The Giant Mountains — known in Polish as Karkonosze and in Czech as Krkonoše — are the highest range in the Sudetes and the entire Czech Republic, forming a dramatic natural border between Poland and the Czech Republic. Think windswept ridges, glacial cirques, and highland meadows blanketed in fog one moment and dazzling sunshine the next — this is a range with real personality.

Stretching roughly 40 km from the Szklarska Pass in the west to the Lubawska Pass in the east, the main ridge rewards hikers with sweeping panoramas, ancient peat bogs, and granite rock formations sculpted over millennia. The landscape shifts constantly — dense spruce forests give way to open subalpine grasslands, and hidden waterfalls tumble through narrow gorges. Whether you come in summer or winter, the mountains never feel ordinary.

• Śnieżka / Sněžka (1603 m) — the highest peak in both the Sudetes and Czech Republic, topped by a striking UFO-shaped meteorological station.
• Szrenica (1362 m) — a superb viewpoint above Szklarska Poręba, doubling as a popular ski resort in winter.
• Pielgrzymy Rock Formation — a cluster of granite tors rising up to 25 m, one of the most photogenic spots in the range.
• Kamieńczyk Waterfall — the tallest waterfall in the Polish Sudetes at 27 m, an easy walk from Szklarska Poręba.

• Best time to visit: June–September for long days and flowering meadows; February–March for skiing and snowy ridge walks.
• Base towns: Szklarska Poręba (west), Karpacz (central/east), Jelenia Góra (transport hub).
• Trail difficulty: ranges from easy family walks to more demanding ridge traversals — suitable for all fitness levels.
• Getting there: by car from Wrocław (approx. 1.5 h) or Prague (approx. 2 h); by train to Jelenia Góra, then bus or minibus to Karpacz or Szklarska Poręba.

The Giant Mountains are a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve, and according to local legend, the mountain spirit Rübezahl — a mischievous giant — still roams the ridges, keeping a watchful eye on careless visitors.