Things to do in HK during the summer semester

Picnic Spots

Parks generally are great spots for hanging out with your friends, enjoying fresh air, or reading a good book by yourself.  

For a great picnic spot by the lake, check out Šimkovy Sady. Bring your picnic blanket, snacks, and a book for the day. For the night, there are a few BBQ spots around the park, perfect for a nice BBQ dinner hangout with your friends. While being responsible for the fire, of course. 

If you just want to enjoy a stroll around the park and go animal watching, Jiráskovy Sady is a place for you. Keep in mind that you aren’t allowed to feed any animals in the parks. In this park, you can enjoy some snacks and drinks by the riverbank, admire the park’s beautiful flowers, and probably host a party or two at the park’s gazebo. 

Lake Biřička is a half-hour walk away from Palachova dormitory. It has a beach-like shore, BBQ spots, and a volleyball net. If you’d like, you can go for a walk in the forest.  

At Silver Lake, you can enjoy a picnic, sports, or even camping. There are a lot of activities to do in this place. It is a bit far out of the city, however, there is a bus 7 that goes directly to the lake. The bus leaves from Hlavní Nádraží or Na Kotli stop. Check your iDOS app for the schedule. If you decide to go camping there, you can enjoy the trails in the forest.  

Take a stroll along the Elbe and Orlice rivers. It is a free and relaxing activity. There are nice walking and biking paths along both rivers. 

Swimming Pool Flošna

It is an outdoor summer swimming pool with slides, a lazy river, and sunbathing areas. If you already have a chip from Aquacentrum, you can use the same chip to enter this place. Bring your friends, grab an ice cream by the pool. Keep in mind that this pool is strict with the dress code.   

Festivals of the summer 

There are a few festivals or open-air concerts you should look for during the summer. 

Majáles in Hradec Králové is a traditional student festival held in spring, usually at the beginning of May. The event features a student parade through the city, culminating in a music festival with Czech and international bands and additional programs. 

Hradec Králové Theatre Festival is a weeklong music festival. You can enjoy mini concerts throughout the city or in the musical theatre. There are food and drink stalls. At night, there is a tent where you can party with friends. You can learn about the dates and schedules of the festival from Infocentrum Hradec Králové. 

Rock for People is one of the biggest open-air concerts in Hradec Králové. You can enjoy rock music in both English and Czech, or more. There were a few famous performers in the past years such as Ed Sheeran, Linkin Park and Guns N Roses. Tickets sold out early, so make sure to keep an eye on the ticket sales. 

Hradec Králové Forest

It is a perfect place to go hiking, running, or biking during the summer. There are a few spots where you can grab a drink or a snack. Sometimes the internet signal might be weak, so don’t forget to download an offline map before you go. I recommend the Organic Maps app for this. The perfect place to start your tour is Na Větvi park. 

Visiting nearby attractions 

Lookout tower Milíř is a tall observation deck. You can get there by walking for two hours from Palachova or take bus 16 to Roudnička or Vysoká. From here, you can see the city of Pardubice in the distance. 

Castle Kunětická Hora is in the Pardubice district. You can take a bus from Arriva to get there. The castle is up on the hill. You can observe horses and sheep on the way up. While you are there, don’t forget to check out the Gingerbread House nearby. Btw, Pardubice city is famous for gingerbread and horse races.  

Dvůr Králové nad Labem is just a train ride away from Hradec Králové. The city boasts a large African Zoo. You can visit the zoo, camp, or even drive through their safari park. If you are going to this city by car, make sure to stop by a nearby historical landmark, the Royal Forest Dam. 

I hope you find this article helpful and that it gives you some ideas for new places to visit around Hradec Králové.