Exploring Bohemian Switzerland Comfortably and Affordably with Ústí Region Transport (DÚK)

Dear friends and supporters of Bohemian Switzerland, we have been thinking of you all winter. Together with our colleagues from the transport department of the Ústí Region, we have prepared exciting updates and practical improvements to make your travel by bus, train, or boat to the rocks, nature, and local experiences even more comfortable than before. Here are a few useful tips on how to make the absolute most of the best transport options the region has to offer. So, pack your backpacks, grab your snacks, and let’s set off!

To Dresden with the Labe-Elbe Day Ticket

Do you want to visit one of the most attractive cities on the Saxon side of the Elbe? Nothing could be simpler. You can buy a Labe-Elbe day ticket—for instance, right at Mezní Louka—which costs 840 CZK and allows up to five people to travel together. From there, you head by bus to Hřensko. On the banks of the Elbe, a ferry will take you to the other side of the river to the Saxon village of Schöna, from where you can catch a train straight to Dresden.

From Dresden Main Station (Dresden Hauptbahnhof), tram number 11 will take you directly to the city centre, right to Postplatz. If you have some spare time, you can explore other corners of Dresden or visit the beautiful Pillnitz Castle. All of this is covered by the price of a single ticket, which is available in various variants depending on the number of travellers.

More information HERE.

To Oybin with the Euro Nisa Ticket Day Ticket

The romantic ruins of Oybin Castle, located just across the border with our German neighbours, rank among the absolute finest monuments of their kind. It is a literal magnet for visitors to the Zittau Mountains (Žitavské hory) and one of the most significant heritage sites in Upper Lusatia (Horní Lužice). You can purchase a Euro Nisa Ticket day ticket for 510 CZK for two people, or 720 CZK for five people, either right on the bus in Rumburk (which takes you to the Varnsdorf train station) or directly from the train conductor in Varnsdorf.

The train will take you through stunning landscapes all the way to Zittau, where you can board the romantic Zittau narrow-gauge railway for 8 EUR per person, taking you to the spa town of Oybin. Be sure to set aside at least three hours to explore the castle and the town. This ticket also offers multiple variants depending on the size of your group.

To Tiské stěny with the DÚK Day Ticket

If Germany is not your destination and you prefer day trips within North Bohemia—anywhere between Bohemian Switzerland and Klášterec nad Ohří or Kralupy nad Vltavou—you can travel highly advantageously all day long with this regional ticket. It is sold everywhere for 200 CZK per person or 510 CZK for a group of five people.

For example, you can buy a train ticket to Děčín, explore the local attractions, and then ride the historic Goat Railway (Kozí dráha) to Libouchec. After a short half-kilometre walk to the very heart of the village, you can hop on a bus heading directly to Tisá, where you can crown your romantic journey with a tour of the famous rock town.

More information HERE

Together with the Ústí Region, we are actively contributing to the development of sustainable tourism even in the most precious parts of Bohemian Switzerland, including the national park itself.

The Area’s Main Bus Route: 434

The backbone of tourist transport within the national park is bus line 434, which has been connecting Děčín with Jetřichovice and Krásná Lípa via Hřensko since 2007. A massive turning point came during the 2020 season when a brand-new line, 438, was introduced, running along the route Děčín – Hřensko – Mezní Louka – Mezná.

By interleaving lines 434 and 438, an hourly service interval was created on the busiest corridor (Děčín – Hřensko – Mezní Louka). During the peak season and summer holidays, this interval is shortened to just 30 minutes. Furthermore, these lines now operate year-round, 365 days a year. From the stops in Děčín, Hřensko, Mezní Louka, Mezná, Vysoká Lípa, Jetřichovice, Rynartice, Doubice, Kyjov, and Krásná Lípa, travellers can easily hop onto the popular Ridge Trail (Hřebenovka).

We Have Integrated the Hřensko Ferry into the DÚK System

In December 2021, following years of dedicated effort by Ústí Region Transport (Doprava Ústeckého kraje) and the Bohemian Switzerland non-profit organisation (o.p.s. České Švýcarsko), a partnership was finalized with the Saxon ferry operator, RVSOE. As a result, DÚK regional tickets became fully valid on the Schöna-Hřensko ferry. Thanks to this, Hřensko is now comfortably accessible by train via the German railway stop Schöna on a single DÚK ticket. Passengers travelling from places like Děčín or Rumburk to Hřensko and Pravčická brána no longer need to scramble for Euros to pay for the ferry crossing. A single DÚK ticket covers the train, the bus, and the ferry.

Where to buy: You can conveniently buy this combined train-and-ferry DÚK ticket at the ticket offices at Děčín or Rumburk railway stations, or directly from the conductor on Ústí Region trains.
Starting at the ferry? If you begin your journey directly at the ferry boarding point in Hřensko, the ticket can only be purchased via the DÚKapka mobile app.

Don’t have the app? No problem! Simply buy a cash ticket from the bus driver coming from Jetřichovice, Mezní Louka, or the Hřensko, Pravčická brána stop. Once in Hřensko, you can transfer smoothly to the ferry to Schöna and continue from there by train to Děčín, Ústí nad Labem, or Rumburk.

Free Transport for Overnight Guests

The devastating forest fire in July 2022 marked a critical turning point for the Bohemian Switzerland region. Despite this challenging event, public transport in the area was fully maintained—albeit in a modified capacity—serving both local residents and tourists alike.

In the post-fire period, the Ústí Region actively supported the recovery of local tourism through a highly successful accommodation voucher project. Guests who booked a stay for at least two nights received not only a discount on their accommodation but also the opportunity to travel completely free of charge throughout the entire Ústí Region. This is made possible via the digital DÚKpas, which is integrated into the DÚKapka mobile app.

In the spring of 2023, it was decided that this fantastic benefit would remain in place until further notice. And here comes an excellent tip: if you stay in Bohemian Switzerland for at least two nights, you can still take advantage of free public transport across the entire region today! Simply download the DÚKapka app, ask your accommodation provider for your unique QR code, and you are ready to go. You can travel by bus, train, and even Elbe ferries completely free of charge within the DÚK network.

More information HERE

Line 441 to Janov-Hájenky and Line 435 to Schmilka

For a long time, we brainstormed how to better connect the central car parks in Hřensko and Mezní Louka with the main entry points to Divoká soutěska (Wild Gorge) and Pravčická brána. Our goal was to make things easier for visitors who do not wish to embark on long, grueling hikes and want to completely avoid walking along less attractive roadside sections.

The result is a clever route modification for seasonal DÚK bus lines—specifically lines 441 and 435. Thanks to this, you can now get comfortably from the Mezná stop straight to the entrance of Divoká soutěska, while from the Hřensko, Pravčická brána stop, all that awaits you is a direct walk up the red-marked hiking trail to the ultimate icon of the region—Pravčická brána.

🚌 Line 441 is operated by a mini-bus serving as a shuttle bus, running at 30-minute intervals between Mezná – Hřensko – Hájenky. It allows for seamless travel between Hřensko, Pravčická brána, and Wild Gorge, while helping you completely avoid the hassle of searching for a parking space.

Line 435 is a newly routed line running from Mezná via Hřensko to Schmilka (operating on weekends during the tourist season, and daily throughout July and August), seamlessly connecting Czech and Saxon Switzerland. This means German visitors no longer need to drive their cars to Pravčická brána and Wild Gorge either.
Practical Tip: All buses accept standard contactless payment cards, so there is no need to hunt for coins. Travelling here is simple, comfortable, and eco-friendly.

Railways: High-Capacity Transport Around the National Parks and Lusatian Mountains

An irreplaceable role in the region’s transport network is played by the 083/084 railway line, serviced by trains on the U28 line, also known as the “National Park Railway” (Dráha národního parku). This cross-border connection was launched in 2014 thanks to the newly restored rail link between Dolní Poustevna and Sebnitz.The main National Park Railway (Nationalparkbahn) loop (Děčín – Jedlová – Rumburk – Bad Schandau – Děčín) is wonderfully supplemented by weekend tourist trains running along the routes Děčín – Mikulášovice, Prague – Mikulášovice (the Lužickohorský rychlík fast train), and Liberec – Mikulášovice.

The thriving tourist traffic on these lines—which were once slated for a gradual shutdown—along with their marketing support both in Czechia and Germany, is the fruit of a seventeen-year-old collaboration with the Ústí Region. Together, we also support transport connections to more remote locations to distribute visitor numbers more evenly and introduce travellers to lesser-known, hidden gems. This close cooperation between regional government, destination management, the national park administration, and partners on the Saxon side is entirely unparalleled in its scope, both within the Czech Republic and across European borders.