What is true happiness? Perhaps it lies in simply stopping to take in the natural world and looking up at the sky

The Czech Republic has long held a place among the top twenty happiest countries in the world

Did you know that the United Nations declared the International Day of Happiness? Since 2013, this day has been celebrated annually to highlight the importance of happiness for our quality of life. Happiness is a fascinating and personal state of well-being and contentment, when we experience joy and positive emotions. What can we do for our own well-being and how can we feel happier? There are several ways to increase levels of serotonin, the ‘happiness hormone’.

Did you know that the Czechs are among the 20 happiest nations in the world? In the World Happiness Report 2025, the Czech Republic ranked 20th. This report assesses happiness in 140 countries worldwide every year. Finland has long held the top spot.

Take a walk through the meadows

A walk in the fresh air always lifts your spirits. There is clearly something of the ‘people of the wild’ left in us, because among our favourite places where we feel happiness, joy and fulfilment, we find beautiful countryside with sweeping views and solitary trees around the fortified settlement in Mikulčice, the Divoká Orlice valley, the meadows near Pohoří in the Šumava Mountains, or Terčino Valley near Nové Hrady. For some, happiness is also to be found in castles and châteaux; favourite spots may include Krakovec, Loket, or châteaux built ‘under the lucky Šternberk star’, such as Troja Palace in Prague.

A sense of happiness can bring you to your knees even in nameless spots somewhere in the countryside, where you stopped for a moment and then carried on. A great way to relax is to sit with a glass of wine amidst the vineyards. Or in that special corner that enchanted you in your youth, even though you’ve never found it again since.

Tips for lone wolves

Do you feel at ease on your own and enjoy moments of happiness without the surrounding crowds? It’s tricky to recommend a place on the Kudy z nudy portal as a great tip for solitary souls, but give it a go: you can be almost alone (and with a bit of luck, completely alone) whilst wandering through the mysterious Sedmihoří, in the valleys of the Novohradské Mountains, in the Bohemian Forest or on the Brdy: perhaps on the banks of the Emerald Lake below Plešivec, where you once shared your first kiss whilst out hiking.

It might be less crowded at this time of year in rock towns such as Besedice, Klokočské skály or Příhrazské skály. There shouldn’t be crowds at Čertovy hlavy in the Kokořín region either, and a trip to the rock reliefs at Kopic’s farmstead or to the fairytale-like Panská skála is also well worth it.

A view of happiness

Among the builders of observation towers, we find passionate enthusiasts who are pursuing their dreams: for example, the observation tower above the village of Salaš in Slovácko was built by a local entrepreneur at his own expense without any subsidies, and he remains anonymous. The Radost observation tower north of Plzeň, between the villages of Dobříč and Jarov, was built in a similar way: a private but freely accessible tower erected by one of the local residents. The observation tower on Krchov Hill near Přední Chlum was also built by Mr Radomil Kessl together with friends, and he named it after his mother, Milada. Another beautiful structure is that of Mr Dalimil Mika, who built the Dalimil Lookout Tower on the summit of Větrov beneath the Rychlebské Mountains. He drew inspiration for this new lookout tower from an old observation tower that once stood on the summit of Králický Sněžník.

Somewhere between heaven and earth

If you’re looking for a place where you feel closer to heaven, don’t forget Neratov. This once-abandoned spot on the Polish border, hidden in the Orlické Mountains, with the burnt-out ruins of a pilgrimage church, has today been transformed into a lively mountain village where you’ll find everything you need, including a café and a brewery. In addition, the Neratov Association is based here, with sheltered workshops, a farm and other facilities where several dozen people with intellectual disabilities have found a home. The Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary has become a symbol of the village; it miraculously survived the horrors of the Red Army and the communists and, after the revolution, rose like a phoenix from the ashes and ruins. This place also has something that attracts visitors from all over the country: a partially glazed roof. Come here and discover a story of strength, hope, life and that essential touch of luck.

Stars for good luck

There is a superstition that seeing a shooting star brings good luck. The period around the end of July and the beginning of August, when the Perseids fall, may seem a long way off, but you can easily observe the stars tonight. Instead of observatories and telescopes, we recommend a spot far from civilisation, where there is minimal light pollution and better visibility. The darkest skies in the country, where you can see thousands of shining stars instead of just a few dozen, can be found along the upper reaches of the River Jizera and around the hamlet of Jizerka, in the Beskydy Mountains around the villages of Staré Hamry and Bílá, and also in the Manětín area. So may the mere sight of the night sky bring you good luck!