The Czech Republic is known for its few large cities, all of which are absolutely worth exploring. But have you ever heard of Hradec Králové?
Just a few dozen kilometers from Prague, this pretty town is worth a visit for a day (or more if you have a lot of things planned, like attending a festival).
That’s why we absolutely wanted to introduce you to it. This is an opportunity for you to prepare a little getaway.
Where is Hradec Králové?
Hradec Králové is a town in the Czech Republic, located in the north-eastern part of the Bohemian region. Its population is estimated at about 93,000.
It is a very pleasant town, known not only for its city center, but also for the music festival that is held here every summer: the Rock for People. An event that attracts tens of thousands of people and allows the city to be under the spotlight for a few days.
To get there from Prague, nothing could be easier. You can get there by bus, car or train. The journey from Hlavní nádraží (the central station of the Czech capital) to your destination takes between 1 and 2 hours (at most).
What to do in Hradec Králové?
Of course, the question arises as to what to do and see. Hradec Králové is clearly not the most touristic center in the Czech Republic. However, we strongly recommend that you take a day to discover the city, which has a lot of nice things to share.
1. Rock for People
It is impossible to start our top 5 things to do in Hradec Králové without mentioning the famous Rock for People festival.
A festival dedicated to rock (as the name suggests), the event attracts the biggest bands, stars and singers every year during the month of June.
Whether they come from all over the world, the Czech Republic or even Slovakia, they all put on a show. A special event not to be missed if you are a fan of the genre.
2. The city center
The city center is simply exquisite. It is under heritage protection. It’s a nice place that you’ll quickly get around to, but it’s worth the stop. Many of the city’s great monuments can be found here, such as the Saint-Clément chapel, the Saint-Esprit church and the White Tower.
3. Bílá věž
The construction of the White Tower in Hradec Králové began in 1574. It took six years for the 48-meter high building to come into being. It offers a rather exceptional view of the whole city, its monuments and the surrounding area. We highly recommend you to enter the building and climb to the top to take some great pictures.
4. Modern Art Gallery
We recommend that you visit Moderního Umění, a modern art gallery. The gallery is located in an Art Nouveau building built between 1911 and 1912 by Osvald Polívka. The entrance is decorated with bronze sculptures by Ladislav Šaloun. The exhibits are really interesting. If you like museums, this is the place to go in Hradec Králové.
5. zOO
If you like animals, we invite you to visit the Hradec Králové Zoo. The zoo is home to several animal species, including beautiful white rhinos. It is an opportunity to discover an endangered species. A place that is also worth a visit, so don’t hesitate to go there (especially if you are with your family, with your children).
Where to eat in Hradec Králové?
There are many typical Czech restaurants in Hradec Králové. Would you like to take advantage of your stay in Hradec Králové to eat local food? We recommend you to visit Satlava. It is a highly rated establishment, not far from the city center.
One of the other “hits” of the city is Mexita. As the name suggests, this establishment offers Mexican food, somewhat spicy but also Italian. A strange combo, but one that is very popular with the locals.
For a bistronomic stop, we invite you to go to Na Hrade. It is a bar-restaurant where you can eat everything you would normally find in such an establishment. Finally, for vegetarian food lovers, go to Localis Bistro. One of the most popular restaurants in the city.
Where to have a drink in Hradec Králové?
In the Czech Republic, the bar culture is very present. Bubbles is an interesting bar with excellent wines. It is ideal before going out dancing, especially at the Klondike, which is the most famous nightclub for the locals.
For a drink, we also recommend the Na Hrade, which we mentioned above, which is a very popular bar, especially for the quality of its beers and the large choice offered. In short, one of our favorite establishments.
Hradec Králové, a town to discover
Hradec Králové is a medium-sized town that is easy to reach and close to the Czech capital. In this short guide you will find all the information you need about what to do, where to eat and where to stop for a good beer. If you want to discover more, don’t hesitate to contact us!