Volary 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.

Main image
Wikivoyage banner
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.
Volary sits in the Šumava (Bohemian Forest) and is known for preserved timber architecture and access to Šumava National Park.
Local Time
7:00 AM
GMT+2
Weather
Overcast 58°F
Overcast
Population
3,692

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.

Best Things to Do in Volary#

Volary Bucket List#

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.

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°
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°
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

Feels Like Cold
C
Temperature
-3°
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

Feels Like Cold
C
Temperature
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
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
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
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

Feels Like Cold
C
Temperature
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

Feels Like Cold
C
Temperature
-2°
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°
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#

  • Train -
  • Regional bus -
  • Taxi -
  • Bicycle -
  • Walking -

Where to Stay in Volary#

Budget

Volary/Český Krumlov area - $20-60/night

Volary is a small Šumava town with a few pensions; more budget choice appears in nearby Český Krumlov.

Hotel Růže (Český Krumlov) - Budget-friendly guesthouse in Krumlov

Hostel Centrum (Český Krumlov) - Simple dorms and private rooms

Mid-Range

Český Krumlov (nearby) - $60-120/night

Mid-range hotels are concentrated in Český Krumlov; Volary has a handful of pensions and small hotels.

Hotel Dvořák (Český Krumlov) - Comfortable mid-range in Krumlov

Hotel Růže (Český Krumlov) - Historic mid-range option

Luxury

Český Krumlov / Prague - $140+/night

Volary lacks high-end hotels; for luxury pick boutique properties in Český Krumlov or Prague further away.

Hotel Růže boutique options (Český Krumlov) - Top-end historic stays nearby

Kempinski Hotel (Prague) - Luxury choice if travelling farther afield

Where to Eat in Volary#