Bicycle Tours Vienna to Prague 

Two alternatives, both are 8 - day trips

Version A: 275 km / 172 miles

Version B: 410 km / 257 miles

Terrain: gently to moderately rolling with a few short hills and some moderately hilly terrain (see route elevation profile below.)

Version A: Vienna - Cesky Krumlov - Prague

275 km / 172 miles

Day 1)
Vienna - Valtice
Transfer by train from Vienna to Breclav where you meet your contact person, who will drive you to your hotel and introduce you to the program. You will also get all necessary materials.
Overnight in Valtice.

Day 2)
Valtice - Lednice - Mikulov
(32 km / 20 miles)
You will start your biking trip in Lednice-Valtice area (UNESCO World Heritage Site),
where you will ride on forest and field trails. The area is graced by two magnificent
chateaux and numerous 'follies', romantic structures set in a harmonious way into
the surrounding landscape. A third class road with little traffic then leads you to
Mikulov with its imposing castle, historic square, the tomb of the Dietrichstein family, as well as the synagogue and Jewish Cemetery, where the oldest tombstones date back to 1605.
Overnight in Mikulov.

Day 3)
Mikulov - Znojmo – Vranov nad Dyji
(35 km / 22 miles)
Morning transfer by van from Mikulov to Znojmo, a royal town with a lovely historical center. Here the most naturally scenic part of the trip begins, with the National Park Podyji, the river canyon and viewpoints that will reward you for enduring the very challenging, hilly terrain. The last remnants of the Iron Curtain in the village of Cizov are one of the highlights. The other highlight is the most fairy-tale-like castle of Vranov perched on a cliff high above the riverbed.
Overnight in Vranov nad Dyji.

Day 4)
Vranov nad Dyji – Slavonice – Telc
(48 km / 30 miles)
From Vranov we skim the Austrian border past the village of Safov with a quaint old Jewish cemetery, then past Uhercice, with a Renaissance chateau where a massive conservation effort is underway and can be toured, and a lovely pottery workshop on the pond in the village green. After arrival to Slavonice, we travel by local train to the town of Telc, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its perfectly preserved Renaissance town center.
Overnight in Telc.

Day 5)
Telc – Jindrichuv Hradec
(63 km / 39 miles)
From Telc to Dacice by train, then to the border town of Slavonice, which like Telc features a wonderfully preserved square with Renaissance gables and graffito facades. There will be a small outing right up to the border itself at the hamlet of Mariz, where we recommend a visit to the pottery workshop.
Overnight in Jindrichuv Hradec.

Day 6)
Jindrichuv Hradec – Trebon
(30 km / 19 miles)
First, take in the historic town and castle of Jindrichuv Hradec, then start cycling through the mosaic of ponds, woods and meadows of the Bohemia Lake District to the town of Trebon, a medieval city whose walls are still largely intact. The only way to enter the historical core is through a gate in the old fortifications, across a moat which is a part of a unique water regulation system dating back to the 16th century.
Overnight in Trebon.

Day 7)
Trebon – Cesky Krumlov
(53 km / 33 miles)
The last day of cycling leads through hilly terrain to the jewel of South Bohemia, the town of Cesky Krumlov (a UNESCO Heritage Site), situated on the banks of the meandering upper course of the Vltava River. The old town preserves, virtually intact and still vital, an unparalled ensemble of Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque structures. Among the attractions are the second largest castle complex in the Czech Republic and the oldest working Baroque theatre in Europe.
Overnight in Cesky Krumlov.

Day 8)
Cesky Krumlov – Holasovice - Prague
The recommended program gives you ample time to enjoy all that Cesky Krumlov has to offer within one day, with an optional side trip to see the Baroque folk architecture in Holasovice.
Late afternoon transfer by train or bus from Cesky Krumlov to Prague.
 

Version B: Vienna to Prague 410 km / 257 miles

Day 1)
Vienna - Stockerau
Travelers arrive in Vienna and make their way to Stockerau (18 km, by bike, U-Bahn train, or Autobahn) individually, where they will spend the night. Next morning your contact person will await you with information package and bicycles.
Overnight in Stockerau.

Day 2)
Stockerau - Drnholec
(64 km / 40 miles)
Over hilly terrain along the "Leiserberweg" bicycle trail to Ernstbrunn (Leiser Berge naturalpark). Border crossing at Laa an der Thaya, then over 8 level miles of South Moravia to Drnholec.
Overnight in Drnholec.

Day 3)
Drnholec - Znojmo – Vranov nad Dyji
(35 km / 22 miles)
Morning transfer by van from Drnholec to Znojmo, a royal town with a lovely historical center. Here the most naturally scenic part of the trip begins, with the National Park Podyji, the river canyon and viewpoints that will reward you for enduring the very challenging, hilly terrain. The last remnants of the Iron Curtain in the village of Cizov are one of the highlights. The other highlight is the most fairy-tale-like castle of Vranov perched on a cliff high above the riverbed.
Overnight in Vranov nad Dyji.

Day 4)
Vranov nad Dyji – Slavonice – Telc
(48 km / 30 miles)
From Vranov we skim the Austrian border past the village of Safov with a quaint old Jewish cemetery, then past Uhercice, with a Renaissance chateau where a massive conservation effort is underway and can be toured, and a lovely pottery workshop on the pond in the village green. After arrival to Slavonice, we travel by local train to the town of Telc, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its perfectly preserved
Renaissance town center.
Overnight in Telc.

Day 5)
Telc – Jindrichuv Hradec
(38 km / 24 miles)
From Telc to Dacice by train, then to the border town of Slavonice, which like Telc features a wonderfully preserved square with Renaissance gables and graffito facades. There will be a small outing right up to the border itself at the hamlet of Mariz, where we recommend a visit to the pottery workshop.
Overnight in Jindrichuv Hradec.

Day 6)
Jindrichuv Hradec - Tabor
(49 km / 30 miles)
This route leads through a tapestry of woods and ponds to Cervena Lhota, with a beautiful little chateau built on a rocky island in the middle of a lake. Afternoon arrival in Tabor leaves enough time for a tour of this historic town founded by the Hussites.
Overnight in Tabor.

Day 7)
Tabor - Tynec nad Sazavou
(69 km / 43 miles)
From Tabor we ride through a region of highlands with woods and pastures, an area known as Czech Siberia for its rough weather and unspoiled environment. There is a beautiful view of the River Luznice from the bridge in the town of Sedlec-Prcice, the destination of the annual Prague-Prcice walk.
Overnight in Tynec nad Sazavou.

Day 8)
Tynec nad Sazavou - Prague
(40 km / 25 miles)
The last leg of the journey leads through Pruhonice Park on the way to Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic. You have the rest of the day and most of the next day to explore this magic city.

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Time to go:

Weather
The Central European continental climate consists of long, hot summers and cold, snowy winters. The best time for cycling and walking tours is between April and October. In the summer months it can get quite hot. Bear in mind that it will be cooler on the mountain tours at this time. May June and September are generally good months to take advantage of the cooler, but still warm weather.

Crowds
It must be noted that, according to the tourism calendar, the first two weeks in August are when most people go for their holidays. Generally July and August are the busiest months. We mention this with regard to seeing cultural monuments and UNESCO protected areas with greater ease and with less people around.

Cultural Events
During September, many towns and villages in the winegrowing regions of Central Europe have wine harvest celebrations (vinobranํ). Local people dress up in traditional folk costumes and there is a lot of singing and dancing washed down with copious amounts of wine. These are wonderful traditional events and should not be missed. You also might wish to adjust the times of your tour to coincide with the following festivals and cultural events:

Vienna:

The Long Night of Music is where music lovers and night owls can visit more than 50 locations with a single ticket – using the special shuttle buses. The program ranges from jazz to classical, from pop and rock to musicals and special performances in the DJ scene.
http://langenacht.orf.at

The Vienna Festival is renowned for its superb international theatrical performances, also invites musical ensembles and opera companies from all over the world, in addition to staging many Austrian musical productions.
http://www.festwochen.at/

Wien Modern is a contemporary music festival celebrating only composers from the 20th century.
http://www.wienmodern.at/

Tabor:

Hussite Days Theatre presentations of the life of the 15th century Catholic reformer Jan Hus.

The Tabor Meeting has a medieval atmosphere with markets, fireworks, fencing and demonstrations of historical craft making.

Jindrichuv Hradec:

The Folk Rose Festival attracts folk groups from all over the world to perform their music and dances.
http://www.folkcountry.cz/ruze.htm

Trebon:
Anifest is a festival of animated films from all corners of the world. Oscar winning works are presented side by side with new talent.
http://www.anifest.cz/index_en.php

Around Trebon (1. – 5.7.2005) The Around Trebon Festival (in Czech, Okolo Trebon) is one of the longest-running multigenre festivals in the Czech Republic. It was first organized in 1992. The festival offers a variety of musical genres, unusual combinations of concerts and theatre performances, street happenings, competitive and fun races, and other entertainment.
http://www.okolotrebone.cz

Cesky Krumlov:
The Festival of the Five-petal Rose (17.-19.6.2005) is a historical Renaissance festival with parades of people in medieval clothes as well as music concerts and historical demonstrations.
http://www.ckrumlov.info/apps/en/slperu.xsp

Festival of chamber music (24.6.-3.7.2005) Festival of the classical music with the longest tradition in Cesky Krumlov. Part of the festival is the project ‘Music through the ages’ where music can be heard on the tour route of Cesky Krumlov Castle.

Festival of early music (5.7. – 17.7.2005) Medieval, renaissance and baroque music sound on the original musical instruments where the original musical sources and the customs of interpretation of the period are respected.

The International Music Festival (15.7. – 27.8.2005) has been going since 1992 and includes music of all periods with the participation of renowned instrumentalists, singers, chamber ensembles, choirs and symphony orchestras.
http://www.czechmusicfestival.com/

Prague:

Prague Spring is an international music festival featuring orchestral and theatre series, church concerts, recitals, morning concerts, chamber music and symphony orchestras.
http://www.festival.cz