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Best countrysides (for bike tours) of Krakow, Budapest, Prague, Berlin, & Amsterdam

Posted by on

Hi fellow travelers! I'm doing a solo trip the second half of October to Copenhagen, Krakow, Budapest, Prague, Berlin, and Amsterdam. I would like to do some bike rides/tours into the surrounding areas outside the cities. I doubt I can do one in all cities, so my question is two-fold:
- Which of these cities have the best/most scenic/worthwhile surrounding countryside(ish) areas within ~50km/30 miles?
- Within those areas, any recommendations on destinations, routes, or good affordable bike tours, either in a group with a guide or the GPS-rental kind where the GPS is preprogrammed and mounted (I've seen a few in my research)?

I'm open to any distance up to about 50km/30 miles, but between 15km/10 miles and 35km/22 miles is probably ideal.

Thanks!

P.S. If you have recs for bike tours or bike tour companies within these cities, I'm interested in that as well (especially for Berlin, where there's a wealth of themed or area-specific bike tours available).

Posted by
4637 posts

Berlin and Amsterdam have nice scenery around and it is easier because it's flat. Scenery around Prague is pretty and hilly, especially south and west. Krakow and Budapest surroundings are also pretty, little less hilly than around Prague.

Posted by
126 posts

Hi Melanie,

In Amsterdam we had a great time with this crowd, http://www.joyridetours.nl/index.php?page=7

We started in the middle of town and ended up in the country and then back to the centre again - a great day out

Note that after the 5th October it's only available as a private tour

Posted by
2951 posts

Here's another vote for Amsterdam. Can rent a bike right next to the central train station and then pedal a few yards to a cute little free ferry that will deposit you North of the river. From there you can explore miles of flat Poulder country for as long as you like. We went up to Marken and Monickendam - mostly on dedicated bike paths next to the water - beautiful. Something we still talk about.
No need for a tour unless you really want that sort of structured experience. The bike shops sell an excellent cycling map for a couple of euros which is all you really need to plot a course and find your way.
And don't forget the padded bicycle shorts...lots of experience talking here...

Posted by
2535 posts

Amsterdam and environs would be my thought with good advice provided by others above. It's a great country to cycle about and safe as I fondly recall dedicated bicycle lanes/traffic lights at major roundabouts. Auto drivers are very respectful of those on two wheels with power by legs alone. Enjoy.

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