Top 15 Activities and Attractions in Liberec, Czech Republic

Liberec, located in the Northern Bohemian region close to the borders with Poland and Germany, provides nourishment for both body and intellect. The city is situated at the edge of the Jizera Mountains, encircled by majestic peaks and verdant mountainsides.

In winter, Liberec is a premier destination for snow sports and a notable stop on the ski jumping circuit, whereas summer offers a myriad of opportunities for outdoor adventures. Within Liberec, there exists a plethora of activities suitable for all ages, particularly highlighting its “edutainment” attractions that are sure to captivate children.

1. The view from Ještěd

Regardless of your location in the city, a remarkable space-age structure atop the city’s highest peak is easily visible. This iconic landmark of Liberec is a combination of a television tower, hotel, and restaurant, dating back to 1966.

The design features a hyperboloid, resembling an inverted cone, crafted to enhance the mountain’s silhouette. You can explore this structure up close either by road or via the cable car at Horní Hanychov.

For those inclined to hike, a mountain trail is available, rewarding climbers with panoramic views extending across most of Northern Bohemia, along with glimpses of Germany and Poland.

2. Liberec’s extravagant Town hall

Prominently located on Edvard Benes Square, this grand and elaborately adorned building serves as a prominent symbol of Liberec, reflecting the city’s Austro-Hungarian heritage.

Designed by Viennese architect Franz Neumann in the alpine renaissance style at the close of the 19th century, its architecture closely resembles Vienna’s own town hall.

The stained-glass windows exhibit exceptional intricacy, while the narrow ceremonial tower rises to 62 meters above the square. Guided tours of the town hall are also available.

3. Liberec Zoo

This zoological attraction is the oldest in the country; however, its standards remain modern and impressive. Over 130 species reside in 13 expansive hectares of landscaped enclosures, with Liberec Zoo holding full European accreditation and participating in bird of prey reintroduction programs.

Visitors are particularly drawn to the park’s numerous wild cats, including the only white Bengal tigers in the Czech Republic, along with lions, snow leopards, and lynxes.

For aspiring young zoologists, the zoo offers additional attractions, including aviaries, primate enclosures, and a reptile house.

4. Liberec Botanical Gardens

Less bustling than its nearby zoo, Liberec’s Botanical Garden is the elder of the two, with a history spanning 120 years. This garden features nine exquisite metal and glass pavilions, each supporting different habitats.

A particularly intriguing pavilion showcases a collection of carnivorous plants, while you can also find a giant corpse flower and Europe’s oldest bonsai tree, which has been part of the garden since its establishment in 1882, in addition to an impressive selection of orchids from various global regions.

Several of the pavilions also offer aquariums, including an underwater walkway where visitors can gaze up at tropical fish swimming overhead.

5. Museum of North Bohemia

Liberec boasts a rich tradition in textile manufacturing, earning it the moniker the “Manchester of Bohemia.” Within this museum, visitors can explore this facet of the city’s heritage, including models of traditional weaving workshops.

The museum features captivating displays of local textiles and tapestries alongside decorative artifacts such as furniture, glassware, jewelry, clocks, wood carvings, and ceramics.

Moreover, additional exhibits focus on the natural history and archaeology of Liberec and its surrounding areas. Take a moment to admire the museum building itself, a stunning neo-gothic edifice from the late 1800s.

6. iQLANDIA

This engaging science center appeals to inquisitive individuals of all ages, providing hundreds of interactive exhibits and hands-on experiments.

iQLANDIA emphasizes educational entertainment, allowing visitors to encounter the Czech Republic’s first humanoid robot or participate in authentic space training. One can also don a suit to experience a simulated firestorm.

Additionally, the complex houses iPARK, where younger visitors can seek answers to their inquisitive minds, as well as the Planetarium, offering live screenings of the night sky and HD films about the universe and nature.

7. Bozkovské Dolomite Caves

Take a bus from Liberec to the village of Bozkov, where you can explore the largest cave system in the region. This intricate network of underground chambers and tunnels extends over one kilometer and features stalagmites and stalactites resembling alien forms.

Discovered just below the surface during a quarry explosion in 1947, the caves have recently been designated as a Czech national monument.

The highlight of the caves is a vast underground lake with crystalline turquoise waters. Visitors are advised to dress warmly as temperatures remain below 8 °C within.

8. Czech art and design at the Regional Art Gallery

This captivating cultural venue is housed within a beautiful neo-renaissance building adjacent to Liberec’s Castle. The gallery features permanent collections that showcase contemporary and 20th-century Czech art, alongside 19th-century French impressionism and romantic German and Austrian works from the 1800s, as well as Golden Age Dutch paintings.

Permanent exhibitions are complemented by expertly curated temporary displays covering a vast array of topics, including every phase of Czech art and design, as well as various international movements such as British 18th-century lithography.

Whether you are an art enthusiast or someone curious about art, this gallery is well worth a visit.

9. Centrum Babylon

Centrum Babylon is a multifaceted entertainment, commercial, and hotel complex that has been established within a repurposed textile factory. Covering more than 25,000 m², it stands as the largest attraction of its nature in the Czech Republic and offers something for everyone.

Younger visitors can frolic in soft play areas or enjoy traditional fairground rides. Meanwhile, teenagers and adults can engage in laser tag or bowling, while individuals of all ages can delight in the Aquapark with its themed pools and slides.

If all that action proves overwhelming, consider scheduling some relaxation time at the Wellness Centre for a bit of pampering.

10. Dino Park

Situated within the shopping plaza near the Šaldovo náměstí tram stop in the city center, this educational attraction transports visitors back millions of years to the age of the dinosaurs.

It is particularly suited for school-age children, allowing them to immerse themselves in environments that simulate the habitats of dinosaurs while observing convincing scale models of these creatures. The attraction is arranged chronologically, leading visitors from dinosaurs through to woolly mammoths and early humans.

A highlight for young visitors is the second floor, featuring life-size models of a stegosaurus, t-rex, and diplodocus.

11. Winter sport

As snow begins to fall, Liberec gears up for winter sports, hosting prominent competitions. Each January, the Ski Jumping World Cup takes place, and in 2009, the esteemed FIS Nordic World Ski Championships were held here.

For ice hockey enthusiasts, the local team, the Liberec Tigers, competes in the Czech Extraliga from autumn through spring.

Should you wish to partake in winter sports, the picturesque village of Bedřichov serves as an excellent gateway for downhill skiing and snowboarding, along with over 100 kilometers of cross-country ski trails.

12. Edvard Benes Square

As the center of daily life in Liberec, this grand square offers an authentic glimpse into the city’s daily activities.

During the Christmas season, visitors can explore a splendid traditional market, and during the summer months, various concerts are held here. If the Ski Jump World Cup is ongoing, Edvard Benes Square bustles with side events.

The town hall stands proudly in this square, serving as its main landmark, while the remaining three sides are equally delightful, featuring ornately-painted gothic buildings in various hues and arcade pavements where bars and restaurants spill out their seating during the summer.

13. Mountain adventure in summer

From spring to autumn, you are encouraged to embark on an exploration of the enchanting highland landscapes that envelop Liberec.

The Jizera Mountains, located to the northeast, boast impressive peaks and a lush cover of dark-green pine forests, reminiscent of Nordic terrain. The warmer months call for a backpack and joining a marked trail, with red-marked paths indicating the longest or most challenging routes that often run along mountain ridges.

To the west of Liberec, the Lusatian Mountains line the German border. While the peaks are more modest and the landscape gentler, the scenery remains equally romantic, characterized by rolling pastures dotted with farms and charming villages.

14. Walking Tour of Old Liberec

Many of the city’s most striking landmarks are not accessible to the public, making a walking tour an excellent way to discover the area. The Church of St. Anthony the Great, established in 1588, was the city’s first brick-and-mortar structure, though public access is limited to concerts.

Liberec Castle is an impressive renaissance chateau featuring a neoclassical hall, and visitors can enjoy the surrounding meticulously landscaped gardens.

Lastly, don’t miss the whimsical Feast of the Giants bus stop, which is designed like an oversized dining table, complete with large beer steins and plates—a unique photo opportunity.

15. The Ruins of Ralsko

This site is ideal for urban explorers. Ralsko encompasses a vast area of countryside southwest of Liberec, which served as an artillery range for the Czechoslovakian and Soviet armies until 1991.

Spanning 250 square kilometers of deep, uninhabited woodland with several notable hills, this area offers maps and coordinates for eerie abandoned facilities, including barracks and a former airport.

Amidst this landscape, the remnants of several medieval castles, such as Ralsko, Stohanek, and Devin, lie disused since being ravaged by Swedish forces during the Thirty Years’ War in the 1600s.