Getting to Houska Castle from Prague
Houska was built in the middle of nowhere, and the road network has not changed its mind. With a car it is an easy morning. Without one, you choose between a private tour and a patient bus journey. This guide walks through all three, with the times and distances that matter.
Three ways to reach the castle
The castle sits about 47 km (29 miles) north of Prague in a straight line, in the hills of Kokořínsko. By road the fastest route is about 84 km, because the last stretch winds through villages and forest. There is no railway station near the castle, and the castle's own website tells visitors not to rely on public transport. That leaves three realistic options.
| Option | Time from Prague | Cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rental car | About 1 h 20 min each way | Car hire, fuel and parking | Anyone who drives, groups of any size |
| Private tour | 8-hour day, pickup at 8 am | ~$923 per group up to 3 | Two or three people without a car |
| Bus | Most of a day, with changes | Regional bus fares | Summer, flexible travelers, walkers |
By car
From central Prague, take the D10 motorway towards Mladá Boleslav, then turn off west onto road 38 and later road 259, which runs past Blatce and Tubož below the castle. Without traffic the drive takes about 1 hour 20 minutes. The roads after the motorway are narrow, with tractors in season and walkers on the bends, so do not plan to the minute.
The castle has a large car park in the forest about 700 m from the gate, and the walk up takes about ten minutes on a woodland path. Local roads also approach from Kruh, on the other side. The castle's website does not publish a parking fee, so carry some Czech crowns. Since tours start on the hour, aim to reach the gate a few minutes before one, for example leaving Prague at 8:15 am for the 10 am tour.
A car also makes the second castle easy. Kokořín lies about 12 km and 20 minutes away, Bezděz about 17 km and 22 minutes, and Mělník about 30 km and 40 minutes on the way back to Prague. Our day-trip plans put them in order.
By bus
In season, regional bus line 697 runs between Mšeno and Doksy through Dubá, and it started its 2026 service on 25 April. Most trips stop at Tubož, rybník, on road 259 below the castle. From there it is 2.2 km on foot, partly uphill. In 2026 only two trips ran all the way to the Horní Houska stop by the castle, the 10:07 towards Mšeno and the 17:25 towards Doksy.
The catch is getting to line 697 in the first place. You need a connection from Prague to Mšeno or Doksy, and back again, and the regional timetables change with the season. Check every leg in the Czech national timetable search the day before, note the last bus back, and keep a taxi number for Doksy or Dubá in your phone. It can be done in summer, and walkers enjoy it. It is not a plan for a short day.
The bus line is seasonal, and we could not confirm whether it still runs in October. In the weekend-only months, April and October, treat the bus as a bonus, not a plan.
By train and on foot
There is no station at Houska. The nearest railway stations, Okna and Doksy, are about 6 km away, and marked hiking trails lead through the forest to the castle. For walkers it is a fine approach, through pine woods and sandstone, but add about an hour and a half each way, and check the trail map before you set out. Return trains from these small stations are not frequent.
No car, no timetables
The private tour picks you up anywhere in Prague at 8 am, drives you to Houska and Kokořín with both tickets paid, stops for a Czech lunch and brings you back about eight hours later. ~$923 for up to three people, about $1,246 for four to six.
The private tour from Prague
The Houska and Kokořín private tour is the only guided trip to the castle you can book online. The car is air-conditioned and only for your group, the castles' own guides lead you through the interiors, and lunch and water are included. Read the listing's small print, which lists "tour guide" as not included, so expect a driver who knows the way rather than a historian for the whole day. Our full review of the tour covers the price and who it suits.
Before you book, check the date against the castle's season. Houska opens on weekends only in April and October and closes on Mondays all year, and a tour on a closed day would find a locked gate. The opening calendar has the details.
Arriving at the gate
Whichever way you come, the last part is on foot. From the car park, the path climbs gently through the trees and the walls appear above you, which is the best first view of the castle. Comfortable shoes are enough. Strollers manage the path in dry weather, but there is no step-free route into the chapel described on the castle's website, and the private tour is listed as unsuitable for wheelchair users.
Once there, buy your ticket, wait for the next tour on the hour and, if you have time, walk through PEKLEM, the carved wooden hell in the old carriage house. What you see inside explains the visit, and the legend is worth reading on the drive up.