Hiking and history in the enchanting Czech Republic

21.07.2023 - 07:56 / roughguides.com / Hans Christian Andersen

Majestic mountains and fairy-tale forests. Riverside has rambling routes and charming spa towns. Czechia is a dream destination for hikers looking to enjoy culture and history (and world-beating beer) alongside outdoor adventuring. And with 40,000 km of marked trails, hiking is arguably the most rewarding way to experience its diverse delights.

One thing’s for sure, however you choose to explore Czechia, whichever paths you take, beautiful Bohemia is a land that nature-lovers fall in love with and return to — time and time again.

To experience the outdoor adventures covered here, fly to Prague’s Václav Havel Airport (flights from the UK take around one hour fifty minutes), which is served by the likes of British Airways, Ryanair and EasyJet. On arrival, take Bus AE (Airport Express) to Prague’s main station (Hlavní nádraží) to connect to the excellent national train and bus network. Visit www.dpp.cz/en to book in advance.

View Gorges in Czech Switzerland on the Kamenice River © GitaFoto/Shutterstock

North Bohemia’s landscapes are the stuff of fairy tales, not least in the Bohemian Switzerland National Park. Best explored by taking the trail along the Kamenice River, this is a pine-forested paradise of wild waterfalls, and valleys speckled with cottages that look like they’ve been conjured from a picture book. The park’s highlight is iconic Pravčická brána, Europe’s largest natural sandstone arch — the fact Hans Christian Andersen wrote part of The Snow Queen here tells you everything you need to know about this romantic rock formation.

Home to Sněžka, the Czech Republic’s highest mountain, and a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, Krkonoše National Park boasts hiking trails through glacial landscapes and alpine meadows. To enjoy epic walks alongside another Czech tradition, trek the 35km Krkonoše Beer Trail — it connects four microbreweries across magnificent mountain scenery.

For a dazzling experience that combines culture and nature, it doesn’t get better than Crystal Valley. Located deep in an area of the Jizerské Mountains and Lusatian Mountains, exquisite Czech glass has been crafted here for over 460 years. North Bohemia is also home to the Czech Republic’s oldest spa — Spa Teplice. Tucked in a the Krušné Mountains, it’s clear to see why it’s known as the “little Paris of Bohemia”. Arguably the peak pull around Teplice is the Krušné Mountains themselves. Famed for their silver mines, they’re beloved by hikers and cyclers, with attractive towns in their foothills, among them Jáchymov, site of the world’s first radon spa.

Prisecnice dam in Krusne hory mountains © Jiri Fejkl/Shutterstock

In the heart of West Bohemia, picturesque Pilsen holds pivo (beer) close to its own heart. The city is home to the Pilsner