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A cycling holiday leading you from the historical city of Prague to the beautifully restored city of Dresden following the Elbe and Vltava rivers through charming riverside towns such as Melnik, Litomerice, Decin and Bad Schandau. This cycling route takes you along quiet country roads and scenic paths and unveils art, architecture, castles, vineyards and vibrant towns.
Prague will enchant you with its wonderful architecture, bustling, cobbled streets, cathedrals and countless churches. After spending two nights in the Czech capital your cycling adventure begins riding out into the gently rolling countryside alongside the Vltava River.
Melnik
From the imposing Melnik Castle you can enjoy magnificent views of the confluence of the Elbe and Vltava rivers. Close to the charming village of Litomerice you may also wish to visit Terezin, a former Military Fortress which was used as a concentration camp during the Second World War. Just before the German border, the castle at Decin stands guard over the river.
Crossing into Germany the Elbe leads you along a serene, tree-lined valley to the small riverside town of Bad Schandau and then finally through riverside meadows to the city of Dresden. In the city you can learn more about this historic town, including its near total destruction in 1945. The historical centre is nowadays largely restored to its former glory but the restoration work still continues.
This is not a difficult route as the daily distances are very manageable and the terrain is mostly level. You will be cycling on paved country roads with a few gravel paths along the way.
Upon arrival make your way to your hotel and after check-in you are free to relax or explore. While the town is known for its long history and wealth of wonderful architecture, art, churches and museums it also attracts a young cosmopolitan set, which have come for the lively atmosphere. The nightlife is quite vibrant with many bars and clubs to enjoy well-known Czech beer. Alternatively, if you like classical music then check out some of the churches and palaces as many offer concerts in the evenings.
Many of Prague’s sights can be visited on foot or bike as it really is quite a compact city. Without doubt Prague’s most important monument is the castle. Once the home to kings of Bohemia it is now the seat of parliament. Within the castle grounds you can visit the Gothic Cathedral of St. Vitus. Here many religious artifacts and art are on display as well as some very impressive stained glass windows. In town, the Charles Bridge, named after its founder Charles IV is Prague’s oldest and most iconic bridge. In the old town itself there is Prague’s Astronomical Clock dating back to 1410 and the oldest of its kind in the world. Close-by the large vibrant square, surrounded by wonderful baroque buildings, attracts many with its lively cafes and street entertainers.
Your first day of cycling takes you to the charming town of Melnik, which lies at the confluence of the Vlatva and Elbe Rivers. The magnificent hilltop castle is worth a visit as not only does it offer great views of the surrounding countryside but it’s also home to some impressive wine cellars as well as a fine art collection.
Leave Melnik and cycle on along the Elbe River. Shortly after passing the pleasant riverside town of Roundnice nad Labem we recommend making a small detour to visit Terezin an old military fortress that was used as a concentration camp during WWII. Afterwards it’s only a short ride to the charming town of Litomerice where you will overnight. Here you have an array of Gothic, Baroque and Renaissance buildings to admire. We think the local wine in this region is very good and we highly recommend a visit to one of the many convivial bars or restaurants to form your own opinion.
Your route takes you past the Gothic castle of Strekov perched on a 100 meter cliff overlooking the river and on to Decin for the evening. The route offers nice views of the wooded hillsides sweeping down to the river. We recommend a visit to the castle, one of the largest in the country where you can stroll through it admiring the architecture and design. Afterwards perhaps take time to walk around the Rose gardens which afford wonderful views over the town.
Leaving Decin the route leads you through a picturesque wooded valley on a beautiful riverside cycle path. The scenery is breathtaking as you pass the impressive sandstone cliffs on the eastern flank of the river. Further on you’ll see the Konigstein Fortess and rock formation of Bastei. If your accommodation is in Bad Schandau the cycle route is short today and longer tomorrow. If you are in Pirna then today is slightly longer with a shorter day tomorrow.
Your last day of cycling takes you along the river through riverside meadows and past the Pilnitz Castle to Dresden often referred to as the Florence of the Elbe. In 1945 Dresden was bombed relentlessly and this once architecturally stunning city was all but destroyed. After much restoration work many of the city’s wonderful baroque buildings and fine art are again on display. The “Frauenkirche” or “Church of Our Lady” is a prime example of this, having been completely restored from a pile of rubble to her original baroque splendour.
After breakfast it’s time to check-out and head for home or your next adventure.
Regular bikes provided are modern alloy framed models with 21-24 speeds. The bikes come equipped with pannier, lock and a repair kit with pump.
Electric bikes are also available.
Helmets are not provided and we therefore recommend bringing your own.
Below is a sample of the type of accommodation typically used on this tour. Please note that the hotel we book for you may differ from below but will certainly be of a similar standard.
Comfort: Comfortable hotels and guesthouses.
Prague: Hotel Expo
Melnik: Pension Hana
Litomerice: Pension U Borovicku
Decin: Ceska Koruna Hotel
Bad Schandau/Pirna: Hotel Erbgericht Krippen / Romantikhotel
Dresden: Park Inn by Radisson
Local taxes
Some hotels have started to charge a local/tourist tax. These taxes are not included in the sale price of the tour and must be paid directly by you at check-in or checkout at the hotels. This fee varies and is ever changing but as a guide, you may be asked to pay between €1-€4 per person per night.
Fly to Prague or Dresden
Research flights from the UK here
Train is available from Dresden to Prague.
Research trains here
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