--- title: "Vrchlabí in winter without skiing: museum, pool, ice skating, sledging and walks" description: "Vrchlabí in winter without skiing: the Krkonoše Museum, a pool, ice skating, the chateau park, sledging runs and trips, with winter opening checked." url: https://www.skiverleih.cz/en/guides/vrchlabi-in-winter-without-skiing language: en-GB published: 2026-09-25 updated: 2026-09-25 publisher: "SKI Rental Jiří Honců, Valteřická 1436, 543 01 Vrchlabí, Česko" --- # Vrchlabí in winter without skiing: museum, pool, ice skating, sledging and walks Not everyone in the family skis, and not every day is a ski day. Here is what you can do in and around Vrchlabí in winter, and for each tip we checked whether it is open in winter. We checked the details in September 2026 on the websites of the operators, the Krkonoše National Park Administration and the regional tourist portal. We do not give opening hours or prices because they change, so check the website of each place before you go. Outdoor activities such as sledging runs also depend on snow. ## The Krkonoše Museum in a former monastery In November 2023, the Krkonoše National Park Administration opened the new Krkonoše Museum (Muzeum Krkonoš) in the former Augustinian monastery in Vrchlabí; it is also the national park’s visitor centre. The exhibition covers almost 2,500 m² and tells the story of the mountains’ nature and of the people who live there. You will see aquariums with live fish, a gallery of a historic mine, a mountain meadow, waterfalls and the story of the environmental disasters that hit the Krkonoše. Children can play a game that takes them through the whole exhibition. The entrance is from the car park on Dobrovského street, and the address is Husova 213. In September 2026, the park administration listed opening from Tuesday to Sunday. According to the tourist portal, there is also a joint ticket for the museums in Vrchlabí, Jilemnice and Paseky nad Jizerou. The information centre at the entrance can tell you which paths are closed in winter, what the snow is like and where cross-country trails are groomed. > **Tip from the shop:** The Four Historic Houses on Náměstí Míru, another part of the Krkonoše Museum, have been closed for renovation for two years from 1 May 2025, according to the park administration. Do not count on them in winter 2026/27. ## The chateau, its park and the House with Seven Gables The Renaissance chateau, completed in 1546, now houses the town hall. The tourist portal mentions that the entrance hall has Renaissance doorways and doors with wood inlay, along with paintings of the last four bears to be shot in the Krkonoše. Guided tours that also open the chapel and rooms normally closed to the public take place in summer. Around the chateau is a park with a pond and the Czernin-Morzin chapel from 1887 to 1891, where you can take a walk. Not far from the centre stands the House with Seven Gables, six of which survive today. There is a café on the ground floor and, under the roof, a small museum with a painted room that the tourist portal says is free to visit. Check the opening hours before you go. ## Swimming: the Aquacentrum on Valteřická street According to its operator, Aquacentrum Vrchlabí is open all year. It has a 25-metre pool with four lanes, a warmer relaxation pool with a lazy river and massage benches, indoor and outdoor whirlpools, a steam room, a paddling pool and a children’s pool, and a 60-metre water slide. It is on the same street as our rental, about 300 metres from us as the crow flies. ## Ice skating at the stadium At the HC Stadion Vrchlabí ice stadium, the operator offers public skating at weekends. Times vary according to the ice schedule, which is posted at the ticket office and can be downloaded from hcvrchlabi.cz. Skate sharpening is also available during public skating, according to the schedule. ## Sledging and sledging runs nearby We rent sledges too, for sledging near your accommodation or on a winter outing. For long sledging runs, head out of town: - The Černohorská sáňkařská cesta sledging track in Janské Lázně, about 17 km from us by car. According to SkiResort, it is 4 km long with a 560 m drop and has been used for sledging for more than a hundred years. A gondola takes you to the start at the top station, and the track is open to the public. Guided evening runs with head torches require a booking. - The sledging run in Špindlerův Mlýn, about 16 km from us. According to the operator, it is almost 3 km long with up to 400 m of drop. A bus takes you from the town square to the start, the sledge is included in the ticket, and the run is lit in the evening. > **Tip from the shop:** Both runs need enough snow. Check the operator’s website before you go; the Špindlerův Mlýn run also posts closures due to lack of snow there. ## Walks and trips by car - Žalý: according to the Herlíkovice ski area, it is about 5 km from the square in Vrchlabí to Žalý hill (1,019 m) with its stone lookout tower. Expect snow and ice in winter, and check in advance whether the tower is open. - The Treetop Walk (Stezka korunami stromů) in Janské Lázně is open all year, according to the tourist portal. - Alpine coasters with a metal track also run in winter, according to the tourist portal, for example in Harrachov with a heated track or under cover in Pec pod Sněžkou. - At the glassworks in Harrachov, according to the tourist portal, you can watch glass being blown, ground and cut. - For bad weather, the tourist portal also suggests the aquapark in Špindlerův Mlýn and the thermal pool in Janské Lázně. > **Tip from the shop:** For winter hikes in the mountains, the tourist portal recommends ice grips for your shoes and proper gear, as the weather here changes quickly. The information centre at the Krkonoše Museum has up-to-date news on closed paths. ## When some of the family ski and some do not We rent gear individually too, so you only take it for those who are going on the slopes. If someone prefers something gentler, they can rent cross-country skis: right in Vrchlabí is the Vejsplachy cross-country area, where more than half of the trails have artificial snow and floodlights. We wax cross-country skis to suit the current snow. [Cross-country skiing from Vrchlabí and which set to rent](https://www.skiverleih.cz/en/guides/cross-country-skiing-krkonose-vrchlabi) [Skiing with children in the Krkonoše](https://www.skiverleih.cz/en/guides/skiing-with-kids-krkonose) [Cross-country ski rental in Vrchlabí](https://www.skiverleih.cz/en/cross-country-ski-rental) [Book gear and sledges online](https://www.skiverleih.cz/en/booking) ## Frequently asked questions ### What can I do in Vrchlabí if I do not ski? You can visit the Krkonoše Museum in the former monastery, go swimming at the Aquacentrum on Valteřická street, skate at the stadium at weekends or walk in the chateau park. For sledging, head to Janské Lázně or Špindlerův Mlýn. ### Is the Krkonoše Museum in Vrchlabí open in winter? According to the park administration, it is open from Tuesday to Sunday, and current hours are on krnap.cz. The Four Historic Houses on the square have been closed for two years from 1 May 2025 for renovation. ### Where can I go sledging on a long run near Vrchlabí? The Černohorská sáňkařská cesta in Janské Lázně is 4 km long, and the sledging run in Špindlerův Mlýn almost 3 km. Both depend on snow, and we rent sledges too. ### Does Vrchlabí have an indoor pool? Yes, according to its operator, Aquacentrum Vrchlabí on Valteřická street is open all year. It has a 25-metre pool, a relaxation pool, whirlpools, a steam room and a water slide. --- SKI Rental Jiří Honců · Valteřická 1436, 543 01 Vrchlabí · +420 603 554 947 · skihoncu@gmail.com - [Book now](https://www.skiverleih.cz/en/booking) - [Prices](https://www.skiverleih.cz/en/prices) - [All guides](https://www.skiverleih.cz/en/guides) Other languages: [Čeština](https://www.skiverleih.cz/md/cs/zima-ve-vrchlabi-bez-lyzi.md) · [Deutsch](https://www.skiverleih.cz/md/de/vrchlabi-winter-ohne-ski-ausflugstipps.md) · [Polski](https://www.skiverleih.cz/md/pl/vrchlabi-zima-bez-nart-atrakcje.md) · [Українська](https://www.skiverleih.cz/md/uk/vrkhlabi-vzymku-bez-lyzh.md)