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
geocalia
Day itinerary · 50.55° N · 15.19° E
Bohemian Paradise in a day from Prague, sandstone towers and three castles an hour and a quarter away by car.
An hour and a quarter by car, the Hrubá Skála rock city from viewpoint to viewpoint, Valdštejn castle, lunch at the castle hotel and the towers of Trosky at sunset.
Leaving from
Direct flight to Praga fromBarcelona 2 h 30Bilbao 2 h 45Palma de Mallorca 2 h 45Alicante 3 hMadrid 3 hMálaga 3 h 30Sevilla 3 h 30Lanzarote 5 hFuerteventura 5 h 15Gran Canaria 5 h 15
Part of Český ráj (Bohemian Paradise)
Add to my trip
Total time10 h
By car1 h 15 each way
By carAbout 95 km, 1 h 15
RocksFree · 2–3 h on foot
Valdštejn150 CZK
Trosky180 CZK
DifficultyEasy to moderate
The plan
The day at a glance
Any part can be swapped for another without spoiling the day.
-
Leave Prague 1 h 15 by car
along the D10 to Turnov and towards Jičín · signed diversion at Hrubá Skála
-
1
Hrubá Skála Castle, its tower and its courtyard above the rocks
the courtyard and the castle viewpoints, 20 CZK
- Carry on on foot
-
2
The Hrubá Skála rock city, from viewpoint to viewpoint
Mariánská and Janova viewpoints
- 45 min on foot
-
3
Valdštejn Castle, one of the oldest in the Bohemian Paradise
150 CZK · self-guided through the whole site
- 45 min on foot
-
4
Zámecká restaurace Hrubá Skála
back to Hrubá Skála by another path · open daily from 11:00
Hrubá Skála 1, 511 01 Turnov · +420 481 659 111
Restaurant €€€Book - 15 min by car9 km
-
5
The ruins of Trosky, two towers on two volcanic plugs
180 CZK · climb up the Baba tower
-
Back home
in Prague by about 19:00
Approximate cost
About €35–60 per person
Adds up the activities and meals in the plan at their published prices; travel and accommodation not included.
The route
Hrubá Skála Castle, its tower and its courtyard above the rocks
Bohemian Paradise is the most complete nature day trip near Prague: an hour and a quarter by car and you are in a rock city with a castle on top. This plan walks the Hrubá Skála rock city as far as Valdštejn castle, returns for lunch at the castle hotel and ends at the two towers of Trosky.
The day, hour by hour
8:00 · Leave Prague. Along the D10 to Turnov and the Jičín road. In 2026 the road in the village of Hrubá Skála is closed: follow the signed diversion.
9:30 · Hrubá Skála castle. The courtyard and the viewpoints beside the walls, for 20 CZK.
10:00 · Rock city. The Mariánská and Janova viewpoints, with the sandstone towers and the climbers.
12:00 · Valdštejn. The castle on the rocks, self-guided, 150 CZK.
13:45 · Lunch at Hrubá Skála castle. You come back by another path; the restaurant is open every day.
15:30 · Trosky. A quarter of an hour by car, and the climb up the Baba tower. 180 CZK.
17:30 · Return to Prague.
With children or out of season
With children, shorten the route to the viewpoints nearest the castle and drive up to Valdštejn. If Trosky is closed, swap it for Prachovské skály, which is open all year and has short circuits.
Time45 min
Where to eat
Where to eat?
Lunch is half the plan: book before you set off.
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
Map
The stops, in order
With where to park at each one.
What to do
Eat
88 €Stay
Services
Getting there
By car or without one?
When to go
When to go to Český ráj (Bohemian Paradise)
April to October, when Valdštejn and Trosky are open. In April and October, Valdštejn only at weekends; in May, Tuesday to Sunday. In winter, the rocks yes, the castles no.
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Best timeGood timeLow season
Tips
Worth knowing first
- 1Shoes with a grip
The rock stairs are slippery.
- 2Check the Valdštejn hours
In April and October it opens only at weekends.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Can it be done in a day?
By car, yes. By train, better with an overnight stay.
How much does it cost?
The rocks are free; Valdštejn, 150 CZK, and Trosky, 180 CZK.
Is it good for children?
Yes, with short routes and castles.
Do I need to book?
No; lunch, at the weekend, is worth booking.
More plans like this
Other days of walking and good food
geocalia.com/en/czechia/bohemian-paradise/itineraries/rock-city-and-trosky
Prices, opening hours and times are approximate: check them before you go. Each place has its own page on Geocalia.