Volary Travel Guide

City Mountain town in Šumava, South Bohemia

Volary sits near the Šumava highlands; hikers and skiers come for spruce forests, cross‑country tracks, timbered homes and a small town square that remembers a harder mountain life.

Costs

Typical tourist budget: $35-60 USD/day

Affordable lodgings and inexpensive regional food make for a cheap visit.

Safety

Safe, mountain-town environment

Very safe; standard mountain-town caution in winter conditions.

Best Time

Best visited June-September; December-March for snow

Summer for hiking, winter for cross-country skiing and snow trails.

In This Guide

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

Time

—

Weather

—

Population

3,692

Infrastructure & Convenience

Small-town public transport, tourist info in season, walkable centre, trail signage for hikers.

Popularity

Attracts outdoor enthusiasts and regional visitors; quieter than major mountain resorts.

Known For

Šumava National Park access, timber architecture, hiking, winter sports, mountain scenery, historic centre, local museums, cycling, nature trails

Volary sits in the Šumava (Bohemian Forest) and is known for preserved timber architecture and access to Šumava National Park.

Why Visit Volary? #

A gateway to the Šumava foothills, this timbered mountain town appeals to hikers, cross‑country skiers and folk‑culture fans. The compact historic center, with its preserved wooden houses and the market square, reflects a long highland tradition. Visitors often use it as a base for Šumava National Park trails and for local festivals that feature regional music and crafts. Crisp mountain air and straightforward mountain hospitality are the main draws.

Top Things to Do in Volary

All Attractions ›

Historic Centre of Český Krumlov

Medieval riverside town with well-preserved Renaissance castle

Historical Site

Český Krumlov Castle

Renaissance and Baroque castle overlooking historic Czech town

Castle

Kratochvíle

Renaissance hunting lodge notable for frescoed arcades

Castle

Šumava National Park

Forested national park on Czech–German border, peat bogs

National Park

Plöckenstein

Border mountain between Czech Republic and Austria, forested summit

Mountain

Lipno Reservoir

Large South Bohemian reservoir popular for water sports

Reservoir

Dreisesselberg (Bavarian Forest)

Border summit with distinctive granite rock formations

Mountain

Kleť

South Bohemian hill with observatory and lookout tower

Mountain

Don't Miss

Volary Town Museum (Muzeum Šumavy) - Local museum exploring Šumava history, crafts, and traditional rural life in the region.
Volary Town Square - Historic market square surrounded by preserved timber-framed and Baroque buildings and cafés.
Church of the Assumption - Landmark parish church with notable interior decorations and community services throughout the year.

Hidden Gems

Volary Timber Cottages - Rows of well-preserved traditional wooden cottages reflecting local mountain architecture.
Local Ski and Hiking Trails - Network of trails serving cross-country skiing in winter and hiking in summer.
Historic Waterworks - Small 19th-century hydraulic installation demonstrating traditional logging and milling techniques.

Day Trips

Šumava National Park - Extensive forests, peat bogs, and marked hiking trails a short drive from town.
Prachatice Historic Town - Medieval town centre with Renaissance houses and museums, reachable in under an hour.

Best Time to Visit Volary #

Volary's higher-elevation climate is best experienced late spring through summer for hiking and greenery. Winters are long and snowy-beautiful but cold, and some rural roads may be impassable.

Winter

December - February · -12°C to -2°C (10°F to 28°F)

True winter conditions with regular snow make it a quiet, scenic time for snowshoeing or cross-country skiing if you don't mind the cold.

Spring & Autumn

March - May & September - November · 2°C to 15°C (36°F to 59°F)

Cool, changeable weather; trails reopen and forests look fantastic-ideal for hikers who prefer crisp air and fewer tourists.

Summer

June - August · 10°C to 22°C (50°F to 72°F)

Mild, comfortable summers are perfect for mountain hikes and nature photography; afternoons can be cool compared with lowland towns.

Best Time to Visit Volary #

Climate

Volary'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 -6°C to 20°C. Abundant rainfall (1074 mm/year), wettest in July.

Best Time to Visit

AugustJulySeptember

Temperature & Rainfall

Temperature Range

35°

Warmest Month

-26°

Coldest Month

Monthly Conditions

January

January is the coldest month with highs of 0°C and lows of -6°C. Regular rainfall (92 mm) and mostly overcast skies.

31 Poor

Comfort

-3°

Feels Like Freezing

-3°C

Temperature

-6° – 1°

95%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

92 mm

Rainfall

3.4 m/s

Wind

Light Breeze

0.1

UV Index

Low

8.6h daylight

February

February is freezing with highs of 2°C and lows of -6°C. Moderate rainfall (75 mm) and mostly overcast skies.

33 Poor

Comfort

-2°

Feels Like Freezing

-2°C

Temperature

-6° – 2°

92%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

75 mm

Rainfall

3.3 m/s

Wind

Light Breeze

0.2

UV Index

Low

10.0h daylight

March

March is cold with highs of 6°C and lows of -2°C. Regular rainfall (83 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

46 Poor

Comfort

2°

Feels Like Cold

2°C

Temperature

-3° – 6°

86%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

83 mm

Rainfall

3.4 m/s

Wind

Light Breeze

0.5

UV Index

Low

11.7h daylight

April

April is cold with highs of 10°C and lows of 1°C. Moderate rainfall (65 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

58 Acceptable

Comfort

6°

Feels Like Cold

6°C

Temperature

1° – 10°

79%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

65 mm

Rainfall

3.0 m/s

Wind

Light Breeze

0.9

UV Index

Moderate

13.5h daylight

May

May is cool with highs of 16°C and lows of 6°C. Regular rainfall (82 mm) and mostly overcast skies.

61 Good

Comfort

11°

Feels Like Cool

11°C

Temperature

6° – 16°

78%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

82 mm

Rainfall

2.9 m/s

Wind

Calm

1.2

UV Index

High

15.0h daylight

June

June is cool with highs of 19°C and lows of 8°C. Significant rainfall (109 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

63 Good

Comfort

14°

Feels Like Cool

14°C

Temperature

9° – 19°

76%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

109 mm

Rainfall

2.6 m/s

Wind

Calm

1.5

UV Index

High

15.8h daylight

July

July is cool with highs of 20°C and lows of 10°C. The wettest month with heavy rain (124 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

65 Good

Comfort

15°

Feels Like Cool

15°C

Temperature

10° – 21°

72%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

124 mm

Rainfall

2.6 m/s

Wind

Calm

1.5

UV Index

High

15.5h daylight

August

August is cool with highs of 20°C and lows of 10°C. Regular rainfall (96 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

67 Good

Comfort

15°

Feels Like Cool

15°C

Temperature

10° – 21°

72%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

96 mm

Rainfall

2.4 m/s

Wind

Calm

1.2

UV Index

High

14.1h daylight

September

September is cool with highs of 16°C and lows of 7°C. Regular rainfall (83 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

65 Good

Comfort

11°

Feels Like Cool

11°C

Temperature

7° – 16°

78%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

83 mm

Rainfall

2.7 m/s

Wind

Calm

0.8

UV Index

Moderate

12.4h daylight

October

October is cold with highs of 11°C and lows of 2°C. Moderate rainfall (74 mm) and mostly overcast skies.

53 Acceptable

Comfort

7°

Feels Like Cold

7°C

Temperature

3° – 11°

86%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

74 mm

Rainfall

2.9 m/s

Wind

Calm

0.4

UV Index

Low

10.7h daylight

November

November is cold with highs of 4°C and lows of -2°C. Regular rainfall (84 mm) and mostly overcast skies.

40 Poor

Comfort

1°

Feels Like Cold

1°C

Temperature

-2° – 5°

92%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

84 mm

Rainfall

3.0 m/s

Wind

Light Breeze

0.1

UV Index

Low

9.1h daylight

December

December is freezing with highs of 1°C and lows of -5°C. Significant rainfall (107 mm) and mostly overcast skies.

29 Poor

Comfort

-2°

Feels Like Freezing

-2°C

Temperature

-5° – 1°

94%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

107 mm

Rainfall

3.3 m/s

Wind

Light Breeze

0.1

UV Index

Low

8.2h daylight

How to Get to Volary

By Air

By Train & Bus

How to Get Around Volary #

Volary is a small mountain town with a walkable centre-most visitor facilities are within a short stroll. Regional buses connect Volary with other Šumava towns; service frequency varies seasonally. For exploring trails and nearby villages a car or bike is handy, while taxis exist but are limited and relatively expensive compared with buses.