Prague to Krakow

Day 1: Arrival in Prague
Day 2: Prague - Nymburk, 39 mi. (63 km)
Day 3: Nymburk - Kutna Hora, 26 mi. (42 km)
Day 4: Kutna Hora - Pardubice, 35 mi. (56 km)
Day 5:  Pardubice - Litomysl, 39 mi. (62 km)
Day 6: Litomysl - Moravska Trebova, 27.5 mi. (44 km)
Day 7: Moravska Trebova - Olomouc, 42.5 mi. (68 km)
Day 8: Olomouc - Hranice/Teplice nad Bečvou, 36 mi. (58 km)
Day 9: Hranice/Teplice nad Bečvou - Stramberk, 26 mi. (42 km)
Day 10: Stramberk - Cesky Tesin , 40 mi. (64 km)
Day 11: Cesky Tesin - Osvetim, 49 mi. (79 km)
Day 12: Osvetim - Krakow, 52 mi. (84 km)
Day 13: Krakow

Day 1: Arrival in Prague
Once you settle into your hotel, the day is yours to explore Prague, the  "Paris of Central Europe".  If you have time and have recovered from your flight, you might consider a unique Prague-by-bike tour. We can provide you with all the details. Perhaps you would consider staying in Prague for an extra night or two to explore its beauty and hidden corners. 

Sample accommodation:
Hotel Clement

Day 2: Prague - Nymburk, 39 mi. (63 km)
Departing from Prague, you cycle north east towards the fertile Polabí region, stopping on the way in the old towns of Čelákovice and then Přerov nad Labem, home of the oldest village culture museum in Europe. If is a hot day, you can take a refreshing swim in a local lake before continuing on to the old royal town of Nymburk, with its surrounding ancient walls, bordering the Elbe. Be sure to sample the local Postřižiny beer to commemorate the Czech writer Bohumil Hrabal who grew up in the local brewery!

Sample accommodation:
Standard - U Anny Šmejdířky
Premimum - Hotel Ostrov

Day 3: Nymburk - Kutna Hora, 26 mi. (42 km)
The easy bike trail leads along the river to the spa town of Poděbrady and continues to the royal town of Kolín with its ornate Renaissance synagogue. Here, you leave the banks of the Elbe River and bike to one of the six UNESCO Heritage sites on this tour, the old silver mining capital, Kutná Hora. Through the Middle Ages, it was one of the most important towns in Europe, extremely rich due to its mines, coin mint, and location on trade routes. You will enjoy the fascinating Medieval and Baroque structures and the stunning St. Barbara's church, a real jewel of Gothic architecture.

Sample accommodation:
Standard - U Varhanare
Premium - Hotel Palace

Day 4: Kutna Hora - Pardubice, 35 mi. (56 km)
Suggested for your morning itinerary, is an extraordinary venue, the Sedlec Ossuary, whose decorations were created using the bones of more than 30,000 people, making it a curious and macabre exhibition. The route then bends back upon the Elbe, and you can visit the lovely Classical-style chateau, Kačina. Rejoining the river you pedal to the Kladruby national stud farm, which has produced exceptional horses for the Habsburgs since the 16th century.  In the afternoon, along the Buňkov lake, you can relax on the beach or even swim. Today's last stop is the medieval town of Pardubice, a charming, quiet old town with a nice chateau and old lanes.  For those looking for something sweet - you've found it! -  Pardubice is the Czech capital of traditional gingerbread.

Sample accommodation:
Zlata Stika Hotel

Day 5:  Pardubice - Litomysl, 39 mi. (62 km)
Leaving the Elbe River, you will encounter the first gentle hills and the mighty castle, Kunětická Hora, worth the extra effort to pedal up the hill to enjoy the views. Upon reaching the Loučná River, you can follow it to the village of Vraclav and its memorial to the Vršovec noble family. Vysoké Mýto displays its beautiful town square and nicely preserved city gates as its historical legacy. Overnight this evening is in the UNESCO-protected town of Litomyšl, home of a fantastic Renaissance chateau with stunning gardens. Litomyšl is also the birthplace of the renowned composer Bedřich Smetana, a man celebrated every year with a classical music festival - a highlight of the Czech cultural calendar.

Sample accommodation:
Zlata Hvezda

Day 6: Litomysl - Moravska Trebova, 27.5 mi. (44 km)
This day you say goodbye to Bohemia, crossing the historical border to Moravia as you cycle the gap between the Bohemian-Moravian Highlands in the south and the Eagle Mountains in the north. You can admire the Renaissance town of Svitavy with its beautiful square and explore the history of its most famous resident, Oskar Schindler. From here, there is a climb over the Hřebeč range, but the route soon descends easily towards your lodging in the town of Moravská Třebová. This little town has a fantastic Renaissance chateau, one of the best examples in all of Moravia.

Sample accommodation:
Standard - V Podzámčí
Premium - Cechovní

Day 7: Moravska Trebova - Olomouc, 42.5 mi. (68 km)
Today there is an easy start, following the River Třebůvka. Still skirting the old border between Bohemia and Moravia, there are numerous castle ruins, but mostly just rubble. However, upon leaving the river, you will pass Bouzouv, a 14th-century fortress and one of the most romantic places in the Czech Republic. Leaving the highlands then, the route descends to the Morava River, your guide for the rest of the day.  If you are interested in reaching the lodgings more quickly in the UNESCO city of Olomouc, you can take the train; otherwise, enjoy the bike route along the meandering river. The ancient capital of the Moravia Empire, Olomouc rewards it visitors with fascinating sculptures, dramatic churches, and a communist-era astronomical clock.

Sample accommodation:
Standard - U Jakuba
Premium - Trinity

Day 8: Olomouc - Hranice/Teplice nad Bečvou, 36 mi. (58 km)
The route initially follows the Bystřice River today. Upon reaching the Tršice region with its beautiful views of Svatý Kopeček (Holy Hill), you arrive in Přerov and the Bečva River, which you will follow upstream on a lovely bike path. Lipník's town center has a lovely castle and extraordinary gardens and you can up to cycle the hill to the mighty Helfštýn castle. Further upstream is the town of Hranice with its Renaissance square. On the other bank of Bečva, you can relax in the local spa Teplice nad Bečvou on the square. 

Sample accommodation:
Standard - Růžek
Premium - Zlatý Orel

Day 9: Hranice/Teplice nad Bečvou - Stramberk, 26 mi. (42 km)
This day is one of the most demanding but also the most interesting of the entire tour. The closer you get to the Czech-Polish-Slovakian border, the more castles, castle ruins, and historical towns you will encounter.  In the morning, you follow the Bečva River for the last kilometers before the route turns uphill to discover some nice views of Starý Jičín and its castle ruin. The next stop is Nový Jičín, with its picturesque old town and funny fountain on the square. From the town, the route is undulating with some early views of the Beskydy Mountains till we get to Štramberk. This lovely little town, with wooden houses and a mighty castle tower above it, is known for its gourmet Štramberk Ears!

Sample accommodation:
Ubytování U Tížků

Day 10: Stramberk - Cesky Tesin , 40 mi. (64 km)
Upon leaving Štramberk, you enter the small town of Kopřivnice - home of the famous Tatra trucks. Next stop in this rather hilly morning is Hukvaldy, a small town overlooked by a mighty castle and known as the birthplace of the innovative 19th-century composer Leoš Janáček, whose house borders the bike route! You then follow the small river Ondřejnice to the twin town of Frýdek-Místek just in time for lunch.  In the afternoon, you bike along the Žermanice Lake, a nice spot for a swim!

Sample accommodation:
Cieszyn Hotel 

Day 11: Cesky Tesin - Osvetim, 49 mi. (79 km)
In the morning, we cross the border and start the Polish part of our journey. The small roads gently meander away from the mountain views behind you. The first stop is the small town of Skoczow where we join the Wisla River. From there on we bike through a land of lakes crowned by the mighty Goczalkowicke dam to the historical town of Pszyna. Here you can visit a nice chateau and the regional museum or the Zubr (European buffalo) nature park. As you bike to Osvetim, you bike by Auschwitz and  Birkenau (Auschwitz II) concentration camps. 

It is an emotional experience to stand at the gatehouse of Birkenau, also called the Gate of Death, and to realize beginning around the middle of May 1944, freight trains that were 40 to 50 cars long rolled through this gate, day and night, bringing thousands of Hungarian Jews to be gassed at the four Birkenau gas chambers. 

For those who want to visit the concentration camps, we strongly advise booking an extra night in Osvetim and taking the entire following day to visit the museums and camps.

Sample accommodation:
Willa Pierrot

Day 12: Osvetim - Krakow, 52 mi. (84 km)
On this last day, the route continues along the River Wisla upstream to the historic town of Lipowiec. Here you can climb to a majestic castle ruin or visit the town's open-air museum. From here the route climbs a couple of hills to reward us with wonderful views of the surrounding countryside. The next stop on the way will be the monastery in Alwera or the cave complex in the protected nature area near Baczov.  As you get closer to Krakow, will bike through Svitavy, birth birthplace of Oskar Schindler known from Schindler’s list. His factory was located near Krakow. 

TIP: For those not able to book an extra night in Osvetim, rather than cycle to Krakow today, you can skip the cycling, visit the sites, and then take a train to Krakow. 

Sample accommodation:
Hotel Ascot

Day 13: Krakow
It is highly recommended that you take the time to tour this magnificent city, the former capital of the Polish kingdom full of picturesque places and buildings. If you have more time, we suggest a trip to impressive historical salt mines, located only a short ride from the town!

Day 1: Prague
Day 2: Prague – (Nymburk) – Kutná Hora, 26 mi. (42 km)
Day 3: Kutna Hora - Pardubice, 35 mi. (56 km)
Day 4: Pardubice - Litomysl, 39 mi. (62 km)
Day 5: Litomysl - Moravska Trebova, 27.5 mi. (44 km)
Day 6: Moravska Trebova - Olomouc, 42.5 mi. (68 km)
Day 7: Olomouc - Hranice/Teplice nad Bečvou, 36 mi. (58 km)
Day 8: Cesky Tesin - Osvetim, 49 mi. (79 km)
Day 9: Osvetim - Krakow, 45 mi. (73 km)
Day 10: Krakow

Day 1: Prague
Once you settle into your hotel, the day is yours to explore Prague, the  "Paris of Central Europe".  If you have time and have recovered from your flight, you might consider a unique Prague-by-bike tour. We can provide you with all the details. If you have time, consider staying in Prague an extra night or two to explore its beauty and hidden corners. 

Sample accommodation:
Hotel Clement

Day 2: Prague – (Nymburk) – Kutná Hora, 26 mi. (42 km)
A morning transfer by car from Prague will transport you to Nymburk (app 1 hour). This ancient town situated on the Elbe River is surrounded by one of the best-preserved medieval city walls in the Czech Republic. From here, the cycling continues on a pleasant and easy bike trail, following the river to the spa town of Poděbrady and then to the royal town of Kolín with its ornate Renaissance synagogue. From Kolin, the route leads away from the river to one of the six UNESCO Heritage sites, the old silver mining capital, Kutná Hora. Through the Middle Ages, it was one of the most important towns in Europe, extremely rich due to its mines, coin mint, and location on trade routes. Relax in the old town comprised of fascinating Medieval and Baroque structures. Crowning it all is the stunning St. Barbara's church – a real jewel of Gothic architecture!

Sample accommodation:
Standard - U Kata
Premium - Hotel Opat

Day 3: Kutna Hora - Pardubice, 35 mi. (56 km)
Suggested for your morning itinerary, is an extraordinary venue, the Sedlec Ossuary, whose decorations were created using the bones of more than 30,000 people, making it a curious and macabre exhibition. The route then bends back upon the Elbe, and you can visit the lovely Classical-style chateau, Kačina. Rejoining the river you pedal to the Kladruby national stud farm, which has produced exceptional horses for the Habsburgs since the 16th century.  In the afternoon, along the Buňkov lake, you can relax on the beach or even swim. Today's last stop is the medieval town of Pardubice, a charming, quiet old town with a nice chateau and old lanes. For those looking for something sweet - you've found it! -  Pardubice is the Czech capital of traditional gingerbread.

Sample accommodation:
Standard - U Zlatého Anděla
Premium - Hotel Štika 

Day 4: Pardubice - Litomysl, 39 mi. (62 km)
Leaving the Elbe River, you will encounter the first gentle hills and the mighty castle, Kunětická Hora, worth the extra effort to pedal up the hill to enjoy the views. Upon reaching the Loučná River, you can follow it to the village of Vraclav and its memorial to the Vršovec noble family. Vysoké Mýto displays its beautiful town square and nicely preserved city gates as its historical legacy. Overnight this evening is in the UNESCO-protected town of Litomyšl, home of a fantastic Renaissance chateau with stunning gardens. Litomyšl is also the birthplace of the renowned composer Bedřich Smetana, a man celebrated every year with a classical music festival - a highlight of the Czech cultural calendar.

Sample accommodation:
Standard - Pod Klášterem
Premium - Hotel Aplaus

Day 5: Litomysl - Moravska Trebova, 27.5 mi. (44 km)
This day you say goodbye to Bohemia, crossing the historical border to Moravia as you cycle the gap between the Bohemian-Moravian Highlands in the south and the Eagle Mountains in the north. You can admire the Renaissance town of Svitavy with its beautiful square and explore the history of its most famous resident, Oskar Schindler. From here, there is a climb over the Hřebeč range, but the route soon descends easily towards your lodging in the town of Moravská Třebová. This little town has a fantastic Renaissance chateau, one of the best examples in all of Moravia.

Sample accommodation:
V Podzámčí

Day 6: Moravska Trebova - Olomouc, 42.5 mi. (68 km)
Today there is an easy start, following the River Třebůvka. Still skirting the old border between Bohemia and Moravia, there are numerous castle ruins, but mostly just rubble. However, upon leaving the river, you will pass Bouzouv, a 14th-century fortress and one of the most romantic places in the Czech Republic. Leaving the highlands then, the route descends to the Morava River, your guide for the rest of the day.  If you are interested in reaching the lodgings more quickly in the UNESCO city of Olomouc, you can take the train; otherwise, enjoy the bike route along the meandering river. The ancient capital of the Moravia Empire, Olomouc rewards it

Sample accommodation:
Standard - U Jakuba
Premium - Trinity

Day 7: Olomouc - Hranice/Teplice nad Bečvou, 36 mi. (58 km)
The route initially follows the Bystřice River, leading to the Tršice region with its beautiful views of Svatý Kopeček (Holy Hill).  In Přerov, you join the Bečva River and follow the bike trail upstream. Lipnick has a lovely town center complete with a castle and extraordinary gardens, or you can opt for a detour up the hill to the mighty Helfštýn castle. Further upstream, you arrive to the town of Hranice with its Renaissance square. On the other bank of Bečva, you can relax at your day's destination, Teplice nad Bečvou. 

Sample accommodation:
Standard - Růžek
Premium - Zlatý Orel

Day 8: Hranice (Cesky Tesin) - Osvetim, 49 mi. (79 km)
In the morning, you will be transferred by train from Hranice to Český Těšín. Leaving the Czech Republic, you cross the border and start the Polish part of the journey. After a couple of climbs, initially, the country roads will gently lead away from the mountain views behind you. The first stop is the small town of Skoczow where you join the Wisla river. From there on, you bike through a land of lakes crowned by the mighty Goczalkowicke dam to the historical town of Pszyna. Here you can visit a nice chateau and the regional museum or the Zubr (European buffalo) nature park. As you bike to Osvetim,  you bike by Auschwitz and Birkenau (Auschwitz II) concentration camps.  It is an emotional experience to stand at the gatehouse of Birkenau, also called the Gate of Death, and to realize beginning around the middle of May 1944, freight trains that were 40 to 50 cars long rolled through this gate, day and night, bringing thousands of Hungarian Jews to be gassed at the four Birkenau gas chambers. 

For those who want to visit the concentration camps, we strongly advise booking an extra night in Osvetim and taking the entire following day to visit the museums and camps.

Sample accommodation:
Willa Pierrot

Day 9: Osvetim - Krakow, 52 mi. (84 km)
This day ranks among the longest ones but no need to be worried. Most of the day you will spend biking by the Wisla river on flat newly built bike trails with wonderful views of the meandering river! As an extra to avid bikers, you can take a detour to Lipoviec (Babice), where you can climb to a majestic castle ruin, visit the town's open-air museum, or just enjoy a traditional lunch! Shortly before arriving in Krakow we highly recommend visiting the Dominican monastery at Tyniec, which with more than a 1000-year history is the oldest monastery in Poland. 

You will conclude our day and whole tour in the historical city of Krakow, known as the seat of Polish kings and archbishops. 

Note: Those wanting to visit the memorial site and museums in the concentration camp Auschwitz can shorten or skip their bike ride with a train transfer to Krakow.

Sample accommodation:
Hotel Ascot

Day 10: Krakow
It is highly recommended that you take the time to tour this magnificent city, the former capital of the Polish kingdom full of picturesque places and buildings. If you have more time, we highly recommend a trip to impressive historical salt mines, located only a short ride from the town!