If you visit Prague and in search of a day trip outside of Czech Republic’s capital city, then chances are you will be recommended Český Krumlov.
It was such a debate to decide if we should visit Český Krumlov as a day trip from Prague. I’ve heard people say it’s too overrated and touristy (even though the same is often said about Prague.) So we decided to see what it’s like for ourselves and made room for Český Krumlov on our Czech Republic trip.
About
Český Krumlov is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is located in the South Bohemian region of the Czech Republic and is one of the most visited towns in the country outside of Prague. This charming Czech town is known for its real life fairytale architecture and huge castle which dominates the landscape.
The Vltava River runs through it, which makes it an even more appealing destination for visitors who enjoy scenic views and outdoor activities.
I first learned about Český Krumlov many years ago on an old Rick Steves’ Europe episode when it was much less visited by tourists compared to now.
Getting There
By Bus – At the time, taking a bus was the easiest, cheapest and most direct way to get to Český Krumlov and back to Prague for a day trip. Depart from Prague’s bus terminal (Na Knížecí) then get off at the final stop (Český Krumlov- AN bus terminal) and walk right into town. It’s about a 15 minute walk but it took us a little longer because we stopped to take so many pictures and videos on our way into the town’s center.
On your walk, make sure you stop at this scenic lookout point where you will get a panoramic view of the city.
The bus company we used was RegioJet. It was about a 3 hour bus ride. We took an early morning departure at 7a from Prague and arrived by 10a so we could have enough time to spend in Český Krumlov that day.
By Train – We looked into taking a train but the departure and arrival schedule didn’t allow us to spend an entire day in town (it gave us maybe only 4 hours had we taken the train.) The train is good if you intend on staying overnight or a few days.
Lunch With A View
We literally ate twice at the same restaurant so you know we must think it is a good food spot! We ate at lunch and came back for dessert at Krčma U dwau Maryí (Tavern of the Two Maries also called ‘The Two Marys’ when you Google it.)
I’m so excited to talk about this restaurant! We loved the location because it sits along the riverbank of the Vltava River. You have the option to dine inside their beautiful medieval tavern or you can dine outside at one of its picnic style tables. When we went for lunch, we shared a table with a young couple but for dessert it was just Meshach, Tristan and myself.
The Two Marys serve traditional food from the Middle Ages. I can’t remember the names of the dishes we ordered, but I remember it tasting really good.
This is also where we tried Viennese coffee for the very first time and became obsessed with it for the rest of our trip. It’s such an addictive drink!
Legend has it that the Viennese citizen Georg Franz Kolschitzky (1640 – 1694) was given leftover bags of coffee beans that were abandoned by the Turks at the end of the Siege of Vienna. He added milk and sugar to the coffee to create a sweet and pleasant taste.
Viennese coffee uses espresso, whipping cream and chocolate (sometimes with cinnamon too.) In my opinion, it’s a nice beverage to drink as a dessert or with a sweet treats.
Tristan obviously didn’t drink the coffee but he enjoyed eating the whipped topping.
Svornosti Square
This is the main square in Old Town where the Town Hall is located. There are also fountains, and a stone plague column serving as a commemoration for the plague victims and survivors during the Black Plague. This square is also very busy with tourists but worth a look.
Lazebnický Bridge
Lazebnický most (Lazebnický Bridge) is a wooden bridge that connects the Old Town and Český Krumlov Castle in Český Krumlov. Tristan was in pure awe of the Crucifixion Statue of Jesus on the bridge (and many others on this trip.)
From here, you can get a beautiful view of the castle complex. I can still remember the sound of the Vltava River gently flowing underneath our feet as we walked across the bridge. I miss traveling!
Český Krumlov Castle
Did you know that Český Krumlov Castle is the second largest castle complex in the Czech Republic? Prague Castle is the first largest.
The castle was built in 1240 by the Lords of Krumlov (the Vítkovci family), the main branch of the powerful Rosenberg family. The Rosenberg family inherited the castle after the Lords of Krumlov died out.
Pictured above is Český Krumlov Tower. We climbed a few towers on our trip but skipped this one because of the amount of people and the cost to get into the castle for a tour. BUT you can have just as much fun exploring the exterior castle grounds for FREE and get an amazing view from the castle’s Cloak Bridge.
You can also spend time exploring the beautiful castle gardens. I’m pretty sure we could’ve spent most of the day just exploring the castle grounds if we had the time to do it.
3D Museum
This isn’t typically what you’d see on a list of things to see and do in Český Krumlov. This is a fun, and quirky museum great for families or if you want to do something a little off the beaten path while you’re in town.
The 3D Museum isn’t very big and it’s more set up like art exhibits that you can interact with via pictures. It’s very hands on. You are encouraged to take as many photos with the exhibits and you can touch them unlike many other museums.
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Did you know Albert Einstein has very strong ties with the Czech Republic? He was a professor in Prague from 1911 – 1912. It was in this city, when he worked on his general theory of relativity, later published in 1916. He also wrote theoretical papers that spanned from topics about gravitation, to thermodynamics and quantum physics!
This one is one of my favorites from the museum. The bathroom stalls are hilarious and apparently it made Tristan feel embarrassed as you can see by his facial expression in this picture!
Moldavite Museum
At this museum, you will find these green, cosmic rocks called moldavites. A moldavite is a gem formed by a meteorite impact. They truly are out of this world (no pun intended!)
We’ve been told at the museum that Moldavite is found only in the Czech Republic. These gems were from an asteroid impact that crashed 15 billion years ago. The Czech name for moldavite is Vltavín. It originated from the Moldau River (Vltava River). Moldau is the German name of the river.
There are educational interactive exhibits. Our favorite was the asteroid impact simulator.
A Walkable Town
I always say the best way to see a new place is simply by walking! It is very easy to get around on foot since it’s a compact town.
I’ll admit, it had its touristy moments (but Prague did too!) It got very crowded by noon but it still wasn’t too congested either and it didn’t take long to be seated at lunch (then again we didn’t go to a very tourist oriented restaurant either.) Maybe because it was around the end of summer?
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But we loved Český Krumlov. It really does have a fairytale village ambience like people say it does. And there were plenty of opportunities for us to get a view of the city from every angle we could find!
I hope you get to experience this town or any other location in the Czech Republic. It’s such a beautiful country that is rich in history and culture. Before I end this post, I want to share a few more photos from our memorable day.
Have you ever visited a place that looks or feels like something out of a fairytale story? Comment below and share this post with your friends!
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