The Tisa Rocks, Bohemian Switzerland | Guide
THE “CITY OF ROCKS” or “TISKÉ STÉNY”
The “City of Rocks” or “ Tiské Stény” in Czech, is a natural landmark and tourist attraction in the western region of Bohemian Switzerland.
Narrow walkways lead to steep staircases which take you to a system of vertical crevices and a dense network of rocks. These sandstone pillars are as tall as 30 metres high and stand out from the dense forest surrounding them.
Made up of a labyrinth of ravines and tall rock towers, this nature reserve is a popular tourist attraction and is just over a 1-hour drive from the capital city of Prague.
WHERE TO START
There are two entrances to the Tisa Rocks. Depending on the length of your visit you can do two marked circuits, or go with the flow. The first entrance is in Tisa village at a car park next to the Church of St.Anne (Kostel sv.Anny). The second entrance starts at the tourist hut next to a restaurant called the Tourist Cottage Tisa (Turistická Chata Tisá). You can park just opposite that restaurant in the car park.
You can buy tickets at both entrances. You can also purchase a map which shows the trails and the names of the rocks. Each rock formation has an interesting name to stimulate your imagination. These named rocks include the “dancing bear”, the “chicken’s feet” and the “elephant’s foot”.
CIRCUITS
The Tisa Rocks are divided into two parts - The Small Walls and The Great Walls (Velké a Malé stěny).
Walking between the two main entrances takes roughly 45 minutes. These two circuits are connected by an educational trail marked with a white square and a green stripe. Follow the painted square to seven informative points.
Tip: The Tisa Rocks are less touristy than other parts of the national park. But in the summer when the weather is hot it can get quite busy. We would suggest to visit early in the morning or later in the day to beat the crowds.
SMALL WALLS CIRCUIT
This route is approximately 1.5 km and takes around 30 minutes to complete without stops. But give yourself enough time to explore the rocks, climb through the holes and go into the caves!
There are 19 interesting rock formations to admire.
Start this route at the first entrance in Tisá village. This circuit is the most suitable for children or people with mobility issues.
GREAT WALLS CIRCUIT
This circuit is longer than the first route and includes over 50 rock formations. Being around 2.3 km, this route takes around 1 to 2 hours to complete. But with many photo opportunities and beautiful views, it can take longer.
This route includes the western lookout which provides a dramatic view of the wall of rocks, the small village of Tisá and Děčínský Sněžník. This was our favourite view of the day!
Be careful on this route, especially on the lookout point as the rocks are very steep and there is no barrier to stop you going right to the edge. Especially when it has rained, the rocks can be slippery. This is why we would suggest the shorter route if you’re visiting with young children.
You can start this circular route at either entrance.
Entrance fee
The Tisa Rocks are open all year round to visit.
Adults: 30 kč (around £1/$1.20)
Children: (15 years and younger) 15 kč (around 50p/60¢)
FACILITIES
There is a small hut in the middle of the Tisa Rocks which offers refreshments.
The closest restaurant for a meal or toilet break is the Tourist Cottage Tisa (Turistická Chata Tisá) which is next to the beginning of the longer trail.
Tip: During our week in Bohemian Switzerland we used the website & app mapy.cz to help with routes, directions and local information.
HOW TO GET THERE
From the capital city of Prague, the Tisa Rocks are just over a one-hour drive by car.
If you don’t have a car then we would suggest visiting with the tour company Northern Hikes. You can choose a trip, and their local tour guides will pick you up from anywhere in Prague. Here is a list of the tours they provide in Bohemian Switzerland including the Tisa Rocks.
The closest city to the Tisa Rocks is Děčín. This small colourful city is only a 25-minute drive to the rocks. We would definitely suggest a visit to Děčín if you’re going to the Tisa Rocks.
In this city you can:
Visit the impressive Děčín Castle
Via ferrata
See views of the city at Kvádrberk View
Go on a canoe & rafting tour
Our trip to Tiské Stény was in partnership with the Czech Repblic Tourism Board. We explored Bohemiam Switzerland for 4 days, capturing the most beautiful sites & exploring the outdoor adventures!
