Bohemian Paradise

Bohemian Paradise is a protected landscape area in North Bohemia, offering a dense network of hiking and biking trails through stunning sandstone rock formations, castles, and chateaus. It's a budget-friendly alternative to more crowded Czech destinations, with free access to most of the area and small entrance fees for castles and caves.

The biggest towns are Turnov, Jičín, Nová Paka, Semily, and Železný Brod, connected to Prague, Liberec, Mladá Boleslav, and Hradec Králové by trains and buses every 2 hours. From Prague, it takes about 2 hours by bus or 2½ hours by train to Turnov, costing 130-150 Kč. Check the timetable at jizdnirady.idnes.cz.

The area is covered with marked bike trails and colour-coded tourist hiking trails, from short walks to full-day hikes. Some trails are not suitable for anything except walking. The Jizera River offers good canoeing conditions; rivers Kamenice and Oleška are navigable in spring. In winter, many trails can be used for cross-country skiing.

Summer offers hot days up to 35°C for sun-bathing and watersports; winter brings snow and good conditions for skiing, with temperatures down to -20°C. Spring and autumn are milder and less crowded, ideal for hiking.

Accommodation ranges from basic campsites (Svitacka, Taboriste Vidlak) to well-equipped campsites like Autocamp Sedmihorky (with beach) and Autokemp Ostrov (on an island). Hotels are available in Turnov, Jičín, Semily, and Železný Brod. Many private pensions also offer lodging. For a list, visit nasceskyraj.cz.

Restaurants, pubs, and shops are found in main towns and many villages along tourist paths. Castle sites often have refreshment stalls and restaurants. Good options include Hotel Korunní Princ in Turnov (pizzas), Motel Even in Karlovice (highly rated since the 1990s), Restaurace Vidlak (standard Czech fare), and Pizzeria Pietro Tomasso in Malá Skála.

Top attractions include the sandstone rock formations: Prachov Rocks, Hruboskalsko, Klokočské rocks, and Suché Rocks. Castles and chateaus: Trosky, Kost, Sychrov, Hrubá Skála, and Valdštejn. Underground attractions: Bozkov Dolomite Caves (largest publicly accessible underground lake in Czech Republic). Many lookouts offer panoramic views. The Museum of Bohemian Paradise in Turnov (50 Kč) provides geological context.

The main risk is falling from steep rock formations. Railings are usually in place; do not step beyond them. In winter or rain, rocks become icy and slippery. Use common sense and avoid risky selfies.

From Bohemian Paradise, you can visit Kokořínsko (70 km) for more rock formations and a castle, Giant Mountains National Park (55 km) for Czech's tallest mountains, Liberec (35 km) with the Ještěd mountain, or even Prague as a longer day trip. The area is close enough to Prague that it can be explored on a day trip.

Kokořínsko (70 km) – another protected area with rock formations and a castle. Giant Mountains National Park (55 km) – Czech's highest mountains. Liberec (35 km) – city with mountain Ještěd.

Backpackers can expect to spend around 600-900 Kč per day, including dorm accommodation (200-400 Kč), meals (150-250 Kč for a main dish and drink), and entry fees (50-150 Kč for castles). Transport from Prague costs 130-150 Kč each way.