Renting Bikes In Prague

City Bike, in Prague's Old Town, near the famous Hotel Paříž.

(I have just updated this post with new information and photographs from City Bike, which was closed when I first wrote this in March. -- Grant)

One of the most frequently asked questions I receive here at the Home Office in Černý Vůl is about renting bikes in Prague. Where to do it, how much it costs, that kind of thing.

You'd think I'd have written about this topic sooner, but I guess I was just too busy riding my own bike. I have actually rented bikes in Prague, when friends or family have come to visit, so I have had some experience.

In the past few weeks, I've visited Prague's two main bike-rental shops in the city center. Here's what I found. I'll add others if I find any.

As far as currency conversion goes, figure around 15 Czech koruny to the U.S. dollar, or about 25 koruny to one euro.

CITY BIKE

I've rented from these guys at least once, and from what I remember had a perfectly pleasant experience.

City Bike is conveniently located in the Old Town, on Králodvorská street 5, very close to Náměstí Republiky (Republic Square).

What are their prices like? Check it out:

First two hours: 300 CZK
Every hour after: 50 CZK
Maximum all-day price: 500 CZK
24-hour rental: 650 CZK (about $41)

No cash deposit required; you just need to leave some ID. English is spoken.

I was told they also do longer-term rentals, by special arrangement with the boss, I guess.

They offer a two-hour guided tour of the Old Town for 540 CZK. From what I gather, that tour involves a bit of beer drinking and is taken on funny-looking, yellow "cruiser" bikes, which have no gears, pedal brakes and big, soft saddles. This tour only includes Old Town, as you'd need some gearing to make it up to the "castle" area and St. Vitus Cathedral.

There's a separate Prague Castle Ride, for the same price, that lasts 2.5 hours and is taken on the geared bikes.

There are three city tours each day, April through October -- at 10:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m., and 4:30 p.m.

With each rental you get a helmet, lock, city map, a free bottled soft drink and a 20 CZK discount coupon for the Communist Museum.

They offer Shark and Mongoose mountain bikes for men and women with front suspension and another under the seat and cruiser bikes. They also rent kids bikes and baby seats.

For more serious cyclists, I was told they have a few Trek mountain bikes for 700 CZK per day or 850 CZK for a 24-hour rental. These bikes require that you leave a credit-card imprint as a deposit.


The Shark full-suspension mountain bikes available at City Bike.

They say they were the first bike-rental company in Prague, opening in 2001. It seems hard for me to believe you couldn't rent a bike in Prague before 2001, but what do I know?

Their tours really do seem to focus more on the beer drinking, less on the cycling (not that there's anything wrong with that). Here's an excerpt from their website:

"You’ll get 2 hours 30 mins of excitement with our down to earth, fun-loving, beer drinkin’ guides. They’re your #1 source for what’s going on in Prague! You’ll see all the sights, take in some of Prague’s rich history and culture, hear some rather unconventional stories, and drink some of the Czech Republics most famous BEER!"

They also promise to let riders in on "all the dirty little secrets of this beautiful city."

For the more serious cyclists, they do offer an all-day tour to Karlštejn Castle, including pick-up and lunch, for 1,500 CZK, which they list as a 32-km (20 mile) "easy ride. I thought that ride had it challenges when I did it last summer, I have to admit, but maybe they take an easier route! Or maybe I'm out of shape.

City Bike also offers an all-day, 32-km Grand Bicycle Tour of Prague, which they list as a "moderate" ride, with pick-up and lunch, for 1,500 CZK.

City Bike
Kralodvorska 5
Prague 1
Telephone: 776-180-284
Hours: Daily from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Website: www.citybike-prague.com
E-mail: info@citybike-prague.com


Praha Bike, very close to Old Town Square.

PRAHA BIKE

I've also rented from these guys before, and also had a great experience. They have an ideal location at 24 Dlouha Street, just a few steps from Old Town Square.

The bikes they rent are made for them -- 21-speed mountain hybrid bikes from component parts, so it's not like you're renting a GT or a Specialized or something.

The bikes are sturdy, ideal for Prague cobblestones and local trails, with front suspensions. They also rent out bike seats (70 CZK per day) and trailers (250 CZK per day) for kids, as well as tandem bikes and kids bikes. They also have long-term rentals, insurance, and even bike delivery, for a fee.

Here's a breakdown of some of their prices. Prices include a helmet, lock, and a basic cycling map and recommendations of where to ride. English is spoken.


Four-hour rental: 380 CZK
1-day rental: 620 CZK (about $40)
2-day rental: 1,140 CZK
3-day rental: 1,530 CZK
4-day rental: 1,780 CZK
6-day rental: 2,400 CZK
8-day rental: 3,040 CZK

Deposit: 2,000 CZK for one-day rentals, 3,000 CZK for multiday rentals.

Payment: Cash only for rentals, credit card imprint for deposit.

Praha Bike also organizes guided tours of the city, as well as a guided trip to Karlštejn Castle (ranging from around 1,400 CZK t0 2,800 CZK per person, depending on the number of folks in the group), with a train journey on the return. They also offer self-guided tours to Karlštejn, Konopiště Castle, or the village of Kutna Hora, famous for its "bone church."

My impression is that Praha Bike is a little more serious about their cycling than City Bike, since they offer organized trips to Karlštejn, Kutna Hora and Konopiště.

Praha Bike
Dlouha 24
Prague 1
Telephone: 732-388-880
Hours: Open daily 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. until Nov. 15.
Website: www.prahabike.cz
E-mail: info@prahabike.cz

WHERE TO RIDE IN PRAGUE

As for nice rides that begin in the city center, from both of these cycle shops it's easy enough to make your way to Letensky sady, a lovely park with many cycling paths that overlooks the city. And from there, it's an easy ride over to Stromovka Park, an old royal park that also boasts lots of car-free cycling lanes.

If you're looking for something a bit more adventurous, you can try any of these cycling routes from my blog, which offer a bit more variety and distance, but which won't leave you totally drained at the end of your ride -- Divoka Sarka Loop, Costas Loop or the Lim-Kim Trail, which takes you out to beautiful Okoř castle.

Just be careful -- Czech drivers are notoriously bad, and don't respect the rights of cyclists. If you're new to Prague and can cycle where there are no cars, do it. Letna and Stromovka are perfect for that.

Happy trails.