EA Zámecký hotel Hrubá Skála
Why we like it: A four-star hotel in Hrubá Skála Castle, above the rock city, with a restaurant, a terrace on the walls, a lookout tower and a private spa.
Duration1 night
From PragueCar, 1 h 15 · train to Turnov, about 2 h
Where to sleepHrubá Skála castle hotel
Budget€120–220 pp
Best seasonMay to June · September to October
The plan
The plan, hour by hour
Designed to leave Prague by car on Saturday morning, walk the rock city in the afternoon, sleep at Hrubá Skála castle and spend Sunday at Trosky and Prachovské skály before heading back. Without a car, do the first day the same and swap the second for the walk to Turnov.
Day 1
- 108:30Leave Prague
Along the D10; you reach Hrubá Skála around 10:00. Leave the car in the hotel car park.
- 210:00The castle and the rock city
The courtyard, the viewpoints on the walls and the waymarked paths to the Mariánská vyhlídka, with the sandstone towers and the climbers.
- 312:30Valdštejn
The thirteenth-century castle on the rocks, self-guided, 150 CZK; something quick at the inn if it is open.
- 414:30Late lunch at the castle
The restaurant is open every day from 11:00.
- 517:00Eden Spa
Ninety minutes of private wellness, by booking.
- 619:30Dinner and courtyard
Dinner in the castle restaurant and a stroll through the empty courtyard.
Day 2
- 109:00Trosky
A quarter of an hour by car: the two towers on volcanic plugs, climb up the Baba. 180 CZK.
- 211:30Prachovské skály
Half an hour away: the other rock city, with the Českého ráje and Schlikova viewpoints. Day ticket, 150–200 CZK; you eat at its restaurant.
- 316:00Return to Prague
Back via Turnov and the D10, or via Jičín; in Prague by about 17:30.
Bohemian Paradise can be seen in a day from Prague, but it is the place that most rewards a night: when the cars leave, the courtyard of Hrubá Skála castle and the viewpoints over the rocks are left to whoever sleeps there. This getaway walks the rock city and Valdštejn on the first day, dines and sleeps in the castle, and leaves the second day for the towers of Trosky and the other rock city, Prachovské skály.
How do you get there from Prague?
By car, about 95 km along the D10 to Turnov, an hour and a quarter; in 2026 you enter Hrubá Skála by a signed diversion. By train, to Turnov in about two hours and, from there, the Jičín line to the Hrubá Skála stop, 20–25 minutes' walk from the castle.
Where to sleep?
| Accommodation | Area | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|
| EA Zámecký hotel Hrubá Skála | Inside the castle, above the rocks | Sleeping in a castle, with a private spa and restaurant |
| Pension Harmonie | Doubravice, ten minutes' walk away | 1924 villa, doubles at 1,400 CZK with breakfast |
What if I go without a car?
Do the first day the same and, on the second, walk the roughly 9 km of paths from Hrubá Skála to Turnov, passing Valdštejn again, and take the train to Prague from there. Trosky and Prachov are left for another trip.
With children
It works very well: viewpoints, rock stairs, castles with bridges and, in July and August, dramatised tours for children at Valdštejn. The castle hotel has quadruple rooms and lends a cot and a high chair; Pension Harmonie has an apartment for four.
Map
The stops, in order
What to do
Eat
88 €Stay
Services
Plan the trip
Český ráj (Bohemian Paradise), step by step
Each choice narrows the next: the season shapes how best to travel, and how you travel decides where you stay and where you eat.
When to go
When to go to Český ráj (Bohemian Paradise)
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Best timeGood timeLow season
How you travel
The same break, your way
The plan stays the same. What changes is where you sleep, how you get there and how much you spend.
Fly to Prague and train or hire car to Turnov
The Bohemian Paradise is about 90 km north-east of Prague. You fly to Prague, with direct flights from Madrid, Barcelona and other Spanish cities, and continue by train to Turnov, in about two hours, or by hire car from the airport, in a little over an hour. With a car you reach the castles and Prachov, which the train does not link well.
- Getting therePrague Václav Havel (PRG), about…
- Getting aroundTurnov–Jičín train, with a stop…
- Where to sleepEA Zámecký hotel Hrubá Skála…
- ServicesTrain to Turnov and Hrubá…
Getting there
- Prague Václav Havel (PRG), about 100 km by road
- Train from the main station to Turnov, about two hours
- Hire car at the airport, on the D10
Getting around
- Turnov–Jičín train, with a stop at Hrubá Skála
- On foot through the rock city and as far as Valdštejn
- By car, to Trosky and Prachovské skály
Where to sleep
- EA Zámecký hotel Hrubá Skála, inside the castle
- Pension Harmonie, ten minutes from the castle
Services
- Train to Turnov and Hrubá Skála
Train to Turnov and trails from castle to castle
Without a car, the Bohemian Paradise works well if you stay a night: train to Turnov, the Jičín line as far as Hrubá Skála and, from there, everything on foot through the rock city to Valdštejn. Trosky and Prachov need a bus or car.
70–130 €per person per day, approximate
- Where to sleepEA Zámecký hotel Hrubá Skála…
- Getting aroundPrague–Turnov train, about two hours
- Where to eatZámecká restaurace, every day from…
- ServicesTrain to Turnov and Hrubá…
Where to sleep
- EA Zámecký hotel Hrubá Skála, 20–25 minutes from the stop
- Pension Harmonie, in Doubravice
Getting around
- Prague–Turnov train, about two hours
- Turnov–Jičín train to Hrubá Skála
- On foot: about 9 km along trails from Turnov to Hrubá Skála
Where to eat
- Zámecká restaurace, every day from 11:00
- Valdštejn tavern, halfway along the trail
Services
- Train to Turnov and Hrubá Skála
By car on the D10, an hour and a quarter from Prague
By car it is about 95 km along the D10 motorway towards Turnov, around an hour and a quarter. With a car you can fit both rock cities, Hrubá Skála and Prachovské skály, and the castles of Valdštejn and Trosky into one day.
80–150 €per person per day, approximate
- Where to sleepEA Zámecký hotel Hrubá Skála…
- Getting aroundD10 to Turnov and the…
- Where to eatZámecká restaurace Hrubá Skála
- ServicesPrachovské skály car park
Where to sleep
- EA Zámecký hotel Hrubá Skála, with parking next to the hotel
- Pension Harmonie, in Doubravice
Getting around
- D10 to Turnov and the road towards Jičín
- Signposted diversion at Hrubá Skála because of the closure of the III/27921
- Paid parking at Prachovské skály, 100 CZK
Where to eat
- Zámecká restaurace Hrubá Skála
Services
- Prachovské skály car park
How much does it cost?
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Nights1
Where to stay
Where to stay if you're flyingwithout a carif you're driving
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Pension Harmonie
Why we like it: A guesthouse in a 1924 Art Nouveau villa in Hrubá Skála, with eight doubles, an apartment for four and breakfast included, a short walk from the castle.
From €1400
View details
Services for this trip
Where to eat
Where to eat in Český ráj (Bohemian Paradise)
Zámecká restaurace Hrubá Skála
What to order: a Czech dish from the menu or the menu of the day, and in summer a table on the terrace on the walls.
Every day from 11:00 · summer terrace on the walls
The castle tavern, halfway along the rock trail
Hospůdka u hradu Valdštejn
What to order: a soup or something hot with a beer, before continuing towards Hrubá Skála.
In season with the castle; in November, weekends from 10:00 to 17:00 if the weather is good
Tips
Worth knowing first
Local tip
Book the Eden Spa when you book the room: it is hired privately and there are few time slots.
We'd skip it
Going only for the day in August at the weekend: the viewpoints fill up and so does the car park.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Is it worth sleeping in the castle?
Yes: the courtyard and the viewpoints at dusk, with nobody around, are the best part of the trip.
How much does the night cost?
At the castle, offers from about 3,490 CZK for two with breakfast; at Pension Harmonie, 1,400 CZK for a double.
Can it be done in winter?
The rocks, yes; Valdštejn and Trosky close, and Prachov is open all year.
Are dogs allowed?
Yes, at the castle hotel for 500 CZK a night; at Valdštejn and Prachov they pay admission.