Gabčíkovo to Herceghalom

125 km road cycling route345 m climbing8 h 54 minGPX

Gabčíkovo, Slovakia · Road

A flat 125 km road cycling route from Gabčíkovo to Herceghalom through Sap, Nová Stráž and Új Csillag lakótelep, with 345 m of climbing. There is a 24 km stretch without a café, shop or water (km 16–39).

Retraced from the map Ridden by Marcus on Friday 18th September 2015; the recording was lost, so the line is the road between the day's towns, drawn from OpenStreetMap (the rider logged 155 km that day).

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At a glance

Best for: Long endurance days for fit, experienced riders
Distance: 124.7 km; Point to point
Elevation gain: 345 m; 3 m per km
Riding time: 8 h 54 min; moving time, estimated
Difficulty: Hard
Bike: Road bike with sturdy tyres, or gravel bike; from the mapped surface
Surface: Mostly paved; 90% paved · 8% unpaved · 2% no data
Traffic: Some main roads; 37.4 km on main roads without a cycle lane · 13.3 km where the limit is 80 km/h or more · 50.7 km on cycle paths or lanes
Food & water: Longest gap 24 km; 256 cafés and restaurants · 77 shops · 25 water points · 10 petrol stations · 21 public toilets · 20 bike shops
Best months: Apr to Oct; Gabčíkovo climate, 10 years
Navigation: GPX download; free, no sign-in
Start → finish: Gabčíkovo → Herceghalom

On the road: Gabčíkovo to Herceghalom, Gabčíkovo

Elevation profile

Total ascent: 345 m
Distance: 125 km

What it was like to ride

Marcus’s notes

A huge 155km over 12.5 hours was the achievement of the day. We left the heat of the spartan log cabin accommodation before 9am and were pleased to note the wind had reduced drastically and switched to almost a tail wind. We made good use as we hit a smooth track parallel to the river. At around 10km we reached the village of Sap where it was decided a small breakfast would be in order. We pedalled into the village centre looking for something that looked open. We found a few signs of life but as had become commonplace in Slovakia there was virtually no English spoken. What looked like a restaurant gave an impression of being open so we asked if there was a menu. That failed but we were promised “food” along with a coffee and an orange juice. This resulted in a drink I know as “russian coke” which looks a bit like coffee but tastes a bit like liquid licorice. My orange juice was actually peach juice. Then arrived 2 bowls of what turned out to be a tasty sausage and bean soup. A most unusual breakfast but it was doing the job. Without asking fot it, a second course arrived. That seemed to be rice and a breaded piece of meat. It was probably pork but we can’t be certain. We gratiously left 10 Euros and got back on the bike.

Hoping to continue our healthy pace, the path had other ideas as it deteriorated into a very rutted track. Progress was slowed to less than half the earlier pace so I boldly suggested we may find a better road somewhere close to the path. Our first target was Komárno which is divided between Slovakia and Hungary on each side of the Danube. A bit of Google Mapping took us onto a reasonable road which in turn led to a busier road with clear signs for our destination. Although the road was busy it had a good hard shoulder so we made good time and arrived in Komárno. That was 60km done and it was before 1pm. That was a first. We headed for the Hungarian side of town, spotting a Tesco immediately over the border. We found a cash machine and I mistakenly withdrew 1000 Euros worth of Florints. That will probably last me about 3 months should I get lost again.

Lunch was a very tasty chicken shwarma with beans. Not sure why the diet was including so many beans today but given they powered me to 155km there are no complaints. After lunch we expected to easily find EV6 which is supposed to run along the river on the Hungarian side. Where we expected the path to be we found a building site with mountains of earth as far as the eye could see. We about turned and hit route 1 which also showed signs for EV6. All was good again. The road just continued and there was no sign of a dedicated cycle way. we were getting fed up with traffic so we made the decision to take a left turn off the highway and head towards Neszmély. Here we thought we would pick up the path and head along the river again. Shortly after the turn we noticed what looked like a very freshly made cycle path. Assuming this was EV6 we took to the lovely smooth tarmac and enjoyed traffic free riding once again. In fact, the path was so new, it was still being cerated at some points. After about 5km I started to feel some concern that we may not be going in the right direction. We hit a crossroads and consulted Google Maps. A terrible realisation set in. We were going in the wrong direction. Breaking my rule about never going back, we did just that and returned to the main road once again.

We pulled off the main road to cool down and drink more fluid. We had to make a decision. Head to the river and hope the path improved or take a more direct bearing for Budapest on a quieter road. We found a sign for Tardos which was 12.5km away and almost in a line with Budapest. Sounded good and off we went. At this point were approaching 90km but there was plenty of daylight left and we felt fairly confident. We had forgotten to check the elevation and soon found the road winding upwards. It was quite a touch 12.km but we reached Tardos and set out looking for the next point along the way. That was to be Tarjan. It was a lovely evening and the sun was just starting to set so we pushed on looking to make as many Kms as we could before dark.

At around 120km we arrived at a village called Gyermely. This was really the last daylight we were to see and fully expected to find a bed for the night. Energy levels were low and we were looking forward to food and rest. It turned out the Gyermely didn’t have any accommodation. We saw some children playing football and asked them if they spoke English. Nope. Course not… or they had been told not to speak to strange men on bicycles. A kindly man who miraculously did speak English suggested we ride on to another village called Szomor about 10km away. So it was lights on yet again as we headed on into the dark. At Szomor we noticed a food kiosk with a queue of people. We joined the line and asked a child to help us order. What we thought was chips turned out to be some kind of fried bread. It was very good. A free wi-fi connection was found and we discovered a hotel and wellness spa that was in the right direction and 16km away. Goof enough. It was booked and we plotted a course for Herceghalom.

By this time it was pitch black and the roads were curling high into the hills. Just what you need after 11 hours and 135+km in the legs. Of course it was a hairy ride on a combination of quiet and deadly busy roads but as usual we found the destination. It had been a record breaking 155km over 12 hours. We stayed awake for a single beer [which was to be regretted by me in the morning]. Only 35km shy of Budapest. What a day.

Route description

Gabčíkovo
Sapkm 11
Nová Strážkm 48
Új Csillag lakótelepkm 59
Nagykertkm 77
Kertvároskm 81
Újvároskm 90
Sárberki lakótelepkm 91
Felsőgallakm 97
Herceghalomkm 125

The route starts at Gabčíkovo (0 km) and passes through multiple towns including Sap (10.6 km), Medveďov (15.1 km), Klížska Nemá (29.5 km), and Komárno (55.1 km). From Komárom (58.6 km) it continues via urban and rural areas, including Tata (79.1 km) and Tatabánya (90.1 km), before reaching Herceghalom (122.5 km). The highest point on the route is at 263 m around 102.1 km while the lowest is 107 m at 51.9 km. Elevation gain totals 345 m with mostly flat terrain (89%).

The surface is 90% paved with about 8% gravel or unpaved and 2% unmapped. Almost half (48.7 km) is on cycle paths while main roads without cycle lanes cover 37.4 km including 13.3 km on fast roads with speeds over 80 km/h. Quiet streets and tracks also form part of the route. Longest named roads ridden are 8101 for 20.7 km and 8139 for 13.9 km.

Facilities along the way include cafés, pubs, bakeries, and supermarkets. The longest stretch without cafés, shops, or water is 23.7 km between 15.6 and 39.3 km. Several bail out points with stations and halts are available at Komárom, Tatabánya, Szárliget, Bicske, and Herceghalom. Several bike shops, repair stands, and petrol stations are also found along the route.

Why ride this route?

Crosses a border: Slovakia and Hungary.

Highlights

Komárno at 55 km
Tatabánya at 90 km
Tatai vár castle near 78 km
Basa-domb peak near 50 km

Along the route

Measured from the route line, the Copernicus elevation model and OpenStreetMap.

Places passed· crosses into Hungary

Sap 10.6 km
Medveďov 15.1 km
Klížska Nemá 29.5 km
Veľký Lél 39.3 km
Nová Stráž 47.7 km
Koppánymonostor 49.8 km
Komárno 55.1 km
Komárom 58.6 km
Csillag lakótelep 59.1 km
Új Csillag lakótelep 59.1 km
Kutya-hegy 76.2 km
Újtelep 76.8 km
Levendulakert 76.8 km
Nagykert 76.8 km
Óváros 77.9 km
Felsőtata 77.9 km
Váralja 78.3 km
Tata 79.1 km
Kertváros 81.4 km
Tófarok 82 km
Vértesszőlős 84.9 km
Alsó-rétek 84.9 km
Turuloldal 89 km
Újváros 89.8 km
Tatabánya 90.1 km
Dózsakert 90.1 km
Bánhidai lakótelep 90.2 km
Sárberki lakótelep 91.2 km
Sárberek 91.6 km
Alsógalla 92.2 km
Mésztelep 95.3 km
VI-os telep 96.2 km
Felsőgalla 97 km
Szárliget 101.4 km
Óbarok 108.8 km
Péró 113 km
Bicske 113.9 km
Herceghalom 122.5 km

Traffic, surface and gradient

Measured from OpenStreetMap along the track and the elevation profile.

Expect stretches on main roads without a cycle lane (37.4 km in all) between quieter sections.

Roads: 40% cycle path · 31% main road · 16% quiet street · 6% track · 9% other roads and tracks
Main roads: 37.4 km on main roads without a cycle lane — likely busier
Fast roads: 13.3 km on roads with a limit of 80 km/h or more
Cycle paths: 50.7 km on cycle paths or roads with a cycle lane
Main roads used: 8101 (21 km), 8139 (14 km)
Surface: Predominantly paved: 90% is mapped as paved, 8% as unpaved or gravel and 2% has no surface data.
Gradient: 6% climbing · 5% descending · 89% flat
Longest descent: 2 km from 75.4 km, dropping 26 m

Food, water and services

Within a few hundred metres of the track, from OpenStreetMap. Opening hours change — treat this as where to look, not a promise.

The longest stretch without a café, shop or water is 24 km, from km 16 to 39. Along the route: 256 cafés and restaurants, 77 shops, 25 water points, 10 petrol stations, 21 public toilets and 20 bike shops.

Food, water and shops in ride order

0 kmPaša · fast food · 180 m off route
0.4 kmPharmacy · 50 m off route
10.9 kmCOOP Jednota · supermarket · 50 m off route
39.5 kmEkofarma Ostrov Bufet · pub · 100 m off route
53.3 kmRepair stand · on the route
54.1 kmPotraviny · convenience store · 30 m off route
55.9 kmVezuv · café · 70 m off route
58.1 kmToilets · 40 m off route
78 kmplatán Pék · bakery · on the route
78.8 kmTóvárosi Gyógyszertár · pharmacy · on the route
82.3 kmOMV · petrol station · 130 m off route
88.6 kmLidl · supermarket · 70 m off route
90.2 kmSmaragd Gyógyszertár · pharmacy · 80 m off route
97.1 kmDrinking water · 70 m off route
108.5 kmDrinking water · on the route
108.8 kmABC · general store · 90 m off route
113.9 kmSpar · supermarket · 70 m off route
114.6 kmDrinking water · 50 m off route

Need to bail out?

52.9 km — Komárom (station), 420 m off route
60.3 km — Szőny-Déli (halt), 680 m off route
80.7 km — Tóvároskert (halt), 780 m off route
89.8 km — Tatabánya (station), 350 m off route
101.5 km — Szárliget (station), 600 m off route
112.7 km — Bicske (station), 410 m off route
122.3 km — Herceghalom (station), 90 m off route

Whether bikes are carried depends on the service — check before relying on it.

Worth a stop

54.7 km — Kostol Božského Srdca Ježišovho (attraction)
78.1 km — Tatai vár (castle)
98.1 km — Kő-hegy (peak)
107.9 km — Fehér sziklák (viewpoint, 200 m)

Stay after this ride

Abacus Hotel**** · hotel · 730 m from the finish

Start and access

Starts at Gabčíkovo. Mapped within a short walk of the start and finish, from OpenStreetMap.

At the start

Food and coffee: Paša (180 m), Pizzeria Kovacs (210 m)
Shops: Tesco Supermarket (280 m)

At the finish

Trains and ferries: Herceghalom (290 m)

Know before you go

23.7 km without café, shop or water between 15.6 km and 39.3 km
37.4 km on main roads without cycle lane
13.3 km on roads posted 80 km/h or over
8% gravel or unpaved surface

Routes are for inspiration. Roads, surfaces and conditions change — check locally and ride within your limits.

6 photographs from the road

Stage of

Rotterdam to Budapest

About this route

Ridden by: Marcus
Date ridden: Friday 18th September 2015
Route line: Retraced from OpenStreetMap between the day’s towns - the GPS recording was lost.
Elevation: Recalculated from the Copernicus GLO-90 terrain model every 50 m, not the device’s barometer.
Roads, surface, services: Measured along the line from OpenStreetMap extracts.
Best months: Ten years of ERA5 weather for Gabčíkovo (Open-Meteo).
GPX: Generated from the route line: track points only, no timestamps or personal data.
Page added: Sunday 30th August 2026
Page last updated: Sunday 13th September 2026

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