southern Poland

[M.J.]

Hello

Does anyone have any route planning info. for Southern Poland?  

We are 5-6 London based cyclists heading to Krakow next year looking to do 100km per day in a southerly/easterly out and back loop into the Tatras/Carpathian mountains.  Ideally we won't have to carry camping/cooking equipment.  We have 7-10 days.

The Trento pages don't have much and other searches and info. seems limited.  Any tips gratefully received.

Thanks

[steveherrmann]

Hello,
It looks like you got no response to your request for the Poland-Slovakia tour. Too bad. Did you go? What can you tell me about a route? (Yes, I realize your message is now 15 years old.)

I live in Budapest, Hungary and am planning a trip from Budapest through the Tatras (uggh! wow!) to southern Poland. My mom's great material grandmother was born in ODRZYKON, Poland which will be my destination. My aim is to do genealogical work once I get there.

I know that the Tatras are beautiful but also high, often with steep climbs. Some routes are not terribly bicycle-friendly. At the moment I have a tentative route planned, heading pretty much straight north from Budapest toward Krakow. I will be on Hwy 520 and cross into Poland near Chocholów (tiny village). I know tha there is a nice bike path along the Dunajsem River.

Can you give me any insights?

Regards,   Steve Herrmann

[DonKahn1]

Hi Steve,

I am pretty new to this forum and just noticed your inquiry about southern Poland.  In 2016 I rode from Krakow to Budapest as part of a longer tour.  A bit fuzzy on the direct route, but I think there is an approximate route called the Amber Trail.  I didn't follow this directly but was along parts of it.  I remember taking about 2 days from Krakow to the border with Slovakia and passed through a town along a lake called Mamestovo.  Once you get into Slovakia the routes are bit limited, but the scenery in the High Tatras is terrific.  The towns I passed en route in Slovakia included: Ruzomberok, Bakska Bystrica, Banska Stiavnica, Nove Zamky, and crossed the Danube into Hungry at Komarno.  It was a great trip, and am looking forward when we can bicycle tour in Europe again

[steveherrmann]

Thanks Don! I greatly appreciate the reply and you sharing your route. I was aiming to go around the High Tatras from the east side. But maybe the west side is better. It is critical for me to find the best route, my wife is not a strong cyclist. We will be taking a tandem, but still I don't want to turn her off. Thanks again!

[DonKahn1]

Here is a little more info on the greenway route between Karkow and Budapest.  (http://www.greenways.by/index.php?content&id=110&lang=en)
I didn't follow this route exactly, as some of it is on rough paths, but a lot of the route is on lighter traveled roads