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A Prague to Cesky Krumlov day trip is highly recommended when visiting the Czech Republic. Having heard and read about the beauty of Cesky Krumlov, we decided to check out this indeed quite a beautiful city that is located in the South Bohemia region of the Czech Republic. The biggest draw of Cesky Krumlov is its behemoth 13th-century castle (Cesky Krumlov Castle) which was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1992. We had to see for ourselves if it was worth all the hype.
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Cesky Krumlov Day Trip By Bus From Prague:
I didn’t have much hope after my disappointment with Prague itself. Cesky Krumlov day trip from Prague it was though, after ruling out Kutna Hora. We actually did a couple of day trips from Prague (Cesky Krumlov and Dresden, Germany) and both day trips were done via bus after careful consideration.
ย Prague to Cesky Krumlov: you have several options:
Prague to Cesky Krumlov: By Train
Taking a train from Prague to Cesky Krumlov makes sense and one would assume it would be a faster journey. As always, we checked the man in Seat 61 website for train departure times. If you’re not familiar with the man, you need to be. It’s a treasure trove of information on all train transport, in plain English and easy links to purchase your tickets. 2 things stopped me from booking our Cesky Krumlov day trip by train.
- The journey time was just a bit longer than by bus. Go figure. Train time was 3.5 hours on average and most required a change of train which didn’t appeal to me.
- Once in Cesky Krumlov, there is a bit of distance to get to the center, requiring a taxi to complete the journey, adding even more time and cutting into your day trip.
Prague to Cesky Krumlov Day Tours:
There are plenty of private tour companies that do daily tours from Prague to Cesky Krumlov. We recommend GetYourGuide as we have used them personally in the past including visits to Auschwitz Camp and Porto. Sometimes, you just want to pamper yourself and not worry about buses and trains. It’s nice to be picked up from your hotel, shuttled to Cesky, and be dropped back at your hotel.
Getting from Prague to Cesky Krumlov via car:
Driving to Cesky Krumlov from Prague takes about 3 hours over a distance of 172 kilometers. It would be a great way to see the beautiful scenery up close as you could obviously travel at your own pace. If you intend of driving, you can save up to 30% on your car rental worldwide.
Cesky Krumlov from Prague by Shuttle Bus:
This was by far the best option for us, all things considered. There are two major bus operators that l considered.
- Student Agency Bus Prague to Cesky Krumlov. The name is misleading, the bus is for everyone, and not just students (I think they get a discount though, along with seniors). I wouldn’t have minded using them as l have heard good things overall. It is operated by Regiojet, but there was no available tickets for our departure time.
- Flixbus. This was our first time using Flixbus, even though l’d seen their green buses all over the world it seems. They had seats for us at the time we desired, so it was a no brainer. The journey time from Prague to Krumlov was 2 hrs, 55 minutes. The Prague to Cesky Krumlov bus ride was okay and the scenery serene. We had USB ports to plug in our headphones and read/listen to music. The bus was full. The seats were okay, but l would imagine, not very comfortable for someone over 6 feet tall. There was plenty of space for luggage and we brought our own snacks. The best part was that the Flixbus station, Prague Andel,ย was just about a 6-minute walk from our hotel called La Boutique (a very nice hotel and centrally located), a happy coincidence. The cost per person was โฌ6.50 ($7.50) each way, so a very good deal, the train would have been โฌ10.50 per person each way, plus another โฌ5 or so for a cab. I was impressed and would recommend Flixbus. I think this was definitely the best way to travel from Prague to Cesky Krumlov.
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Upon arrival at the Cesky Krumlov bus station (which was just really an open field), all you had to do was walk up a little path up the hill to get your first breathtaking view of the city. It is simply spectacular and l am sure there are plenty of postcards sold with that view.
Related Reading: Prague Highlights
Cesky Krumlov: a little history
Cesky means Bohemian. The name Krumlov is supposedly derived from the German Krumbe Ouwe which translates to “crooked meadow” after a bend in the Vitara River which runs through the city. The castle which dominates the center was built around 1240 by a noble family. After that noble line ended, King Wenceslaus II gave the town and castle to another family, the Rosenbergs.
Most of the inhabitants were German, having migrated from Germany and Austria. The Czechs were a minority. The city was declared to be part of German-Austria. It wasn’t until after WWII that the Germans were expelled and the city returned to Czechoslovakia. The city fell into ruins, pretty much like everywhere during the Communist rule, but after the non-violent revolution which happened in 1989, most of the city has been restored to its past glory. The UNESCO designation cemented its place as a must-visit destination in the Czech Republic.
Things to do in Cesky Krumlov in 1 day:
Visit ฤeskรฟ Krumlov Castle:
Cesky Krumlov Castle is the most popular attraction in the city. The UNESCO site and its garden complexes (Rococo style) is beautiful and might be worth exploring via a tour. We didn’t do this because l am now very familiar with castles and gardens and palaces and didn’t really have much of an interest in seeing this one. We had just been to a couple of castles in Vienna :-). It’s fun looking at the mixture of Gothic and Baroque designs of the castle though. You can imagine what it must have been like in the old days. You can find admission times and tour prices here.
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Klastery Cesky Krumlov:
14th-century monastery complex. There is a chapel inside that looks really nice from pictures. Fairs are held in this square sometimes and there are craft classes for kids. The regular admission price is about $4.
Church of St Vitus:
A small church that is just okay in my book. There was a pretty angry woman outside that was so rude to people, saying not to take photographs inside and yelling at some guy in a hat :-). Federico was like “screw it, I’m not going in” and together with another couple of guys stayed outside while my curiosity got the better of me and the other wives and we went in. It was okay. Worth a quick look l guess, and it’s free.
Tour the Eggenberg Brewery:
This is worth doing if you’re a beer lover. Beer brewing is a big part of Cesky Krumlov life and this one has been in existence since 1630. The tour will show you how beer is brewed and you get to taste it. I’ve previously done brewing tours of microbrewery beer as well as wine, so it didn’t hold a big draw for us.
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Walk the historic center:
This was by far our favorite part. It was really nice walking down the streets through the center even though it was crowded. We found that most of the crowds were in the main square (Svornosti) and just a bit beyond. A lot of the buildings date back to the 14th century, including the Town Hall. Walking even further, the crowd drops way, way down and we were able to enjoy the serenity of the medieval city. There are plenty of cafes, ice cream shops etc.
Vitara River Rafting:
Weather permitting of course. There were plenty of people doing just that when we visited. A pleasant way to pass the time during your Cesky Krumlov 1 day itinerary.
Shopping in Cesky Krumlov:
In addition to the plenty of souvenir and high end shops in the old center, there was also a small arts and craft market that is worth visiting. Sellers had on offer lots of handmade objects and artwork and welcomed haggling.
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Eat and drink in Cesky Krumlov Old Town:
Off the main street, there are also plenty of restaurants with both indoor and outdoor seating. Sample various cuisine, we saw Italian, traditional Czech and even Asian restaurants. We ended up at a pizzeria, which was very good actually. We must have been super hungry as neither one of us took pictures of the pizza. We also had drinksย at a bar whose name l forgot..something like theater or playbill or something like that. It was attached to a hotel. Very cool interior.
Tips for visiting Cesky Krumlov:
- Wear comfortable shoes. You do a lot of walking, sometimes up lots of stairs, for example the St Vitus church has quite a few steps leading up to it. Cobblestones are not your friend in high heels.
- Get your souvenirs here. The prices were actually very reasonable considering how touristy Krumlov is. I can’t say the same for the high end stores though, from the prices in the window, they are even more costly than other places in Europe, which was surprising to me!
- Bring Cash !!!!! Believe it or not, most of the restaurants are cash only! No signs of course and it might be a shock when it’s time to pay. We chatted up a woman who was “held hostage” as she put it, while her husband went in search of an ATM. We all tend to assume that everyone, everywhere takes credit/debit cards, but it’s not so here. Federico of course, had to ask why this was so and was told that the cables for the fibra could not penetrate the walls. BS of course as the shops all take credit cards! ๐ . Cash in hand = undeclared profit. Talking to a couple of people on the bus ride back to Prague from Cesky Krumlov, (including a Jehovah Witness woman who then proceeded to talk my head off and hand me leaflets :-(), we found others had the same experience.
- Use the app if going by bus. We downloaded the Flixbus app, purchased and downloaded our tickets for a painless day trip.
- If you’re smart, bring along aย jersey you can wrap around your waist or a travel raincoat, or like me, a shawl that folds in my bag. Even though it was summer time, it was cold one minute, raining the next and sunny the next!
- Book a day or two in advance as seats on the bus fill up fast.
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At the end of the day, it was just as easy to get back to the bus station. Our Flixbus arrived on time and soon, we were on our way. The tripย back from Cesky Krumlov to Prague was uneventful. Another crowded bus with lots of people chattering about the beauty of Krumlov. Very nice indeed.
Is Cesky Krumlov worth the hype and praise heaped upon it?
Yes! In our opinion, definitely. It is a gorgeous town with stunning views and architecture and I would go as far as to say this is one of the most amazing day trips from Prague that you should do.
Is Cesky Krumlov worth an overnight stay?
In my book, truthfully no. A day trip to Cesky Krumlov is well worth it, and you can keep yourself occupied for a few hours. We were sort of bored by the end of the day. We could have spent a couple of hours less than we did and be perfectly okay. If you’re into water rafting, I could see an overnight stay to get another day in. If you did a full tour of the Cesky Krumlov castle for instance (which could take hours), you might feel rushed and an overnight stay might be worth it.
Despite the fact that it is always crowded, it was bearable. I’ve heard that Cesky Krumlov at night is pretty cool, with most of the tourists having departed, but l think you can get that same sort of wow factor in Prague and other parts of the Czech Republic. Click to find the best hotels in Cesky Krumlov if you so desire. We had friends who stayed in Cesky Krumlov for a few nights and highly recommend the Pension Krasne Udoli.
Prague to Cesky Krumlov Day Trip: The Wrap Up:
Cesky Krumlov makes for one of the best Prague day trips, so if you can fit it in to your Prague itinerary, I would do it. It’s a UNESCO site , and for good reason. It is beautiful, unique and just perfect for a day out from Prague. The pace is much slower than in Prague so for older or mellow people looking just to chill out and soak in the atmosphere, it’s worth spending an extra day.
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Have you been to Prague? If yes, did you visit Cesky Krumlov? If so, what did you think of it? If not, does it look and sound like a worthy visit?
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Thx for this interesting post about Cesky Krumlov. I’ve not yet been to the Czech Republic, so it is all news to me.
Thanks for reading Doreen. I think you might like it here, even though l don’t remember seeing any chocolate stores. ๐
Cesky Krumlov was one of the cities we visited on my recent tour of South Bohemia. I’d been wanting to see that fairytale town for a long time, and I was not disappointed. Stunning!
I’ve read some of your posts on your latest travels through South Bohemia. Good stuff. Glad you liked Cesky Krumlov too.
What a beautiful town! I personally never heard of it before and even though it seems to be chock full of tourists, it’s exactly the type of place I like. Being so close to Prague makes everything so much more convenient.
PS: Even before reading the caption of the photo where Federico is looking at the pizzeria I knew that it was target locked and ready to engage ๐
Haha! You know Federico well. You of course know that once again, he got the margherita pizza.. haha! Yeah.. he was like pretending to consider other options :-). Cesky Krumlov is indeed beautiful and l liked it so much better than Prague. Prettier, but had substance which l found was lacking in the former.
We spent a few days here and just loved it. Iโll never forget our first view of the city and castle after lugging bags up a hill from where the bus left us off – magical. We just wandered around, explored back alleys and visited some churches. Quite romantic.
We also took a day trip from Prague to Kutna Hora. That Bone Church was quite amazing.
Always enjoy your posts.
Glad to hear you guys enjoyed Cesky Krumlov as well. It really is pretty and ye..one of the few places that is just as gorgeous as people say it is. It is definitely romantic and l can assume you guys acted like teenagers.. LOL! I considered Kutna Hora, but the thought of seeing all those bones really didn’t sound appealing to me. I am rather squeamish for such a big mouth :-).
So many great recommendations in one post. We have used the Man in Seat 61 many times, and will now add Flixbus to our list of good ideas for transportation. We found out the hard way that not every city in the world appreciates plastic when we were in Hamburg, Germany a few months ago. BS is right! And the shoes, girl, the shoes are sooooo important. We have had this conversation before – GO WALKS are the only way to go.
Your photos are stunning, as always. I have several favorites, including the rafts on the river and the merchant stand, but I love the artistry of the coffee shop photo. I love how just a little bit of rain brings out the colors of an already colorful city. I keep saying we must return to Prague and now you have given me one more reason. Seems like the options for day trips are endless. Pinning for later.
Man in Seat 61 definitely has the best information and can help you sort out the best prices. I always use it when it has to do with a train. It must have been a shock in Hamburg for you. I kind of understand it, but at least they should give you the option, and more importantly have it on their menu that it is cash only. Your recommendation for the Go Walk was spot on and l love the addition to my footwear. I added it to that post too because l really think everyone should have a pair..haha! I was in London with some of my sisters these past couple of weeks and 2 of them bought some for themselves :-).
Thanks for the compliment. I get mad sometimes when he stops to take pictures, but l am always glad the way they turn out. We have to split the compliment..the stand is mine and the rest is his. I have gotten lazy lately and refuse to carry my camera when he takes his :-). Haha! I need every inch of my small carry on :-).
Thanks for that advice- I NEVER carry cash. I might still have been held hostage by Cesky Krumlov when you visit next, had you not warned me. ๐
Haha! That wouldn’t be good.. being held hostage. The people at the next table to us were all scrambling to come up with the cash needed. It really should be made known before you eat :-).
Your post has me even more excited than I have been. I’m in Czech for a month, Nov 13 to Dec, staying in Mฤlnรญk. So many wonderful places to see ๐ mostly by bus, but my Airbnb has a car to rent. It looks gorgeous, love love love your photos, and I’ll go in the castle and let you know if you missed anything ๐
Glad to hear it Paula. I have to check out Melnik. I think l would probably enjoy other places not Prague so l think if we go back, I would stay elsewhere and just do a day trip to Prague maybe for a return visit to that Technical museum which l really loved. I think it’s been my favorite museum so far. The bus is so cheap, but it’s nice that you have a car as well. Oh good, I’ll be happy to hear your thoughts on the castle. I’m sure it’s nice and from the pictures l’ve seen of the gardens, it would be nice to spend some time there. Thanks for the compliment :-).
Charming place, I would definitely like to visit it. I have not yet made it to Prague so this one day trip will be on my list. I like bus road trips since you can see and experience a country so much better. We did a lot of bus trips in our recent trip to Peru. Great photos and so many good tips, I will be keeping this post for future reference ๐
I like bus and train trips too. You don’t have to worry about luggage allotment for instance and you just show up minutes before your trip. Less hassle..plus like you say, you get such beautiful scenery. I’m sure Peru must have been a colorful one. I’m glad you feel like the tips will be of use :-).
Interesting that going to Cesky Krumlov by bus was the best option. Although 3-12 hours by train sounds good to me, too. I’ve been to Prague twice. Didn’t get a chance either time to travel outside of the city. Looks like many reasons to put Cesky Krumlov on the itinerary next time. Beautiful place.
I know right! I assumed the train would be faster, but l think because it’s a small city, like 8 square miles, there was no way to build the line within city limits. It is indeed a nice little place and l hope you put it on your itinerary for next time ๐ :-).
We’re stopping here for an overnight on our way to Prague in a few weeks. Looking forward to it more now after reading your post. Thanks for the insights and review, and nice photos.
I think you would enjoy Cesky Krumlov very much. I liked it much better than l thought l would. Thanks for the compliment and l hope you have a wonderful trip :-).
I’d definitely spend some time walking the historic center Kemkem. My fave thing to do; stroll around a city for a few hours when I arrive to get the lay of the land, to find my bearings. Super images and fabulous post!
Ryan
That is also one of our favorite things to do. Checking out the town and people. It’s always fun. Thanks for reading as always :-).
Cesky Krumlov is one of my all time favorite Renaissance cities. My jaw actually dropped open when I saw the castle towering above me. I too took a bus to Cesky Krumlov and the scenery on the way was lovely. I never mind a bus trip if there’s beautiful scenery, interesting things to see or someone to talk to. I really enjoyed revisiting this beautiful city. Thank you!!
Glad to hear you’re a fan of Cesky Krumlov. I definitely liked it better than Prague. Yeah.. Federico was walking ahead of me up the hill and was like wow! you gotta see this. I like bus trips as well, as long as l have something to read or music to listen to. The scenery is always interesting. So happy to hear the post brought back good memories :-).
Unfortunately, didn’t make it to Cesky Krumlov on my visit to the CZ Rep thus summer but will definitely go there next time I go back
I hope you do get there on your next visit. I think it’s definitely worth it ๐
Nice post, we enjoyed Cesky Krumlov when we visited a few years ago. Great views from all over the castle and there were lots of people canoeing on the river. Do you know that an informal greeting in the Czech Republic is “Ahoy”? As if they were from a seafaring tradition. It struck us as funny walking by the river and hearing those usually reserved Czechs yelling “Ahoy” from their dingys.
Its a really touristy town though, one of the most touristy in the Czech Republic. We were surprised by the Asian tour groups. Argg. I imagine it’s even more touristy now than i used to be.
Thanks Frank. I agree with the amazing views from just about anywhere in the town. We heard people saying “Ahoy” but l just assumed they were tourists, I had no idea it was a greeting by the locals. Good to know! It definitely is touristy, but it was still surprisingly okay to deal with which is what one can hope for. I was surprised by how much l liked it. I didn’t have too much hope :-).
Cesky Krumlov definitely lives up to the hype and more! Despite the multitude of tourists, we found it to be a total delight and had fun spending a couple of days there exploring the area. As usual, your photos are terrific and I enjoyed revisting this magical city in your post. Anita
Yep! It definitely does. It was a pleasant surprise and so postcard beautiful. It’s true, even with all the people, you felt unrushed. I’m glad it brought back good memories for you. It really is a great little city. I remember you stayed in a great pension and loved it.