Lake Lipno 2026: Treetop Walk, Skiing and How to Get There
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Lipno is Czechia's largest artificial lake, almost 50 km² according to its operator ČEZ, in South Bohemia at the edge of the Šumava (Bohemian Forest). The resort town at the dam is Lipno nad Vltavou. By car it is about 212 km (2 h 40 min) from Prague, 296 km (3 h 35 min) from Munich and 236 km (2 h 55 min) from Vienna. The main seasons are summer (swimming, cycling, boats, Treetop Walk open until 7 pm) and winter (13.4 km of pistes, natural ice skating in long frosts). November is quiet and much is closed. Around Prague checked hours, prices and timetables on the operators' official websites on 2 November 2026. Driving times are a calculation (OpenStreetMap routing, no traffic).
The lake and its villages
The reservoir was built with the dam in 1953–1958. ČEZ gives its length as 44 km and its volume as 306 million m³. The municipality calls its ski area "Lipno – Kramolín" in its local history, after the district of Kramolín. The old address kramolin.cz now redirects to lipno.info (Skiareál Lipno).
Lipno in November: what is open
| Attraction | Status on 2 Nov 2026 |
|---|---|
| Treetop Walk | daily 10:00–16:00 until 27 Nov; from 28 Nov also 17:00–20:00; closed 24 Dec |
| Aquaworld Lipno (indoor pool) | closed 3–29 Nov, daily 10:00–20:00 from 30 Nov |
| Lipno Line boats | last cruise of the season Sat 7 Nov, 14:00–16:00, no stops; changes possible because of low water |
| Ferry Dolní Vltavice–Kyselov | 2026 operation ended on 6 Oct (low water) |
The low water exposes parts of the old river valley. Lipno Line names the island of Tajvan, reachable on foot along an old railway embankment, and the "Heart of the Vltava" (Srdce Vltavy), an old meander behind Horní Planá. Wear sturdy shoes; the shore is muddy.
Skiing and ice skating
The operator lists 13.4 km of pistes at Skiareál Lipno, mostly blue and red, four lifts, daytime skiing 8:30–16:00 and night skiing on the Jezerní piste 18:00–21:00 when open. On 2 November the website showed 0 cm of snow and 0 of 8 lifts running, with no opening date. On 2 November the e-shop offered day passes only from 19 December 2026.
Prices are dynamic: the earlier you buy, the less you pay. On 2 November the e-shop calendar showed adult day passes at 690 Kč (Wednesday), 820 Kč (Mon, Tue, Thu) and 840 Kč (Fri–Sun) for 19 Dec 2026 to 31 Jan 2027, against a struck-through regular price of 1,490 Kč. Children pay 50% with an adult pass.
The ice track on the lake, the Ledová magistrála, is run by volunteers and opens only at about 18 cm of ice in frost. In good conditions it links Frymburk, Lipno and Přední Výtoň over a little more than 10 km (10,923 m measured in 2009). In winter 2025/26 it was closed several times after thaws, and there is no announcement for 2026/27 yet. Do not plan around it; go onto the ice at your own risk.
Summer: swimming, cycling, boats
The regional hygiene station measures water quality weekly (results on lipno.info). The beach at Lipno nad Vltavou was rated "zhoršená jakost vody" (impaired water quality) on 17, 24 and 31 August 2026; check the current rating. The Jezerní cycle and in-line path follows the shore for many kilometres. Lipno Line boat trips: two hours 440 Kč (children 4–15: 250 Kč), one hour 360 Kč.
Lipno Treetop Walk: hours and prices
The walkway is 675 m long and 24 m above the ground, with a 40 m tower and a 52 m dry slide (60 Kč extra, weather permitting). It is step-free; dogs are not allowed (kennels at the entrance).
| Period | Hours | Adult, e-shop on 2 Nov |
|---|---|---|
| 2–27 Nov | 10:00–16:00 | 350 Kč (3–4 Nov), 280 Kč (5–11 Nov), 250 Kč (from 12 Nov) |
| 28 Nov–30 Dec | 10:00–16:00 and 17:00–20:00 | 250 Kč daily |
| Ticket with Stezkabus both ways | as above | 520 Kč on 3 Nov (regular 670 Kč) |
The regular price without the bus is 500 Kč. Buy in the official Lipno.card e-shop or at the ticket office. You cannot drive up to the walkway: park at the paid P1 car park (2 hours free, then 20 Kč per hour). In November the Stezkabus runs from there (10:00, 11:00, 12:00, 13:00, 13:30, 14:30), or walk about 1 km. In winter the Lipno Express cable car does not carry passengers to the walkway.
Getting there and the vignette
| From | Car | Train or bus (IDOS, Sat 7 Nov 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Prague | 212 km, about 2 h 40 | Train: Praha hl.n. 6:21, change at Rybník, arrive 9:47 (3 h 26). Bus: FlixBus to Český Krumlov, then bus 518 (3 h 52) |
| Vienna | 236 km, about 2 h 55 | Wien Hbf 5:28, Linz, Rybník, arrive 9:47 (4 h 19) |
| Munich | 296 km, about 3 h 35 | 7 h 43 with two changes |
The train goes to Rybník, then about 40 minutes on the regional S3 line to Lipno nad Vltavou. On 3–5 November 2026, between 7:55 and 14:00, ČD replaces the Rybník–Lipno trains with buses. The timetable changes on 13 December 2026.
The Czech vignette (e-známka) is needed on toll sections such as D0, D1 and D3 from Prague towards České Budějovice: 1 day 230 Kč, 10 days 300 Kč, 30 days 480 Kč, one year 2,570 Kč. On the calculated route from Linz there is no Czech motorway. Via Salzburg and Linz you need the Austrian vignette for Austrian motorways (10 days: €12.80 according to ASFINAG). From 1 November to 31 March winter tyres are required in snow, ice or frost, with at least 4 mm of tread.
Where to stay: parts of the lake
| Place | What you find there (lipensko.cz) |
|---|---|
| Lipno nad Vltavou | ski lifts, Treetop Walk, harbour for 130 boats, beaches |
| Frymburk | a peninsula, sandy beach, ferry, information centre |
| Přední Výtoň | sandy sports beach, walking, cycling, cross-country (Pasečná) |
| Horní Planá | largest town on the lake (over 2,200 residents), beach, ferry |
| Černá v Pošumaví | widest part of the lake, sailing and windsurfing |
Before booking, ask about the distance to the lifts, winter heating and parking, dogs, an indoor pool and the tourist tax. Lipno nad Vltavou charges 50 Kč per day of stay, excluding the arrival day, under bylaw 1/2023; other municipalities set their own rates. lipno.info and lipensko.cz list holiday houses and hotels.
Nearby: Český Krumlov, Rožmberk, Vyšší Brod
Český Krumlov is a little over 30 km away, and bus 518 takes 47 minutes from Lipno. Rožmberk Castle is closed from 1 November to 25 March 2027. Vyšší Brod Monastery runs a winter tour until 30 April (church, galleries, library, 50 to 60 minutes). Groups of 8 or more book ahead; individuals phone +420 724 184 145, because the ticket office is closed out of season. The price list shows 190 Kč, or 230 Kč with a tour in German or English.
Lipno questions (FAQ)
When is the best time to visit Lake Lipno?
July and August for swimming and boats; for skiing, the weeks from 19 December if there is snow.
How do I get from Prague to Lipno?
About 2 h 40 min by car via D1 and D3, 3 h 26 min by train with a change at Rybník, or by bus with a change at Český Krumlov.
Can you skate on Lipno lake?
Only in frost with about 18 cm of ice, on a track kept by volunteers. There is no announcement for 2026/27 yet; lipno.info shows the current status.
How much does the Lipno Treetop Walk cost?
The price is dynamic. On 2 November the e-shop showed 250 to 350 Kč for an adult, with a regular price of 500 Kč.
Do I need a vignette to drive to Lipno?
From Prague yes, because of D0, D1 and D3. Via Linz you need the Austrian motorway vignette but not the Czech one.
Sources: lipno.info, Lipno Treetop Walk, Lipno.card e-shop, Ledová magistrála, Lipno Line, Dolní Vltavice ferry, Lipensko.cz, ČEZ, Lipno nad Vltavou municipality, Rožmberk Castle, Vyšší Brod Monastery, edalnice.gov.cz, ASFINAG, IDOS, ČD. Checked on 2 November 2026; confirm before you travel.
See also: Prague tours and where to book, Skiing in Czechia, Český Krumlov day trip, Czech vignette, Winter tyres, Šumava National Park, České Budějovice.
Photo: Lake Lipno with the Treetop Walk in the foreground. Funke, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
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