Family-Friendly Prague to Vienna

This tour begins as shown below with a morning transfer out of Prague but does not include an overnight here.  You will need to book an extra day or so in Prague so that you can explore for yourself this beautiful city. Please ask us as we can recommend a large variety of hotels ranging from two to five stars and for a Bike Tour of Prague option. 

Day 1: Prague - Tábor
Day 2: Tabor - Jindrichuv Hradec, 32 mi. (52 km)
Day 3: Jindrichuv Hradec - Telc, 28 mi. (45 km)
Day 4:  Telc - Vranov nad Dyji, 29 mi. (46 km)
Day 5: Vranov nad Dyji - Znojmo, 29 mi. (46 km)
Day 6: Znojmo - Mikulov, bike, 42 mi. (68 km) or hike 8 mi. (13 km)
Day 7: Mikulov - Lednice, 11 mi. (18 km)
Day 8:  Lednice - Mistelbach - Vienna, 38 mi. (55 km)

All cycling distances are approximate.

Day 1: Prague - Tábor
Today starts with a morning transfer (approx 1 hour) to the Sázava River where you have the option for a raft or canoe adventure. It is your choice. Depending on the time of the year and water level, two different parts of the river will be explored. Both offer easy and enjoyable paddling with places to stop for a swim.  After, you will enjoy a romantic train ride and then transfer to Tábor. This mighty medieval town used to be the cradle and stronghold of the Hussites and a walk along its never conquered walls is a fantastic end of the day!

Activities: Guided canoeing
Difficulty level/route information: Easy

Day 2: Tabor - Jindrichuv Hradec, 32 mi. (52 km)
In the morning we recommend a short walk on the ramparts of Tábor.  The careful incorporation of the landscape and countryside in the construction of the ramparts resulted in several successful repulsions of sieges during the Religious Wars. If history is not your thing, you can visit the local chocolate museum and start your day sweetly. Then by bike, you enter the South Bohemian region. Nestled in rural greenery and tranquility, you will come across the romantic castle of Červená Lhota.  Červená means red in Czech and the castle's unique hue contrasted with the blue of the lake water in which it is situated and the green of its surroundings is striking. Continuing on, you enter the town of Jindrichuv Hradec with its well-preserved castle and city center. Today, it is hard to believe that this calm town used to be one of the largest medieval centers in Bohemia! Based on a legend, it is possible to meet Perchta of Rozmberk – the famous “White Lady” ghost!

Activities: Biking
Difficulty level/route information: Ride takes place 50% on bike paths and 50% on rural very low-traffic roads. Safe for children. Easy for anyone who is accustomed to the distance.

Day 3: Jindrichuv Hradec - Telc, 28 mi. (45 km)
You leave South Bohemia and enter the Bohemian-Moravian highlands area. Today’s highlight will be a visit to the Renaissance town of Telc,  inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Telc is considered to be the most beautiful Renaissance town in Europe! But, first, you must traverse a rather hilly 45 km, passing by a plethora of ponds and lakes. In Strmilov, you will have a chance to visit a weaving factory and learn more about the process of making wool and linen fabrics, a part of this region for centuries. A nice option for the first part of the day could be a ride on a local narrow-gauge railway gently winding through the countryside!

Activities: Biking
Difficulty level/route information: Route leads 90% on very rural roads, some closed to traffic

Day 4:  Telc - Vranov nad Dyji, 2.5 mi. (4 km)
Today you start with a car transfer. A 1-hour drive will take you to the popular Vranov Lake on the Dyje River. Here you will enjoy a nice boat ride around the whole lake admiring the natural beauties of the place and both magnificent castles, Bítov and Cornstejn. In Bítov the boat stops for you to have the chance to visit and see how the knights and princes lived here in the middle ages! Afterward, you bike (2-3 km) to your hotel in Vranov located by another mighty castle. In the afternoon, there is a high rope activity, swimming, and water-based activities (great for the entire family) or bungee jumping (for adults and with a supplement).

Activity: Boat trip, water activities, & rope walk. Bungee jumping for a supplement

Day 5: Vranov nad Dyji - Znojmo, 29 mi. (46 km) or shorter option 15 mi. (24 km)
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, you will be able to see where the Dyje River weaves its way through the countryside creating unforgettable meanders. A memorial of the Iron Curtain, located in this area, is a quiet eyewitness of somber, relatively recent, times. The bike trail will lead along the borders of the national park, where no auto traffic is allowed. While descending to the Dyje River through Šobes vineyard, you can pause for a glass of white wine. This place was marked as one of the 10 best vineyards in the world! Your next stop will be the town of Šatov and can 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. You will conclude the day in the Moravian Premyslid Dynasty – in the town of Znojmo,  a walled town right in the middle of the winemaking region 

Activity: Biking
Difficulty level: Easy to moderate depending on the distance chosen. The short option entails 50% bike paths and 50% very quiet rural roads. The long option is 15% on quiet roads, and the remaining distance is all within the national park. 

Day 6: Znojmo - Mikulov
Hiking: 8 mi. (13 km)
A morning transfer (1 hr.) will take you to the popular Palava area. The hike will cover Palava Hill. Being the only major hill in a large area it was always strategically important so today you can admire four castle ruins during the trek. You can always stop in a small local village for something to eat or drink.  If it is too hot, you can simply stay below the hill by the Nové Mlýny Lake for a refreshing swim! In the end, you arrive at the fairytale town of Mikulov, full of history and fun! For those who would prefer to bike, please read below!

Activity: Hike (recommended with groups that include children) & swimming 
Difficulty level: Easy

OR

Biking, 42 mi. (68 km)
In the morning you will leave the town along the river and then continue through fields and vineyards to the Austrian border. The border will then take you east with a nice stop in the town of Jaroslavice with a lovely Renaissance chateau. Here you first cross the border to Austria and visit the picturesque wine-growing area of Galgenberg. Then along a new bike trail, you meander through the peaceful countryside to Mikulov. This hidden gem will capture your attention with its Baroque Castle, wine museum, historic synagogue, and local curiosity – a gigantic wine cask big enough for a chamber orchestra. 

Activity: Biking
Difficulty level: Moderate for adults due to distance. Not recommended for children as you will share the road (though they are rural routes).

Day 7: Mikulov - Lednice, 11 mi. (18 km)
Today is reserved for exploring the UNESCO-protected Lednice-Valtice area. Since you bike by the two major chateaux, Lednice and Valtice, you can always stop for a renowned falconry show in Lednice!  Lednice which is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List is also the largest and most beautiful place to show birds of prey in Europe and possibly in the world. Some predators fly freely from morning to night. The Zayferus Falconry Court in Lednice Park is an extraordinary experience providing close contact with birds of prey, including demonstrations of their flying abilities.

The Lednice-Valtice Cultural Landscape – a landscape that at one time belong to the family of Lichtenstein. Under the care of this single family, the swampy area was transformed into a well-thought-out combination of castles and parks, sometimes called “The Garden of Europe” or “The Garden Paradise”.  You will have the opportunity to explore the area which combines both indigenous and exotic natural elements to create an outstanding work of human creativity. Since the complex is very large, biking is the recommended mode of transportation allowing you to fully experience this exceptional cultural site at a leisurely pace

Activity: Biking & falconry
Difficulty level: Easy. Route use bike trails exclusively

Day 8:  Lednice - Mistelbach - Vienna, 38 mi. (55 km)
The last half-day of the tour in the Czech Republic will follow the Iron Curtain trail framed with storyboards of those who tried to escape from the communist Eastern Block. After crossing the border, you will bike through the Herrnbaumgarten Village, famous for its poetic museum of nonsense to the wine museum in Poysdorf. Here you will have a chance to complete your Central European wine "training"!  Your route leads as well through Wilfersdorf with its chateau which had been the main residence of the Prince of Lichtenstein between the 17th and 18th century. Your day will end in Mistelbach.

Activity: Biking
Difficulty level: Moderate due to distance. 70% bike trails, 30% small quiet roads

The day ends in Mistelbach with a transfer by train/car to Vienna. If you would like to finish your tour by biking all the way to Vienna, you can do so. You will follow the Eurovelo 9 bike trail for approx. 70 km. Because of the distance, not recommended for children.

Please note that overnight in Vienna is not included. We can offer a large variety of hotels from 2 to 5 stars. 

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The accommodations features on this tour have been chosen because of the availability of triple and quad rooms to accommodate families, and, at times, even apartments, based on availability. We can provide a sample hotel list on request to give you an idea of the level of establishments offered.