National park · Czech Republic
Giant Mountains National ParkKrkonošský národní park (KRNAP)
Entry to the park itself is free — you pay only for cable cars, parking and huts. Walk the ridge from Harrachov to Pec pod Sněžkou over 2–3 days, or day-trip Sněžka from Pec; go June or September, and start before 8:00 to beat the Sněžka crowds.Entry to the park itself is free — you pay only for cable cars, parking and huts. Walk the ridge from Harrachov to Pec pod Sněžkou over 2–3 days, or day-trip Sněžka from Pec; go June or September, and start before 8:00 AM to beat the Sněžka crowds.
Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
385 km²149 sq mi
approximate
Established
1963
Best months
Jun, Sep
UNESCO
Biosphere
Rules in force · 7Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window…
- Europe ↗Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window, counted across all 29 Schengen states together — not per country; the Entry/Exit System now logs each crossing, so an overstay is detected automatically.
- Europe ↗On the first Schengen entry since EES began, non-EU travellers give four fingerprints and a face photo at the border instead of a passport stamp; there is nothing to apply for or pay in advance.
- Central Europe ↗Six of the nine countries here — Austria, Switzerland, Czechia, Slovakia, Hungary and Slovenia — charge a time-based motorway vignette, mostly digital and linked to the number plate; buy it before the first motorway past the border, because cameras, not toll booths, do the checking.
- Central Europe ↗Temporary police checks at internal Schengen borders are common in this region in 2026 (Germany, Austria, Poland, Slovenia among others — check): keep your passport on you on every cross-border train, bus and road even though there is no fixed control post.
- Czech Republic ↗Czechia is in the EU and the Schengen area: check entry rules, the EU Entry/Exit System and any travel authorisation requirement for your passport on official sources.
- Czech Republic ↗The currency is the Czech koruna (CZK), not the euro: decline dynamic currency conversion and avoid street exchange booths.
- Czech Republic ↗Motorways need an electronic vignette bought before you drive on them.
At a glance
- Country
- Czech Republic
- Area
- 385 km²149 sq mi
- About 385 km²; the park runs roughly 40 km west–east and 20 km north–south along the Polish border (check).
- Established
- 1963
- Best months
- Jun, Sep
- Permits
- For some areas
Krkonošský národní park covers the whole Czech side of the Giant Mountains, the highest range in the country, on the border with Poland. There is no entrance gate and no entry fee: the costs are cable cars, parking and mountain-hut beds. The upper forest line sits unusually low at about 1,200 m, so above it the terrain looks Scandinavian — creeping pine, bare ridges, long views — rather than alpine. Sněžka (1,603 m) is the high point and the busiest spot; the 30–50 km crest trail is the reason to stay longer. Weather at the top is cold and windy year-round, snow lies from late September to May, and the park is a domestic favourite, so weekends in July and August are crowded.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- UNESCO Biosphere Reserve · 1992Krkonoše/Karkonosze Biosphere Reserve, shared with the Polish park.
Size and age
385 km²149 sq mi · national park since 1963
About 385 km²; the park runs roughly 40 km west–east and 20 km north–south along the Polish border (check).
Why go
- The highest mountains in the Czech Republic, with a genuine ridge walk rather than a single summit.
- No entrance fee and no gate: the whole park is open to walkers, so your money goes on lifts, huts and buses instead of tickets.
- A dense network of mountain huts (bouda) along the crest trail, so a 2–3 day ridge crossing is easy to plan without camping.
- Above about 1,200 m the forest stops and the plateau turns bare and Scandinavian, with long views into Poland.
When to go
- JanCaution
- FebCaution
- MarCaution
- AprCaution
- MayGo
- JunBest
- JulGo
- AugGo
- SepBest
- OctGo
- NovCaution
- DecGo
- JanSki season; deep snow, short days
- FebColdest; good snow, avalanche risk builds
- MarAvalanche season; wet snow
- AprSnow lingering on the ridge; mud below
- MaySnow clearing; quiet trails
- JunBest mix of weather and smaller crowds
- JulWarm, but domestic holiday crowds
- AugBusiest; book huts ahead
- SepClear, dry, quieter than summer
- OctAutumn colour; early dusk on the ridge
- NovGrey, icy; lifts partly closed
- DecSki season opens; reliable snow
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Western capercaillieMar–May · Rare and shy; forest patches close in spring so the birds can display undisturbed. | no | no | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | no | no | no |
| Gentian (the park's emblem flower)Jun–Aug | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | no |
| Creeping pine above the treelineAll year · The low forest line at about 1,200 m is what gives the upper mountains their bare look. | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
How to get there
From Prague
Direct bus from Černý Most to Harrachov, Rokytnice nad Jizerou, Vrchlabí or Pec pod Sněžkou; or train to Harrachov with a change at Tanvald.
3 h
Open the page →
From East Bohemia towns
Local buses link Harrachov, Rokytnice, Jilemnice, Vrchlabí, Janské Lázně, Pec pod Sněžkou and Pomezní boudy; the main line runs twice a day.
1–2 h
From Poland (Szklarska Poręba, Jelenia Góra, Wrocław)
Cross-border train to Harrachov, or drive the border serpentines.
1–3 h
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Western Giant Mountains (Harrachov, Mumlava) | Mumlava waterfall, the Elbe spring and waterfall, and the start of the crest trail. | Open; towns and huts at road level. |
| Central ridge (Labská bouda, Sněžné jámy, Špindlerův Mlýn) | The true ridge walk on the red-marked trail, with the highest huts. | Open on foot; no cars. |
| Sněžka and Pec pod Sněžkou | The 1,603 m summit, reached by cable car or on foot, and the busiest resort valley. | Open; cable car in season. |
| Eastern end (Malá Úpa, Pomezní boudy, Žacléř) | Quieter ridges, the WWII fortifications and the eastern trailhead. | Open; buses to Pomezní boudy and Žacléř. |
| Capercaillie closure areas | Patches of forest closed in spring for the western capercaillie mating season. | Closed seasonally; signs mark the boundaries. |
Sketch map
- 1Harrachov · Town≈50.782, 15.431Map ↗
- 2Mumlava waterfall · Trail≈50.771, 15.453Map ↗
- 3Elbe spring (Pramen Labe) · Trail≈50.776, 15.536Map ↗
- 4Špindlerův Mlýn · Town≈50.726, 15.609Map ↗
- 5Labská bouda · Sleep≈50.755, 15.570Map ↗
- 6Sněžka summit · Summit≈50.736, 15.740Map ↗
- 7Pec pod Sněžkou (cable-car base) · Ranger station≈50.693, 15.733Map ↗
- 8Černá hora lookout · Viewpoint≈50.649, 15.752Map ↗
- 9Pomezní boudy, Malá Úpa · Village≈50.725, 15.820Map ↗
- 10Fortress Stachelberg · Cave≈50.630, 15.912Map ↗
- 11Žacléř · Town≈50.663, 15.910Map ↗
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park entry | Free | person | No gate and no entry fee for Krkonošský národní park; you pay for transport, parking and services. |
| Sněžka cable car, Pec pod Sněžkou to the summit | CZK 430 | person return | 2026 estimate; one-way tickets and seasonal prices differ — check at the lower station. |
| Hnědý Vrch cable car, Pec pod Sněžkou | CZK 180 | person return | 2026 estimate; a shortcut to start a hike above the valley. |
| Černá Hora cable car, Janské Lázně | Free | person return | Price not confirmed — check at the station. |
| Bus Prague (Černý Most) to Harrachov or Pec pod Sněžkou | CZK 200 | person one way | 2026 estimate; about 3 h. |
| Train Prague to Harrachov | CZK 200–300 | person one way | 2026 estimate; about 3 h, the Tanvald–Harrachov section is the scenic part. |
| Mountain-hut dorm bed | CZK 250–600 | person per night | 2026 estimate; Brádlerovy boudy is at the cheap end, private rooms cost more. |
| Autokemp Špindlerův Mlýn | CZK 120 | person per night | 2026 estimate; plus about 70 Kč per car and 70 Kč per tent. |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Park entry no permit
Mountain-hut bed permit or guide
Driving above the valley towns permit or guide
Park rules
- Wild camping
- Forbidden and enforced. Sleep in mountain huts, the one camp at Špindlerův Mlýn, or bivouac only where a shelter is marked.
- Fires
- No open fires in the park; use hut kitchens and stoves.
- Closed zones
- Capercaillie areas are closed in the spring mating season; stay on marked trails.
- Cars
- Upper roads and tracks are off limits to private vehicles; park in the valley towns and walk or take the bus.
- Snowmobiles
- Riding is banned in many places, especially on ski slopes; ask at your hut before renting.
- Litter
- Carry out everything you bring up; bins are rare on the ridge.
Where to stay
In the park
Mountain huts (bouda) on the ridge
Dense network of simple lodges with food and dorms, from about 250 Kč per person; the crest trail is built around them.
Near the park
Pec pod Sněžkou
Main resort for Sněžka, with hotels, apartments and the cable-car base.
Near the park
Špindlerův Mlýn
Largest resort town, good for Mumlava waterfall and the central ridge.
Near the park
Harrachov
Western trailhead with the train station and the start of the 2-day ridge walk.
Near the park
Autokemp Špindlerův Mlýn
The only real campsite in the area, with pitches and chalets.
Safety
Cold, wind and sudden weather change on the ridge high
Avalanches in early spring high
Darkness on the crest trail medium
Storms above the treeline medium
Getting stranded without a bus medium
Accessibility
- Valley towns, the cable-car stations and the lower waterfall paths are reachable with short, mostly paved walks.
- The ridge trail and the summit path are rough, steep and exposed; not suitable for limited mobility.
Visiting lightly
- Use the marked trails; cutting across the tundra-like plateau damages slow-growing vegetation.
- Respect spring closures for capercaillie even where no fence is visible.
- Take the bus or train between towns instead of driving up to the trailheads.
- Eat and sleep in the mountain huts so the ridge economy keeps working.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Giant Mountains National Park?
Nothing. There is no gate and no entry fee for Krkonošský národní park. Your costs are transport, parking and services: the Sněžka cable car from Pec pod Sněžkou is about 430 Kč return (2026 estimate), the Hnědý Vrch lift about 180 Kč return, a bus from Prague about 200 Kč, and a mountain-hut dorm bed from about 250 Kč per person.
What are the best hikes in Giant Mountains National Park?
The crest trail from Harrachov to Pec pod Sněžkou (2 days, about 30 km, or 3 days to Žacléř) is the classic. For a day, walk up Sněžka from Pec pod Sněžkou, or do the short Mumlava waterfall walk from Špindlerův Mlýn. The Elbe spring and waterfall and the Černá hora tower are good half-day options.
When is the best time to visit Giant Mountains National Park?
June and September. June has the best mix of weather and smaller crowds; September is usually clear, dry and quieter than July and August. July and August are warm but busy with Czech holidaymakers, and weekends sell out the huts. Snow lies from late September to May, and early spring brings avalanche risk.
Do I need a guide or a permit to hike in the park?
No. Trails are marked and open to walkers; you only need to book mountain-hut beds ahead in summer and at winter weekends. Some forest patches close in spring for capercaillie, and upper roads are closed to private cars.
Can I camp or sleep wild on the ridge?
No. Wild camping is forbidden and enforced. Sleep in the mountain huts, which are close together along the ridge, or at the one campsite at Špindlerův Mlýn. There are no emergency shelters on the crest trail, so plan to reach a hut before dark.
How do I get to the park without a car?
Direct buses run from Prague's Černý Most station to Harrachov, Rokytnice nad Jizerou, Vrchlabí and Pec pod Sněžkou in about 3 hours for around 200 Kč. Trains reach Harrachov with a change at Tanvald. Local buses then link the mountain towns, but the main line runs only twice a day.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go