Cycling Krakow to Slovakia Plus! Budapest

Highlights: Medieval Krakow, Krakow market square, Royal Wawel Castle, Vistula River

Krakow is one of Europe’s most beautiful cities and has been on UNESCO’s list of World Heritage sites since 1978. It was spared from devastation during World War II and retains a multitude of architectural and urban planning examples from the 12th century. The city is dominated by the Royal Wawel Castle sitting on a rise above the Vistula River. Below the castle lies the Medieval city, home to one of the largest market squares in Europe. You’ll want to spend at least one extra day, if not two, in Krakow before our tour begins. We fit bicycles this afternoon and will enjoy an inaugural dinner together this evening.

Highlights: Wieliczka, Salt Mines

An invigorating loop out of Krakow takes us to the historic town of Wieliczka this morning. Wieliczka is famous for its salt mine, which operated continuously from the 13th century until 2007. Almost 300 kilometers of passageways spread under the town, and the mine boasts an underground lake, and four chapels carved from the salt by the miners. We’ll return to Krakow this afternoon to see more of this stunning city.

Highlights: Open air skansen (museum village) in Dobczyce

We bicycle southeast out of Krakow passing through Dobczyce. This town shares a reservoir of the same name that boasts the remains of a 13th century castle and an open air village of 18th and 19th century traditional architecture. Stop for coffee and lunch supplies before continuing on to Mszana Dolna where we spend the night.

Highlights: Rolling hills, Pieniny National Park Poland & Slovakia

Today’s ride takes us to the border between Poland and Slovakia and into the heart of the Pieniny National Park. The Pieniny Mountains are one of many small mountain ranges that make up the larger Carpathian Mountain chain and we will pass right through them as we enter Slovakia on a bike and pedestrian-only path along a scenic gorge. This is a rare opportunity and one of the only no-car border crossings we encounter.

Highlights: Kežmarok, Levoča

Today’s ride heads to the heart of the Spis region, a territory rich in northern Slovakian history. Once known for its wealthy traders, craftsmen, and miners, it’s no wonder that two of Slovakia’s six UNESCO World Heritage sites are located here. We’ll continue pedaling through valleys of narrow fields, where grass is still hand-cut by scythes and carried in horse-drawn wagons. The medieval village of Kežmarok will complete your sense of traveling through another time. We’ll have two nights in the ancient town of Levoča. Once an important town for commerce. Today, Levočais probably best known as the home of the medieval sculptor Master Paul of Levoča. Be on your best behavior today so as to not end up in the 17th century “Cage of Shame” in front of the town hall.

Highlights: UNESCO Castle in Spis, Historic square of Spisska Nova Ves

Our loop ride today takes us to breathtaking Spišský hrad, one of the largest castles in Central Europe and a UNESCO site. With the silhouette of the Spiš castle behind us, we encounter Spiš Chapter, sometimes referred to as the “Slovak Vatican” and its towering St. Martin’s Cathedral. Before returning to Levoča, stop at Spišský salaš, a traditional shepherd’s cottage style restaurant where you can indulge in traditional Slovak dishes like halušky or pirohy.

Highlights: Poprad, Slovak Paradise National Park

As you ride today you’ll have the forests that make up part of the Slovak Paradise national park on one side and the High Tatra mountains on the other side. Country roads and bike trails passing through small towns will lead us to the city of Poprad. Poprad is the largest city in the region (50,000) and the gateway to the High Tatras. We will have two nights in the calm historical district called Spisska Sobota.

Highlights: Extraordinary views of the High Tatra Mountains

The High Tatras are the highest mountain group in the Carpathian range. The imposing wall of granite peaks rises to a height of 2655 meters from the Poprad basin and the city of Poprad. These snowy mountains, as they were called in the middle ages, are virtually inaccessible except on foot. We’ll take a loop ride today to Strbske pleso – the second largest mountain lake in Slovakia – to enjoy views of the mountains, peaks and valleys.

Highlights: Low Tatra Mountains and the largest Slovak national park

We head south today, through the Low Tatras, which are characterized by long valleys and deep forests. This is the largest mountain range in Slovakia protected in the nation’s largest national park. We pedal around the edge of the park, then over a pass in the middle of the mountains. To the northeast are the High Tatras, to the south are the Slovak Rudohorie (Slovak Ore Mountains). Thanks to strict conservation measures the Low Tatras are the home to some of the few populations of brown bear left in Europe.

Highlights: Low Tatras, historic mining area in the Ore Mountains, forestry railroad

We leave the region of the Low Tatras today and head up the Hron River valley. We pass through Cierny Balog, home to the historic steam railway museum. At one time this valley hosted the longest forestry railroad in Europe at 132 km. We continue south to the small village of Látky for our last night in Slovakia.

Highlights: Bicycling the low hills of southern Slovakia into Hungary

Our ride today takes us across the border into Hungary after traversing one of the most culturally diverse regions of Central Europe. We leave the forests behind us and begin to get into more field crops, horticulture and a little viticulture.

Highlights: The hills of Hungary, Danube river, bike paths into Budapest

Our final ride takes us through the low hills of northern Hungary to the banks of the Danube river north of Budapest. We’ll follow small roads and bike paths to enter the city, with part of our route on islands in the middle of the Danube. Our ride takes us to the heart of Budapest. We’ll celebrate our ride with a special final dinner tonight.

Highlights: Budapest, Parliament building, Fisherman’s Bastion, the Danube River

Our trip ends after breakfast today; take time to explore this extraordinary city.