A few times a year we liven up life in already-lovely Budějovice with a climb up Kleť. There are stories of people heading up Kleť daily, others only on New Year’s Day, and some who’ve never been at all. In this post you’ll learn the options for climbing Kleť, what reward awaits you at the top, and at the end we’ll reveal a few curiosities about this landmark of the Blanský les. Your virtual climb up Kleť starts now. Let’s go. 🙂
Routes up Kleť
From České Budějovice you have several options. The most common is using a car. Without much trouble you can drive to the foot of Kleť and then comfortably, with a smile, swallow doses of steep path all the way to the summit. The second option is the train, specifically the service known as the Šumava Express. As the name suggests, you can look forward to a pleasant scenic ride on this “shinkansen”, which runs the rails daily from Budějovice all the way to Nové Údolí in Šumava. The more persistent choose a bicycle.
Up Kleť from Český Krumlov
You can take the train from České Budějovice all the way to Český Krumlov. The stop is on the very edge of Krumlov, from where you can immediately join a marked trail leading up to Kleť. The path is gradual, though longer than the route from the car park in Krásetín. You can use two marked routes. The first follows the green trail all the way. The second combines green, blue and red.
TIP: If you aren’t from České Budějovice and are planning to spend a whole weekend in the South, we’d recommend spending one day around Český Krumlov.
In both cases you’ll walk the same distance: 6.5 km from the station in Český Krumlov to the summit of Kleť. If you aren’t in a hurry and want to enjoy the trip up Kleť, you can stop at the Granátník lookout tower.
You’re thinking… fine, but I don’t want to go back the same way. No need. From Kleť you can carry on past the car park in Krásetín all the way to Holubov. The Šumava Express stops in Holubov too.
We’d recommend planning the time you leave the summit carefully, though, so the train doesn’t go without you. And even if it does, you can spend the time in a proper South Bohemian restaurant a few metres from the station. At the Holubov restaurant “Pod Kletí” they’ll serve you good beer and fantastic curd dumplings!
Up Kleť from the Krásetín car park
In the early years we mostly started our climb up Kleť from the Krásetín car park. The reason was saving time and a certain amount of comfort. The vast majority of walkers use this route. Not only because it shortens the walk considerably, but also because from the car park it’s a few metres to the cable car that runs to the summit.
As a big fan of cable cars, though, I’ve never tried that option. Nor has Zdenička, who suffers from what is, to me, an “exaggerated” love of cable cars.
The car park operates 24/7. Daily from 9:00 to 17:00 you pay 50 CZK for unlimited parking. There’s a refreshment stand at the car park.
TIP: arrive before nine and you’re 50 CZK better off 🙂
The route is just under 2.5 km and you’ll cover it in 40-50 minutes. The fitter, sooner. Bear in mind that after rain or in winter the path will be slippery and therefore harder.
The climb up Kleť from Plešovice
By car or by train, it doesn’t matter. You can also set off up Kleť from Plešovice. The route is characterised by being mostly in forest the whole way, so you won’t get many views over the surroundings. What awaits, though, is a walk through the beautiful forests of the Blanský les protected area. This route is a kind of variation on the previous two, if you want to climb Kleť from somewhere else.
The restaurant on Kleť
Your reward for successfully reaching the highest point of the Blanský les at 1,087 m is hospitality at the local mountain hut. For us it’s always an experience and a kind of motivation. Our reward is traditionally a small beer, garlic soup, sometimes accompanied by bread with lard or dripping!
In summer Kleť is open weekdays from 10:30 to 17:00. Weekends from 9:00 to 17:00. You’ll always find current information on their Facebook page.
The lookout tower on Kleť
The view from the summit isn’t visitors’ only goal. As mentioned at the start, the motive can be sport or the tradition of the climb. As a walker who hasn’t been on Kleť before, though, we’d recommend continuing past the summit up the 18-metre stone lookout tower.
The tower has no opening hours. You can visit any time. There’s a turnstile with a payment terminal at the entrance, so don’t expect any staff.
Entry costs, I believe, 30 CZK for children and 60 CZK for adults.
Sleeping on Kleť is possible, though it isn’t exactly permitted. That said, the tower is open 24/7. All you have to do is pay your entry like an upstanding citizen and then nothing stops you spending the night on the stone gallery under the open sky.
A few curiosities to finish
Did you know that the Kleť tower is the oldest stone lookout tower in Czechia? It was built in the 19th century by a prince of the Schwarzenberg family for private use.
What I like most of all, though, are the views of the Alpine peaks at sunrise or sunset. In very favourable conditions you can of course see them during the day too, but enjoying that atmosphere early in the morning or at sunset is a great experience.
While you’re at the summit it’s worth seeing the setting of the highest-lying observatory in our country.
Spending more time in South Bohemia? Take a look at our other articles – 60+ things to do in České Budějovice or the article on 13+ trips around České Budějovice.
Where to stay around Kleť
Around Kleť there are plenty of lovely guesthouses that will serve you the true atmosphere of the Blanský les protected area. Right by Holubov you can spend a lovely night at Penzion U Ševců. Another popular option is Penzion Na Podlesí in Zlatá Koruna. A very interesting experience is sleeping right on Kleť – but do check that option directly on their website.
Accommodation is also available in Český Krumlov or in nearby České Budějovice.
