Chojnik Castle — a day trip from Karpacz
Chojnik Castle (Zamek Chojnik) is a medieval castle ruin on top of Chojnik hill (627 m) in Sobieszów, a district of Jelenia Góra, inside Karkonosze National Park. From Karpacz it is about 25 minutes by car to Sobieszów and then roughly an hour’s walk uphill; you pay for two tickets — the castle (15 PLN) and the national park (11 PLN, as of September 2026).
How do you plan a trip from Karpacz to Chojnik?
Sobieszów is about 17 km from central Karpacz, roughly 25 minutes by car. From there you continue on foot: the climb to the castle usually takes about an hour, plus time for the visit and the walk down. Last entry is 30 minutes before closing, and in winter the castle closes at 16:00.
What will you see?
The hilltop holds the ruins of a stone castle built in the 1350s. Chojnik hill is part of Karkonosze National Park, and the castle tower offers a wider view than the courtyard. Karczma Chojnik at the top serves coffee, home-cooked meals and cakes, and the castle hosts historical events such as knights’ tournaments — dates are on the official website (opens in a new tab) (in Polish).
Which trail should you take?
- Red — about 1.9 km with about 254 m of ascent, gentler. Signposts say 30 minutes; in practice it takes about an hour.
- Black — about 1.6 km with about 247 m of ascent, steeper. Signposted 45 minutes, realistically also about an hour.
Can you go with children?
Yes, but the path is rocky, so leave the pushchair behind and bring a baby carrier. Children under 7 enter the national park free.
What can you combine it with?
Sobieszów and Cieplice are both districts of Jelenia Góra, so after the castle you can easily stop at the Termy Cieplickie thermal baths before heading back to Karpacz.
