National park · Czech Republic
Kokořínsko – Máchův krajCHKO Kokořínsko – Máchův kraj
Go for a full day from Prague: castle 80 Kč, Pokličky climb free, 1 h by car; park at Kokořín or Mšeno and walk the marked trails — weekends May–Sep are busiest, so start before 9:00.Go for a full day from Prague: castle 80 Kč, Pokličky climb free, 1 h by car; park at Kokořín or Mšeno and walk the marked trails — weekends May–Sep are busiest, so start before 9:00 AM.
- Source checked
- A source and a date are on record: we read it from an official or published page. Not yet confirmed on the ground.
- Field checked
- Someone checked it on the ground, with the date shown.
- Plan calculated
- Worked out by Voykit from its own data (times, distances, budgets). A calculation, not a measurement.
Unknown times stay unknown. How we verify
Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
410 km² (158 sq mi)158 sq mi (410 km²)
approximate
Established
1976
Best months
May–Jun, Sep–Oct
UNESCO
None
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
- 410 km² (158 sq mi)158 sq mi (410 km²)
- Protected landscape area (CHKO); the boundary is not a single fenced park, so distances are between villages and rock areas (check).
- Established
- 1976
- Best months
- May–Jun, Sep–Oct
- Permits
- For some areas
- Base
- Prague
Kokořínsko – Máchův kraj is a protected landscape area (CHKO) of about 410 km² in Central Bohemia, an hour by car or a train-and-bus ride from Prague. It is sandstone country: towers, canyons and overhangs in the Pšovka valley, the 14th-century Kokořín Castle in the middle, and unguarded ruins at Ronov and Helfenburk in the north. There is no gate and no entry fee for the area itself — you pay only at the castle, the Vrátenská Hora tower and the one paid camp. Marked trails (three stripes on trees) run between villages, so a day trip and a multi-day walk are both easy to plan; the busiest weekends are May to September, and the castle closes for winter.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- No UNESCO listing; national park since 1976.
Size and age
410 km² (158 sq mi)158 sq mi (410 km²) · national park since 1976
Protected landscape area (CHKO); the boundary is not a single fenced park, so distances are between villages and rock areas (check).
This page covers the park itself. Nearest base: Prague.
Why go
- Sandstone towers, canyons and rock overhangs you can walk under and, in places, into.
- Kokořín Castle in the middle of the area, a 14th-century castle with a tower climb.
- A dense network of marked trails (three stripes on trees) that lets you plan a day or several days on foot.
- Rock formations such as Pokličky and the carved 'rock flats' that make the area different from a normal forest walk.
When to go
- JanAvoid
- FebAvoid
- MarCaution
- AprGo
- MayBest
- JunBest
- JulGo
- AugGo
- SepBest
- OctBest
- NovCaution
- DecAvoid
- JanCastle closed; short days, ice on rock steps
- FebCastle closed; mud and ice
- MarCastle usually still closed; check opening dates
- AprCastle opens for the season; trails firming up
- MayGreen, long days; weekends busy
- JunWarm and dry; go early on weekends
- JulHot afternoons; storms possible
- AugWarm; busiest weekends
- SepDry, cooler, fewer people
- OctClear light; castle closes late Oct
- NovCastle closed; grey and wet
- DecCastle closed; ice on steps
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eurasian eagle-owl and common ravenAll year · Present year-round; you are more likely to hear them than see them. | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| WolvesAll year · Sightings have been reported, but encounters are very unlikely. | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Forest birds and spring flowersApr–Jun | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | no | no |
| TicksApr–Oct · Check yourself after walking through grass and scrub. | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
Show 3 sectionsHideHow to get there, Zones and sectors, Sketch map
How to get there
From Prague
Car via Mělník or Mladá Boleslav to Kokořín or Mšeno; about 1 h.
1 h
Open the page →
From Prague by train
Train to Mšeno with a change at Mladá Boleslav (southern part), or to Blíževedly with a change at Lovosice (northern part).
1.5–2.5 h
Open the page →
From Mělník
Bus towards Mšeno and the villages; change in Mělník if coming from further away.
40–70 min
From Mšeno or Blíževedly station
Walk into the area on marked trails; Blíževedly is about 8 km (5 mi) from Martinské stěny.Walk into the area on marked trails; Blíževedly is about 5 mi (8 km) from Martinské stěny.
1–2 h
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Pšovka valley and southern rocks | Canyons, caves and rock overhangs, including the carved 'rock flats'. | Open; walk in on marked trails. |
| Kokořínský důl nature reserve | The valley below Kokořín Castle, with the densest rock formations. | Open; stay on trails and do not climb loose rock. |
| Kokořín and Pokličky | Castle, village and the Pokličky rock formation with steps from the road. | Open; castle interior by ticket. |
| Northern part around Blíževedly | Ronov and Helfenburk ruins, Martinské stěny and Vlhošť. | Open; ruins are unguarded and free. |
Sketch map
- 1Kokořín Castle · Headquarters≈50.440, 14.589Map ↗
- 2Pokličky · Viewpoint≈50.455, 14.589Map ↗
- 3Mšeno · Town≈50.438, 14.633Map ↗
- 4Blíževedly · Ranger station≈50.611, 14.417Map ↗
- 5Ronov ruin · Summit≈50.620, 14.415Map ↗
- 6Helfenburk ruin · Summit≈50.579, 14.384Map ↗
- 7Vrátenská Hora tower · Viewpoint≈50.477, 14.652Map ↗
- 8Tábořiště U Splávku · Sleep≈50.446, 14.577Map ↗
Take the points offline
8 points as a GPX waypoint file, plus a plain-text list of coordinates. Save it while you have signal: maps apps show the points without a connection.
Approximate positions for orientation only; the protected area has no single centre.
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Show Top experiencesHide
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Show 8 sectionsHideEntry fees and permits, Park rules, Where to stay, Safety, Accessibility, Visiting lightly, Questions people ask, Related
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kokořín Castle admission (guided interior tour) | CZK 80 (≈ US$4) | person | 2026 estimate; the interior is by guided tour only. Tower climb about 30 Kč extra (check). |
| Vrátenská Hora lookout tower | CZK 30 (≈ US$2) | person | 2026 estimate; opening depends on weather (check). |
| Camping U Splávku | CZK 30 (≈ US$2) | person | 2026 estimate; plus about 30 Kč per tent. The only regular paid camp in the area (check). |
| Parking at Pokličky and Kokořín | CZK 0–100 (≈ US$0–5) | car | 2026 estimate; some roadside and village parking is free, paid lots appear in season (check). |
| Entry to the protected landscape area itself | Free | person | No gate fee for the CHKO; you pay only at the castle, tower and camp. |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
CHKO entry no permit
Kokořín Castle interior permit or guide
Wild camping no permit
What would our group pay?
People
Nights or days
- Kč 80≈ US$4
- Kč 30≈ US$2
- Kč 30≈ US$2
Tick the fees that apply to your trip to see a total.
A guide, not a quote: the ranges are estimates (checked 2026-09) and each fee may have rules on who pays it. Confirm on Kokořínsko – Máchův kraj Protected Landscape Area (official) before you go.
Park rules
- Fires
- Open fires are illegal in the area; a forest guard can order you to put one out and issue a small fine.
- Wild camping
- Tolerated in places if you are out of sight, but it is not a legal right and can be fined; use the paid camp for certainty.
- Rock climbing and edges
- Railings are rare on top of rock formations; keep back from edges and do not climb loose sandstone.
- Marked trails
- Stay on marked trails in the nature reserves; do not carve or chalk the rock.
- Litter
- Carry out all rubbish; there are few bins between villages.
Where to stay
Near the park
Penzion Malba
Guesthouse just below Kokořín Castle; bikes for rent.
Near the park
Penzion V Ráji
Guesthouse in a traditional village house.
In the park
Tábořiště U Splávku
The only regular paid camp in the area; per person and per tent.
Near the park
Mšeno and Dubá
Small towns at the edges with the area's only small supermarkets.
Safety
Slippery or icy rock steps medium
Getting lost between villages low
Summer storms medium
Ticks low
How much daylight do you have?
Time out
Finding the local time zone…
Times are local to the spot (zone loading). The half-hour margin is our rule of thumb, not an official figure; light fades earlier in forest or under cloud. Carry a headlamp on any route that could run late.
Accessibility
- Kokořín village, the castle forecourt and the road under Pokličky are reachable by car with short walks.
- The valley trails, rock steps and ruins are rough and steep; not suitable for limited mobility.
Visiting lightly
- Use the train and bus to Mšeno or Blíževedly instead of driving; the area is reachable without a car.
- Buy food and drinks in Mšeno, Dubá or the villages so the money stays in the area.
- Leave no trace if you camp: no fires, no cutting wood, take everything out.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Kokořínsko?
Nothing to enter the protected landscape area itself — there is no gate or ticket. You pay only at individual sights: Kokořín Castle about 80 Kč for the guided interior tour (2026 estimate, tower climb extra), Vrátenská Hora tower about 30 Kč, and the paid camp about 30 Kč per person plus 30 Kč per tent. Parking is free in places and paid in season at the busiest spots.
What are the best hikes in Kokořínsko?
For a first visit, the valley walk through Kokořínský důl below the castle, plus the short climb to Pokličky. For a longer day, walk from Mšeno to Kokořín and on to the rock flats. In the north, the ridge around Martinské stěny and Vlhošť is quieter, and the red trail runs along the top edge of the rock wall.
When is the best time to visit Kokořínsko?
May, June, September and October: dry trails, long days and the castle open. July and August are warm but the busiest weekends; start before 9:00. The castle closes for winter, usually from late October to April, so a winter visit is for walking only.
Do I need a car for Kokořínsko?
No. Trains reach Mšeno in the south (change at Mladá Boleslav) and Blíževedly in the north (change at Lovosice), and buses serve the villages, usually with a change in Mělník. A car is faster — about 1 h from Prague — and useful for reaching trailheads early.
Can I camp wild in Kokořínsko?
It is tolerated in places if you are out of sight, especially under rock overhangs, but it is not a legal right and can be fined. Fires are illegal. If you want certainty, use Tábořiště U Splávku, the only regular paid camp in the area.
Is Kokořínsko the same as Bohemian Switzerland?
No. Kokořínsko is a protected landscape area in Central Bohemia, about 1 h from Prague. Bohemian Switzerland is a national park on the Saxon border, about 70 km further north, with taller sandstone arches and gorges.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go