Sněžka 2026: Cable Car, Hiking Trails, Prices and Winter Rules
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Sněžka (Schneekoppe, 1,603 m), the highest mountain in Czechia, takes about 15 minutes by cable car from Pec pod Sněžkou or just over 3 hours on foot. A return ticket costs 570 CZK (about €23) from November to April and 750 CZK (about €31) from May to October. Until 18 December 2026 it runs only at weekends and on 11–17 November, then daily from 19 December, and reaches the summit only in suitable weather. You may hike up in winter too, with winter gear. Around Prague checked this on 2 November 2026 on the official sites of the cable car, Krkonoše National Park (KRNAP), the Mountain Rescue Service and the town of Pec.
Can you go up right now?
- 2 November: the cable car was not running and the operator reported strong wind. The Polish national park reported about −5 °C at the summit, feeling like −14 °C, gusts up to 42 km/h, and snow and ice on the trails.
- Until 18 December: autumn shutdown, no weekday service except 11–17 November. Weekends 8:00–18:00.
- From 19 December: daily, 8:00–18:00. From 1 May to 30 September until 19:00, in April weekends only.
On the day, check the live status or call +420 499 405 522.
Cable car from Pec pod Sněžkou: prices and rules
The gondola runs from Pec (829 m) via Růžová hora (1,339 m) to the top station at 1,588 m, with no change of cabin.
| Adult | 1 Nov–30 Apr | 1 May–31 Oct |
|---|---|---|
| Pec to summit, one way up | 310 CZK | 400 CZK |
| Pec to summit, return | 570 CZK | 750 CZK |
| Summit to Pec, one way down | 260 CZK | 350 CZK |
| Pec to Růžová hora, return | 410 CZK | 530 CZK |
A summit return costs 520 / 680 CZK for ages 12–17 and 65+, and 280 / 370 CZK for ages 5–11. Younger children ride free. Dogs cost 100 CZK (lead and muzzle), prams 150 CZK, and bikes are not carried. Euro figures are our calculation at the Czech National Bank rate of 2 November 2026 (24.35 CZK).
- Booking: seats and times cannot be reserved. Tickets are sold at every station, in CZK or by card, and are valid on the day of purchase only.
- Wind: the cable car runs up to 60 km/h. If service stops because of the weather, there is no refund.
- Price status: the off-season PDF is dated 1 Jan–30 Apr 2026, while the price page shows the same amounts for 1 Nov–30 Apr. No separate list for late 2026 is published.
- Karta Krkonoš: with this guest card from your accommodation, an adult summit return costs 410 / 530 CZK.
Hiking trails to Sněžka
| Start | Via | Length | Ascent | Time | Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pec pod Sněžkou | Růžohorky, Růžová hora | 5.9 km | 764 m | 3:15 h | medium |
| Pec pod Sněžkou | Obří důl valley, Obří sedlo saddle | 6.7 km | 839 m | 3:21 h | steep |
| Horní Malá Úpa, car park P1 | Bouda Jelenka, border ridge | 8.2 km | ≈ 600 m | ≈ 3:30 h | medium |
| Špindlerův Mlýn, car park P2 | Kozí hřbety, Luční bouda | 11.3 km | ≈ 900 m | ≈ 4:50 h | long |
| Pec, winter route | Výrovka, Luční bouda | 11 km | 931 m | 5:00 h | winter hike |
Times are one way, in summer, without breaks, from the regional portal krkonose.eu and, for Růžohorky, the town of Špindlerův Mlýn. For Malá Úpa and Špindlerův Mlýn we added up the stages of the portal's Mapy.com routes, and the ascent is the height difference from start to summit. Only "medium" for Růžohorky is official; other grades are our estimate.
In the main season you climb from Obří sedlo on the red trail and descend by the Jubilee Trail (Jubilejní cesta). The resort itself is covered in our guide to Špindlerův Mlýn.
Winter rules: closures and avalanches
- Closures: the park FAQ says neither KRNAP nor Mountain Rescue closes trails for safety today, so all marked trails stay open. The visitor rules say some trails close in winter, but give no list. The restrictions list showed none on the routes above on 2 November; the park map is live.
- Avalanches: KRNAP counts 64 regular avalanche tracks, with warning signs where trails cross them. In February 2022 the largest avalanche in 60 years fell in the Úpská rokle gorge in Obří důl. On 2 November no avalanche forecast was published.
- Marker poles: in the quiet zones on the ridge you must stay on marked trails, and in winter on the line of poles.
- Gear: upper Obří důl is often icy, and krkonose.eu suggests crampons or traction devices and poles. The way from the summit to Růžová hora is steep and windy.
- Spring: from 15 March to 31 May some sections close to protect black grouse, such as the winter trail from Malý Šišák to Luční bouda.
At the summit and on the Polish side
- Česká poštovna: post office, souvenirs, drinks, snacks and a roof terrace. Its website says daily 9:00–18:00, undated.
- Toilets: only at the top station, on a vacuum system that blocks easily. Go at the bottom station first.
- Polish observatory: closed to tourists since 2015, under renovation until 2031. The park plans no limits on hikers.
The border runs across the summit. We found no opening hours for St Lawrence's Chapel on the Polish side. These rules apply in the Polish park:
- Entry: 11 PLN, reduced 5.50 PLN, children under 7 free, online at kpn.gov.pl. According to krkonose.eu, the Czech-Polish Friendship Trail is exempt.
- Hours: open from an hour before sunrise to an hour after sunset. Before dawn on 9 August 2026, rangers from both parks recorded 23 offences at the summit.
- Dogs: on a lead only, with a muzzle to hand.
- Winter: Droga Jubileuszowa and Kocioł Łomniczki can close depending on weather and snow. See the park bulletin.
Getting there from Prague, Dresden and Berlin
| From | Car | Bus and train, Sat 7 Nov 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Prague | 175 km, ≈ 2:20 h, D11, Trutnov | Direct bus from Černý Most (metro B): 7:45–9:52, 235 CZK. Back at 17:00 |
| Dresden | 226 km, ≈ 3:25 h, via Poland; or 315 km, ≈ 3:55 h, via D8 and D11 | 5:23 from Hbf, train to Liberec, buses via Vrchlabí, arrive 11:08 |
| Berlin | 365 km, ≈ 4:10 h, via Poland and Pomezní Boudy | 7:28 from Hbf, via Dresden-Neustadt, Liberec and Dvůr Králové, arrive 15:20 |
Car times are our OSRM calculation, without traffic, stops or snow. Public transport is from IDOS, which showed no services after 13 December yet. The 7:45 bus and the 17:00 return give about 7 hours in Pec (our calculation). Trains end in Trutnov or Svoboda nad Úpou, then take a bus. A bus from Karpacz in Poland runs at weekends until 24 December.
- Parking: P1 Dopravní terminál and P3 Kaplička cost 300 CZK a day, with the first hour free. P3A is closed until 15 December 2027. The free shuttle runs only from May to September; P1 is about 1.2 km from the bottom station (our calculation).
- Vignette: the D8 and D11 require the electronic vignette.
- Winter tyres: see Winter Tyres in Czechia.
- Roadworks: road II/296 in Velká Úpa partly closes for three consecutive days between 1 and 15 December; the notice gives no exact days.
Safety and clothing
- Emergency numbers: Mountain Rescue 1210, general 112, Krkonoše Mountain Rescue +420 602 448 338, Polish side GOPR 985. The Záchranka app sends your location.
- In your pack: a warm spare layer, rain jacket, gloves, hat, first-aid kit, map, head torch, food, a charged phone, sturdy boots and cash for the huts.
- Wind and weather: conditions can change within minutes. Forecast: Mountain Rescue, summit view: webcams.
- Planning: start early, do not go alone, be back before dark. See official advice and Mountain Rescue warnings.
Sněžka: frequently asked questions (FAQ)
How long does it take to hike up Sněžka?
Just over 3 hours from Pec pod Sněžkou without breaks, longer in winter.
How much is the Sněžka cable car?
A return costs 570 CZK from November to April and 750 CZK from May to October.
Can I book the cable car online?
No. Seats and times cannot be reserved; tickets are sold at the stations.
Does the cable car run in November?
Yes, in 2026 at weekends and daily from 11 to 17 November, if the weather allows.
Can you climb Sněžka on foot in winter?
Yes, KRNAP says marked trails stay open. Take traction devices and poles, and check weather and avalanche conditions.
Sources: Cable car: prices, 2026 price list, Town of Pec: November and December service, krkonose.eu: winter route, Town of Špindlerův Mlýn, KRNAP: visitor rules, KRNAP: safety, Mountain Rescue: 2022 avalanche, KPN: tickets, IMGW: observatory. Checked on 2 November 2026; recheck before you travel.
See also: Skiing in Czechia 2026/27, Pančava Waterfall, 7 hiking trails in Czechia, Trains to Prague, Prague Walking Tours 2026, Harrachov.
Photo: Sněžka in winter, February 2020. Pudelek, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
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