Prague - Budapest
15 Days/14 Nights 856Km/ 532miles or 12 Days/11 Nights 680Km/422Miles MODERATE
Prague, Czech Republic; Vienna, Austria; Bratislava, Slovakia; and Budapest Hungary - only the beginning of highlights from the riches of this tour! This trans-Central European voyage will show you the cultural and natural diversity of these countries united by the former Habsburg empire. The first part of your tour partly follows the popular Greenways trail; from Vienna to Budapest you follow the Eurovelo 6, the Danube cycle path. We offer this tour in two versions - all biking or shorter distances with train/car transfers. Should you need shorter/longer biking distances, or fit your tour in different schedule, feel free to ask us for tailor made tour!
Day 0 – Arrival to Prague - not included in price!
Description of the day: This day(s) is/are yours to explore the "Paris of the Central Europe,", relax, or have a unique Prague-by-bike tour (see more in our Prague-by-bike section). The tour is guided by Prague natives - who truly love the city and can reveal much more than any travel book – all safely by bike and finished by a mug of good beer in an carefully chosen place. Do not hesitate to ask us for this extra tour – it is our clients favorite! If time is not your worst enemy, we do propose you stay in Prague more days to fully explore its beauty and hidden corners. Feel free to ask us about more nights or other attractions!
Hotels: Night in Prague is not included as most of our guests prefer to stay more nights. Therefore we offer large variety of hotels which we are happy to recomend ( ** / *****).
Day 1(1) Prague - Konopiste - (Tabor)
Distance: 61 km / 38 miles
Description of the day: Our first biking day starts easily on bike trails bordering the relaxed Vltava river. After 20 km on flat ground we do leave the river valley and climb to the romantic Posázaví highlands. Every climb will reward you with peaceful views of the surrounding countryside. At Zbořený Kostelec you can take short hike to a hidden castle ruin. From here we will continue to nearby Týnec nad Sázavou, home to the former Jawa factory and the nest of Czech motorbike culture. We will end today’s bike stage by visiting Konopiste Castle, the summer palace of Archduke Franz Ferdinand D´Este. The assassination of this would-be-emperor in Sarajevo in 1914 caused World War I.
Option A: From Konopiště/Benešov you will take a train (car on fully guided tours) to the former Hussite stronghold, Tábor. An evening stroll through this wonderful medieval town will be one of the highlights of the whole tour!
Day 2(X) Konopiště / Benešov - Tábor - Option A skip this day!
Distance: 65 km / 40 miles
Description of the day: The second day offers gentle biking along side roads and byways through peace-filled Central Bohemia. The part we bike through today is sometimes called Czech Meran for all its little undulations, or Czech Siberia for rather chilly winter mornings. Fantastic views and gentle reward every climb. After we pass through all this cycling heaven we will end up in Tábor. This mighty fortress served as the headquarters of the Czech Reformation during the 15th-century Hussite wars. Never conquered, this city final surrenders its riches to you for a great evening after a demanding ride!
Day 3(2) Tabor - Jindrichuv Hradec
Distance: 52 km / 32 miles
Description of the day: In the morning we recommend a short walk on the ramparts of Tábor, where you can admire its genius loci. The careful incorporation of the landscape and countryside during its construction resulted in several successful repulsions of sieges during the Religious Wars. Riding our bikes, we will enter South Bohemia. Among the green, calm scenery rests the romantic water castle of Červená Lhota, and the third-largest castle complex in the Czech Republic - the town of Jindrichuv Hradec a small active city of architectural splendor. Today, it is hard to believe it housed the hustle and bustle of the largest medieval centers in Bohemia! Based on a legend, it might even be possible to meet Perchta of Rozmberk – the famous “White Lady” ghost!
Day 4(3) Jindrichuv Hradec - Telc
Distance: 45 km / 28 miles
Description of the day: We leave the South Bohemia and enter the Bohemian - Moravian highlands area. Today’s highlight will be a visit of the Renaissance town of Telč, which is inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Telč is considered to be the most beautiful Renaissance town in Czech Republic! A wooded, hilly, and beautiful 45km will lead us there, passing by a plethora of ponds and lakes - try to count them all, or just relax amid this peaceful scenery. With any luck we will pass an antique steam engine as it chugs along these highlands.
Day 5(4) Telc - Vranov nad Dyji
Distance: 67 km / 42 miles
Description of the day: Do you take sugar in your coffee or tea? If so, you will be happy to visit Dačice where the first sugar cube was produced. We meander our way there using quiet roads known to only a few cyclists (and less cars) that takes us through undiscovered highlands and peaceful villages near to the Austrian border. On the border road we can see a well-preserved system of fortifications from the beginning of WW II. These fortifications has never been used, and therefore, are well-preserved for today’s tourists. Riding along, the route will pass by the Renaissance castle of Pisecna and medieval castle of Frejstejn. Before we reach our destination, we will take a detour to the scenic Vranov water dam to reward ourselves with amazing views of Bítov castle. Should you wish, please enjoy the views from one of the biggest castle ruins in Moravia – Cornštejn. The final destination of today’s stage is the town of Vranov nad Dyji, nestled on the edge of the Podyji National Park.
Easy option: You can take a morning train transfer to Slavonice to bike just along the Austrian border.
Day 6(5) Vranov nad Dyji - Znojmo
Distance: 46 km / 29 miles (shortest 18 km)
Description of the day: This day explores Podyji National Park, enchanting everyone with its untouched beauty. From the ruins of Novy Hradek, as well as from the viewpoint over the majestic medieval castle of Hardegg, we will be able to see where the Dyje River finds its way through the countryside creating unforgettable meanders. A memorial of the Iron Curtain, located in Čížov, is a quiet eyewitness of somber, relatively recent, times. While descending to the Dyje river through Šobes vineyard, why not pause for a glass of white wine? This place was marked as one of the 10 best vineyards in the world! Our next stop will be the town of Šatov, where we will have the possibility to visit a uniquely-preserved Cold War fortification, a curiously painted wine cave, cozy wine cellar streets, and an educational path leading through vineyards of old wine varieties. We will conclude the day in the seat town of the Moravian Premyslid Dynasty – in the town of Znojmo.
Day 7(6) Znojmo - Mikulov (Lednice/Valtice cultural landscape)
Distance: 18km (shortest) - 68 km / 11(shortest) - 42 miles
Description of the day: In the morning we will leave the town along the river and then continue through fields and vineyards to the Austrian border. The border line will then take us east with a stop in the town of Jaroslavice and its Renaissance chateau. Crossing the border into Austria, we'll visit the picturesque wine growing area of Galgenberg. From here we follow a nice new bike trail meandering through the peaceful countryside to Mikulov. This hidden gem will capture your attention with its Baroque Castle and wine museum, an historic synagogue and a local curiosity – a gigantic wine cask big enough for a chamber orchestra.
TIP: Culture and wine lovers can take a morning train transfer to Břeclav and spend whole day biking in unique Lednice - Valtice UNESCO area!
Day 8(7) - Mikulov - Mistelbach (Vienna)
Distance: 55 km / 38 miles
Description of the day: The last half day of the tour in Czech republic will follow iron curtain trail framed with story boards of those, who tried to escape from communistic Eastern Block. After crossing the border we will bike through the Herrnbaumgarten Village, famous for its poetic museum of nonsense, to the wine museum in Poysdorf, where you will have a chance to complete your Central European wine "training"! Then we will pass through Wilfersdorf with its chateau which had been the main residence of the Prince of Lichtenstein between 17th and 18th century. We will end our day in Mistelbach.
Option A ends in Mistelbach with transfer by train/car to Vienna
Day 9(X) Mistelbach - Vienna- Option A skip this day!
Distance: 64 km / 40 miles (to the center)
Description of the day: On to Vienna! We will be following the EuroVelo 6 bike trail to the empire's capital partly built on ancient steam railroad tracks. We will end our day at Vienna - former capital of the Habsburg Monarchy, town of the waltz and opera.
TIP: Transfer to Vienna to get the most out of your time in the city. Visit the palace complex, take a coffee (or something stronger) in one of the famous cafes, or simply stroll the regal streets.
TIP: Thinking about more days in Vienna? Ask us to plan a special trip for you.
Day 10(8) Vienna - Bratislava
Distance: 71 km / 44 miles (flat)
Description of the day: How many times have you managed to bike from one capital to another in just one day? On this day you can! Following the mighty Danube river you can visit numerous chateaux and retreats of the Viennese nobility. Explore the excavations of the biggest Roman settlement in Carnutum or a dominant castle ruin in Hainburg just before entering the capital of Slovakia - Bratislava! Those tired of biking can have a rest day and take a shortcut by speed boat or train saving time to explore these unique cities!
Day 11(9) Bratislava - Györ
Distance: 77 km / 48 miles (flat)
Description of the day: Today is another border crossing day. We start in the Slovakian capital of Bratislava, biking on the right bank of the Danube on a new bike trail. First stop right on the edge of the town is the mighty Čunovo dam. Soon we cross the border to Hungary and continue to the town of Mosongyárovár. Leaving this nice little town with a long, long name, we continue to the historical town of Györ. This lovely mostly Renaissance university town will serve as our first lodgings in Hungary.
Day 12(X) Györ - Komárno/Komárom- Option A skip this day with morning transfer to Komárom!
Distance: 55 km / 38 miles
Description of the day: First part of a day we continue through Hungarian countryside through little town Böny to Bábolna. This town became world known for its famous stud! After leaving Bábollna we get closer to the Danube again, mostly represented by rich wetlands full of storks and other birds. The twin town of Komárom/Komárno will welcome us with its mighty baroque fortresses. All three were built by the Austrians to protect the border against the aproaching Turks. Today the towns lay in two different countries - it is your choice where will you like to spend your evening!
Option A: Will be transferred in the morning by train/car from Györ to Komárom. From here you will continue as per itinerary - Day 13(10).
Day 13(10) Komárno/Komárom - Esztergom
Distance: 48 km / 30 miles
Description of the day: Today we again explore Slovakia on flat bike trail nearby the Danube. Leaving Komárno along the fortress we hit the newly-built bike trail with some stunning views of the hills and vineyards on both sides of the river Danube. Our first stop will be the remanants of a Roman fortress near Iža illustrating how old some of the local settlements really are. The Danube guides us again, offering us some nice spots for a swim as we slowly approach the border. Crossing the Maria-Valeria bridge between Štúrovo and Esztergom we return to Hungary. The town of Esztergom will serve as our day's lodgings. Take your time to admire the old town dominated by the archbishops castle and residency, as Esztergom is considered the cradle of Hungarian kingdom and the stronghold of Christianity, also nicknamed Hungarian Rome.
TIP it is possible to choose sporty option over the Tata highlands
Day 14(11) Esztergom - Budapest
Distance: 77 km / 48 miles (flat)
Description of the day: The last day of our journey through four countries will continue along the Danube river. We will explore one of the most scenic parts called Danube knee, where mighty river enters steep hills, creating stunning meanders! First stop will be the dominating Visegrád castle nesting on a hill above a small town. Following the Danube on a peaceful bike trail we arrive in the small historical town of Vác. There we take a ferry to cross to the right bank of the river. Zigzaging through small towns on its banks we finally get near to Budapest - the lively Hungarian capital. To get to the city centre we bike past countless little bars and restaurants on the suburban banks enjoying the buzz and fun. We finish our journey right in the city centre, admiring the views of the imperial buildings of Budapest! Rest your legs at your centrally-located hotel before hitting the town for an exotic evening in the multi-faceted city.
TIP to shorter biking distance, from Vác you can spend last part of your tour on a deck of sightseeing boat!
Day 15(12) Budapest
Description of the day: Last day is yours to explore medieval Buda part or 19th century Pest part of a town or simply relax in one of the great spas!
Same as in Prague and Vienna we highly recommend to prolong your stay! Therefore we offer large variety of hotels which we are happy to recomend ( ** / *****).
Price list (in EUR) | City Standard Accom. | Premium Hotels Accom. | Bike rental | ||
Price per person | Single supplement | Price per person | Single supplement | Price per person | |
Self-led Tours | 1245 / 1045 | 340 / 260 | 1620 / 1390 | 355 /295 | 195/156 Diverge 225/180 E-bike 375/300 |
Fully Guided Tour | 1485 | 260 | 1830 | 295 | 156 Diverge 180 E-bike 300 |