Exploring Czech Peaks: Radhošť | by Nick

Before the semester began, my girlfriend and I traded Prague’s city streets for the Moravian mountains. We spent three nights in Rožnov pod Radhoštěm and Pustevny – a trip full of folk culture, mountain hikes, and Moravian hospitality.

Day 01:

The day started early: 6 a.m. wake-up, drag myself out of bed, meet my girlfriend at the train station, and grab coffee and breakfast from UGO Freshbar (gotta start your day healthy). Our train left right on time at 7:22. The ride took about five hours with transfers at Olomouc and Hulín before we finally rolled into Rožnov pod Radhoštěm.

From the station, it was about a 20-minute walk to the Valašské Muzeum, an open-air museum filled with preserved wooden houses and old village life. Staff were demonstrating traditional crafts, and we treated ourselves to a hearty Moravian lunch of klobásy with a shot of slivovice.

Later, we picked up frgály (sweet Wallachian pastries) for dinner and then walked 45 minutes to our accommodation — a comfortable apartment with two beds, a kitchenette, a living room, and a big bathroom. The best part? It was cheap — only 1700 Kč total, split between the two of us.

Day 02:

This was definitely the most challenging day. We set out early for a 15 km hike straight into the Moravian mountains. The trail never seemed to flatten out — just constant uphill, and hardly any switchbacks. After hours of climbing (and plenty of breaks), we finally made it to the summit. At the top, we were greeted by warm sunshine, endless views of the countryside, a chapel with statues of Saints Cyril and Methodius – and even a pub.

From there, the trail turned into a gentle descent. Along the way, we came across the famous statue of Radegast, the old Slavic god of hospitality, now immortalized on Radegast beer. We, of course, stopped for a beer in his honor.

We ended the hike in Pustevny, where we quickly found a pub for more klobásy, Radegast beer, and a sip of slivovice. Our hotel felt so beautiful and traditional – all wood, old-fashioned Moravian style, with a balcony overlooking the mountains.

Day 03:

Day three was the easiest. We woke up, ate the hotel’s included breakfast, and just took little walks through the forest. This morning, it was so cloudy and foggy; It was eerie, but also extremely calming. Through the thick of the fog, we heard cheers for a mountain bike race that just so happened to be going on that day.

At some point, we decided to go to the local lookout, Stezka Valaška. We went up the hill, paid the entrance fee, and started walking up the lookout path. At some point, my thrill-seeking girlfriend decided to terrify me with a rope bridge (I have a huge fear of heights). After being thoroughly terrified, much to my girlfriend’s amusement, we finally got to the top of the viewpoint. It was so beautiful and we were right at cloud level. Clouds we could watch creep up right on us, it was amazing.

Day 04:

The last morning arrived all too soon. Once again, the mountains were wrapped in thick, eerie fog as we ate our hotel breakfast and packed up. We caught the bus back to the train station, grabbed coffee, and began the long but eventful journey back to Prague.

This trip was unforgettable, and I’m so grateful to have such a wonderful girlfriend to plan adventures with. Whether you go with friends, a partner, or even solo, this corner of Moravia is a perfect long-weekend escape — an authentic mix of nature, culture, and Czech tradition.