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Route Rating Level 3 to Level 5

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Casual Inns
Trip Price:
  • $4,298 pp dbl. occ.
  • (+$650 for sgl. occ.)
9 DAYS, 8 NIGHTS
ROLL OVER DATES BELOW FOR SPECIFIC PRICES
2009 DATES
CLASSIC TRIPS
SINGLES+SOLOS TRIPS
TRIP NOTES

All meals included except 3 lunches and 1 dinner.

Cancellation Policy

View cancellation policy

Meet / Depart

Budapest, Hungary/Kraków, Poland

Special Interest

Cooking, Culture & History, Fine Wine & Cuisine, Geological Wonders, Natural Beauty &/or Wildlife, Romance &/or Honeymoon, Spa

Recommended Reads

Essential trip reading

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Contact Us

Call: 800-462-2848
or 510-527-1555
Fax: 510-527-1444
E-mail us

801 Cedar St.
Berkeley, CA 94710

Business Hours:
7 days a week
from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Pacific Time

Or contact your travel agent

Hungary Slovakia Biking

Hungary, Slovakia & Poland Biking

From Budapest to Krakow with a Hike Over the Tatras

The reemergence of Hungary, Slovakia and Poland offers a stellar opportunity to discover the glories of old-world Europe. Designed to appeal to a broad range of cycling abilities, this unique itinerary lets you relish full days of 100-kilometer-plus cycling through a region that feels both ancient and amazingly new (or choose a more relaxed pace by taking advantage of our van support). Journey along routes that seamlessly link some of Europe's most authentic (and least touristed) medieval cities and castles. Hike over the grand High Tatras, bike on quiet roads to alpine hamlets and cap off your journey in the fin-de-siècle gem of Kraków.

View other trips in Europe At Large

Day 1 visegrad

Meet in Budapest Our first bike ride follows a rolling tree-lined road to Visegrád  Take a self-guided tour of the town's majestic early-Renaissance castle, located on a beautiful curve of the Danube.

Day 2 banska stiavnica

Bike across the Mária Valéria Bridge, gracefully spanning the Danube, into Slovakia Pedal to the World Heritage site of Banská Stiavnica, a preserved medieval mining town   Take a guided walking tour to see elegant Renaissance architecture.

Day 3 banska bystrica

Undulating roads lead through beech forests to secluded Kremnica, an ancient mountain hamlet Explore the prosperous mining town of Banská Bystrica Explore the picturesque Old Town and pedestrian zone before enjoying dinner on your own. 

Day 4 levoca

Ride into the pastureland of Slovakia's Spis region Wander the walled town of Levoca and visit the 14th-century Sväty Jakub Church  Check out Old Town Hall, embellished with columns, pillars, arcades and gables, as well as the wrought-iron "Cage of Shame," where miscreants were placed on display.

Day 5 javorina

After a gondola ride, enjoy an alpine hike across the spectacular High Tatras, or bike up and around these impressive mountains  The highest section of the Carpathian Mountains, the Tatras are hailed as Europe's grandest range outside the Alps. 

Days 6-7 zakopane

Pedal into Poland past remote villages en route to vibrant Zakopane Take a gondola up to Kasprowy Wierch for a challenging hike with magnificent lake and valley views Delicious dumplings, a roaring fire and merry folk tunes enliven tonight's feast in Poland's highest village.

Days 8-9 krakow

Amid inspiring mountain scenery, spin to Niedzica Castle Shuttle to Kraków, another World Heritage site Don't miss Wawel Castle and the Jewish quarter of Kazimierz with its ancient synagogues.

Route Rating What's this? Every Backroads trip is designed to appeal to a wide variety of interests and fitness levels. Each offers options for more or less activity, so you can decide exactly how much you want to do day by day.

Lodging What's this? Our lodgings are divided into three different categories.

Premiere Inns:These lodgings possess both elegance and authentic regional flair.

Casual Inns:These lodgings are comfortable and appropriate to the areawith such characteristics as authenticity, scenic settings and proximity to our activities.

Deluxe Camping:We set up the tents (and take them down), handle every camp chore and perform culinary magic.

Detailed Itinerary

Reserve This Trip!

Guest Trip Reviews

This was my 15th trip and I was worried about "measuring up" to the challenge of the Tatra Mountains. The leaders gave me so much encouragement and support that I felt comfortable and able to do it. Here's to 15 more!!!!
Patricia Ascher - Sausalito, CA

More Reviews of this Trip

All Guest Reviews

For 30 years, Backroads has been perfecting the art of active travel. We are the Hungary / Slovakia / Poland tour experts. For biking tours in Europe At Large, trust our in-depth connections. To see all our Europe At Large biking tours click here. For our selection of award-winning Europe At Large walking and hiking tours click here. For our selection of award-winning Europe At Large multisport tours click here.

Hungary, Slovakia & Poland Biking

HISTORIC SETTINGS: Casual Inns*

Hotel Silvanus
Hotel Silvanus

Visegrád, Hungary (1 night)
Located on a ridge high above town, near the ruins of the Citadel, with an indoor swimming pool, sauna, Turkish bath and impressive views of the Danube River.

Hotel Salamander
Hotel Salamander

Banská Stiavnica, Slovakia (1 night)
Simple accommodations wonderfully situated in the heart of the historic center.

Hotel Arcade

Banská Bystrica, Slovakia (1 night)
A very basic hotel set in a 16th-century building on a narrow cobblestone street just steps from the town's picturesque central square.

Hotel U Leva
Hotel U Leva

Levoča, Slovakia (1 night)
Comfort in a newly restored medieval house ideally set near the main square.

Hotel Kolowrat

Javorina, Slovakia (1 night)
Alpine accommodations with fantastic mountain views, a swimming pool, sauna, solarium, massage service, bowling, billiards and a fitness center.

Villa Marilor
Villa Marilor

Zakopane, Poland (2 nights)
Enjoy well-appointed rooms, a Jacuzzi and a scenic private park in a spectacular alpine setting.

* With 2 Premiere Inn nights

Hotel Pod Roza

Kraków, Poland (1 night)
This elegant hotel, with individually decorated rooms, is located on the historic royal road connecting Floriańska Gate and Wawel Royal Castle.

* With 1 Premiere Inn night

Hungary, Slovakia & Poland Biking

Route Rating: Daily Mileage Options & Cumulative Elevation Gain

Trips For All Abilities

Every Backroads trip is designed to appeal to a wide variety of interests and fitness levels. We know your pace may vary from one day to the next-and your traveling companion's may differ somewhat from yours. So we present a range of mileage options, and each day you decide exactly what and how much you want to do.

Activity Level Average Time Average Distance
    Biking Walking
& Hiking
1 2-3
hours		 10-20
miles		 2-5
miles
2 2-4
hours		 21-30
miles		 5-7
miles
3 3-5
hours		 31-40
miles		 7-9
miles
4 4-6
hours		 41-55
miles		 9-11
miles
5 5-7+
hours		 56-75+
miles		 11-13+
miles
Day 1
  • Level 1 1 Route Option Available
  • Biking 20 miles
  • 500 - 1500 feet elevation gain
Day 2
  • Levels 4 to 5  3 Route Options Available
  • Biking 41, 63, 81 miles
  • 500 - 2000 feet elevation gain
Day 3
  • Levels 2 to 3  2 Route Options Available
  • Biking 25, 36 miles
  • 500 - 2500 feet elevation gain
Day 4
  • Levels 3 to 5  3 Route Options Available
  • Biking 32, 40, 61 miles
  • 500 - 1500 feet elevation gain
Day 5
  • Levels 2 to 4 3 Route Options Available
  • Biking 33 miles
  • 1000 - 2000 feet elevation gain
  • or Hiking 6.2, 10.6 miles
  • 1000 - 2000 feet elevation gain
Day 6
  • Levels 2 to 3 2 Route Options Available
  • Biking 27, 34 miles
  • 1000 - 2500 feet elevation gain
Day 7
  • Levels 1 to 4  3 Route Options Available
  • Hiking 9.3 miles
  • 500 - 3000 feet elevation gain
  • Biking 18, 31 miles
  • 500 - 1500 feet elevation gain
Day 8
  • Levels 3 to 4  2 Route Options Available
  • Biking 34, 41 miles
  • 500 - 1500 feet elevation gain
Day 9
  • Walking Tour 2.5 hours