Located in northeast Czechia, this regional capital has a 13th-century Gothic cathedral, modernist architecture from the 1920s, and direct access to the Krkonoše Mountains.
Hradec Králové lies 95 kilometers east of Prague, where you can climb the 72-meter White Tower for city views, watch puppet performances at the Drak Theatre, or explore modernist buildings like the geometric-patterned Museum of Eastern Bohemia. The city comes alive during three annual music festivals, including Rock for People which draws 30,000 visitors to see bands like Arctic Monkeys and Muse.
Getting to Hradec Králové
Buses and trains run from Prague to Hradec Králové every hour, with the journey taking 1.5 hours. The city sits at the confluence of the Elbe and Orlice rivers, making it a natural transport hub. You can drive the D11 motorway from Prague in about one hour. The main bus and train stations are a 10-minute walk from the city center.
The White Tower and Cathedral
You can climb 226 steps up the White Tower, built in 1589, to look across the red rooftops of Hradec Králové. On your way up, stop at each floor to see temporary exhibitions, and look for the third-largest bell in Bohemia. The adjacent Cathedral of the Holy Spirit, dating from 1307, has preserved its original Gothic elements, including two massive towers added in 1360.
Museums and Culture
Jan Kotěra designed the Museum of Eastern Bohemia in 1912, incorporating geometric patterns and art nouveau details into its facade. Inside, you'll discover over 3 million artifacts, including the Codex Speciálník manuscript from the Renaissance period. Watch contemporary Czech plays at the Klicpera Theatre, or see internationally acclaimed puppet shows at the Drak Theatre.
Music Festivals
Each July, Rock for People brings international acts like Arctic Monkeys and Muse to perform for 30,000 music fans. During Jazz Goes to Town in October, jazz musicians perform in venues throughout the city. In August, Hip Hop Kemp transforms the local airport into a festival ground where 20,000 hip hop fans gather from across Europe.
Day Trips from Hradec Králové
Drive 20 kilometers north to explore 45 kilometers of underground tunnels at Josefov Fortress, built with 250 million bricks. At Safari Park Dvůr Králové, 30 kilometers away, drive through open areas where giraffes and zebras walk freely. Walk among 60-meter sandstone towers and through narrow passages on marked trails in the Adršpach-Teplice Rocks area.
