Prague to Dresden - A Tale of Two Rivers

Day 1: Arrival in Prague
Day 2: Prague - Melnik, 33 mi. (53 km)
Day 3: Melnik - Litomerice, 32 mi. (52 km)
Day 4: Litomerice - Decin, 33 mi. (53 km)
Day 5: Decin - Czech Saxon Switzerland - Bad Schandau, cycling 10 mi. (25 km) - additional cycling or hiking
Day 6: Bad Schandau - Dresden, 30 mi. (40 km)
Day 7: Dresden

All distances are approximate. Due to circumstances beyond control, weather conditions, or provisions issued by local authorities, the itinerary may be subject to some changes before and/or during your holiday. For example, on the route, you may find temporary deviations/detours due to roadwork or other unforeseen circumstances that will not be reflected on your maps or route descriptions. In this case, please follow the local directions posted on site.

Day 1: Arrival in Prague
After arriving in Prague and checking into your hotel, the rest of the day is up to you to explore Prague on your own. You can either relax or enjoy a unique Prague by bike tour (not included in the tour price). The tour is guided by tour guides born and raised here who truly love the city. Perhaps you might want to think of booking an extra night before the tour as there is also an opportunity for a bike tour to Karlstejn Castle or other one-day excursions to important places of the Czech Republic (Cesky Krumlov, Kutná Hora, Karlovey, Vary, or Terezin. Please ask us for additional details about this tour! Be sure to end your day with a mug of good local beer. Your welcome briefing will take place around 5:30 pm at your first hotel, where you will also receive your bikes.

Preferred accommodations:
Standard: DAP or International
Premium: Hotel Clement

Day 2: Prague - Melnik, 33 mi. (53 km)
Despite the first small ascent, today's route follows a nice trail to Melnik, the heart of the Czech wine region. Just before leaving Prague, pass the Troja Baroque Castle and continue to the North following the bank of the Vltava River. The river creates very interesting rock formations and deep valleys. Highlights of today include visits to castles in Nelahozeves and Veltrusy. End the day in Melnik with a glass of good wine from the region.

Preferred accommodations:
Standard: U zámku, Jaro or Olympionik, guided Chateau Liblice
Premium: U zámku

Day 3: Melnik - Litomerice, 32 mi. (52 km)
Today’s route is fairly flat and leads through a calm Elbe region, one of the most fertile regions in the Czech Republic. At the confluence of the Vltava and Elbe Rivers, the river gains strength and slowly becomes a European major waterway. After passing the Libechov Castle, you'll arrive in the town of Roudnice nad Labem where you can admire an old church and a castle.

From Roudnice it is only a short bike ride to the impressive 18th-century fortress of Terezín, also used as a Jewish concentration camp during the Second World War, bearing witness to the dark side of the 20th century. The massive bastion of stone and bricks was built in 1780 by Emperor Joseph II to keep the Prussians back and could accommodate up to 11,000 soldiers. The fortress was never used in wartime, instead, it was turned into a prison in the mid-19th century. In 1940, the Gestapo established a prison in the lesser fortress. The following year, all townspeople were evicted from the Main Fortress to accommodate a transit camp for European Jews. In total more than 140,000 passed through Terezin, 33,000 died and 88,000 were sent to Auschwitz. Less than 17,500 remained alive when the Red Army liberated the camp on 9th May.

Tickets can be purchased at the Museum of the Ghetto, or at each of the other venues and cost €180 for combination entry to the museum of the Ghetto, Magdeburg barracks, the Crematorium, and the Lesser fortress, or less for individual venues only. The museum has good multilingual self-guides and guides for hire. Since Terezín is located only 4 km from the overnight town of Litomerice, you can be very flexible in regards to visiting this site. 

More information can be found here.

The day concludes in the old town of Litomerice, a spiritual center of the region.

Preferred accommodations:
Standard: Hotel Apollon (guided), Mácha, Dubina or U Borovicku
Premium: Hotel Macha

Day 4: Litomerice - Decin, 33 mi. (53 km)
Today is reserved for exploration of the romantic countryside of the Czech Middle Mountains. Even though this region is very hilly, the route mainly follows the banks of the Elbe River with hills with several old ruins surrounding you. This former volcanic region had always been an ideal terrain for building castles and fortresses, many of which have not been preserved. The Strekov Castle, which was built on top of a steep rock cliff, is among one of the most romantic castles in the Czech Republic. After an optional, strenuous climb, you will be rewarded by a magnificent view from its walls. The final point of this stage will be the Northern Gate of the Czech Republic and the town of Decin, which has the lowest altitude in the Czech Republic.

Preferred accommodations:
Standard: Česká Koruna in 3* rooms
Premium: Česká Koruna in 4* Rooms

Day 5: Decin - Czech Saxon Switzerland - Bad Schandau, cycling 10 mi. (25 km) - additional cycling or hiking
You'll have two choices today, you can choose to cycle or take a boat to Hřensko. This border town is situated in the heart of the Czech-Saxon Switzerland National Park and offers many attractive activities. If you enjoy hiking, you will want to take advantage of the touristic trails leading through the scenery of the rocky towns, and the mesas, passes, deep gorges, and hillsides. You'll also admire the wonder of the Pravcicka Gate, no doubt, the biggest natural rock bridge in Europe.

Take a boat through the passes of Kamenice River or continue your bike tour on one of many marked bike trails through this wonderful country, or combine a boat trip with a ride through a romantic valley on a historical tram in Bad Schandau. After saying goodbye to the Czech Republic, cross the border to Germany just on the edge of the historic spa town of Bad Schandau.

Preferred accommodations:
Standard: Ergbericht or Albero Toscana
Premium: Hotel Lindenhof or Toscana

Day 6: Bad Schandau - Dresden, 30 mi. (40 km)
This day is packed with historical sites! After leaving Bad Schandau, visit the Königstein Fortress and see the beautiful rock formation with a romantic rock bridge and Bastei Ruin. An optional hike to this unique, natural wonder is one of the highlights of this whole tour! It is definitely worth it and you'll be rewarded by an unforgettable panoramic view. Normal walking shoes will be adequate. As you continue cycling a few more kilometers by the town of Pirna, you will enter the region of the Dresden Valley. There are several beautiful castles and museums of music masters, such as Karl Maria Weber and Richard Wagner. Today's final destination is Dresden. There is probably no other town in Germany that better symbolizes the turbulent history of this country and shows many centuries of cultural and architectural boom combined with religious freedom and economic prosperity. A cruel punishment followed a short admiration of Nazism in the form of the biggest bombing during World War II, which turned almost the entire city into ruins overnight. After-the-war resurrection into forty years of communistic unimportance is followed by twenty years of renewal and reconstruction. Thanks to this renovation of the entire city, today you can admire the beauties of this place, which earned the nickname of “Florence upon Elbe”.
If you have booked the guided tour, you will say farewell to your guide(s).

Preferred accommodations:
Standard: Hotel Martha or Park Inn
Premium:  Innside

Day 7: Dresden
The official end of tour. You can always extend your stay to further explore Dresden. On request, a transfer can be organized to Prague/Berlin by car or train or prolong your stay for an extra day. It is definitely worth it! You can also do a one-day loop trip to visit nearby Meissen and Moritzburg chateau. Accommodations, guided city tours, and transfers can be arranged.

Looking for more?  View all our featured bicycle tours, specials, and news or look at our full list of bike tours in Europe.

Accommodations

You will be accommodated in 3 and 4-star hotels during your tour. In each day’s detailed itinerary, you will find the name of the preferred hotel. If the hotel listed is not available, a hotel of equal standard will be offered. Please note that the final hotel list will be based on availability.

Premium accommodation upgrade is possible, but only on self-guided tours or special guided group bookings. See pricing.

Air conditioning cannot be guaranteed in each hotel like in some smaller towns or towns in historical areas that are prohibited from having AC.

Bicycles

Pells Stratus Deluxe

24-gear standard bicycle

AGOGS CityLiner E-Bike

E-Bike

Specialized Diverge Sport

Upgraded road bike

Author Dynasty

Touring bicycle

Tandem Bicycle

Available upon request only

Recumbent/Trike Bicycle

Available upon request only

Author Energy

Child's bicycle

Trail Gator Parent-Child-Tandem-Coupling

Available upon request only