Painted eggs are a popular souvenir in the Czech Republic, esp. on the old town square in Prague. Photo via Flickr:Liz Jones

4.7/5 (3 ratings)

Golden City of Prague

Czech Republic Bike + Barge Tours

Biking along the Moldova, Elbe, and Vitava Rivers

Come and cycle in the Czech Republic through lush river landscapes, picturesque villages, and romantic castles, immersed in a history and architecture that can be traced back to the Middle Ages.

Prague is both the point of departure and final destination for this beautiful bike and barge tour along the Upper Moldova, Vitava, and the huge Elbe Rivers. When you see the bridges of the Vltava River ablaze with sunlight and the spires of the castle sparkling in the light, it becomes obvious why Prague is known as the ”Golden City” and the "City of a Hundred Spires“! Multifaceted and unique, modern, yet traditional, Prague is one of Europe’s most beautiful metropolis.

The MS FLORENTINA moors close to the infamous Charles Bridge, an ideal springboard for exploring this gorgeous city; the marvelously restored Market Place, the busy Wencelslas Square, or the Jewish quarter.

Good food and good beer are highlights as well such as the Czech amber nectar and regional favorites such as roast pork with dumplings!

*Language on board: German and English

Be sure to check out all of our bike and barge tours in the Czech Republic.

Where You’ll Stay

Comfort plus vessel, MS Florentina

What’s Included

  • Accommodations on board for 6 nights
  • Welcome drink
  • Daily cabin cleaning
  • Change of bedding and towels
  • Full board (breakfast buffet, packed lunch for cycle tours or lunch snack, coffee and tea in the afternoon, three-course dinner)
  • All port, bridge, and lock fees
  • Daily briefing of cycling itinerary
  • Maps and information material 1x per cabin
  • Tour director on board
  • 7-speed unisex touring bike (KTM0 with hand and back pedal brakes or free wheel hub equipped with pannier

What’s Not Included

Golden City of Prague Map

TourBike+Boat
TypeSelf Guided
SkillEasy
Length7 days
From€684 Rates
Client Reviews

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Tour Dates

2016:
July 28, August 11, and August 25, 2016

2017:
Sundays: July 2, July 9, July 16, July 23, July 30, and August 6, 2017

*Minimum number of participants: 45 people/trip

Skill Level

This is an easy self-guided bike and boat tour.

Tour Boats

Day-To-Day Itinerary

Golden City of Prague Map

2017:

Day 1: Arrival in Prague
Day 2: Prague - Kralupy, 19 mi. (30 km)
Day 3: Kralupy - Litoměřice/Leitmeritz, 16 mi. (26 km)
Day 4:  Litoměřice/Leitmeritz
Day 5:  Litoměřice/Leitmeritz - Mlčechvosty, 28 mi. (45 km)
Day 6: Mlčechvosty – Prague
Day 7: Prague

*Subject to change. In the event that because of low or high water levels or adverse weather conditions a route cannot be taken, the captain reserves the right to change the route for your safety (this would not be a reason for fee-free cancellation). 

Day 1: Arrival in Prague
Individual arrival in Prague. Embarkation begins at 5 pm. Highly recommended this evening is a stroll over the Charles Bridge, particularly beautiful in the dark, and enjoy the stunning view of the illuminated Prague Castle.

Day 2: Prague - Kralupy, 19 mi. (30 km)
In the morning, there will be an optional guided walk to discover the right bank of the Vltava River, the highlights of the Old Town, the New Town and the Jewish Quarter (duration approx. 2 hours). After returning to the ship, bikes will be distributed for an 11:30 am start of the first cycling tour.  You will cycle along the Vltava River via Troja, known for its Baroque castle  and National Art Gallery,  to the village of Klecánky, over the bank of the Vltava via Drasty, onward to Vodochody, and finally back on the river bank to today's destination Kralupy. Arrival at the ship at approximately 5 pm.

Day 3: Kralupy - Mělník, excursion to Nelahozeves (optional), cycling 16 mi. (26 km), by boat to Litoměřice/Leitmeritz
Today's cycling begins at 9 am, almost exclusively along the Vltava River to Nelahozeves. Optional visits to the birth house of Antonin Dvořák and one of the most famous Renaissance castles of Bohemia, also known as the “little Louvre of Czechia” is possible. The route leads through Veltrusý Park, with numerous sculptures and gazebos, on varied terrain, up to the royal town of Mělník. The ship is reached and boarded again at 1.30 pm for boat trip on the Elbe River to Litoměřice.

Day 4:  Litoměřice, guided walking tour (optional), round tour by bicycle to Ustí, 33 mi. (53 km)
No bike ride is scheduled this day but an optional guided walk is on the agenda during which you will have the possibility to discover one of the most beautiful Czech towns, the royal town of Litoměřice. The colorful Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque buildings in the town center, which for the most part is encircled by well-preserved Gothic fortifications, will enchant you. Well worth seeing are the Baroque Cathedral of St Stephen atop the dome hill, the historic underground (extensive tunnel system), or the Bishop’s residence. You might also be interested in a cycle tour to the Terezín Memorial (Theresienstadt) in the village of Terezìn. The concentration camp memorial is located only 5 km away. The more advanced cyclists may feel to cycle to Ustí - idyllically situated in the narrow valley of the Elbe river – via the old castle ruin Schreckenstein and back (55 km).

The MS FLORENTINA will moor overnight in Litoměřice.

Day 5:  Litoměřice - Roudnice - Mlčechvosty, cycle tour Roudnice - Mělník – Mlčechvosty, 28 mi. (45 km). Castle Tour and coffee and cake in the castle-patisserie (optional excursion)
Today you can go for a last bike tour via Veltruský Park, Nelahozeves, Kralupy, Chvatěruby, Vodochody, Drasty and Klecánky to Prague or you relax on the sun deck. You will arrive at Prage at ca. 3:30 pm. The rest of the day is reserved for exploring Prague.

Day 6: Mlčechvosty – Prague, 23 mi. (37 km)
Visit the Prague Castel with the Golden Lane, the Powder Tower, or just meander along the streets and watch the lively goings-on sitting in one of the cafes on the Old Town Square. There are countless possibilities! If you feel like cycling, you can take a ride  upstream along Vltava River to Zbraslav castle and back.

Day 7: Departure
Disembarkation at 9:30 am.

OPTIONAL EXCURSION PROGRAM: 

Friday - Guided Walking Tour in Prague, Duration approx. 2 hours / € 12 per Person
In the morning, explore the Old Town, the New Town, and the Jewish Quarter on a two-hour guided walking tour. Following the old King's Way through Prague you'll see the following highlights: 

  • The Old Town City Hall, dating back to the 14th century, with its impressive Astronomical Clock,
  • The Charles University, the largest in the Czech Republic,
  • The Estate Theatre, which went down in music history when two of Mozart's operas were premiered here,
  • The world famous Wenceslas Square
  • Old-New Synagogue in the Jewish Quarter – the oldest surviving synagogue north of the Alps (guided tour does not include entrance fees or visits). 

Saturday - Nelahozeves – Visit to the Castle and to the Dvořák-Museum, Duration approx. 2 hours / € 20 per Person
Visit Nelahozeves Castle, one of the most beautiful Renaissance buildings in the Czech Republic. It belongs to the Bohemian Noble family of Lobkowicz, which has played a decisive role in Central European history for over 600 years. The Lobkowicz family has supported scientists and artists, as for instance Ludwig v. Beethoven. After the visit to the castle, explore the museum and birth house of the famous Czech composer Antonin Dvořák, which is located just below the castle. 

Sunday - Litoměřice – Sightseeing Tour and Visit to the "Underworld", Duration approx. 2 hours / € 18 per Person
You will start your tour walking with your tour guide from the mooring place to the town center. The royal town of Litoměřice with its colorful Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque buildings is one of the most beautiful towns in the Czech Republic. On your walk you will pass the Town Hall, built in Saxon Renaissance style, the "Kalich"(Chalice) House, where rich townsfolk used to meet over a glass of wine, the plague column and some important churches like the Baroque Stephen's Cathedral. Afterwards, explore the historic underworld, well worth seeing, which belongs to the most extensive underworld networks in the Czech Republic. (366 m are accessible to the public). 

Monday - Mělník – Sightseeing Tour and Castle Tour Including a Visit to the Castle`s Pastry Shop, Duration approx. 2 hours / € 25 per Person
Meeting point for today's tour is the castle courtyard. Discover the picturesque town of Melnik on a guided walking tour. See the Town Hall, the Capuchin monastery, and the central square of the town, Náměstí Míru, among others.

Then take a stroll up to the castle. The Renaissance castle in Mělník together with the St. Peter and St. Paul Churches are the region's landmarks. From the castle hill, you have a marvellous view over the confluence of the rivers Vlatwa and Labe (Elbe). During the castle tour, explore the rich collection of paintings and furniture of the Lobkowicz family. After the tour, you can fortify yourself with a coffee and a cake in the castle's pastry shop (price includes 1 espresso + 1 piece of cake per person). 

Important:

  • Tickets can be purchased directly on board, please refer to the tour manager (only cash payment in EUR is accepted)
  • The excursions have capacity limitations – In some cases, short-term reservations may not be considered. We recommend that you attend the tour information sessions.
  • The sequence of the program may vary. 
  • Once an excursion has been booked and paid, no refunds will be given (unless the minimum number of participants has not been reached).
  • Please note that, for instance, due to weather conditions or lock closures, the scheduled program may change as well as the location of boarding and disembarking.
  • Guided tours are offered in English and German (only if minimum number of participants is reached)
  • All guided tours are conducted on foot with some climbs or stairs to navigate.
  • Minimum number of participants per tour: 20

Itinerary as well as tour programs are subject to change.

You can view all of our bike and boat tours or look at our featured bike trips, specials, and news.

Email or Call 800-951-4384 +1 570-965-2064

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Customer Feedback

  • Jan M. 1 week ago

    Boat and crew were great. Biking and shore excursions were confusing. Explanations not always clear in English.

     Reply

  • L. Tindula 2 months ago

    I think the most memorable part was all of the different people from other countries that we met on the boat along with meeting and learning about the Czech Republic and their people! Great tours offered as well!

    Boat: MS Florentina

     Reply

  • D. Dray 2 months ago

    Our first day was quite rocky… The directions were not good and the routes were not well marked. Everyone was frustrated. The guide promised to bike out again from Prague and redo it--hopefully that happened.

    Boat: MS Florentina

     Reply

    • Deena Dray 2 weeks ago

      I neglected to state how wonderful this trip was in my initial review, which focused on what was wrong instead what was right---which was everything else!
      We loved our French balcony room; though there were 75+ on board, one never felt it was crowded. The beautiful lounge at the front of the boat was often empty.
      The staff were great. Food just OK but still decent. The wine and beer helped! A diverse group of travelers which made it fun. Highly recommend this tour.

       Reply

      • Jehiel 1 week ago

        Thanks for updating your review, Deena! Glad you enjoyed your trip overall. We hope to help you plan your next one!

  • Becky Nuttall 1 year ago

    I have mixed feelings about this tour. The boat was nice- clean, and incredibly well run; the food was good. The Czech Republic was beautiful (albeit unusually hot) and we enjoyed the countryside and the towns. However, if you did not speak German, which was the native language of the tour guide, Hans, you were in for some difficult times. He was outwardly pleasant, clearly organized (although the trip sheets needed updating), and I believe he gave the updates to the German tourists. Unfortunately, he did not provide all of the info in English and it made things difficult for us. He said that the other Germans didn't like it when he gave the presentation and then gave it in English (to all of us together). At one point, we (Americans, Aussies and Swedes) took him to task and he had a meeting with us to discuss - but had difficulty accepting our point of view. Also, the tour excursions, which were supposed to be available in English, didn't all happen. So we missed some of the information that others received. Overall, we enjoyed our time but we had not expected this level of difficulty and I cannot in all good conscience recommend this one to English-speaking tourists. However, if the boat is contracted for anything else - you are in good hands there.

    Boat: MS Florentina

     Reply

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Golden City of Prague Boats + Barges

MS Florentina Photo

MS Florentina Czech Republic Comfort Plus Class Boat The MS Florentina was originally built in 1980 and has been refurbished twice since. It offers a bright, friendly restaurant with bar, lounge, observation saloon with panoramic windows, and a large sun deck with deck chairs for sitting and river watching.

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Email or Call 800-951-4384
+1 570-965-2064

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