Hradec Králové

Hradec Králové ranks among the best places to live in Czechia, safe, clean, and green. Set at the Elbe and Orlice rivers, with parks and modern infrastructure, it offers a high quality of life and a vibrant academic and cultural scene.

Best place to live

The city of Hradec Králové has been repeatedly evaluated and voted the best place to live in the Czech Republic. No wonder. It is a pleasant city, architecturally beautiful, clean, and safe, with no environmental burdens caused by large industrial zones. A typical resident would be an office worker, student, or employee of the top university hospital. Did you know Hradec Králové celebrated its 800th anniversary since the first official written mention?

Green paradise

The city unfolds at the confluence of two magnificent and mighty rivers, the Elbe (Labe in Czech) and the Orlice, and it is surrounded by a forest park to the southeast. Both contribute to the convenient range of local leisure facilities. With approximately 90,000 inhabitants, Hradec Králové is the eighth most populous city in the Czech Republic. Gardens, forests, and parks comprise more than a third of the urban area, making it an ideal destination for nature lovers.

Heart of Europe

When residing in Hradec Králové, you can comfortably travel around Central Europe by train to other beautiful cities. Berlin (DE) – 446 km (277 mi) – approx. 4 hours drive; Vienna (AT) – 291 km (180 mi) – approx. 3.5 hours drive; Bratislava (SK) – 289 km (179 mi) – approx. 3 hours drive; Wroclaw (PL) – 173 km (107 mi) – approx. 2.75 hours drive.

Videos

UHK Guide

Watch

HK Guide

Watch

City center webcam

Watch

Why Hradec Králové?

SALON OF THE REPUBLIC

salon Hradec Králové is one of the oldest cities in the Czech Republic. The combination of the historical and broader modern center makes it a complete architecture textbook. Two prominent architects, Josef Gočár and Jan Kotěra, were responsible for the development. Thanks to their urban plans, Hradec became a modern and progressive city, earning it the nickname Salon of the Republic.

THE BEST PLACE TO LIVE

Hradec is the best place to live. We are not exaggerating, Hradec Králové regularly wins nationwide polls regarding the quality of life. The city earns points mainly due to its transport accessibility, low unemployment rate, the amount of greenery, and quality healthcare. We give it 11/10! But don't just take our word for it, see for yourself!

BE A FAN

fan Do you have solid vocals and a passion for dramatic sports moments? Hradec rumbles enthusiastically at every point, goal, time, medal, and victory. On the other hand, we always support our teams and athletes when bad luck hits. So be a fan of Hradec and roar with us in the winter stadium for 8000 fans! We play the first league in ice hockey, football, and popular women's basketball.

UNIQUE GASTRONOMY

gastronomy The boom of stylish bars and restaurants did not even avoid Hradec; they sprang up like mushrooms in recent years. Check out our UHK Guide for cool tips on great places. If you want to eat near the campus, you can register at the local Canteen, where a three-course menu will cost you around 4 EUR. However, if you are looking for a more attractive place to sit, consider eating directly on campus in "Kampus bufet", which will satisfy all your needs, from breakfast to lunch.

TREES WHEREVER YOU LOOK

trees The Hradec Municipal Forest has been growing under the city's administration for 700 years. The forest occupies a third of the area of the entire Hradec Králové; you will find a knight's fort there, several educational trails, a forest gym, refreshment stands, and asphalt paths for cyclists and skaters. In addition to the vast forests, the rest of the city is also very green. Šimkovy and Jiráskovy gardens are the most extensive parks in the center. The confluence of the Orlice and the Elbe is charismatic not only due to the abundance of flora but also because it is rich in wildlife.

FESTIVALS ALL YEAR ROUND

We have one big party all year round. Tens of thousands of people from all over the world head to the legendary Rock for People festival in Hradec. The festival hosts names like Green Day, Sum 41, Bring Me the Horizon, and many more. Outside of "Rokáč", you can expect the student festival Majáles, Jazz Goes to Town, the film festival One World, the Czech music festival On One Shore, and Food festivals of all kinds. The summer season usually opens with the REGIONY festival, which fills Hradec with outdoor theater, music, and art.

CITY OF CYCLISTS

Why don't we have a subway? Because it's not needed! No long public transport journeys await you in Hradec Králové. With approximately 80 km of cycle routes, Hradec is called the city of cyclists. Didn't you bring your bike? You can use Nextbikes and electric bicycles, which have stations at every UHK building and right next to the dorms.

HRADEC AS A CENTER OF CULTURE

museum It doesn't matter if you're a movie fan, enjoy classical music, love the theater, or are content with dancing the macarena in a club. There is something for everyone in Hradec! We have the top Klicpera Theater, the BioCentral art cinema, and the renowned Philharmonic. Furthermore, you can experience wild parties in clubs La Fabrique and Denoche. Discover the region's history at the Art Nouveau Museum of Eastern Bohemia or explore the Gallery of Modern Art. You'll need more than seven days a week to experience everything fully. Hradec is simply astounding.

STUDENT CITY

Prague has Charles University, Olomouc has Palacký University, and Hradec Králové... has UHK! In addition to us, other faculties of Czech universities are also located here, which gives Hradec Králové an authentic student atmosphere. The city has over 10,000 students, so education is booming here.

A STONE'S THROW FROM HRADEC

terminal Prague is 45 minutes away, Liberec or Olomouc two hours and slightly more hours will get you to various European cities like Berlin, Wien or Bratislava. If all roads lead to Rome, many also go through Hradec Králové. The city offers excellent public transportation for those who want to save time and travel efficiently. The university campus is just 10 minutes away from the Main Train station.