Where to go on a trip with your dog? Tips for places around the Czech Republic

Ctirad, also known as Dívčí hrady or Děvín, is an area declared a natural monument in 1988, located in Prague 5. From the viewpoint, which is easily accessible by car and public transport, you can see a large part of Prague, whether Podolí, Vyšehrad, Pankrác and Kavčí hory. From here you can also observe the progress of the construction of the new Prague bridge that will connect Zlíchov and Dvorce.

Apart from the Ctirad lookout itself, there are several other interesting places in this area. It is an ideal place for hiking, cycling or just a quiet rest in nature where you can spend a whole day. There is a nearly 20-hectare horse paddock in the area, which is free and definitely worth a visit.

The Ctirad area is one of our favourite places in Prague, where we like to return often. Especially in autumn and when the weather is good, it is wonderful to watch the hustle and bustle of the city from afar and be in the peaceful countryside.

The wooden lookout tower Závist is located on the top of the 389-metre high Hradiště Mountain, which is almost on the border of the Central Bohemian Region and the capital city of Prague. It offers a beautiful view not only of the surrounding area, including the Cukrák or Zbraslav transmitter, but also of almost the whole of Prague.

The lookout tower is located just a few metres from the remains of the Celtic oppidum Závist, whose history dates back to about 175 BC. However, due to the protection of this historical monument, the site was filled in in 2003, so don’t expect to see everything in detail. However, several information signs in the area will give you an idea.

The best way to get to the lookout tower is from the parking lot at the end of Dolní Břežany, from where you can either take the cycle path or the green hiking trail, from which you can turn onto the yellow trail at the Hradiště crossroads. Then you will have a slightly steeper climb directly to the lookout tower. One trip is a little over 3 km, so allow at least 1.5 hours for the whole trip (6.3 km).

In addition to the Lány Chateau, there is also a nature trail in Lány, which starts and ends at the same place, at the car park on the outskirts of the village of Lány. The whole circuit is about 4.5 km long and the whole time you walk on flat ground, so the path is suitable for everyone – even strollers.

About halfway there is a demonstration game preserve with a game viewing area. We saw lots of fallow deer here, and there is also a wild boar enclosure and a freshwater fish pond. There is an entrance fee to this section, in the summer of 2024 the price for an adult was 50 CZK and you can also bring your dog on a lead here without any problem. There is also a covered seating area with refreshments. This particular stop is probably the best the trail has to offer within the nature trail. So if you plan a trip here, be sure to make time to visit this preserve as well.

The viewpoint at Mariina Skála, near the village of Milínov, is a beautiful destination for a short weekend walk. It is a wooden gazebo with a few, sometimes crumbling, steps leading up to it. But it is really worth climbing them – you will see beautiful views of the surroundings.

The original gazebo, built by Kristian Wallenstein, was unfortunately demolished by a storm in 1953, but this new one from 2014 is a faithful replica. The viewpoint can be reached simply by taking the yellow trail from Milínov, or from the nearby ruins of Lopata Castle.

Devil’s Heads is a rock formation near Mělník, on the outskirts of the village of Želízy. It is a very unusual spectacle of two giant devils carved in the rock, made by the sculptor Václav Levý. The roughly 9-metre high heads have been watching over the small village in the Central Bohemian Region since 1846, when the sculptor completed his work after almost five years.

The Devil’s Heads can be reached by a fairly steep trail, but the walk shouldn’t take you more than 10 – 15 minutes. A blue trail here is also worth mentioning, which is also known as the V. Levy Circuit.

The Teplice Rocks are a well-known rock formation in the Broumovsko Protected Landscape Area. Compared to the Adršpach Rocks, however, they are slightly less visited and not as frequented. From our point of view, they are worth visiting a little more than the Adršpach Rocks. It is because of the smaller number of visitors, but also because of the really beautiful passages between the rocks or the views (especially from the ruins of the Střmen Castle, up to which leads around 300 steps).

The basic tour will take 2 – 3 hours, but with stops for sightseeing or exploring the adjacent caves, you can expect up to 5 hours. At the entrance to the rocks, where you also pay an entrance fee, there are several refreshment places where you can eat and drink.

The Olšina Nature Trail, located near Horní Plana in Šumava, is a unique area where you can explore wild nature. The trail is approximately 7.3 kilometres long and leads around the Olšina pond, the highest breeding pond in the Czech Republic. During the walk, you will enjoy a view of the diverse fauna and flora, including wetlands, meadows and woodlands. The trail is accompanied by several informative panels that introduce the local ecosystem, fish farming and the history of the region.

The trail is suitable for families with children and easy hikers, thanks to wooden walkways and footbridges it is accessible all year round – if it is less accessible due to weather, you can find out about it on the official website of the trail and at the information centre. There are resting places with benches and viewpoints along the trail, which offer beautiful views of the Šumava landscape. We had been looking forward to visiting the Olšina nature trail for a long time and it definitely met our expectations. During our visit at the end of December 2024, we met about 6 people along the whole trail, but we recommend that you take a break and go on the trail as early in the morning as possible or before sunset. Not only because of the beautiful light, but also just the number of other visitors or limited parking.

The most iconic spot of the entire trail, which you’ve probably seen somewhere on social media, is the wooden bridge after about 2 kilometres of the trail. We recommend a small stop here, it is a really beautiful place. On the other hand, the last 2 or so kilometers of the trail you will be returning along the road past the pond, so you need to enjoy the previous quiet and beauty of the trail.