Liberec Transportation

Imagine a bus with assigned seating, a plush and immaculate interior, music or television for all with provided headphones, free hot chocolate, and enough space underneath for even the largest of luggage. Now imagine that you can take that bus from Prague to Liberec for 60 Kc (about US$3). Well, you can (even if you are not a student) with the Student Universe bus line. Open to anyone, this bus line services much of Czech for amazingly low prices. The bus to Liberec leaves from Cerný Most (the eastmost stop on the Orange "B" metro line) in Prague. It runs quite frequently each way during the day.

In Prague tickets can be bought at the Florenc Bus Station (a stop on both the Red "C" and Orange "B" metro lines)

In Liberec tickets can be bought at the Student Universe store on either Moskevská or Pražská Street (both leading south west from the town square).

The cable car is the most convenient way to get up to Mt. Jested. It runs every 30 minutes (except 12.00 - 13.00 h).

Fare is 50 Kc one way and 80 Kc return trip. Really a bargain.

There are a couple of small parking grounds near the cable car station, but they were occupied when I was there. You better use tram/bus to Horni Hanychov (final stop) and walk the few hundred meters to the cable car station.

The public transportation network works sufficient in Liberec. Tram No. 2 runs from the railway station through the city centre (direction Lidove Sady, 3 stops) and towards Mt. Jested (direction Dolni Hanychov, final stop). You can also take buses to other districts of Liberec.

Fare is 10 Kc (0.30 Euro) for a 20-minutes trip (incl. change) or 16 Kc (0.50 Euro) for a 45-minutes trip. Or you purchase a day ticket for 50 Kc (1.70 Euro). Ask at the information desk in the railway station, the ladies are very friendly and helpful.

Liberec is easily accessible by train. For me, as a Dresden resident, the fare is really cheap since Feb 2005. Let me explain:

Regional trains run from Dresden to Zittau, where I changed to the regional train to Liberec, which is operated by the Czech Railways. For example, if you start in Dresden 8.20 you'll arrive in Liberec 11.22 Same procedure back, starting in Liberec 16.52, 17.44, 18.16

On the leg Dresden - Zittau you cross two regional transportation networks: VVO (around Dresden) and ZVON. I have an annual ticket for the VVO, it would cost you 6 Euro return trip. For the ZVON you purchase an EURO-NEISSE dayticket which is valid to Liberec and back for only 10 Euro (Groups up to five persons 20 Euro).

A word about the trains: Dresden - Zittau is operated by the Deutsche Bahn, clean, comfortable, friendly service. Zittau - Liberec ... urrgghh, I felt like back in the 1970s, dirty, crowded.

From Germany - you can get a train from Dresden to Zittau (and for more than one, a Sachsen-Ticket will be cheaper). Then change and catch the local train from Zittau to Liberec.