Skiing in Janske Láznê in the Czech Mountains is one of the best winter holidays you can go on in the country. Czech is known for its delicious beer, and beautiful capital city of Prague, but one thing many people don’t know is that there are some pretty good ski hills in the Czech Republic.
We had an amazing time skiing at Janske Láznê with a big group of expats from Prague. Let’s just say we had no idea what to expect from the type of ski hill it would be to how good the snow would be.
Going on adventures to unknown places, and just having good times and spontaneous trips is what travelling is all about sometimes.
This post brings us to the Hradec Kralove region of the Czech Republic where we embark on a day of skiing in Janské Láznê as a getaway from the busy city we love; Prague!
It’s a perfect weekend trip from Prague if you’re looking to go skiing somewhere near Prague. We can’t wait to tell you all about it!
Disclosure: this post contains affiliate links which means that if you decide to use them we get a small commission from the platform at no additional cost to you. Thank you <3
Skiing near Prague, Janské Láznê
Janské Láznê is a small spa town deep in the northern Czech Republic about 170 km from Prague.
The town which is known for its thermal spring, which has been used as a thermal bath dating back to the 14th century, has over the last decade also transformed into quite the ski town.
Since it’s only a few hours away from Prague, Janské Láznê has really become one of the best places to go skiing in the Czech Republic.
The ski hill itself is perfect for a day or two of skiing!
It’s no French Alps or the Canadian Rockies (or Big White near Kelowna where we did a ski season) but if your expectations are realistic to the environment then you will have a blast!
You can’t compare apples with oranges but at the end of the day they’re both great, and that’s the way you have to look at it here in the Czech Republic.
Also, rumor has it that Janské Láznê is the best ski hill in the Czech Republic, and even though we’ve only been to a few mountains here we’ve gotten lots of feedback from Czechs confirming this is true.
Cerna Hora in Janské Láznê
We went skiing on the mountain called Cerna Hora. Another awesome perk of skiing here is that your ski pass will allow you to ski in the entire area of Janské Láznê which includes both Cerna Hora and Pec Pod Sneskou.
So this gives you plenty of skiing for a weekend, especially with the amount of snow that Mother Nature has dumped this season.
It felt like a winter wonderland being on the slopes, with trees absolutely covered in snow, runs full of fresh powder, and great weather… Well, at least those were the conditions we had, and we cross our fingers they’ll be the same when you go.
If not, worst case you’ll find yourself enjoying the thermal baths that Janské Láznê has to offer while drinking beer.
Yes, everything in Czech includes beer! There’s a reason why Czechs drink the most beer per capita in the world.
What to bring skiing in Janské Láznê
- Of course, if you have any ski gear already then definitely bring that. Extra layers never hurt either.
- We’d personally bring a power bank or a phone charger as your phone will likely die super quickly up in the mountains. Fellow iPhone users I’m sure we all share the same problem.
- It’s just nice to have cash on you. You never know what pub won’t take your plastic card and you’ll be denied that beer you’d been craving for the past hour.
- A passport, driver’s license, or other ID is necessary if you intend to rent skiing equipment.
- A headlamp in case you miss a transfer home and have to walk 6 km in pitch black… short story to come 😉
Best time to visit Janské Láznê
If you’re looking to go skiing in Janské Láznê we’d highly recommend getting the app (iSKI Czech) and also checking this website to see the conditions of the mountain before deciding to go.
Czech people say the best months to go are usually January through March as they are the months that tend to have the greatest amount of snow.
So lots of people go skiing from Prague in those months and you will see busses and public transport extra packed.
Personally, we’d recommend you go during the week if that’s possible.
Lineups can get quite long and you end up standing around for quite some time which isn’t great – especially at the first lift.
Try to avoid peak seasons like Christmas holidays, winter break, and long weekends because you will really end up waiting in lineups, and the slopes can get quite busy too.
Tourists, locals, and expats will all go skiing to Janské Láznê from Prague because it is one of the more affordable and quality ski hills in the country!
If you can get a few days off work or if you’re travelling then try to get there for the middle of the week and you’ll end up skiing twice as much. Sweet!
Also, if you love the outdoors and love hiking, then May through September will be a great time to visit Janské Láznê for some hiking and take in the view of this beautiful area.
How to get to Janské Láznê
From Prague, the easiest way will definitely be to get on the Omio app and search Prague-Janské Láznê.
The bus usually leaves a few times a day from Florence or Cerny Most station, which are both accessible by the metro. Convenient right?
It will be a straight shot there with no transfers and about a 2.5 hour journey. And the price? €15 round trip!
Another option is to rent a car which will open up more options for accommodation or a single-day trip if you’re an early bird.
You may also like…
- 18 of The Best Cafes to Work at in Prague
- Coziest Glamping Experience in the Czech Republic – Two Fingers Cabins
- How to Spend the Perfect Weekend in Prague (off the beaten path)
- 13 Sunset Spots in Prague That You Will Love
- 5 Reasons You Will Love Czech Republic
Other useful info about skiing in the Czech Republic
- Let’s talk about pricing… It’s not the cheapest place to go skiing but it’s still affordable. Skiing will run you about 900 CZK ($40) and rentals cost about 600 CZK ($25) for all the gear including a helmet (and you should always protect your head). So, $65 will get you a full day of skiing in the Czech Mountains. On top of that comes food and transportation.
- The lifts all close at 4 pm.
- IDOS app is necessary if you’re taking public transport. It shows if buses or trains are delayed, by how long, and where they currently are. Perfect for when you’re in a random town where locals may not speak English and fear of not getting back to your Airbnb sets in. Yes, this happened to us. And guess what? We ended up walking back 6 km in the dark. The app will calm you down and assure you that, even though your bus is delayed (because it will be) it is (hopefully) still on its way to pick you up. So get this app!
- If you’re like us and are planning to go skiing with a group of 25+ then look into getting this AirbnB. For only $20 a night per person, you will get to stay in this mansion. It’s easy if you’re going from Prague since the village of the Airbnb is one of the stops for the bus. Bonus info: There is a really good and cheap pub 5 minutes away from the Airbnb. Tempting, right?
You may also like…
- Cosiest Glamping Experience in Czech Republic: Two Fingers
- The Complete Guide to a 2 Day Trip to Pilsen, Czech Republic
- How to Hike Snezka – The Tallest Mountain in the Czech Republic
- 19 of The Best Cafes to Work at in Prague
Recap of skiing at Cerna Hora in Janské Láznê
This ski resort truly is amazing, especially for the Czech Republic. It’s a great place to ski for a weekend or for a few days with friends and family.
There are ski runs for everyone and the atmosphere is really great.
The mountains aren’t huge but the ski runs are well designed and a whole lot of fun.
We hope you enjoy this ski resort and please feel free to DM us on Instagram @redwhiteadventures or leave a comment below if you have any questions about the trip.
Have fun!
Love it? Share it!
