Elbe River Cycling Tour: Prague to Dresden

As you arrive in Prague, you will see the city unfold like a storybook, its red rooftops and Gothic spires rising along the Vltava. As you cross the Charles Bridge, built on the orders of Charles IV, you will pass beneath 30 statues, their weathered faces watching over centuries of travelers. In the Old Town Square, you can stop by the Astronomical Clock and hear it chime, just as it has since 1410. If you gaze in the distance, you will see Prague Castle stretch across the skyline, its cathedral spires catching the last golden light of day.

Gliding alongside the Vltava River, you will ride past lush riverbanks and quiet villages. To your right, the Prague Zoo will spread across rocky slopes, home to rare wildlife. The road leads you to Mělník, where the Vltava flows into the Elbe beneath a hill crowned by a château. From its terrace, you will see the land stretch for miles, just as Czech queens once did – the town was their domain for centuries. Beneath the château, an ancient wine cellar holds barrels of Ludmila, a varietal first cultivated here under Charles IV, whose love for local grapes shaped Bohemian winemaking.

Following the Elbe, you will ride past Roudnice nad Labem, where a Baroque palace rises above the riverbanks. The road leads you to Terezín, its massive fortress walls a reminder of both imperial ambition and the town’s somber WWII past. As you continue, the landscape will soften, and soon, Litoměřice will welcome you with its colorful Baroque facades. From a café beneath St. Stephen’s Cathedral, you can take in the lively square, surrounded by vineyards that have flourished here for centuries.

Leaving Litoměřice, you will follow the Elbe past Žernosecké Lake, where vineyards cling to the slopes, reflecting in the still waters. As you ride through the valley, the trail leads you to Střekov Castle, a medieval ruin perched high above Ústí nad Labem, once admired by Goethe for its romantic silhouette. The river narrows between sandstone cliffs as you approach Děčín, where a grand château rises above the water. From its terrace, you will overlook the gateway to Bohemian Switzerland National Park, a landscape of towering rock formations waiting just beyond the horizon.

As you leave Děčín, you will climb into Bohemian Switzerland, where sandstone cliffs tower above the forested trails. Passing Srbská Kamenice, the ruins of Falkenštejn Castle rise from the rocks, once a refuge for outlaws. Near Königplatz, sweeping views stretch across the wild landscape before you descend through the Kirnitzsch Valley. The trail leads past the misty Lichtenhainer Waterfall before you arrive in Bad Schandau, a spa town where mineral springs have soothed travelers for over 350 years.

Setting off from Bad Schandau, you will follow the Elbe as it meanders through the gentle countryside, where vineyards and orchards color the riverbanks. Passing Pirna, a town once favored by Saxon kings, you will see its Renaissance facades lining the waterfront, a reminder of its rich trading past. As you approach Dresden, the trail leads into the Großer Garten, a vast Baroque park where tree-lined paths weave past palaces, fountains, and a historic miniature railway. Soon, the Elbe will guide you into the heart of the city, where Dresden’s vibrant streets await.

Waking up in Dresden, you will find yourself in a city that has risen from the ashes of war. Nearly destroyed in 1945, it has been meticulously restored, with the Frauenkirche’s dome standing as a symbol of resilience. The Zwinger Palace, once a royal festival ground, now houses masterpieces by Raphael and Rembrandt. A final stroll along the Brühl’s Terrace, past golden spires and riverside promenades, will be a fitting farewell to a journey shaped by history, culture, and the steady flow of the river.