This post is also available in:
If you only visit one town in the Ústí region, make it Litoměřice. It’s a relatively small town, but it packs in so much history, natural beauty and cultural events that even a long weekend might not be enough to see it all.
Litoměřice, with its Gothic-Renaissance old town, sits at the confluence of two major rivers — the Elbe and the Ohře — right in the middle of the protected Central Bohemian Uplands landscape area (České středohoří). The town also played a significant role in several key moments of Czech history, and it’s the heart of the country’s wine-growing region (Bohemian, not Moravian).
In and around the town, you’ll find countless historical sights, hiking routes, gorgeous views of the extinct volcanoes that shape the Central Bohemian Uplands landscape, and of course, plenty of local wine to taste.
It takes about an hour and a half to reach Litoměřice, so it’s easily doable as a day trip. For more ideas, check out our guide to day trips by train.
Best Time to Visit Litoměřice
Most of the town’s attractions are open year-round, and thanks to its relatively low elevation, hiking around the area is possible for much of the year. That said, you’ll get the most out of a visit between May and September, when seasonal attractions are also open.
The tourist information centre is located under the arcades on the main Mírové Square. Here you can find information on the accessibility of historic sites, their opening hours, and dates of cultural events. Please always verify event dates for the current year.
The Litoměřice Museum, which oversees several heritage sites, has a website here. Some exhibitions and sites are managed by the North Bohemian Gallery.
Litoměřice also hosts a variety of markets, fairs and festivals. The biggest of these is probably the St. Ludmila Fair in mid-September, often combined with the Litoměřice wine harvest festival.
What to See in Litoměřice
The Historic Town Reserve
The town centre is protected as a cultural heritage site, preserving many Gothic and Renaissance houses. On the main square, it’s worth visiting the historic underground passages, the unusual Kalich lookout tower inside the town hall building, which also houses the tourist information centre, and the town museum, where you can learn about the town’s history. Take a stroll along the town walls and visit the bastions, which now house small museum exhibits. Relax in the relatively young Václav Havel Park. If you enjoy walking through well-preserved historic centres, the sights of Kutná Hora are equally rewarding.
Cathedral Square (Dómské náměstí)
Cathedral Square is a park lined with historic houses, home today to the Bishopric of Litoměřice, along with the Cathedral of St. Stephen and its lookout tower — offering the best view over the surrounding area in the whole town.
Litoměřice Castle
The Gothic castle sits right in the middle of the town’s built-up area, and houses a really well-designed interactive exhibition on the history of winemaking in the Litoměřice region. The castle also contains the tourist information centre, a restaurant, and halls and function rooms used for occasional events.
Richard Factory
This former limestone quarry later became an underground Nazi factory producing aircraft parts, part of the Flossenbürg concentration camp system. The site lies about a kilometre from the town centre. Information panels and a memorial in front of the tunnel entrance are accessible at all times. Entry into the tunnel itself, where the factory once operated, isn’t possible, but in summer the exhibition in the on-site crematorium is open.
Mostná Hora and the Kočka Rock Formation
An excursion restaurant with a lookout tower above the town, built in the early 20th century. It’s just about 1.5 km from the centre on foot, reached via a staircase through a pleasant park. From here, follow the blue trail markers about a kilometre further to the Kočka (Cat) rock formation — a nature reserve featuring an unusual rock shaped like a sitting cat, with lovely views over the surrounding Central Bohemian Uplands landscape.
Vikárka
A house on Máchova Street, leading down from Cathedral Square to the Elbe. Vikárka is the house where the Czech Romantic poet K. H. Mácha lived and died. Today it houses the Karel Hynek Mácha Memorial. Opening hours are limited — if you’re interested in visiting, check with the main museum building on the square, or with the tourist information office.
Where to Go Around Litoměřice
The surrounding area is fascinating and full of great destinations. This guide covers spots within 10 km, some reachable via marked hiking trails.
Terezín
The most significant site near Litoměřice is Terezín, built by Emperor Joseph II and named in memory of his mother, Empress Maria Theresa. The town lies within a large fortress and is connected by a bridge to the Small Fortress of Terezín, which served as a prison from its earliest days and was later turned by the Nazis into a concentration camp.
In the early 20th century, Gavrilo Princip, one of the Sarajevo assassins, was imprisoned here. Terezín today has plenty to visit. Besides the concentration camp mentioned above, there are numerous other memorials and museum exhibits, including a crematorium, cemetery and columbarium. There are also several private museums to suit different interests. Simply strolling through the town is worthwhile in itself.
Terezín is just three kilometres from Litoměřice, reachable in under an hour along the green-marked trail.
Opening hours by site:
| Site | Winter (Nov 1 – Mar 31) | Summer (Apr 1 – Oct 31) |
|---|---|---|
| Small Fortress | daily 8:00–16:30 | daily 8:00–18:00 |
| Ghetto Museum and Magdeburg Barracks | daily 9:00–17:30 | daily 9:00–18:00 |
| Crematorium | closed Saturday, 10:00–16:00 | closed Saturday, 10:00–18:00 |
| Columbarium, ceremonial rooms, mortuary | daily 9:00–17:00 | daily 9:00–18:00 |
| Prayer room, Terezín transports | daily 9:00–17:30 | daily 9:00–18:00 |
| Memorial secretariat and research room | daily 7:00–15:30 (by appointment) | daily 7:00–15:30 (by appointment) |
Admission:
- Combined ticket (Small Fortress + Ghetto Museum + Magdeburg Barracks):
- Adult €11
- Student, child (6–18), senior (65+) €8
- Family ticket (max. 2 adults + 3 children) €20
- Single-site ticket (Small Fortress or Ghetto Museum + Magdeburg Barracks):
- Adult €8.50
- Student, child (6–18), senior (65+) €7
Radobýl
The Central Bohemian Uplands (České středohoří) form a distinctive, unusual landscape that captivates visitors from other parts of the country. This is a range of volcanic origin, where each hill stands alone rather than forming connected mountain ridges. Head up Radobýl, the closest hill to Litoměřice. Following the yellow trail markers, you’ll reach the top in no more than ninety minutes.
It’s a protected natural area home to rare flora and fauna, and the summit offers a stunning view over the surrounding land and the Elbe River. From Radobýl’s slope, you can also spot a former quarry. This is where K. H. Mácha was writing one of his poems when he saw several houses burning down in Litoměřice. He ran to help put out the fire, and reportedly caught pneumonia from the exertion, which he succumbed to a few days later. He was buried in Litoměřice, and it was only shortly before World War II that his remains were moved to the national cemetery at Vyšehrad in Prague.
Kalich
A ruined castle on the hill of the same name above the village of Třebušín, roughly 10 km northeast of Litoměřice. The castle was built in 1421 by the Hussite commander Jan Žižka and played its part during the Hussite Wars. It has stood abandoned since the late 15th century. The hike to the top is rewarded with gorgeous views of the surrounding countryside.
Ploskovice
In Ploskovice stands a gorgeous 18th-century chateau with landscaped gardens. Two tour routes are available for visitors. The chateau’s beauty has attracted many filmmakers, not just Czech ones — the best-known film shot here is the fairy-tale The Prince and the Evening Star (Princ a Večernice).
Admission:
| Visitor | Price |
|---|---|
| Adults 25–65 | €7 |
| Children under 6 | free |
| Children 6–18 | €3 |
| Youth 18–25 | €6 |
| Seniors 65+ | €6 |
Velké Žernoseky and Lake Žernoseky (Píšťany Lake)
Velké Žernoseky is the heart of winemaking in the Litoměřice region. You’ll find several wineries here, and every September the village holds its own wine harvest festival — always a week before the one in Litoměřice. Nearby Lake Žernoseky has a beach and options for both active and relaxed time by the water.
Where to Eat
Litoměřice is a paradise for anyone who loves restaurants, bakeries and cafés. Below are a few standout spots — the town has plenty more besides.
Vinný šenk
A small tavern under the arcades of a Renaissance house on the main square. Here, both draft and bottled wine come exclusively from the Agrofrukt Kamýk producer — meaning wines from the Litoměřice region itself. If you want to taste local wine, this is the place. Prices are pleasantly surprising — in autumn 2020, a decilitre of wine went for a flat rate of around €0.30, with even lower prices if you bought in bulk to take home.
For a wider selection — not just local wines, but Moravian and international ones too — head to Velká Dominikánská Street, where you’ll find two wine shops, plus one more just around the corner from the tavern on the main square, through the passage into the courtyard (look for the arrow pointing to the public restrooms — the wine shop is opposite).
Cukrárna Lilie
This bakery on Michalská Street, just steps from the main square, is known for its own-made cakes, always well stocked.
Radniční sklípek
A restaurant set in the historic underground passages beneath the main square.
Katovna
A restaurant set in the former executioner’s house — a small historic half-timbered building right behind the town walls. It’s the best-preserved executioner’s residence in the Czech Republic.
Dobrá bašta
A restaurant set inside an original bastion of the town walls, close to the train and bus station.
Where to Grab Coffee
For its size, Litoměřice has a surprisingly strong café scene. These spots are always reliable:
- kafe doma – a café right on the main square
- Kávovna Litoměřice – a café a few steps from the square
- fair coffee – a café close to the centre
- Coffee with steam – a café close to the centre
- Kavárna Hlína – a café about five minutes from the square
Where to Eat a Meal
And a few spots worth visiting for lunch or dinner:
- Mercato 33 – Italian cuisine close to the square
- Bistro Rezavá – a bistro a few minutes from the centre
- NO.1 – authentic Vietnamese food close to the square
Where to Stay
Affordable yet very pleasant accommodation for solo travellers, families or groups is available at the property run by the Bishopric of Litoměřice, housed in the historic former seminary building just five minutes’ walk from the main square. Look for the Hostel u sv. Štěpána.
Close to the centre you’ll find the stylishly elegant Penzion Mácha, an ideal choice for couples — coffee on the terrace makes for a lovely start to the day. For something grander, try the Hotel Roosevelt.
For glamping lovers, the obvious choice is Florentina boat, while free spirits looking for tent camping, cabins or their own camper van should head to Autokemp Slavoj.
Where to Work
Litoměřice can also be a great destination for digital nomads, or anyone looking for a break from the daily grind. The best place to work from is Litohub, right in the heart of Litoměřice, or one of the town’s cafés — at Kafe doma, you’ll feel right at home.
Cultural Events Throughout the Year
Vinařské Litoměřice (Wine Fair)
Every April, the cultural centre hosts the country’s most prestigious Czech wine exhibition, with winemakers from Moravia and abroad also taking part.
National Heritage Day
Every year, around the second weekend of September, the Czech Republic celebrates the Day of National Cultural Heritage, when historic sites and museums open for free. In the Ústí region, Litoměřice offers the most on this occasion. Usually on the second Saturday of September, all historic sites in Litoměřice are free to enter, and even places not normally open to the public — such as the regional archive, the K. H. Mácha Theatre, and the town cinema — open their doors. It’s the best day of the year to experience the town.
Zahrada Čech (Garden of Bohemia)
A world-renowned agricultural exhibition with a long tradition, held every year in the second half of September at the Zahrada Čech exhibition grounds. Throughout the year, you can also catch other exhibitions, trade fairs and markets here.
Wine Harvest Festival (Vinobraní)
A cultural festival held on the main square, usually on the last weekend of September.
Cycling
Litoměřice lies on the Elbe Cycle Route, which runs from the river’s source in the Krkonoše Mountains all the way to its mouth at the North Sea in Hamburg, Germany. The stretch between Litoměřice and Ústí nad Labem is considered the most beautiful and is known as Porta Bohemica (“Gateway to Bohemia”). This 25 km stretch is easy going, suitable for less experienced cyclists, and can even be walked.
Cycle route No. 3066 heads northeast from the town, connecting it to Ploskovice, Třebušín and other interesting spots in this part of the Central Bohemian Uplands.
The Ohře Cycle Route runs south from Litoměřice to Terezín, Bohušovice nad Ohří (home to the well-known Bohušovice dairy and its factory shop), and other worthwhile stops along the Ohře River.
Useful Links
Information about the town, its attractions and cultural events.
Tips on attractions, restaurants and accommodation.
You’ll also find cultural events listed on national culture and tourism portals.
Veronika Škvárová
A teacher and translator of German and Russian, Veronika frequently travels to Germany and post-Soviet countries, and has also fallen for Romania and Poland. She’s spent thirty years working on trail marking. She’s the author of the first Czech guidebook to the Camino de Santiago. She’s also published several travel e-books on destinations that are hard to find information about, including Moldova and Transnistria, Tajikistan, and the Faroe Islands.
