Prague to Liberec and Ještěd by Car: Route, Sights and Tips

Liberec is only about an hour north of Prague, which makes it one of the easiest day trips from the capital by car. Above the city rises Ještěd, a 1,012 m mountain with one of the most recognisable buildings in Czechia: a futuristic tower and hotel from the 1970s. Add a zoo, a science centre and a botanical garden, and you have a full day for families, hikers and architecture lovers. This guide gives you the route, the sights and the practical tips.

The route

What to see in Liberec

Why Liberec and Ještěd are worth the trip

A tower that won a prize

Ještěd’s hyperboloid shape is the work of the architect Karel Hubáček. The design received the Perret Prize of the International Union of Architects in 1969, before the tower was finished in 1973. Inside, the hotel and restaurant keep a 1970s mood, and on a clear day the view reaches across the mountains of northern Bohemia.

A town hall that looks like a palace

Liberec’s neo-Renaissance town hall, built between 1888 and 1893, is often compared to Vienna’s city hall. It is one of the best examples of how rich the textile industry once made this town, and it is worth a look from the square even if you do not go inside.

The zoo and the white tigers

Liberec Zoo, founded in 1919, is the oldest in Czechia and is known for its white tigers. It is a good option for a family day, and the botanical garden nearby is large and calm.

iQLANDIA and rainy-day plans

The hands-on science centre iQLANDIA is a good plan B if the weather closes in over the mountains. Children can try experiments, and adults often end up playing with them too.

Frýdlant castle

About half an hour north of Liberec, close to the Polish border, the large castle at Frýdlant once belonged to Albrecht von Wallenstein. It is a good addition if you have a whole day and enjoy castle interiors.

Practical tips

Parking in the centre of Liberec is paid, and the summit area of Ještěd has limited spaces on busy weekends, so start early. In winter the area is a ski destination, and cars rented from 1 November to 31 March come with winter tyres at no extra charge. For more mountain routes see Prague to Krkonoše and Prague to Bohemian Switzerland. More ideas are in our best day trips from Prague, and ski trips are covered in our ski trips guide. Families can use our free child seats, see child seat rules. For the drive we suggest the Renault Austral.

Frequently asked questions