Multi-day adventure north of Prague
Enjoy amulti-day boat trip with your family or a group of friends from Mělník up the Vltava river and dock your boat at of one of the best marinas far and wide. Hire a fully equipped cabin boat with everything you’ll need along the way. Use the facilities of Marina Vltava in Nelahozeves for overnight stays, where you will feel very comfortable. In addition, you can take advantage of the many other services offered here. There are more than enough tourist attractions in the area, so plan to stay at least two nights.
Whether you’re planning a trip as a romantic getaway for two, a family vacation or a trip with friends, a cabin boat is simply an all-in-one for everyone. You will appreciate the enclosed cabin, kitchen and private bathroom. You’d think you’d have to be an admiral to operate such a vessel, but due to the limited power you don’t even need a passenger boat licence to operate it. Still, don’t underestimate it, and before you sail out from the dock check the rules of navigation so you know what to expect along the way.
DAY 1: Become a captain in Mělník
In the port town of Mělník, rent a cabin boat. You can choose from several rental services here. Find the way to port of Mělník, pick up the keys of your boat, and even though driving the boat might seem easy, it’s better to get a training session before setting sail. That’s why the rental service offers the option to rent your dream boat the evening before, have everything explained properly by the professionals, sleep right on the boat, and only raise anchor the next morning. Just perfect if you need to get to know your new cockleboat.
DAY 2: Upstream to the channel
After leaving the port you have the whole city of Mělník right in front of your eyes. The view of the Mělník Château, with its church and vineyard, will not leave your camera cold. From Mělník, continue upstream to where the Elbe and the Vltava water channel come as close together as you did last night with your sweetheart in your cabin. Just to the confluence. Those are pearls, huh? So catch the next one – there is no confluence like a confluence, because the much better known one, the Elbe and Vltava confluence, is a little further away. But in the original bed of the Vltava River your cockleshell would end up like the Titanic, so head through the water channel.
The Vraňany-Hořín water channel from the beginning of the 20th century was one of the largest works of its kind, even during the time of the monarchy. Now it is a cultural monument just like the Hořín lock chamber. It’s actually a kind of technical monument on the river. The lock is equipped with two parallel locks. You’ll probably sail through the small chamber on the left, because the big one is more for bigger boats.
Did you know that the true confluence of our two largest rivers is located a little further away than the water channel where the Vltava flows into the Elbe from its original riverbed?
What to see on the way
A relaxing boat trip through the channel awaits you, transporting you to Holland for a while. Dock in a small bay near Zelčín at the mooring place and stretch your legs in the Zelčín Zoopark. You can reach the entrance to all the furry creatures via a short walk. Or take the Vrbno-Zelčín nature trail. You can fill your empty stomach at the entrance to the zoopark in the U Bedřicha Inn. But there are other ways to spend your free time here. Treat yourself to an experience of rafting down the old Vltava River on rafts that can be rented directly at the zoopark.
Stop in Zelčín and then we’ll set off to the finish
The channel ends with the Vraňany lock. After it you will find the Art Nouveau Miřejovice lock, and then it is time to dock. Right below the Renaissance Nelahozeves Château you will find a refuge in the Marina Vltava. Full service is a matter of course, so why not stay for two nights and get to know the château and its surroundings? The marina will take care of your food, or you can stop by the Vinopalna restaurant. And if you find that a night on the water isn’t good for your stomach, lay your head down on dry land. The marina also includes a guesthouse.
Arrival to the marina in Nelahozeves
DAY 3: So what’s that neighbourhood hiding?
It’s time to explore the local land and the opposite bank. First, head to the local tourist information center at the nearby train station for some good advice and a coffee. Start with the Renaissance château, which is managed by descendants of the Lobkowicz family. Take a tour and have a delicious ice cream at a local bistro. Just opposite the castle you’ll find another place you mustn’t miss. Antonín Dvořák’s birth house with a modern exposition. Stick to the theme and head upstream along the Dvořák trail to Kralupy nad Vltavou, where you will come across the original gear wheel from the Miřejovice hydroelectric power plant. Let‘s see, what’s the gearing called? A little hint: this relief is used by the French car company of the same name.
And now to the opposite bank! From Nelahozeves you can get there either via Kralupy or by a shorter northern route via Miřejovice lock. You can also use the marina services and let the ferry take you to the other side. On the left bank you will find another château. The baroque Veltrusy Château also boasts a large English park with many romantic structures, bridges and a fallow deer park. You don’t feel like walking any more? Hire a horse-drawn carriage or rent a bike at the ticket office and explore the park with a guide on an unusual bike tour.
You haven’t had enough yet? If you want more, take your own bike on the boat. Or rent one at the marina and explore the wider area. Go to the Budeč hill fort and the ruins of Okoř Castle, explore the orchards and breweries of the royal town of Slaný.
Trips around the area
How far can you sail?
Sailing upstream on the Vltava, you can go as far as Roztoky, just before Prague. On the way, stop for a visit to the town of Kralupy nad Vltavou. You can dock at the quay in the town center, just past the heavily trafficked road bridge. The railway bridge a bit further ahead wasn’t so lucky, so be careful as the pillars still protrude from the water after its demolition. In Dolany, you can observe how the surrounding hills are narrowing the Vltava, and the interesting rock faces are increasing. You will pass through the Dolánky lock, and after a large river meander, you’ll encounter the Roztoky sluice. And here we are at our destination – the town of Roztoky.
Visit the local chateau, which hosts frequent exhibitions and cultural events. It also has a permanent exhibition called Archevita. It will take you on a journey to explore the life of prehistoric people and show you their homes in a 1:1 scale. After the exhibition, you’ll surely appreciate a snack. Either hike up the hill to the main Masaryk Street, or catch the ferry to the other side to Klecánky. There, during the season, you’ll find one snack bar after another. And you’ll sit with a nice view of the river. That’s what you want!
In case you happen to settle down at the end of your trip, don’t forget that you need to return on time if you don’t want to stay overnight. The locks only operate until 5 PM!
DAY 4: Return from Marina Vltava to Mělník
The last day is ahead of you, and it’s time to enjoy the final moments on the water. The journey back is actually the same as the way here. You can still stop at places you missed on the first day of your trip. Just make sure that while you’re enjoying the sights, you don’t forget the agreed time to return the boat and the operating hours of the locks. It’s better to let them know in advance, so they are aware of you and you won’t get stuck anywhere.
And when you’re back in Mělník, explore its historic centre. The château, underground, museum, ossuary, wine bars, cafés and restaurants are just a fraction of what you can experience here.
