My wife and I are planning to visit the Czech Republic in autumn 2106, via bicycle, crossing into the CR at Gmund, Austria and riding north through Trebon and Tabor to Prague. We will be on our own, carrying our luggage but staying in hotels, pensions, etc. and eating in restaurants, cafes, etc. We'll spend 3-4 nights in Prague before heading south along the Vltava River to Cesky Krumlov and eventually back into Austria. Can anyone provide advice as to where to stay in Prague that is convenient for cyclists: a bicycle-friendly accommodation that might also be either near the city's attractions or in a location where we could easily use public transportation (buses/trams) to get to the town center? Is it worth taking a bicycle into the town center for sight-seeing transportation, or is walking the better alternative? I've seen some pictures of the Charles Bridge that make it appear very crowded. Given our main travel route, an accommodation on the south side of the city might be best, in order to avoid having to cross the city the morning when we start toward Cesky Krumlov. I am aware of the "Czech Greenways" walking and biking paths, but ease of use (signage/construction) is unclear, so any up-to-date information on their quality and use in and around Prague would be welcome. Advice concerning bicycle-friendly accommodations in the other towns we will be visiting would also be appreciated.
Posted by
Prague, Czech Republic
356 posts
You may find the Cyclists Welcome website useful. It should hopefully answer some of your questions.
As for accommodation, that depends on your budget and personal preferences. The public transport system is one of the best in the world, so you will be well connected, regardless of where you choose to stay.
Do not even attempt to cycle into the city centre. Prague is not a 'cycling city', due to a combination of steep hills, cobblestones, tram tracks, an efficient public transport system, and motorists who show scant regard for cyclists. This is compounded by a Czech mentality that sees cycling as a weekend leisure activity and not a way to get from A to B. Amusingly, Prague City Hall to mark out 'cycle routes' that would require the intrepid biker to plough straight through the crowds on the Old Town Square and lift the bike up over 200 steps at Letna.
In short, park up the bike when you get to Prague. Buy a tram pass if needs be, and then go exploring on foot.
Posted by
OP
Lakewood, Colorado
33 posts
That advice to store the bikes and walk is very helpful, as is the information on the bike-friendly establishments, which I had somehow missed. Thanks so much!
Posted by
Edinburgh
2681 posts
Marcus makes some very valid points , I certainly would not cycle in the tourist areas of the city, just too crowded.There area some lovely areas to cycle in around Prague and the area to the north of the city isvery popular.also along the Berounka river (it is a tributary of the Vlatava), pretty sure you can cycle the lenth of it to Karlstejn and even further to Beroun.You can also use the local trains roi get to a drop of point and cycle back or cycle to one point and return by train.I am actually doing a walk from Karlstejn to beroun along the river next month.
https://mapy.cz/turisticka?x=14.2766183&y=49.9277944&z=14&l=0&source=muni&id=3601&q=Karl%C5%A1tejn
this map might be of use to you to work out routes.
Posted by
Moose Jaw, SK, Canada
149 posts
My husband and I cycled from Prague to Ceske Krumlov in July 2014. We stayed at the Green Garland Pension. They allowed us to park our tandem in the corner of the breakfast room, which was locked for the remainder of the day. Sightseeing is best done on foot or by transit. Cycling south out of the city was easy. It was only a short distance to a very nice cycling path that followed the river. An extension was under construction at the time and surely continues further now.
The Czech Republic has as many cycling paths as it boasts but the network is not as well developed as what we have found in other areas of Europe. Most trails were poorly marked and difficult to follow. There also seemed to be no clear indication of which trails are suitable for long-distance touring and which are mountain bike trails. Some were shared cycling/walking routes, which tended to have better signage but also had unexpected obstacles like having to carry your bike up steep staircases.
Between frequent bouts of getting lost, dead ends and seemingly endless rolling hills, it was more difficult cycling than we expected. Pack your sense of humour and allow extra time. Of course, being from Colorado, you'll be more used to the terrain than we prairie people are. The Czech countryside is beautiful... Enjoy your trip!
Posted by
OP
Lakewood, Colorado
33 posts
Thanks for that very useful information, Maggie. Would you suggest allowing 3 full days to cycle from Prague to Cesky Krumlov along the Vltava Route? Given some time constraints, I am also now considering taking the train from Prague to Ceske Budejovice, and ride from there to Cesky Krumlov, spend the night, and then ride to Linz the following day. Did you cycle either of those sections? Any thoughts or suggestions?
Posted by
Moose Jaw, SK, Canada
149 posts
Glad to help! We didn't strictly follow the Vltava route but I would plan 3 full days as the roads/paths are winding and real distance travelled was much further than it looked on a map. Taking a train part way is a good option. After our initial frustrations, we altered our plans and took the train from Tabor to Ceske Budejovice to allow ourselves more time for sightseeing. Bit of advice: you will need a ticket for your bike AND a bicycle reservation for a specific train. I'm not sure why the agent would sell us one without the other but we learned the hard way and had to wait for the next train.
The easy and scenic ride from Ceske Budejovice to the beautiful castle at hluboká nad vltavou is well worth the detour north before backtracking to the city and heading south to Cesky Krumlov. The route from CB to CK is reasonably well-marked and is a nice mix of farmland, riverside and pretty towns.
I can't comment on cycling to Linz as we took the train from CK to Salzburg to spend some time cycling in the Salzburg Lakes district before following the Danube to Budapest.