Hořice Travel Guide

City City in Královéhradecký kraj, Czechia

A hilltop Czech town known for its row of historic houses and a stone carving tradition. Hořice draws weekend craftsmen, a summer sculpture festival and travellers who prefer carved sculptures, old cafés and regional wafer pastries to glossy attractions.

Costs

Budget-friendly Czech town

Daily costs modest: $45-$85 for typical visitors.

Safety

Safe and calm

Very safe with low street crime; typical Czech small-town atmosphere.

Best Time

May-September

Late spring to early autumn for sightseeing and local events.

In This Guide

Why Visit Hořice?
Top Things to Do
Plan Your Visit
Where to Stay
Where to Eat

Time

—

Weather

—

Population

8,899

Infrastructure & Convenience

Compact and walkable; regional bus and train connections, limited English signage.

Popularity

Attracts Czech cultural tourists and day-trippers from nearby cities.

Known For

Hořické trubičky wafer rolls, stone carving and granite, open‑air sculpture events, historic centre, regional hiking, cultural festivals, artisanal crafts

Hořice is famous for its traditional wafer rolls (Hořické trubičky), a locally protected delicacy.

Why Visit Hořice? #

Known for a strong stonemasonry tradition and a beloved local biscuit, this provincial town blends industry with sweet local specialties. Stone-carving workshops and granite quarries shape the town’s identity, and sampling Hořické trubičky - the thin rolled wafers - is a must. Festivals and workshops around the craft scene make it an appealing stop for food lovers and those curious about regional artisanship.

Top Things to Do in Hořice

All Attractions ›

Dvůr Králové Zoo

Large Czech zoo noted for African wildlife breeding

Museum

Trosky Castle

Romantic castle ruins atop twin volcanic rock peaks

Castle

Hrádek u Nechanic

19th-century neo-Gothic chateau with landscaped English park

Castle

Sudetes

Central European mountain range along the Czech-Polish border

Mountains

Giant Mountains

Mountain range on Czech–Polish border with ski resorts

Mountains

Sněžka

Czech Republic's highest peak on Czech-Polish border

Mountain

Krkonoše National Park

Czech mountain park encompassing the Krkonoše range

Area

Vang Stave Church

Building

Don't Miss

Hořice Sculpture Park - Open-air sculpture park showcasing granite works from the annual carving symposium.
Hořické trubičky (local pastry) workshops - Traditional Hořice wafer tubes (hořické trubičky) made in local bakeries and museums.
Church of St. Gothard - Historic parish church on the town hill with baroque interior and panoramic views.

Hidden Gems

Former granite quarries - Old granite quarries and carved rock reliefs on the town outskirts, interesting to explore.
Local stonecarver workshops - Small artisan studios demonstrating traditional granite carving and memorial stone production.
Hořice lookout tower - Short walk to the tower for town views and surrounding countryside panoramas.

Day Trips

Jičín and Bohemian Paradise - Historic Jičín gateway town to the Bohemian Paradise rock formations and castle ruins.
Nová Paka historic sites - Nearby regional town with museums, market square and preserved folk architecture.

Best Time to Visit Hořice #

Come late spring through summer for warm days, cultural events and castle views. Winters are chilly and quieter; some attractions have reduced hours.

Winter

December - February · −3°C to 3°C (27°F to 37°F)

Chilly, occasionally snowy; quiet town vibe with local cafés open all year, but outdoor sightseeing is much less comfortable too.

Spring

March - May · 2°C to 17°C (36°F to 63°F)

Warm, blooming town and countryside; ideal for walking, markets and shorter hikes with occasional rain showers and fewer tourists overall.

Summer

June - August · 12°C to 25°C (54°F to 77°F)

Warm, pleasant days for festivals, hilltop views and exploring local stone-carving heritage; expect busier weekends and lively café terraces too.

Best Time to Visit Hořice #

Climate

Hořice's climate is classified as Warm-Summer Continental - Warm-Summer Continental climate with mild summers (peaking in July) and freezing winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from -5°C to 23°C. Moderate rainfall (529 mm/year).

Best Time to Visit

AugustJulySeptember

Temperature & Rainfall

Temperature Range

35°

Warmest Month

-28°

Coldest Month

Monthly Conditions

January

January is the coldest month with highs of 0°C and lows of -5°C. Light rainfall and mostly overcast skies.

39 Poor

Comfort

-2°

Feels Like Freezing

-2°C

Temperature

-5° – 1°

96%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

23 mm

Rainfall

3.7 m/s

Wind

Light Breeze

0.1

UV Index

Low

8.4h daylight

February

February is freezing with highs of 2°C and lows of -4°C. The driest month with just 22 mm and mostly overcast skies.

39 Poor

Comfort

-1°

Feels Like Freezing

-1°C

Temperature

-4° – 2°

93%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

22 mm

Rainfall

3.7 m/s

Wind

Light Breeze

0.2

UV Index

Low

9.9h daylight

March

March is cold with highs of 7°C and lows of 0°C. Light rainfall and mostly overcast skies.

50 Acceptable

Comfort

4°

Feels Like Cold

4°C

Temperature

0° – 7°

87%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

29 mm

Rainfall

3.8 m/s

Wind

Light Breeze

0.4

UV Index

Low

11.7h daylight

April

April is cold with highs of 13°C and lows of 3°C. Moderate rainfall (35 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

62 Good

Comfort

8°

Feels Like Cold

8°C

Temperature

3° – 13°

80%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

35 mm

Rainfall

3.4 m/s

Wind

Light Breeze

0.7

UV Index

Moderate

13.6h daylight

May

May is cool with highs of 18°C and lows of 7°C. Moderate rainfall (61 mm) and mostly overcast skies.

64 Good

Comfort

13°

Feels Like Cool

13°C

Temperature

7° – 18°

77%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

61 mm

Rainfall

3.1 m/s

Wind

Light Breeze

1.1

UV Index

High

15.3h daylight

June

June is cool with highs of 21°C and lows of 11°C. Moderate rainfall (74 mm) and mostly overcast skies.

65 Good

Comfort

16°

Feels Like Cool

16°C

Temperature

11° – 21°

74%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

74 mm

Rainfall

2.9 m/s

Wind

Calm

1.3

UV Index

High

16.2h daylight

July

July is cool with highs of 23°C and lows of 12°C. The wettest month with 80 mm of rain and partly cloudy skies.

75 Very Good

Comfort

17°

Feels Like Cool

17°C

Temperature

12° – 23°

70%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

80 mm

Rainfall

2.8 m/s

Wind

Calm

1.3

UV Index

High

15.7h daylight

August

August is cool with highs of 23°C and lows of 12°C. Moderate rainfall (67 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

77 Very Good

Comfort

17°

Feels Like Cool

17°C

Temperature

12° – 23°

70%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

67 mm

Rainfall

2.6 m/s

Wind

Calm

1.1

UV Index

High

14.3h daylight

September

September is cool with highs of 18°C and lows of 8°C. Moderate rainfall (42 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

71 Very Good

Comfort

14°

Feels Like Cool

14°C

Temperature

9° – 19°

76%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

42 mm

Rainfall

2.8 m/s

Wind

Calm

0.7

UV Index

Moderate

12.5h daylight

October

October is cold with highs of 13°C and lows of 4°C. Moderate rainfall (34 mm) and mostly overcast skies.

58 Acceptable

Comfort

9°

Feels Like Cold

9°C

Temperature

5° – 13°

86%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

34 mm

Rainfall

3.2 m/s

Wind

Light Breeze

0.3

UV Index

Low

10.6h daylight

November

November is cold with highs of 6°C and lows of 1°C. Moderate rainfall (33 mm) and mostly overcast skies.

46 Poor

Comfort

3°

Feels Like Cold

3°C

Temperature

1° – 6°

93%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

33 mm

Rainfall

3.5 m/s

Wind

Light Breeze

0.1

UV Index

Low

8.8h daylight

December

December is freezing with highs of 2°C and lows of -3°C. Light rainfall and mostly overcast skies.

39 Poor

Comfort

-1°

Feels Like Freezing

-1°C

Temperature

-3° – 2°

95%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

29 mm

Rainfall

3.7 m/s

Wind

Light Breeze

0.0

UV Index

Low

7.9h daylight

How to Get to Hořice

Hořice in the Hradec Králové Region is well connected by regional rail and bus services from Prague and Hradec Králové. For short stays the town is easy to reach by public transport; for wider exploration a car is useful.

By Air

Václav Havel Airport Prague (PRG): The main international airport for Hořice. From Prague take a train toward Hradec Králové or Jičín and transfer to regional services; total travel time to Hořice is commonly 1.5-2.5 hours depending on connections. Train fares from Prague vary by service but typical regional tickets are in the low hundreds of CZK.

Pardubice / Hradec Králové (regional airports): Smaller regional airports exist but most international travellers use Prague and continue by rail or bus to Hořice.

By Train & Bus

Train: Hořice is served by regional rail (Hořice station) with connections to Hradec Králové and surrounding towns. Trains are frequent enough for day trips from Hradec Králové and Prague with journey times depending on connections.

Bus: Buses frequently connect Hořice with nearby towns (Jičín, Hradec Králové) and are often faster for some routes. Tickets are inexpensive and available from drivers or ticket offices.

How to Get Around Hořice #

Hořice is a compact town where the centre and main sights are walkable; short walks take you between shops, cafés and viewpoints. Local buses run to nearby towns; taxis exist but are limited. A car helps if you want to explore the surrounding countryside.

Where to Stay in Hořice #

Budget

Town centre - CZK 350-800/night

Hořice offers a handful of affordable pensions and family-run B&Bs; few have standalone websites.

Hořice guesthouses (Booking.com) - Budget pensions and B&Bs.

Mid-Range

Historic centre - CZK 800-1,600/night

Several comfortable hotels and pensions around the town square and cultural sites.

Hotel Hořice - Local mid-range hotel (central).
Hotel Zlatý Lev (nearby) - Comfortable rooms, good location.

Luxury

Hradec Králové (nearby) - CZK 1,800+/night

No high-end luxury hotels in Hořice; for premium amenities visit regional centres like Hradec Králové.

Where to Eat in Hořice #

Breakdown of cuisine types found across Hořice's restaurants and food venues, based on OpenStreetMap data.

Regional

Pizza

Asian

Kebab

Nightlife in Hořice #

Nightlife is quiet with a few local pubs and cafés. Evenings are more about relaxed dining and community events than a bustling late-night scene.

Shopping in Hořice #

Hořice is known for its local confectionery specialty, Hořické trubičky (rolled wafers), which you can buy in bakeries and local confectioners. Otherwise shopping is typical small-town - groceries, craft shops and local producers.