What to See in the Beskids: 18 Top Places (Czechia)

The Beskids are our idea of an easy mountain win. There are no Alpine-scale climbs to grind through here — instead you get timber churches, a Wallachian belfry behind every other hill and ridge-top views that reach all the way to the Slovak Tatras. Whenever someone asks us what to see in the Beskids, we can barely finish the first sentence before we’ve sketched out a whole weekend — from Lysá hora and Pustevny to the open-air museum in Rožnov.

In this guide we’ve pulled together 18 things to see in the Czech Beskids — that is, the Moravian-Silesian range on the Czech side of the border — from the most famous summits and lookout towers to the quiet corners the crowds never reach. We’ll walk you through when to go and how to get there, what to eat from the hearty Wallachian kitchen and roughly what it all costs. And if the other side of the border tempts you too, we have a separate guide to the Polish Beskids.

When to Visit the Beskids and How to Get There

The beauty of the Beskids is that they work all year round. Summer is ideal for hikes and ridge walks, though Lysá hora and Pustevny do get busy at weekends. September and early October are our favourite — the air is crisp, the views run for miles and the trails are peaceful. Winter belongs to cross-country and downhill skiers (Pustevny, Bílá, Razula in Velké Karlovice), while spring is the season for waterfalls, which run strongest once the snow melts.

How to Get to the Beskids

• By car: the most convenient option. From Ostrava you’re at the foot of the mountains in 30–50 minutes, from Brno in around 2 hours, and from Prague in roughly 4 to 4.5 hours. The main gateways are Ostravice, Frenštát pod Radhoštěm, Trojanovice and Rožnov pod Radhoštěm.
• By train: you can reach Frenštát pod Radhoštěm, Rožnov, Frýdlant nad Ostravicí or Ostravice, with buses and walking trails carrying on from there.
• Cable car to Pustevny: a gondola runs from Trojanovice-Ráztoka up to the saddle without any hard climbing — perfect with children.

We’d book accommodation in the region well ahead, especially for summer and weekends. Find places to stay in the Beskids here →

18 Things to See in the Beskids

1. Lysá hora — Queen of the Beskids

At 1,323 metres, Lysá hora is the highest mountain in the Moravian-Silesian Beskids and by far the most visited summit in the region. On a clear day you can see across to the Jeseníky range and even the Slovak Tatras. The top has the Bezruč mountain chalet and a weather station, so you can refuel and tuck into a bowl of Beskydy goulash. Several routes lead up — the most popular from Ostravice via Lukšinec, allowing roughly 2.5 to 3 hours for the climb.

2. Pustevny — Maměnka, Libušín and an Art Nouveau Fairytale

The mountain saddle of Pustevny is one of the most photogenic spots in the whole of the Beskids. Here stand the timber-built shelters Maměnka and Libušín by the architect Dušan Jurkovič — Art Nouveau buildings decked out in Wallachian folk detail that look straight out of a fairytale. Libušín was rebuilt after a fire in 2014 and is once again in service. You can reach Pustevny on foot, by car to the car park below the saddle, or by cable car from Trojanovice.

3. The Radegast Statue

On the walk from Pustevny to Radhošť you’ll pass the iconic statue of the pagan god Radegast by the sculptor Albín Polášek. It’s one of the most photographed sights in the Beskids and an easy, pleasant ridge stroll with views down into the valley. It takes about 20 to 30 minutes to reach the statue from Pustevny.

4. Radhošť and the Chapel of Saints Cyril and Methodius

On the summit of Radhošť (1,129 m) stands the timber Chapel of Saints Cyril and Methodius, with a sculpture of the two missionaries in front of it — a pilgrimage site rich in symbolism. The ridge walk from Pustevny, past the Radegast statue and on to Radhošť, is one of the loveliest easy hikes in the Beskids and well within reach of families with children.

5. The Valaška Trail — Treetop Walking at Pustevny

Right at Pustevny you’ll find the Valaška Trail — a timber treetop walkway that ends in a lookout tower with a slide back down. Children love it, and the view from the top of the tower is well worth it. It’s a paid attraction, but it works brilliantly as a family highlight and ties in with the whole Pustevny resort.

6. Velký Javorník and Its Lookout Tower

Rising above Frenštát is Velký Javorník (918 m), with a timber lookout tower and a Czech Tourist Club chalet. It’s a popular and fairly gentle goal with a lovely 360-degree view over the Beskids ridges. The climb from Frenštát takes about 1.5 to 2 hours, and there’s food and drink at the top.

7. The Satina Waterfalls

In the valley of the Satina stream below Lysá hora hide the Satina waterfalls — cascades that have carved their way through a rocky gorge. They’re not especially tall, but in the wooded valley they have real charm, particularly in spring after the thaw. Waymarked trails lead here from Malenovice and combine nicely with a climb up Lysá hora or to a viewpoint.

8. Rožnov pod Radhoštěm and the Wallachian Open-Air Museum

At the foot of the mountains lies Rožnov pod Radhoštěm, home to the largest and oldest open-air museum in the Czech Republic — the Wallachian Open-Air Museum. It’s made up of three sections (the Wooden Town, the Wallachian Village and the Mill Valley) with dozens of relocated log buildings, where Wallachian crafts and daily life come back to life. Set aside a full day to do it justice.

9. Štramberk and the Štramberk Trúba

Štramberk is an urban conservation area nicknamed the “Moravian Bethlehem” — timber houses climb the hillside beneath the cylindrical Trúba tower, the remnant of a medieval castle. There’s a wide view from the tower. And, of course, this is the home of the famous Štramberk ears, sweet gingerbread cones that you simply have to try on the spot.

10. Hukvaldy Castle and the Deer Park with Janáček

One of the largest castle ruins in Moravia — Hukvaldy Castle — towers above the village of the same name, birthplace of the composer Leoš Janáček. Below the castle spreads a deer park with fallow deer and mouflon that you can wander freely, and where you’ll come across a bronze statuette of the Cunning Little Vixen. A pleasant half-day out with culture and nature rolled into one.

11. Bílá and the Valley of the Bílá Ostravice

The mountain village of Bílá, in the heart of the Beskids, makes a good base for family days out — you’ll find the timber Church of St Bedřich, a ski area and trailheads for ridge walks towards Bumbálka and Bílý Kříž. The area has a network of waymarked paths and cross-country ski tracks.

12. Velké Karlovice and Soláň

On the Wallachian side of the Beskids lies the picturesque village of Velké Karlovice — a scattered mountain settlement with timber churches, swimming, the Razula ski area and no end of cycle routes and ridge walks. Just nearby rises Soláň, a hill linked with the Wallachian painters, home to the Zvonice gallery and beautiful views.

Accommodation in and around Rožnov →

13. Prašivá and the Church of St Anthony

Prašivá (843 m) is a rewarding, undemanding summit with a chalet and the timber Church of St Anthony of Padua dating from 1640. The climb is short, which makes it a great goal with children or for a Sunday afternoon, and you can warm up with something hot at the chalet up top.

14. Smrk — the Second Highest and Quieter

At 1,276 metres, Smrk is the second highest mountain in the Moravian-Silesian Beskids, yet you’ll meet far fewer people here than on Lysá. For anyone who wants a proper hike and some peace, it’s an ideal choice. A nature trail leads up among others, and the climb is longer and tougher — reckon on a full day in the mountains. Do bear in mind, though, that there’s no view from Smrk itself: you’re at the summit, but you’re surrounded by trees.

15. The Šance Reservoir

The Šance valley reservoir on the River Ostravice is a source of drinking water, so swimming and access to the dam aren’t allowed, but a walk or a cycle around it is one of the loveliest outings near Ostravice. The water, ringed by forested slopes, looks like a Norwegian fjord in miniature.

16. Kněhyně, Čertův mlýn and the Kněhyně Cave

The pair of summits Kněhyně (1,257 m) and Čertův mlýn form a national nature reserve with primeval-style forest and rock formations. Below Kněhyně sits the Kněhyně Cave, one of the deepest pseudokarst caves in the Czech Republic (not open to the public). A beautiful, wilder hike for those who already know the main peaks. Note, though, that Mount Kněhyně itself is off limits and entry is forbidden. You can, however, walk up to Skalka and enjoy the view across to Kněhyně from there.

17. The Tatra Museum in Kopřivnice

At the foot of the Beskids in Kopřivnice is the famous Tatra Museum, with legendary cars including the aerodynamic Tatra 77 and racing specials from the Dakar. A brilliant tip for a rainy day, or for families whose children aren’t quite sold on the mountains. The town is also the birthplace of the runner Emil Zátopek.

18. The Pulčín Rocks

In the south of the Beskids area, in the Vizovice Hills, you’ll find the Pulčín Rocks — the largest rock town on the Moravian side of the Carpathians. Massive sandstone blocks, viewpoints and the remains of a rock castle make this one of the wildest corners of the region, and far fewer people make it here than to the foot of Lysá hora.

Hikes and Lookout Towers

The Beskids are a walker’s paradise — from gentle strolls to demanding ridge traverses. If you’re collecting views, take a look at these:

• Lysá hora — the highest summit, a 360-degree panorama reaching to the Tatras.
• Velký Javorník — a timber lookout tower above Frenštát, an easy climb.
• Smrk — the second highest, a longer and quieter hike.
• The Pustevny – Radegast – Radhošť ridge — the most famous family ridge walk.
• Prašivá — a short climb to a chapel and chalet, ideal with children.
• Kněhyně and Čertův mlýn — a wilder reserve for the more experienced.
• The Valaška Trail at Pustevny — a treetop walkway with a lookout tower.

Wallachian Cuisine and What to Try

It just isn’t the Beskids without the food. Wallachian and Silesian cooking is hearty, honest and made for the end of a hike:

• Štramberk ears — sweet gingerbread cones from Štramberk, a classic to eat on the spot.
• Frgály — large Wallachian pastries filled with curd cheese, pear jam or poppy seed.
• Kyselica — a sauerkraut soup with sausage and potato, especially warming in winter.
• Beskydy / Wallachian goulash at chalets like Bezruč on Lysá hora.
• Radegast beer — brewed in nearby Nošovice and simply part of the Beskids.

How Much It Costs / Practical Info

The Beskids are pleasantly cheap to travel in — a lot can be done for free (hikes, ridges, viewpoints). Here’s a rough per-person, per-day budget. Treat the prices as approximate and always check the latest figures on the operators’ websites.

If you stay in a guesthouse with its own kitchenette and cook your own breakfasts, you’ll comfortably keep it under €40 a day, accommodation included.

Where to Next

• The Polish Beskids and 12 beautiful places
• What to see in Ostrava (2026)
• Things to do in Ostrava (2026)
• What to see in Olomouc (2026)

Frequently Asked Questions