A 3,000-kilometer cycling journey from Prague to Venice—and back by an entirely different route.
Setting out from Prague, Tomas Belcik rides south through the rolling countryside of Bohemia and Moravia before crossing into Austria and climbing toward the Alps. The journey continues through high mountain passes, Slovenia’s Lake Bled and Soča Valley, the karst landscapes of Istria, and the Adriatic coast before reaching Venice.
But Venice is only the turning point.
The return journey follows an entirely different route: north through the plains of northeastern Italy, back across the Alps, through the Salzkammergut lake country and Upper Austria, across the Danube and the highlands of the Mühlviertel, and finally along the Vltava toward Prague.
Along the way are medieval towns and remote villages, Alpine passes and river valleys, Venetian hill towns and Adriatic lagoons, unexpected detours, summer storms, roadside encounters, wild camps, village inns, and the everyday uncertainties that make independent bicycle travel memorable.
Cycling Prague to Venice and Back is both a personal account of a long-distance journey and a practical guide for cyclists interested in riding all or part of the route. The book includes:
- 30 cycling stages covering approximately 3,000 kilometers
- 162 photographs from the journey
- Stage distances and elevation information
- A route overview and stage-distance summary
- Downloadable GPS tracks
The route crosses the heart of Central Europe and the Alps in both directions, yet the outward and return journeys are almost entirely different. It can be followed as one complete adventure or used as inspiration for shorter sections through the Czech Republic, Austria, Slovenia, Croatia, and northern Italy.
For cyclists drawn to long roads, cultural landscapes, historic towns, mountain crossings, and the freedom of traveling through Europe under their own power, this is a journey from one great European city to another—and all the way home again.