Prague to Dresden: Elbe Cycle Path
- Enjoy riverside cycling from the Czech Republic to Germany
- Explore historic Prague with its famous castle, museums, art galleries and bridges
- Sip a cold beer as you admire the golden sandstone cliffs of the Saxon Switzerland National Park
- Cliff-top castles, cobbled streets and wine cellars abound in charming towns
- Discover the delights of Dresden; the Zwinger Palace and Frauenkirche Cathedral
Gallery
Itinerary
Day 1 Arrive in PragueArrive in the Golden City of Prague. Youll be spoilt for choice of things to see, with Pragues incredible architecture, museums and galleries, and of course the castle itself. Relax with a beer, soak up the lively atmosphere, or wander around the pretty cobbled streets and enjoy the sights lit up by night.
Hotel Expo is located close by the Prague Exhibition Area with its´ main landmark Industrial Palace - the pearl of European Art Nouveau. The immediate vicinity of Tipsport Arena, Incheba Arena- venues of sporting and cultural events and Krizik´s Fontain with its unique performance full of music, ballet, play of lights and film projection on the water screen will delight our leisure guest.
After a hearty breakfast, set out to explore the city independently. A must-see is Pragues impressive castle and Gothic cathedral of St Vitus. Wander alongside and over the Vltava river, crossing Pragues iconic bridges, including the Charles Bridge.
Make time for a coffee or cool glass of Staropramen and the chance to people-watch in the main square, with its distinct Baroque architecture. By night, Prague comes to life with a lively crowd enjoying the bars and restaurants.
Hotel Expo is located close by the Prague Exhibition Area with its´ main landmark Industrial Palace - the pearl of European Art Nouveau. The immediate vicinity of Tipsport Arena, Incheba Arena- venues of sporting and cultural events and Krizik´s Fontain with its unique performance full of music, ballet, play of lights and film projection on the water screen will delight our leisure guest.
After a hearty breakfast set out on two wheels from your hotel. After a short uphill section you’ll find yourself taking in the river views as you pedal along the Vltava and into the old wine town of Melnik, the centre of the Czech Republic’s Bohemian wine route.
Pay a visit to Melnik castle, with its Renaissance style and fantastic views over the confluence of the Elbe and Vlatava rivers. Why not celebrate your first day’s cycling with a glass of local wine.
Ascent/descent: 171m/185m
The hotel has a laid-back restaurant with a bar. Other amenities include a gym, tennis courts and fitness classes, as well as a spa with a sauna and a hot tub. There's also a garden with a kids' playground, a gazebo and a BBQ area. Conference space is available, and parking is free.
Cycle along the river valley to Terezin, the former Jewish ghetto which is a poignant and humbling place. Continue pedalling to historic Litomerice, established in the 10th century on the site of a Slavic fort and regarded by many to be the most beautiful in the Czech Republic. Admire its colourful buildings in the Gothic, Baroque and Renaissance style.
Litomerice also boasts an extensive underground tunnel network linking the numerous wine cellars, of which 366m are open for visitors to explore.
Ascent/descent: 37m/66m
Stay in Penzion Mácha, a comfortable accommodation right in the centre of the Renaissance town of Litoměřice. With its 4 stylishly furnished rooms, up to 12 guests can enjoy undisturbed rest on luxurious beds, magical evenings on the cosy terrace and pleasant beginnings of new days, which are contributed to by a rich breakfast buffet. The intimate atmosphere guarantees that you will enjoy privacy and peace during your stay.
Enjoy a relaxed ride beneath the mountains to picturesque Decin, which spans both sides of the Elbe. Cycle past the 14th century Strekov Castle, looming high above the river on a basalt rock, which in spring-time is covered in golden aubretia flowers.
Today you’ll have the chance to visit another clifftop castle—Decín Castle. With its delightful rose garden, it is one of the oldest and largest landmarks in northern Bohemia. Climb up to the castle for wonderful river views.
Ascent/descent: 90m/110m
Hotel Ceska Koruna offers comfort and relaxation and is conveniently located in the cenytre of Decin. It's close to the castle, meaning you can easily explore the area upon arrival.
Today you will cycle beneath the beautiful Elbe sandstone massif. Cross the German border and reach the spa town of either Pirna, Bad Schandau or Krippen, depending on which hotel you are located in. Please note that the distance will vary depending on which location you are staying in. Why not indulge in a relaxing spa treatment, ready for your final day in the saddle tomorrow.
Ascent/descent: 33m/38m
Aktiv Sporthotel offers not only standard hotel facilities, but also a diverse range of sports and activities with views of the idyllic Saxon landscape.
The dominant building of the market place in the medieval town of Krippin stands the Hotel Erdgericht.
Admire the towering Elbe sandstone cliffs as you cycle through the Saxon Switzerland National Park and past delightful riverbank meadows to Dresden.
Dresden is known as the ‘Florence of the Elbe’ and is a friendly and picturesque city. Take time to relax and explore the museums and galleries of Saxony’s capital city, including the Frauenkirche Cathedral, majestic Zwinger Palace and the Semper Opera House.
Please note that the distance will vary depending on which location you stayed in last night.
Ascent/descent: 5m/12m
The quiet streets of Neustadt district is within walking distance to Albertplatz Square and the banks of Elbe River.
After breakfast check out of your accommodation and make your way home. We also offer a private transfer (supplement payable) or shared transfer service (Only on Fridays at 14:00, supplement payable) back to Prague at the end of your trip.
This trip has a carbon score of 8kg per person per night, meaning it’s one of our best trips! For comparison, a carbon count of 8kg is equivalent to 12 pints of local beer at the bar. Here at Macs, we pride ourselves on being a responsible travel company and continue to adopt, develop and innovate ways to positively impact the environment. Find out more information on how we've carbon counted our trips.
Other Information
Is it for me?This tour offers easy cycling on flat paths along the River Elbe between two delightful European cities—what more could you want?! This trip is ideal for leisure cyclists, combining city culture with riverscapes, lovely historic towns and the stunning sandstone cliffs of Saxon Switzerland.
Classic Routes | If you’re the active, outdoorsy type, who’s interested in taking on the great routes of the world or looking for a challenge, then our Classic Routes are for you. We’re talking the West Highland Way, Tour Du Mont Blanc and the Passau to Vienna Danube Cycle Path, to name but a few!
Leisure Cycling | Leisure Cycling
Solo Travellers, Families with Teens
The minimum age for this tour is: 12 Years
This cycling tour is graded easy to moderate. The grade is determined on the basis of the entire trip. Individual days may vary in terms of difficulty, i.e some rides may be slightly more difficult or easier than the overall grade. You'll cycle on mostly dedicated bike lanes and some secondary roads with light to moderate traffic.
The first day from Prague to Melnik has a small ascent (total elevation of 171m), otherwise the route is flat. Daily cycling distances are between approx. 21-55km, which is easily manageable if you are a beginner cyclist with good fitness and this is your first cycling holiday. It's perfect for those who wish to take it easy with plenty of time to explore en route; long lunches, museums, wineries and castles. Sometimes there will be an occasional longer day on almost flat terrain and you must be comfortable with riding on consecutive days.
The accommodation on this cycling trip consists of 3 and 4-star hotels and B&Bs (pensions). All offer a warm welcome to cyclists, and comfortable en suite rooms.
The hotels listed are examples. You might be booked into alternative accommodations that are not listed in the main daily description. If those listed are unavailable the alternative accommodation will be of the same or better standard than those described.
Single Rooms & Solo Cyclists
Single rooms are available although a supplement is payable. This trip is available to solo cyclists and is perfect as the route is popular so there are plenty of people to chat with every day.
- 7 Nights accommodation in 3 and 4-star hotels and B&Bs
- 7 Breakfasts
- Baggage transfers
- Information pack, guidebook and route information
- 24/7 Emergency telephone support from our office
- Travel to Prague / from Dresden
- Bike hire
- Lunches, dinners, drinks & snacks
- Personal equipment
- Travel insurance (required)
- Additional nights at the start or end of the holiday
- Bike hire
- Onward travel transfer from Dresden to Prague
This tour is available to start on any day of the week between the beginning of April to the end of October.
By Air - There are plenty of flights into Prague Airport. From the airport, then take the Metro (18-24 mins) or Airport Express bus (35 mins) to the main train station in the city centre.
By Rail - Prague is well-connected by rail within Europe, see Deutsche Bahn for train timetables and fares. From the UK, you can take the Eurostar from London to Brussels, then take the European Sleeper direct from Brussels to Prague in a cosy couchette or sleeper.
By Air - There are direct flights from Dresden Airport to London, Copenhagen, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Dusseldorf, Cologne, Stuttgart, Hamburg and Munich. Take an S-Bahn train from the city centre to the airport; the journey is just 12-20 mins. Berlin Airport is also a good choice to fly from. Direct train services to Berlin from Dresden are available, taking approx. 2hr10mins.
By Rail - You can take the train from Dresden back to Prague. Dresden is well-connected by rail within Europe, see Deutsche Bahn for train timetables and fares.
By Bus - There's a bus that takes you back to Prague, with a journey time of just under 2 hours. Please see FlixBus for timetables and fares.
Your bags will be transferred between your accommodation as per your itinerary. We ask you to limit your luggage to 2 x bags (each of up to 20kg) per person.
We can arrange bike hire as an optional extra. You can rent comfortable bicycles for your tour along the Elbe Cycle Path. Choose between men’s and women’s bikes in different heights and between 7-gears (with backpedal-brake) and 21/24-derailleur gear (without backpedal-brake). Models are usually Kalkhoff, BBF or Lehmkuhlor. E-bikes are also available, with Ladies‘/unisex models with step-through or low-crossbar frames from a height of 1.60 m to 1.9 m. We will need to know your height if you are hiring a bike through us.
Bike hire includes: 1 waterproof Ortlieb pannier (10 litres), 1 map holder on handlebars per booked room, 1 bicycle lock (with code or key), 1 repairset.
Please note that bike hire does not include a helmet and you must therefore bring your own, as wearing a helmet is compulsory.
It is a requirement of booking this tour with Macs Adventure that you have suitable travel insurance which covers you for the activity, emergency evacuation and hospital care.
Please refer to the sections "Grade & Terrain" and "Experience & Fitness" under "Trip Info"
You can start the Elbe Cycle Path on any day of the week between early April and end of October. As this is a popular trip we recommend booking early.
You will need comfortable sports shoes, comfortable clothes for cycling, waterproof jacket and trousers, a helmet and a sunhat. We supply a detailed packing list with your information pack.
We can arrange bike hire as an optional extra. You can rent comfortable bicycles for your tour along the Elbe Cycle Path. Choose between men’s and women’s bikes in different heights and between 7-gears (with backpedal-brake) and 24-gears (without backpedal-brake). We will need to know your height if you are hiring a bike through us.
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