Krakow: Communism Bike Tour

Experience the simple pleasures of biking along the lazy Vistula River, and through the colorful streets of Krakow on an informative communism-themed bike tour. Despite being extensive, the tour is not too strenuous and is suitable for all levels of fitness. 

Start at the tour operator's shop in the city center of Krakow, and get kitted out with a bike and all necessary equipment. Ride northeast along a brand new bike path heading towards the district of Nowa Huta, which literally means 'the new mill' due to its history as a steel milling hub during the communist era. 

Make your first major stop at the old airbase that divided Nowa Huta from Krakow. From there, ride along the airstrip and enter Nowa Huta from the north side. Visit the church of Our Lord's Ark, shaped like a boat that helped defy Poland's uprising against communist rule. Enter inside to marvel at the religious art mixed with relics of socialism. From there, wind your way through the labyrinth of streets sprinkled with communist housing developments before riding along a lake past Nowa Huta's recreational center. Admire the intuitive urban design of the area that made Nowa Huta an ideal example of the proletariats city.

After a few minutes, arrive at Lenin's steel mill plant, that led to the creation of Nowa Huta, the city built to house its workers. Stop for lunch at a traditional milk bar still running since the times of Joseph Stalin. After this, ride through Ronald Reagan square and return to the starting point via bike path along the river.