Český Krumlov is a fairytale town in Czechia’s Bohemia region that NEEDS a spot on your next Czech itinerary. Let me explain why…
Český Krumlov is one of the best preserved medieval towns in Europe since its architecture was never impacted by a major fire or battle. What makes this town so unique is that most of what you’ll see today is centuries old and incredibly restored, never rebuilt. After living in Cologne, which was completely destroyed during WWI, it blows my mind that there are untouched places that still exist. There is even evidence of people living in Český Krumlov as far back as the Stone Age!
As the title suggests, Český Krumlov is easily visited on a day-trip from Prague, however if you have more time to spare I would suggest spending one night in town. This will give you the opportunity to really slow down and take in everything Český Krumlov has to offer!
In this post, I’m going to show you the perfect day-trip itinerary to Český Krumlov including what to see, where to eat, and how to get there!
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How Long to Spend in Český Krumlov
I would suggest planning to have at least 6-8 hours to explore Český Krumlov on a day-trip from Prague. It will take you from 2.5 – 3 hours one way to get to Český Krumlov so plan to start out in the morning, and arrive back to Prague around dinner.
If you do have more time in your itinerary consider spending the night and combining with a trip to Ceske Budejovice.
Getting to Český Krumlov from Prague
Český Krumlov By Car
From Prague, getting to Cesky Krumlov by car takes approximately 2.5 hours (175 km) and there is parking near the city center. We typically prefer to self-drive, except this time the train tickets were a little cheaper than renting a car and there was less of a rental car hassle involved.
Český Krumlov by Train
From Prague, the first train that connect from Prague to Český Krumlov leaves around 7:50 am and arrives in Prague around 11:00 am.
To return to Prague via train, the direct connection leaves Český Krumlov around 2:00 pm which only leave you about 3 hours to explore. There are a couple train options later connecting in Ceske Budejovice which I would suggest to give yourself more time to explore.
For more availability and pricing for your dates, you can check the current time tables here.
Český Krumlov by Bus
If the restrictive train schedule leaves you wanting more time, there are also bus options with Leo Express.
Be warned that the reviews aren’t great, but in order to give ourselves a few extra hours here, we took the 5:15 pm bus from Český Krumlov and had no problems.
The Leo Express buses pick up from Český Krumlov, aut. nádr. which is not the same place as the train station, but easy to find with a quick Google search.
Český Krumlov by Tour
If you prefer to not coordinate bus or train tickets yourself, there are plenty of day-trip tours that you can book. Most of the Český Krumlov tours last 10 hours including pick up and drop off from your hotel in Prague.
If you are looking for a highly rated tour from Prague to Cesky Krumlov I can suggest the following (I know traveling can be unpredictable – so all experiences recommended can be cancelled 24-hours beforehand for a full refund):
From Prague: Český Krumlov Full-Day Trip with Tavern Lunch
From Prague: Full-Day Trip to Český Krumlov
Private Day Trip from Prague to Cesky Krumlov
The Best Time to Visit Český Krumlov
Spring in Cesky Krumlov
We visited Český Krumlov in the Spring and it was an absolutely magical time to visit. The cherry blossom trees were blooming, the weather was amazing, and perfectly blue skies. Spring and summer are going to be the high tourists months in Český Krumlov, however we never felt like the heightened crowd stopped us from doing what we wanted to do.
There are plenty of quiet corners in this town to escape into away from the crowds.
Winter in Český Krumlov
The second season that I would suggest for visiting Český Krumlov would be during winter. I can only imagine how beautiful this town is all covered in snow, walking around sipping hot chocolate.
Prague is one of the best cities to visit during the Christmas Market season in Europe, so why not also include this day-trip to Cesky Krumlov into your itinerary.
What to do in Český Krumlov
Visit the Český Krumlov Castle and Chateau
Dating back to the 1200’s the Český Krumlov Castle is a mixture of Baroque and Renaissance architecture.
There are a couple different castle tours that you can book in advance, purchase your tickets here, to see the baroque castle theatre, ornate apartments, and the Renaissance castle interior.
It is free to walk around the castle inner courtyard where you can get amazing views over the town, as pictured above, without much climbing (more on that in the next section).
In addition, the castle gardens are free to visit. Make sure to walk through the historic Cloak Bridge, a multi-arched bridge over the castle moat, with views of the castle & the old town, on the way to the castle gardens!
The castle grounds open at 9am year round, but have different closing hours based on the time of year. You can find the exact schedule of opening hours here.
Location: Zámek 59, 381 01 Český Krumlov, Czechia
Climb the Český Krumlov Castle Tower
To get that iconic view looking out onto the town of Český Krumlov, you will need to climb up the Český Krumlov Castle tower.
This was one of my favorite stops, as I love a great view, however it was extremely crowded at the top. As we visited on a day-trip, we didn’t arrive into town until around 11am to start exploring. All parts of the Český Krumlov Castle complex, including the tower, open at 9am. I would suggest visiting as early in the morning as possible to avoid the crowds, if you can.
In addition, there are 162 stone steps that you will need to climb up through the tower. There is no elevator access, which I prefer when visiting original castles. In case you are not able to make the climb, you can get a very similar view from the castle grounds.
In order to access the tower, you will need to purchase a combined castle museum and castle tower ticket in person as no online purchase is possible. However you can check out currently listed pricing here.
Location: Latrán 3, Latrán, 381 01 Český Krumlov, Czechia
See the Famous Český Krumlov Castle Bears
The history of bears in the castle moat date back to 1707. Currently, there are four bears that live in the moat around the castle grounds, Vok and Kateřina, and their two cubs Daxi and Hubert.
However, I have to warn you that actually seeing the bears could turn out to be more of a challenge than expected. Even on a beautiful sunny day in May when we visited, the bears did not come out to say hello.
Maybe we didn’t wait around for long enough, but if you are able to see the castle bear, consider yourself lucky!
If the thought of bears being kept in captivity is disturbing to you, then you can easily skip this part. I did not see the bears, so I am not able to speak to how well they are treated. They do have a designated bear keeper that looks after them just like at a zoo.
In addition, the administration of Český Krumlov castle is carrying out a renovation of the bear moat to improve the living conditions of the bears. I do not support using animals for tourism and I did not get the feeling that the bears were being kept for that purpose.
View from Park Seminární Zahrada
Make sure to stop by the free public park, Seminární Zahrada, just 2 minutes walking from the town center. Here you will find another amazing view of the Český Krumlov Castle.
Location: 381 01 Český Krumlov, Czechia
Explore by Foot or Walking Tour
One of my favorite things to do in a new city is just walk around and admire the architecture. It is almost like artwork! The soft pastels mixed with vibrant reds of the rooftops was so charming. I couldn’t put my camera away!
If you are looking for an organized walking tour, you can arrange a private walking tour of Český Krumlov.
Spend Time in the Market Square Shopping Local
If you are in Europe, then you can count on there being a main town square to explore with local shops, restaurants, cafes, and if you’re lucky a weekend market. One of my FAVORITE things to do in a new city is to find a local market to see what the specialty of the town is. And lucky for me, the specialty in Český Krumlov is massive amounts of cheese (see the photo below)!
The main town square in Český Krumlov, Svornosti Square, which dates back to the Medieval times. The buildings surrounding the square come in many different pastel colors and represent the different architectural styles through the ages.
We were here over the weekend, and were lucky enough to stumble on this market in the Svornosti Square. Enjoy some time browsing the local products ranging from foods, trinkets, and local gifts.
Location: nám. Svornosti 10, Vnitřní Město, 381 01 Český Krumlov, Czechia
Explore Český Krumlov by Wooden Boat
Just like in Prague, the water source in Český Krumlov was the main lifeblood that the city was built around. Afterall Český Krumlov translates to “crooked Meadow” in English, referring to the “S” shaped Vltava River which weaves its way around town.
One of the most highly-rated activities in Český Krumlov is to explore the city via a wooden raft river cruise. This is a small group, 50-minute boat trip down the Vltava River on a historic wooden raft.
Rafting in Český Krumlov
If you are visiting in the summer, one of the best things to do in Cesky Krumlov is to go rafting on the Vltava River. You can easily rent rafts day of from one of the companies in town or book a guided tour through their websites. The best rated rental companies near to town are:
Best Restaurants in Český Krumlov
Papa’s Living Restaurant
If you are looking for a traditional Czech meal, you must stop by Papa’s Living. We found this spot while looking for some place to sit down for lunch and let me tell you it hit the spot. We sat outside on the terrace patio overlooking the Vltava River and town – it was magical.
Location: Latrán 13, 381 01 Český Krumlov, Czechia
Můstek Beer & Burger
If you are looking for some burgers and pivo (beer in Czech), then this place is for you. One of the most highly rated restaurants in town, we did not actually eat here. However, it would be on my list to try out in the future.
Location: Masná 136, Vnitřní Město, 381 01 Český Krumlov, Czechia
Where to Stay in Český Krumlov
If you just can’t get enough of this fairytale town and want to spend a night or two here to explore more, I would highly recommend these spots in the city center to use as a home base during your stay due to their convenient location and affordable price.
Hotel OLD INN
I chose this hotel for its location and style. Located right in the town square you will not be giving up any conveniences while staying here. I have also read great things about the complimentary breakfast in the morning!
If you are interested in booking, use the buttons below to check pricing and availability on your travel dates.
Pension Adalbert
Pension Adalbert is the best rated accommodation on my list, located in between the Castle and the town square, this is another amazing location. The interiors are extremely cozy and a complimentary breakfast is served in the mornings. If you plan to come by car however, there is no parking available directly at the hotel.
If you are interested in booking, use the buttons below to check pricing and availability on your travel dates.
Hotel Ebersbach
Hotel Ebersbach is located in a historic building that had been the residence of the alchemist to the king, dating back over 400 years. The interior is extremely royal and ornate with original carved wood ceilings. There is no way you can stay here without feeling like royalty.
If you are interested in booking, use the buttons below to check pricing and availability on your travel dates.
Pension Kristian
Pension Kristian is another hotel with amazing reviews in a convenient location right near the Cesky Krumlov castle. For the price, this would honestly be my first pick of hotels to book. The interior is extremely chic, there is a terrace featuring views over the town, and breakfast available for purchase in the morning.
If you are interested in booking, use the buttons below to check pricing and availability on your travel dates.
Český Krumlov FAQs
Here are the quick tips for visiting Český Krumlov in Czechia.
What does Český Krumlov mean?
Český Krumlov translates to “crooked Meadow” in English, referring to the “S” shaped Vltava River which weaves its way around town.
Why is Český Krumlov famous?
It is famous for its historic Old Town, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the Český Krumlov Castle, the 2nd largest historic building in Czechia.
Is Český Krumlov worth visiting?
Absolutely! It is a relatively short journey from Prague to be able to experience this fairytale town.
How long to spend in Český Krumlov?
It is easily visited on a day-trip from Prague, but I would plan 6 – 8 hours to explore. However, if you have more time to spare in your itinerary I would suggest spending one night in town.
What is the typical duration of a Český Krumlov tour from Prague?
Most of the Český Krumlov tours last 10 hours including pick up and drop off from your hotel in Prague.
If you are looking for a highly rated tour from Prague to Český Krumlov I can suggest the following (I know traveling can be unpredictable – so all experiences recommended can be cancelled 24-hours beforehand for a full refund):
From Prague: Český Krumlov Full-Day Trip with Tavern Lunch
From Prague: Full-Day Trip to Český Krumlov
Private Day Trip from Prague to Cesky Krumlov
Final Thoughts!
I hope that you now have all the tools you need to plan a day trip to the fairytale town of Český Krumlov. If you are currently planning a trip to Czechia and have any questions, drop them in the comments below. For more travel inspiration and tips, follow me on Instagram for current updates.
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ooooh is luck would have it, we just solidified a road trip to Prague for this fall. Adding this to my list to see if we can squeeze in a day trip there!
Oh Prague in the fall sounds amazing! I hope you can squeeze in a trip to Cesky Krumlov, you won’t regret it!!