earthquake destroyed almost all the villages and towns in the Val di Noto. The nobles and entrepreneurs of the place turned to the best architects of the time who rebuilt the cities using the architectural canons in fashion at the time, namely those of the Baroque. The Sicilian Baroque monuments are today protected by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site and exploring them by bicycle is an unforgettable experience.

4. Magna Via Francigena by gravel bike

The Magna Via Francigena is the ancient Sicilian road traveled by the people of the Franks who went from the north of France to the south of Italy to take care of their economic and military interests. Today, the Magna Via Francigena in gravel is a challenging, fun and very well structured adventure cycle tour.

5. Etna by gravel bike

The Etna volcano is the highest active volcano in Europe. Exploring Etna by gravel is one of the funniest gravel adventures in Sicily. Not all of its roads can be covered with a gravel bike since in some sections the use of a mountain bike is essential. By clicking the button below, you will be able to see some gravel bike itineraries on Etna.

6. Favignana by gravel bike

Favignana is the most cycling island in the Mediterranean. On this small island, in fact, there are over 10,000 rental bicycles and its roads are so quiet as to be perfect for a gravel ride. Sicily in gravel is spectacular but Favignana is even more so.

7. Lipari by gravel bike

Lipari is one of the most important islands of the Aeolian archipelago in Sicily. Being the largest, it is also the one that offers the most opportunities for cycle tourism. In particular, it is possible to go around Lipari by bicycle and visit all the scenic and architectural attractions that this island has to offer.

8. Salina by gravel bike

Salina is an island of the Aeolian archipelago famous for its wild and fascinating nature. Its two peaks, almost 1000 meters high, are perfect for mountain biking and, for stronger legs, even gravel. the rest of the island of Salina can be easily traveled on gravel, even if it is impossible to complete the circumnavigation.

Characteristics and information on Sicily by gravel bike

Sicily has recently entered the world of cycle tourism and gravel bike travel so there are not many infrastructures for cycle tourism. However, precisely its wild appearance and the scarce urbanization of its internal areas make it perfect for gravel cycle tourism. Normally, you cycle for hours without meeting anyone and this is good if you consider that there is almost no vehicular traffic, moreover, the natural hospitality of the Sicilians compensates for the lack of infrastructure for cycle tourism with all possible help in case of difficulty.

One surprising thing is the sheer number of bike rental agencies on one island. After a careful market research, we have selected the best bikes for gravel rental in Sicily that we have collected on the bikerentalsicily.com website. Click the button below and find out the Trek and Specialized bikes we rent in Sicily.

When is the best time to ride Sicily by gravel bike?

The climate of Sicily is suitable for cycling in any season. The rainiest months are January and February so you can find mud on the dirt roads, especially in the inland areas. The hottest months, on the other hand, are July and August, so it’s best to cycle in the coastal areas where it’s possible to cool off by swimming in the sea. However, cycling in Sicily is always possible, especially if you choose itineraries with a high percentage of asphalt since often the Sicilian roads, even the state roads, are almost totally deserted. In fact, motorways are free, so motorists prefer them to other types of roads.

More from Italy

Sicily by gravel bike

The best gravel bike routes in Sicily Sicily is a region that has recently entered the world of gravel so it is not yet fully mature. However, its network of...

Find Out More

Tuscany by gravel bike

Find out all the best gravel bike routes in Tuscany with Komoot tracks for gravel and mountain bike.

Find Out More

Lazio by gravel bike

What are the best gravel bike routes in Lazio? Lazio is one of those regions that you can’t imagine exploring by bike, let alone gravel. This happens for several reasons:...

Find Out More

This information was provided by the authors of the itinerary or was taken from the official website or from their social pages, therefore, does not come from official statistical bodies. Before planning a trip on this itinerary, it is essential to contact the authors or those responsible for it to get updated information. In any case.