Vrchlabí

Vrchlabí is a town in East Bohemia

Understand

Presenting itself as the gateway to the Giant Mountains (Krkonose), Vrchlabí is a quiet and in parts pretty town for just that - though not much else.

Get in

By car

Vrchlabí is located on the I/14 between Liberec and Trutnov, so can easily be reached from either. From destinations to the South, such as Prague or Jicin, the shortest route is over the I/16, then via local roads 293 and 295.

By train

The station is on the Eastern side of town, on the end of a branch line from Trutnov. Trains run approximately every two hours from 7h until 19h. Best-case travel to/from Prague (Praha hl.n) takes around 4h, but the scenic route makes the trip worthwhile if you have the time.

By bus

Autobusové nádraží Vrchlabí - the bus station - is located on the Eastern bank of the Labe (Elbe), just north of the train station. Frequent direct connections to Hradec Králové, Turnov and Trutnov, less frequent ones to Prague (Florenc or Černý Most bus stations). Nonetheless, it is a faster if not quite so scenic way of getting in than the train.

By plane

Vrchlabí has an airport Vrchlabí (LKVR) - but it is basically just a well-mowed field suitable only for light general aviation. If you have your own plane, it may be an option. Otherwise, fly to Prague or perhaps Pardubice and continue by train, bus or (rental) car.

Get around

Vrchlabí is small enough that anywhere you would want to go is reachable on foot - which is fortunate as there are few alternatives if you haven't brought your own transport.<

See

1 Zámek Vrchlabí (Vrchlabí castle), Zámek 1, 543 01 Vrchlabí. One of the oldest Renaissance castles in Bohemia, completed in 1546 by order of Christoph von Gendorf, it is the main sight to see in Vrchlabí. (updated Jul 2017)

Buy

1 Kaufland, Lánovská 1656 543 01 Vrchlabí, ☏ +420 499404101. Large supermarket, stocks pretty much everything. (updated Jul 2017)

2 Lidl, Lánovská 1545, Vrchlabi. The well-known budget supermarket. (updated Jul 2017)

Eat

1 Restaurant Gurmán, Pražská 65 54301 Vrchlabí, ☏ +420 722 322 766. Child, dog and smoking-friendly family-run restaurant with great service and good Czech food & drinks. If the weather's good and you are out with children, the playground on one side is perfect. (updated Jul 2017)

2 Golf Café, Krkonošská 153, Vrchlabí (note: the Krkonošská 183 listed on the website is a typo), ☏ +420 777 275 988, info@cafegolf.cz. Simple cafe/restaurant with a golf-themed interior. Be sure to try the extensive range of hot chocolates and home-made lemonades. 98 - 175 CZK for a main course. (updated Jul 2017)

Sleep

Camping

1 Euro Air Camp, Lanov 172, Vrchlabí, CZ (Just out of town along the I/14 towards Trutnov, opposite the tiny Vrchlabí airport.), ☏ +420 491 612 605, info@euro-air-camp.cz. Very friendly camp site with mix of brand new (tent pitches, bathrooms, cabins) and somewhat dilapidated (reception/restaurant/playground) fixtures. Surprisingly popular with Dutch visitors. (updated Jul 2017)

Go next

• Vrchlabí is located in the foothills of the Giant Mountains, so exploring the mountains, either for hiking in the summer or skiing in the winter, would be the first thing to do.
• The Bohemian Paradise, full of beautiful landscapes, impressive rock formations and castles, both ruined and intact, is a short drive to the southwest.