Gargano Bike Tour: route between coast and Foresta Umbra

The GAG, Giro ad Anello del Gargano, is a bike tour across the promontory. It's about 350 km long. In 2026, it ranked second among Italy's best bike routes. It's now known outside Puglia too. You should use a gravel bike or e-bike for it.

Don't confuse it with the Ciclovia Adriatica from Lesina to Manfredonia. That route is shorter and more direct. The Giro ad Anello del Gargano is a multi-day journey. It crosses various areas of the promontory, from the coast to the inland, including places like Monte Sant'Angelo.

It's not a continuous bike path separate from traffic. Instead, it winds through different roads.

You can complete the tour in 4 to 7 days. It depends on your time, fitness, and bike type.

One option is to do it in 4 stages, covering about 200 km.

First stage: from Monte Sant'Angelo to Mattinata (46 km, 750 m climb)Start at Monte Sant'Angelo, home to the San Michele basilica. Then head down to Mattinata, passing by the Pulsano Abbey and Monte Saraceno, a cliff over the sea. The landscape shifts from highlands to the sea.

Second stage: from Mattinata to Vieste (60 km, 1,100 m climb)Leave Mattinata and climb to the scenic Valico del Lupo. Then return to the coast. This part of Gargano is stunning, with cliffs, coves, and Adriatic views. Summer traffic on coastal roads can increase.

Third stage: from Vieste to Foresta Umbra (48 km, 1,250 m climb)After Vieste, follow the northern coast. You'll see trabucchi, old wooden fishing machines still in use. At Peschici, leave the sea and climb to the Foresta Umbra.

Fourth stage: from Foresta Umbra to Mattinata (48 km, 881 m climb)The last stage starts with a tour in the Foresta Umbra. Then, return to the coast and reach Mattinata along the Sentiero dell'Amore.

Entering the Foresta Umbra marks a big change in the journey. After the coast, you ride through woods and beech forests in the heart of the Gargano National Park. These ancient beech forests have been a UNESCO site since 2017. They're one of the most important natural areas on the GAG route.

The full route lets you discover the Varano lake area. It's Italy's largest coastal lake, famous for oysters. The landscape is very different from the cliffs between Mattinata and Vieste and the northern coastal tourist spots. This mix defines the GAG: sea, climbs, villages, Foresta Umbra, and lake are all part of the journey.

If you're traveling by train, the main station is Foggia. In Puglia, bicycles are free on Trenitalia regional trains with the bike symbol.

You can ride with your bike or rent one locally. On the promontory, local operators offer rentals, guided tours, and luggage transport. As of 2026, an e-bike costs about 50 euros per day or 200 euros per week. A mountain bike is around 30 euros per day or 120 euros per week. Luggage transport between stops costs about 20 euros per person per stop.

The best times to complete the loop peacefully are spring and fall, when temperatures are mild. If you choose summer, focus on the Foresta Umbra trails. They stay cool and are away from beach traffic.

I only did the Foresta Umbra part of the GAG with my bike, arriving by car. For this section, I recommend a mountain bike: some trails have uneven surfaces, requiring good bike control.

I parked near Rifugio Sfilzi, between Vico del Gargano and Monte Sant'Angelo. From there, you can enter the Sfilzi Reserve area and start biking in the forest.

The trails are well-marked with fences, making it easy to know where to go. But they're not always simple: some parts have challenging surfaces, requiring good bike balance, especially on rough ground.

Don't underestimate the risk of punctures or tire cuts. Given the terrain, avoid bikes with thin tires and bring essentials for a flat tire.

During the ride, I also saw some donkeys. Seeing them in the forest was a delightful surprise and makes this section very different from the coastal parts mentioned earlier.