Krkonoše National Park (Karkonosze in Polish) is the oldest national park in the Czech Republic and one of Central Europe’s most beloved mountain destinations — a dramatic granite and schist range on the Czech-Polish border whose highest peak, Sněžka (1,603m), crowns a landscape of glacial cirques, alpine meadows, and the unique subarctic tundra ecosystem that exists nowhere else in Central Europe. A UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and the mythical home of Krakonoš — the mountain spirit of Czech folklore — Krkonoše offers year-round outdoor adventure from skiing to summer hiking on hundreds of kilometres of trails.
Quick Facts: Krkonoše National Park
- Best time to visit: June–September for hiking; January–March for skiing at Czech Republic’s top ski resorts (Špindlerův Mlýn, Pec pod Sněžkou); autumn for golden beech forests
- Top attractions: Sněžka peak, the Sněžné jámy (Snow Pits) glacial cirques, the source of the Elbe River, and the Labský vodopád (Elbe Waterfall)
- How to get there: ~1.5 hours from Prague by car to Špindlerův Mlýn; regular buses from Prague
Krkonoše National Park is the mountain range located in the north of the Czech Republic on the borders with Poland. Krkonoše National Park continues on Poland side as Karkonosze National Park and both constitute a cross-border biosphere reserve under the UNESCO Man and the Biosphere Programme. The highest peak of Krkonoše is Sněžka (1602m ABSL) and it is also the highest point of the Czech Republic.
The River Elbe rises within the Krkonoše. The range has a number of major ski resorts, and is a popular destination for tourists engaging in downhill and cross-country skiing, hiking, cycling and other activities.
Important towns where you can accommodate and start your hiking or skiing in the Czech Republic side are:
- Špindlerův Mlýn, mountain resort
- Harrachov
- Pec pod Sněžkou, mountain resort
- Janské Lázně
and on Poland side:
- Karpacz, ski resort
- Szklarska Poręba, ski resort
- Kowary
View Krkonoše National Park in Czech republic in a larger map
Have you hiked Krkonoše or skied the Czech Republic’s highest mountains? Share your mountain experiences in the comments! ⛰️
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