National park · Czech Republic
Bohemian ParadiseČeský ráj
Base in Turnov and walk the Hruboskalsko loop to Trosky in 3–4 h; pay only at Prachov Rocks (about 100 Kč) and Bozkov Caves, and go midweek May–June or September to skip the weekend crowds.
Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
700 km²270 sq mi
approximate
Established
1955
Best months
May–Jun, Sep
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
- 700 km²270 sq mi
- The protected landscape area dates from 1955; the geopark boundary covers more than 700 km² (check).
- Established
- 1955
- Best months
- May–Jun, Sep
- Permits
- For some areas
Bohemian Paradise (Český ráj) is a protected landscape area and geopark around Turnov, Jičín and Mnichovo Hradiště in North Bohemia, named in the 19th century for its sandstone towers, gorges and castles. It became Czechoslovakia's first protected landscape area in 1955, and the wider geopark, covering more than 700 km², was declared the first Czech National Geopark in 2010. Most of it is open and free: you pay only at gated sites such as Prachov Rocks, Trosky castle and the Bozkov dolomite caves. Trails are colour-coded and dense, so a car is optional — Turnov is the rail and bus hub, with local trains and seasonal tourist buses reaching the main trailheads.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- Special national site · 2005Bohemian Paradise Geopark, the first in the Czech Republic.
- Special national site · 2010Declared the first Czech National Geopark and approved as a UNESCO Global Geopark.
Size and age
700 km²270 sq mi · national park since 1955
The protected landscape area dates from 1955; the geopark boundary covers more than 700 km² (check).
Why go
- Sandstone towers, gorges and rock mazes you walk through, not just look at.
- Castles sit inside the rocks: Trosky on its two basalt plugs, Valdštejn and Rotštejn in the forest.
- A dense network of colour-coded trails, from one-hour walks to full-day crossings.
- Two underground stops — Bozkov dolomite caves and the karst springs at Ondříkovice — for a wet-weather day.
When to go
- JanAvoid
- FebAvoid
- MarCaution
- AprGo
- MayBest
- JunBest
- JulCaution
- AugCaution
- SepBest
- OctGo
- NovCaution
- DecAvoid
- JanSnow and ice on the rock steps; most services closed
- FebCold; trails icy
- MarThaw mud; quiet
- AprMild, fewer people; some sites still on winter hours
- MayGreen, dry rock, full opening
- JunLong days; go midweek
- JulBusiest; parking at Prachov fills by mid-morning
- AugPeak crowds and heat
- SepDry, warm, thinner crowds
- OctColour in the beech woods; shorter days
- NovGrey and damp; many kiosks shut
- DecIce on stairs; short daylight
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eagle owl and kestrel on the rock facesMar–Jun · Nesting on towers; keep away from marked closures. | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | no | no |
| Bats in the Sklepy cleft cave, ApolenaMay–Sep · Eleven species recorded; do not enter roosts. | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no |
| Fire salamander and dipper along the streamsApr–Jun, Sep–Oct | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | no | no | yes | yes | no | no |
| Black stork, Rieger's Path areaMay–Jul · Uncommon; sightings are occasional. | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | no |
| Deer and wild boar in the woodsAll year · Dusk and dawn; keep food packed away. | 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
Bus from Florenc or Černý Most to Turnov, then local bus or taxi to the trailheads.
2–2.5 h
Open the page →
From Turnov
Local buses and trains to Malá Skála, Rovensko pod Troskami and Prachov; seasonal tourist buses link the main sites.
20–40 min
From Hradec Králové
Train or bus via Jičín to Turnov.
1.5–2 h
From By car
D10 motorway Prague–Turnov, or I/35 from Hradec Králové via Jičín; park at site lots.
1–1.5 h from Prague
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Hruboskalsko | The signature towers up to 60 m, the canyon below Hrubá Skála castle and the Mouse Hole corridor. | Open; marked trails, some steep stairs. |
| Prachov Rocks | A compact plateau of gorges and towers, fenced and ticketed. | Paid entry, marked one-way circuit. |
| Trosky and Apolena | The twin-plug castle ruin and the Apolena rock reserve below it. | Castle paid; reserve open on foot. |
| Maloskalsko and Suché Rocks | The Jizera valley, Dlask farm, Besedice rocks and the 1 km Suché ridge.The Jizera valley, Dlask farm, Besedice rocks and the 0.6 mi Suché ridge. | Open; popular with climbers. |
| Bozkov and Ondříkovice karst | Dolomite caves with an underground lake, and the Vazovecký stream karst system. | Caves guided and paid; karst area open. |
Sketch map
- 1Turnov · Town≈50.587, 15.156Map ↗
- 2Hrubá Skála castle · Sleep≈50.545, 15.197Map ↗
- 3Hruboskalsko towers · Trail≈50.548, 15.190Map ↗
- 4Trosky castle · Viewpoint≈50.512, 15.234Map ↗
- 5Prachov Rocks · Gate≈50.468, 15.290Map ↗
- 6Bozkov Dolomite Caves · Cave≈50.639, 15.335Map ↗
- 7Kozákov hill · Summit≈50.607, 15.265Map ↗
- 8Malá Skála · Village≈50.639, 15.196Map ↗
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prachov Rocks entry | CZK 80–120 | person | 2026 estimate; the paid, gated rock circuit. |
| Trosky castle entry | CZK 80–120 | person | 2026 estimate; separate ticket at the gate (check). |
| Bozkov Dolomite Caves | CZK 100–150 | person | 2026 estimate; guided tour only (check). |
| Parking at Prachov Rocks | CZK 60–100 | car | 2026 estimate; paid lot at the entrance (check). |
| Bus Prague to Turnov | CZK 130–150 | person | About 2 h; train is slower. |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
General access no permit
Prachov Rocks permit or guide
Bozkov Dolomite Caves permit or guide
Rock climbing permit or guide
Park rules
- Stay on marked trails
- Rock areas are nature reserves; leaving the path damages sandstone and disturbs nesting birds.
- No fires
- Open fires are banned across the protected landscape area; use the marked picnic and rest spots.
- Climbing
- Sandstone climbing has local restrictions, including no climbing on wet rock and closures for nesting (check).check
- Drones
- Not allowed over the reserves without permission from the regional authority (check).check
- Caves
- Enter Bozkov only on a guided tour; other caves and roosts are closed to visitors.
Where to stay
Near the park
Turnov
The rail and bus hub; hotels, pensions and the easiest base without a car.
Near the park
Malá Skála
Village on the Jizera under Suché Rocks; pensions and camp sites.
Near the park
Hrubá Skála
Castle hotel above the canyon, right on the trail.
Near the park
Prachov and Jičín
Guesthouses at the rocks; Jičín has more choice and a bus link.
Safety
Slippery rock and iron steps medium
Getting caught by dark on a long loop medium
Crowds and full car parks in July–August low
Ticks in long grass and woods low
Accessibility
- Prachov Rocks has a marked route but includes steep stairs and narrow passages; the first viewpoints near the entrance are the easiest.
- Turnov, Jičín and Malá Skála are reachable by train or bus, so a car is not required.
- Bozkov Caves involve steps and a guided pace; ask at the entrance about the route before buying.
Visiting lightly
- Buy the combined site tickets and use the seasonal tourist buses instead of driving between trailheads.
- Stay on rock; sandstone erodes quickly where people cut corners.
- Eat and sleep in Turnov, Malá Skála or Jičín so the geopark villages keep the income.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Bohemian Paradise?
Nothing for the landscape area itself — trails, rock mazes and viewpoints outside the gated sites are free. You pay only at individual sites: Prachov Rocks about 80–120 Kč, Trosky castle about 80–120 Kč and Bozkov Caves about 100–150 Kč (2026 estimates; check current prices).
What are the best hikes in Bohemian Paradise?
The Hruboskalsko loop from Hrubá Skála to Trosky (3–4 h) is the classic, and the Prachov Rocks circuit (1.5–2 h) is the most dramatic short walk. For a quieter day, follow the Jizera valley from Malá Skála past Dlask farm to the Besedice and Suché rocks.
When is the best time to visit Bohemian Paradise?
May, June and September: dry rock, full opening and fewer people than July–August. October is good for colour but the days are short. Winter is quiet but ice makes the rock stairs unsafe.
Do I need a car?
No. Turnov is the hub, with buses from Prague in about 2 h and local trains and buses to Malá Skála, Rovensko pod Troskami and Prachov. Seasonal tourist buses link the main sites in summer.
Can I visit the caves?
Bozkov Dolomite Caves are open on guided tours, showing 350 m of the system and an underground lake. Other caves in the reserves are closed, including bat roosts.
Is Bohemian Paradise the same as Bohemian Switzerland?
No. Bohemian Switzerland is the sandstone national park on the Elbe near Děčín, about 2 h north. Bohemian Paradise is the geopark around Turnov, Jičín and Mnichovo Hradiště.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go