2026 Calendar: Discover bike trains and special services to Pálava, Brdy, and Šumava

Traveling by Bike Train in Southern Moravia

In Southern Moravia, the Pálava – Podyjí bike train is quite popular. It operates from March 28 to September 28, 2026, primarily on weekends and specific holidays. This year, you can enjoy direct routes again without any transfers, unlike last year when transfers were necessary. The train departs from Brno Main Station at 8:02 AM, heading towards Břeclav, Valtice, and Mikulov, further on to Hrušovany nad Jevišovkou, reaching Znojmo and Šatov. There’s simply no better way to access Pálava, the Novomlýn Reservoirs, the Lednice-Valtice area, and the Podyjí National Park. You can also take the Brno-Vienna bike path or explore the wine trails. There are several bike rental stations, including in Břeclav, where you can rent bicycles, but it’s wise to book them in advance. The ČD bike rentals are available either year-round or from March to the end of October.

Train Trips Around Czech Switzerland

Of course, we aren’t referring to the Alps, but to the Czech Switzerland National Park. This diverse landscape located in Českokamenicko, Krásnolipsko, and Mikulášovicko is returning to popularity after recovering from a devastating fire. The area is reviving beautifully and is again a sought-after destination. A network of hiking and biking trails connects to train stations, and you can use the historic motor train on the T1 line between Česká Kamenice and Kamenický Šenov, which operates from March 28 to November 1.

Cyklo Brdy Travels from Prague to Blatná

As the name suggests, the Cyklo Brdy train includes cars designed specifically to transport bicycles. You can take your bike on this tourist train either as luggage during the journey or as a regular piece of baggage (subject to capacity). The tourist train Cyklo Brdy departs on weekends and public holidays (from March 21 to October 31) from Prague Main Station at 8:31 AM. You can hop on in Beroun at 9:15 AM, arrive in Příbram at 10:04 AM, reach Březnice at 10:32 AM, and finally get to Blatná at 11:06 AM. Where to get off the train? The Brdy area is crisscrossed by hundreds of paths and trails, both marked and unmarked. You can venture towards Tok, head to the Padrť lakes, or explore the Tři trubky area. Upon arriving in Blatná, take some time to explore the charming historic center with its romantic water castle and the adjacent park featuring deer and peacocks, along with a permanent exhibition at the local museum. The Cyklo Brdy train also makes it easy to return. It departs from Blatná at 16:49 and follows the same route back to arrive in Prague at 19:21.

Bike Easily and Quickly Around Šumava

On the Šumava local lines, you can easily succumb to the charm of rural railways and the romance of forest stations. You can travel alongside our largest reservoir and through the deep woods near Nové Údolí by train. Modern local trains are operated by GW Train Regio, which takes good care of cyclists. They have a special carriage for bikes with friendly staff. You can comfortably travel from České Budějovice to Černý Kříž, from Strakonice to Volary, or from Číčenice through Vodňany, Bavorov, and Volary to the forest-hidden Nové Údolí. These trains also connect to ČD express trains and are easily identifiable by their bright orange color.

More Tips for Cyclists Traveling by Train

• • A fun alternative for a weekend trip from Prague to Slaný is the Cyklohráček. This train not only has special carriages for bicycle transport but also features carriages equipped with board games or designed as playgrounds for children. The rules for transporting bikes on these specialized tourist trains are the same as on regular trains.

• • You can easily take your bike on almost all trains operated by Czech Railways. In passenger trains, you can treat the bike as baggage, meaning you can place your bike in the designated areas or stand next to it. In express trains, bike transport is managed in a special carriage, where you must get a reserved seat for your bike. You can buy this reservation online in advance or at the station when you buy your ticket before the train arrives. You cannot board without a bike reservation in express trains. Trains allowing bike travel are marked with a bike symbol in a circle or square in the schedule.

• • For day-long adventures and multiple trips during the day, you can purchase a day pass. This pass is valid not only for ČD but also for private carriers such as KŽC, Arriva, GW Train Regio, AŽD, or Die Länderbahn CZ.

• • You can rent a bike at 68 railway stations operated by Czech Railways scattered throughout various regions of Bohemia, Moravia, and Silesia. Many rental locations now offer the increasingly popular e-bikes and scooters as well. The bikes are well-maintained, and using the bike rental services of Czech Railways has many advantages—one of which is that you can usually return the bike to a different location than where you rented it.

• • It is also possible to transport your bike to and from abroad. Czech Railways trains follow several popular European bike routes, including the Danube, Elbe, Greenway Prague – Vienna, and the Munich – Regensburg – Plzeň – Prague bike route.