The Golden City and the Rivers Vltava and Elbe by bike and boat from/to Prague

Please note: You can only take part in this trip if you are vaccinated or recovered from Covid-19!
As of Oct 2022, subject to change.

Feel save, book flexible: FREE rebooking up to 6 weeks prior arrival to any alternative date in 2021 - applies to bookings between May 01 and June 15 2021 , the price of the newly selected date 2021 applies in the event of a rebooking.

Rebooking FREE OF CHARGE until 28 days prior tour start; valid for all new bookings between May 01 and ***September 15 2021***. Valid for all tour-dates 2021 – the price of the newly selected date 2021 applies in the event of a rebooking.

The Czech Republic, the small country in the heart of Europe, impresses with its original river landscapes, picturesque villages and romantic castles, whose history and architecture can often be traced back to the Middle Ages. Prague, known also as „the Golden City“ and „the City of a Hundred Spires“, is both point of departure and final destination for this beautiful bike and barge tour along the Upper Moldova, in Czech called Vltava, and the huge Elbe River – when the bridges of the Vltava River are ablaze with sunlight and the spires of the castle sparkle in the light, then it becomes obvious that Prague has its nickname ”Golden City” with good reason! Multifaceted and unique, modern and at the same time aware of tradition – discover one of Europe’s most beautiful metropolis with its Old Town listed as UNESCO World Heritage Site and cycle through unspoilt and sometimes gently hilly landscapes. Don’t forget to try the world-famous Czech beers and good wines.

Our Tip: Book early, those bike & boat trips fill up fast!

Route

Tour profile / level 2

The cycle tour is suitable for people with average fitness level. You will cycle on paved or asphalted cycle ways, on very lightly-trafficed agricultural roads as well as on unpaved trails leading through forests or fields. There will also be short legs along heavy-trafficked roads. The terrain is mostly flat, though there are some slopes to cope with.

Day 1: Prague

Individual arrival in Prague. Embarkation from 4 pm. After dinner, you should take a little walk, particularly beautiful in the dark, and enjoy the stunning view of the illuminated Prague Castel.

Day 2: Prague – Kralupy, approx. 28 km

You will be handed out your bike and start for your first cycle tour. You will cycle along the Vltava River via Troja (Baroque castle – National Art Gallery) to the village of Klecánky and then over the tread of the Vltava via Drasty, Vodochody back to the river bank to today`s destination Kralupy.

Day 3: Kralupy – Mělník – Litoměřice, approx. 28 km

After breakfast, around 9 am, we will take out the bike again. You will cycle – almost always along the Vltava River – to Nelahozeves. Tip: visit the birth house of Antonin Dvořák and one of the most famous Renaissance castles of Bohemia, also known as the “little Louvre of Czechia”. The tour takes you through the Veltrusý Park, with numerous sculptures and gazebos in an extensive terrain, up to the royal town of Mělník. Around about 1.30 pm, return back to the ship and enjoy the boat trip on the Elbe River to Litoměřice.

Day 4: Litoměřice, Day of rest or cycle tour to Střekov Castle and back, approx. 47 km

A Day at leisure. Discover one of the most beautiful Czech towns, the royal town of Litoměřice. The colourful Renaissance and Baroque buildings in the town centre, which for the most part is encircled by well-preserved Gothic fortifications, will enchant you. Well-worth seeing: Baroque Cathedral of St Stephen atop the dome hill or the Bishop’s residence. You might also be interested in an individual visit to the Terezín Memorial in the village of Terezìn. The concentration camp memori-al is located only 5 km away. For more advanced cyclists, we recommend the scenic bike tour to the castle Střekov with appealing café, idyllically situated in the narrow valley of the Elbe River. Your route will take you through the small town of Velké Žernoseky (famous Czech wine-growing region), past the Bohemian Gate - the transition from the Elbe Sandstone Mountains to the Bohemian Uplands - to Střekov Castle. From here you will have a magnificent view of the Elbe River and the surrounding mountains. Afterwards you will cycle back to Litoměřice, where your ship will anchor for the night.

Day 5: Litoměřice – Roudnice – Mlčechvosty, approx. 43 km

Early in the morning, the ship will take you to Roudnice. Your cycle tour starts at around 09:00 am. Almost always alongside the Elbe, via Dobřín, Račice and Vliněves, you cycle back again to the lovely village of Mělník. Enjoy the splendid panoramic view of the confluence of the Vlatwa and Elbe River from the top of the castle hill. You continue cycling to today’s destination Mlčechvosty. Arrival of the ship at around 5:00 pm.

Day 6: Mlčechvosty – Prague, ca. 42 km

Today you can go for a last bike tour via Nelahozeves, Kralupy, Vodochody, Drasty and Klecánky to Prague or you relax on the sun deck. You will arrive at Prage at ca. 3:30 pm. The rest of the day is reserved for Prague.

Day 7: Prague – Zbraslav – Prague, ca. 31 km

Today you have enough time to discover the right bank of the Vltava River, the highlights of the Old Town, the New Town and the Jewish Quarter. Or just meander along the streets or watch the lively goings-on sitting in one of the cafes on the Old Town Square. There are countless possibilities! In case you feel like cycling, make a tour upstream along Vltava River to Zbraslav and back. A trip to Vyṧehrad Castle is worthwile. It was built, probably in the 10th century, on a hill over the Vltava River. Local legend holds that Vyṧehrad was the location of the first settlement which later became Prague.

Day 8: Prague

After breakfast, till 10 am disembarkation and individual departure.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Due to unpredictable high or low water or delays in lock and bridge passages, a change in the itinerary may become necessary. In extreme cases, our local agency or shipping company will use another available means of transportation for impassable river stretches or certain program points cannot be visited. We also reserve the right to change the order of the ports of call.

Services

7 nights in outside cabins with shower/WC in the booked cabin category
Program according to daily schedule
welcome drink
Full board (7x breakfast buffet, 6x packed lunch for bike tours or lunch snack, coffee and cake in the afternoon, 7x 3-course dinner)
Daily cabin cleaning
Change of bed linen and towels as needed
All port, bridge and lock fees
Daily bike tour briefing
On board tour guide
Maps and information material per cabin
GPS data

Dates & Prices

Dates

Merkmale

Extras

Bikes & equipment
7-speed-bike incl. insurance	89
E-bike (on request, limited number available) incl. insurance	199
Own bikes/e-bikes	29

Extras
Special Diet	25-50

Best - Price - Guarantee

If you would verifiably receive better conditions and/or prices from another tour operator at the time of booking we guarantee at least the same conditions PLUS 1 handlebar bag for FREE!

All prices per person in EUR

Ship

Welcome aboard MS FLORENTINA!

Built in 1980 and completely refurbished in 2008 and in 2014, the MS FLORENTINA is a cosy and comfortable middle-class ship.

The Czech chef prepares national good home cooking which will be served in the bright, friendly restaurant with bar. Both the little lounge next to the reception and the observation saloon with its panoramic windows on the upper deck offer comfortable seating areas. Rest and relax you find on the deck chairs on the large sun deck.

WIFI is available only in the reception area (please note that the signal is not available along the whole route).

Technical data

Renovation: 2014
Passengers: max. 86
Lenght: 80m
Width: 9,60m
Draft: 1,50m
Height: 5m
Crew: 20
Flag: Czech

Cabins

All 46 cabins are outside cabins and have en-suite shower facilities. They all also include individual climate control, hairdryers, TV’s and safes.

Upper deck: 16x twin cabins (approx. 10m²), 4x single cabins (approx. 8m²) with french balcony (window can be opened)
Main deck: 24x twin cabins (approx. 10m²), 2x single cabins (approx. 8m², window cannot be opened)

Catering

Breakfast buffet, packed lunch for cycle tours or lunch snack, coffee and tea in the afternoon, three-course dinner

Bicycle

Bicycles inclusive panniers

Touring bikes

Our bikes are state-of-the-art quality bikes based on proven brand quality of the bicycle manufactory Velo de Ville. All Velo de Ville bikes use only braking systems from renowned manufacturers such as Magura or Shimano. Minimum body height for our rental bikes: 1.50 m

The following rental bikes (including pannier) are available for you:

7-speed UNISEX touring bikes
8-speed E-bikes

E-bikes | Electrical bikes | Pedeclecs

We provide you with modern quality e-bikes (pedelecs) with Nexus 8-speed hub gears, gradually selectable aid of pedaling power, puncture-proof tires and deep UNISEX comfort entry. The electric bikes from Velo de Ville are equipped exclusively with Bosch mid-mounted motors and fully integrated 500 Wh Bosch batteries. The design of the batteries allows them to almost disappear into the frame. This gives you better weight distribution and a low center of gravity without missing the convenience of easy entry. You save your battery by starting with as low a support as possible and increasing as needed. Please note that with the newer models of our e-bikes it is not possible to attach handlebar bags due to the additional fixed speedometers and wider handlebars.

IMPORTANT: Please reserve ebikes early, as they are only available in very limited numbers.

Breakdowns

Bicycle breakdowns can happen, also when bikes are well serviced and maintained, flats can be fixed by yourself. If there’s a difficult repair, you may call the local representative. Please don´t get any repairs done on the bike without informing the touroperator/local representative and their approval.

Own Bikes

If you bring your own bicycle, please pay attention to the following aspects: You are personally responsible for your own bike on board and ashore. Protect your bike against theft on board, as well as on land with a lock. The bikes will be brought on board and from board by the crew. Due to the local conditions we cannot prevent scratches and damages on the bikes. Please understand that we cannot accept any liability. The bikes on board are exposed to weather conditions because the parking is not covered. Please bring along your own spare material and repair kit for your bike.

Useful

Arrival - Parking - Departure

Arrival by plane

Airport: Prague (PRG)

Arrival by train

Train station: Prague (Praha hl.n.)

Arrival by car

Garage Spanelska
Near Wenceslas Square, CZK 794 (approx. € 32,- per day) onwards (price is based upon capacity), about 4 km from the mooring place (booking >>here). Approx. 500 m walk to the metro station Muzeum; then take line C Letňany to the station Vltavská; continue by foot about 1 km to the berth or take a taxi (only with licensed companies) to the mooring place (approx. € 25,-).

Rudolfinum Car Park
about 15 minutes walk from the pier (about 1,5 km), not bookable in advance, about CZK 794/ approx. € 32, - per day.

Participants

Minimum: 70 pax (has to be reached 21 days prior to arrival)

Additional information

Special dietary requests
Requests will be respected as far as possible. Please inform us on booking.

Own bikes/helmets
Own bikes only on request and for a surcharge, due to lack of space on sun deck.
Helmets are mandatory in Czech Republic for children up to 18 years! Please bring your own helmets, as there are no rental helmets available on board!

Travel documents
EU-citizens need a valid ID or passport, must have a validity of at least 6 month to the day of the end of the trip.

Alterations of schedule or program
Program is subject to change. In the event that because of low or high water levels or adverse weather conditions a route cannot be taken, the captain reserves the right to change the route for your safety (this would not be a reason for fee-free cancellation). For safety reasons, sun deck access may be limited in times of high water levels/low bridge clearance. Bicycles may sometimes be stored ashore overnight as a transport on the ship would not be possible due to low bridge clearance. Please note for your tour planning that due to numerous locks, the ship will always be slower than a cyclist.

Videos

Travel stories

5,6 of 6 Stars | 4

Wonderful cycling holiday along Vltava and Elbe river...J.G. 07/23

5,3 31.07.2023 | Janny G. The "Golden City" and the Rivers Vltava and Elbe by bike and boat from/to Prague

Wonderful cycling holiday

along Vltava and Elbe river, Czech Republic.

Accomodation 6
Board 3
Route description 6
On-site assistance 6
Route-character 4
Bicycle + equipment 6
Price-performance ratio 6

more

5,3 07.09.2019 | Gordon B. Elbe, Vltava + Prague by Bike + Boat

Cycling in the Czech Republic

Had a terrific holiday but some of the trails were pretty bad!

Accomodation 6
Board 6
Route description 5
On-site assistance 5
Route-character 3
Bicycle + equipment 6
Price-performance ratio 6