Explore Czechia by rail: 10 scenic summer train trips from Prague

Czechia's rail network turns the whole country into a day trip from Prague. Between Cheb in the west and Český Těšín in the east, 9,344 km of track unspool with 1,557 stops connecting beaches, mountains, medieval towns and beer trails (most reachable in under four hours).

Summer offers more reasons to escape the city's heat and tourist crush, or dive headfirst into culture and adventure. We asked Jan Sůra, transport journalist and founder of Czech transportation news outlet Zdopravy.cz, where he'd go this summer.

His choices highlight not only the destinations but the journey: the Prague–Děčín line follows the Elbe River gorge, which is one of the most scenic rail corridors in Czechia (steep sandstone cliffs, river views) while the narrow stretch of the Pojizerský Pacific between Martinice and Jablonec nad Jizerou is know for its wonderful views.

Ahead of the long weekend, here Sůra's picks for some of the best rail journeys from Prague – plus a few of our own.

When seaside trips don’t fit the available time or budget, Czechia offers plenty of cool dips close at hand. Máchovo Jezero, or Mácha Lake, is a popular one for Praguers. Technically a pond, Mácha Lake covers nearly 300 hectares and boasts multiple sandy beaches along its wooded shoreline for swimming and activities. At Staré Splavy beach, also find volleyball, basketball, football, badminton, climbing walls and table tennis amid the palm trees. Boat rentals are available at multiple points along the shore, as are trails like Máchova cesta, which leads up to 13th-century castle ruins overlooking the lake.

No direct route. Fastest route requires one transfer at Mladá Boleslav.

When summertime Prague heats up with festivals, events, and tourism, sanity may require a retreat into deep country. There, you can find peace, quiet, and a bit more on day hikes and nights under the stars. A prime candidate for Praguers is Lusatian Mountains, aka Lužické hory, a small mountain range 120 km to the north.

Trails proliferate among the spruce forests and sandstone hills that cover the region, reaching its highest peak at Luž Mountain on the Czech-German border. The most popular trails take in natural highlights like the basalt formations of Panská skála and Zlatý vrch, the Naděje ice cave, and “Elephant Rocks” sandstone formation.

If you prefer an industrial edge to the old-world romance of Prague, look to Ostrava in the Moravian-Silesian region. Here, the raw, steel-and-iron architecture of the defunct Dolní Vítkovice complex has been fueling cultural rebirth, concerts, and nightlife since the end of its mining days.

Amid the sci-fi, rusted blast furnaces and the glass-clad Bolt Tower, find an underground mining museum frozen in time, a living, smoking volcanic slag heap, and legendary weekend energy on Stodolní Street. The city's massive character is also delivered by major summer music festivals like Colours of Ostrava and Beats for Love.

While the battle of Mucha museums continues in Prague, the artist’s magnum opus, the Slav Epic, remains at Moravský Krumlov Castle, 40 km southwest of Brno. There, the 20 large-scale paintings hang in the 16th-century Renaissance chateau, offering a lush, immersive journey through Czech history, legend, and culture.

Canvases depict key figures and moments, like the last sermon of Master Jan Hus, the victory at Vítkov hill by Jan Žižka, and the oath of Omladina during the Czech national revival in the 19th century. Continue the cultural immersion with visits to the 17th-century Chapel of St. Florian, Princely House Gallery, and Jewish Cemetery.

The Krkonoše Mountains on the Czech-Polish boarder elevate to Czechia’s highest peak, Mount Sněžka. The UNESCO-listed biosphere also hosts a high-altitude beer trail, running 80 km between Jablonec nad Jizerou and Horní Malá Úpa and stopping at eight breweries. Each provides a foamy reward for the physical exertion, as well as the means to toast the natural wonders along the way, including Giant Valley, the Snow Pits, the source of the Elbe River, and the Mumlavský waterfall.

In summer, the Pojizerský Pacific train follows at 20-km stretch between Martinice and Jablonec nad Jizerou. On four summer weekends, the route is covered by an old-school steam locomotive.

Olomoucké tvarůžky; the soft, yellow, gym-sock pungent cheese; offers the first whiff of a growing culinary pedigree. The city of 100,000, 80km northeast of Brno, now counts far more than stinky cheese on its foodie resume. Michelin Guide lists three restaurants and has bestowed a star on Entrée for its “theatre, plants and minerals” concept by Czech celebrity chef, Přemek Forejt.

Bib Gourmand winner Long Story Short Eatery and Bakery takes up residence in a 17th-century bastion, serving high-end, world-fusion. Tap the region’s lavender fields in infused wine, beer, lemonade, coffee, cakes and ice cream at Lavender Bistro Olomouc. Wine fans should dovetail dates with the Summer Wine Festival.

Those seeking more tranquility than the “Spa Triangle” of Karlovy Vary, Mariánské Lázně, and Františkovy Lázně may look to Luhačovice in the Zlín region. Here, the natural sodium-bicarbonate and sulphurous springs have been soothing minds, bodies, and spirits since the 18th century.

Amid the art-nouveau-meets-Carpathian-folk buildings by Dušan Jurkovič, find treatments and procedures for numerous ailments and injuries, as well as relaxation, romance, and old-fashioned indulgence. The services are also delivered by numerous spa hotels and villas throughout town. Ground your health reset further on the surrounding forest trails. 

A top destination for a weekend wine getaway lies in Mikulov, between Brno and Vienna. The town ticks many fairytale boxes, starting with the 18th-century castle on a hill and jewel-box-like old town below filled with Gothic, Baroque, and Renaissance buildings. The Pálava Hills surrounding, part of a nature reserve, are prime Moravian wine country and can turn the getaway into a Sideways sequel. Start at the "Wine Across the Centuries" exhibit in the castle and drink your way from there.

With kids in tow, weekend getaways need family-friendly fun for success. This city of 100,000 northeast of Prague comes with more than most. Start at Centrum Babylon, the largest entertainment center in Czechia, complete with an aquapark, laser show, games and rides, a science and technology center and much more. At DinoPark Liberec, meet the “terrible lizards” at the 4D cinema, Time Tunnel, and Paleontological Playground. Afterwards, go full herbivore at Liberec Botanical Garden, which offers a tour of the world’s plants.

As feet continue to beat the tourist paths of Prague, Český Krumlov, Karlovy Vary and Kutná Hora to death, dozens of delightful destinations in Czechia get left alone. Třebíč, in southwest Moravia, is a prime example, and a golden opportunity. This town of 36,000 along the Jihlava River ranks among the country’s most beautiful, a fact underscored by UNESCO, which listed its Jewish Quarter, Jewish Cemetery, and St Procopius' Basilica.

Combine these with a visit to Třebíč Castle, a hike up the 75-meter-high tower of the Church of St. Martin, and a wander around Charles Square, one of the country’s largest. Best of all, you’ll have much of it to yourself.