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.
Volary at a Glance#
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.
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#
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
| Month | Comfort | Temp | Feels | Rain | Sky | Humidity | Wind | UV | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Poor | -6° - 1° | -7° | 92 mm | overcast | 95% | 3.4 m/s | 0.1 low | 8.6h |
| February | Poor | -6° - 2° | -6° | 75 mm | overcast | 92% | 3.3 m/s | 0.2 low | 10.0h |
| March | Poor | -3° - 6° | -2° | 83 mm | partly cloudy | 86% | 3.4 m/s | 0.5 low | 11.7h |
| April | Acceptable | 1° - 10° | 3° | 65 mm | partly cloudy | 79% | 3.0 m/s | 0.9 moderate | 13.5h |
| May | Good | 6° - 16° | 11° | 82 mm | overcast | 78% | 2.9 m/s | 1.2 high | 15.0h |
| June | Good | 9° - 19° | 14° | 109 mm | partly cloudy | 76% | 2.6 m/s | 1.5 high | 15.8h |
| July | Good | 10° - 21° | 15° | 124 mm | partly cloudy | 72% | 2.6 m/s | 1.5 high | 15.5h |
| August | Good | 10° - 21° | 15° | 96 mm | partly cloudy | 72% | 2.4 m/s | 1.2 high | 14.1h |
| September | Good | 7° - 16° | 11° | 83 mm | partly cloudy | 78% | 2.7 m/s | 0.8 moderate | 12.4h |
| October | Acceptable | 3° - 11° | 5° | 74 mm | overcast | 86% | 2.9 m/s | 0.4 low | 10.7h |
| November | Poor | -2° - 5° | -2° | 84 mm | overcast | 92% | 3.0 m/s | 0.1 low | 9.1h |
| December | Poor | -5° - 1° | -6° | 107 mm | overcast | 94% | 3.3 m/s | 0.1 low | 8.2h |
How to Get to Volary#
How to Get Around Volary#
- Train -
- Regional bus -
- Taxi -
- Bicycle -
- Walking -
Where to Stay in Volary#
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
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
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#
Breakdown of cuisine types found across Volary’s restaurants and food venues, based on OpenStreetMap data.
