Who's ridden to Italy?

[Foxbuster]

Hi guys,

After coming back from a memorable trip to Aragon, I'm planning a trip to Misano in 2018.

What I'm keen to find out, are, what are the best routes to take, ferry or Chunnel? Going to give ourselves 4 days to get there so should be plenty of time. Want to avoid motorways in France so thinking Belgium, Luxembourg, Switzerland?

Will be using booking.com to get digs as this worked great in Spain.

Any tips/advice would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers.

[Matt B]

We worked our way down to Como last year via Luxembourg, Germany, Lichtenstein, Switzerland. Some great roads with the Black Forest and Switzerland being amongst the best places I've ever ridden.

Watch out for the Swiss motorway vignette, it's a complete rip off.

Read -Matt-'s write up here if you want https://www.bikechatforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=305272
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[G]

I did over night ferry to Holland -> Germany (Nurburging)-> Switzerland (Alpine roads) -> Italy ... then carried on along the coast to spain.

Did do motorways for good bits on the way as had a tight schedule.

[Casper]

Depends where you stay. Hull to Rotterdam or Zeebrugge or further north you have Newcastle to north Holland (Ijmuiden). You can cross at Harwich as well to Holland but unsure if overnight like the others. I fancy Italy next year but taking the van and only giving myself 2 days. Three is plenty and four if you are on a pushbike.
Years ago i went on the bike and crossed Portsmouth to Le havre and took two days, one night to get to Austria. Unsure if true but someone said that Italy and Austria are starting to charge for some roads like Switzerland but a tad cheaper.

[Matt B]

[Enduro Numpty]

The best route over or under the water depends on where you start from. From Scotland the best route for me is Newcastle to Ijmuiden. Personally I'd bomb down the Autobahns to Southern Germany and get to the good roads quickly (1 long day from the ferry). 4 days each way isn't that long if you're looking to take in some decent roads. Southern Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy and Slovenia all have some stunning roads. Once you're out of the Alps I'm not that sure there's a particularly scenic route to Misano. Others may know better? When we went in 2012 it was a mix of autostrada and non descript roads all the way to Rimini once we cleared the alps.

I would recommend staying in Cattolica, it's five minutes away from the circuit on the bike and there are plenty of bars and restaurants. As you'd expect the town turns yellow as race day approaches. A great atmosphere right in the heart of Rossi Country.

It's not the most spectator friendly place sitting baking in the sun on the grass banking but the Rossi factor sort of trumps everything

[Alpineandy]

[faffergotgunz]

Not ridden yet in Europe but done a few camper van trips. To be honest you can't go wrong visiting anywhere in Switzerland, Austria and North Italy. Beautiful!

We normally go through Germany because we like sausages. Google 'Fussen' in Germany (Bavarian Alps). An auto route goes near to there via some passes to Austria and on to Italy.

Dolomite road in North Italy is spectacular.

Austria, look up Telfes I'm Stubital...stunning

Switzerland, pretty much anywhere in the South.

Have fun man!
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[Copycat73]

this is the way we went by car this year...
once you get near the Blackforest the roads start getting much better ...
... eatin a bratwurst meal lookin out from Konstanz onto the Bodensee was memorable..


https://goo.gl/maps/5htkVS3Cz2U2
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[chickenstrip]

It's quite a long way to Italy

Perhaps we could eradicate those pesky, boring Low Countries from the map.
Or maybe build some mountains on them.
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[Copycat73]

[chickenstrip]

[Copycat73]

[Fizzer Thou]

Been to Italy twice now,the first was eleven years ago and this year.

The first time we went via ferry to Calais as it was the easiest at the time.We rode no motorways and generally headed due south through France and into Suise,then to Monte Carlo,along the coast road to Genoa before heading inland of Pisa to our friends wedding.
On the way home we rode almost directly north into Austria via the Brenner Pass and into southern Germany.
The French were the best at looking out for bikers,whereas the wop and kraut drivers never seemed to want to be behind a motorbike.I had the same situation this year around the Alps.

This year we used the Chunnel as I wanted to be making good progress as soon as possible.Due to the fuel strikes in France we went via smelly Belgium into Germany bouncing off the southern tip of Luxembourg.Then along the B500 from Baden-Baden (do this road if you can ) and along the northern boundary of Suise into Austria and down the Brenner Pass.Breathtaking scenery.

But.The HEAT.As soon as we got onto the northern plains of Italy the temperature rose dramatically and it was easily 35c plus on a regular basis,so drink plenty of water
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Always have a 'Plan B'

[chickenstrip]

[spnorm]

I always use the North Sea ferries as I live in Yorkshire.

First night off the ferry is normally a few hours on the motorway and then an overnight in the Mosel Valley, Rhine Gorge (both via the Eifel region from Aachen past the Nurburgring) or Heidelburg

This sets you up for a nice run through the Black Forest to Switzerland. Somewhere like Lake Lucerne or Brienz sets you up nicely for a ride over the Susten/Grimsel/Furka passes before heading into Italy. I particularly like the Nufenenstrasse last year.

Coming back, I like to ride up the Romantic Road (B17) or B16 and then overnight in a lovely old town like Nordlingen o the particularly stunning Rothenburg ob der Tauer

Photos of last years trip are here:

https://flickr.com/photos/96239791@N08/sets/72157656092856235

[RodYork]

[spnorm]

[CliveFa]

When I last rode to Mugello I started from Essex and used the Channel Tunnel.
Motorways down to Macon - Around a 540 mile day ride. Overnight in a good hotel with secure bike parking.
Through the Alps and Mont Blanc tunnel and on to Milan. Some great sights as it was summer.. Overnight stay again.
On to Bolgna past Ducati and Ferrari plants, down through the Dolomites to Florence, which is about 20 miles from the track. So just out of earshot.
Great place to stay, eat and enjoy the culture. Last time in 2011 in the main square a 105 piece orchestra practiced on the Friday evening and gave a magnificent free concert on the Saturday evening.

The racket at the track has to be experienced to be believed - they are just nuts about noise.
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ZX10R Black with some gold bling.

[Matt B]

[CliveFa]

[narkelion]

Hi guys!!

I'm new here.

I just moved to London, but I'm from Rome. I rode in Italy for 6+ years and I kind of know all country by hand. Spent more than 100'000km there.

Feel free to ask whatever comes to yur minds!

[JonWal]

Spnorm, that museum place looks awesome.

Where is that? The Snow photos of the top of the mountain also?
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[chickenstrip]

[waffles]

Ive always done the Tunnel to get on to the continent but I live in Kent and can be in France in a couple of hours. Overnight ferries are fine so long as you book a cabin and there is stuff to do on the crossing.

It really depends on your start point!
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