Český Krumlov Day Trip from Prague

Český Krumlov Old Town

Český Krumlov grew up in the Middle Ages around a sharp S-shaped bend of the Vltava, and because the town escaped both war damage and modern redevelopment, its streets look much as they did centuries ago. Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque houses with painted façades crowd around the main square, and footbridges cross the river where rafts and canoes drift by in summer. It has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1992.

How to get from Prague to Český Krumlov: it is about 170 kilometres, roughly three hours by road, and public connections are slow, so a guided day trip is the easiest option. Is Český Krumlov worth visiting? Its compact size, river setting and fairy-tale skyline make it one of the most memorable towns in Central Europe.

Český Krumlov Castle and Its Painted Tower

Above the town rises the second-largest castle complex in the Czech Republic after Prague Castle, a chain of courtyards stretching along the cliff. Its round tower, painted in the 1580s in pastel colours, is the symbol of the town. The castle belonged for centuries to the powerful Rosenberg family, then to the Eggenbergs and Schwarzenbergs, who each added their own grandeur.

On the walk you see the bear moat, where brown bears have been kept for centuries, and the Cloak Bridge, a three-level covered bridge high above a ravine. The castle also has one of the best-preserved Baroque theatres in the world. Český Krumlov Castle tickets for the interiors and the tower are not included; you can buy them at the castle, where guided interior tours run mainly from spring to autumn.

Free Time: Gardens, Viewpoints and the River

After the guided walk, you have time to explore on your own. Walk up through the castle to the terraced Baroque gardens with their fountain and summer pavilion, or climb the castle tower for the classic view over the red roofs and the bend in the river. The lanes of the Latrán quarter below the castle are full of small cafés and craft shops.

The best time to visit Český Krumlov is from May to September, when the gardens and the tower are open and the river is busy, or in December for its Christmas lights; winter days are quiet and atmospheric, though some sights close. Your guide recommends viewpoints and places for lunch, which is not included.

The Kingdom of Railways in Prague

Your trip includes a ticket to the Kingdom of Railways in Prague's Smíchov district, one of the largest model railway exhibitions in Central Europe. Hundreds of metres of track wind through miniature Czech landscapes and cities, from Prague Castle to mountain villages, with day and night cycles and interactive buttons for visitors.

The ticket can be used any day after the tour, which makes it a great rainy-day plan or a treat for children and train fans. It sits close to Anděl metro station, so getting there from the centre takes only a few minutes.