Where to stay in Český Krumlov
Český Krumlov is so small that nowhere is more than twenty minutes on foot from the castle, so the choice is atmosphere against price. For a first visit, stay in the Inner Town, inside the bend of the river, or on Latrán just across the water at the castle gate. Plešivec suits a quiet night on a hill, and the streets around the bus station and Horní Brána are cheaper and plainer. Špičák, on the hill above the castle's north side, is the cheapest and the furthest from the old lanes.
The short answer
- First trip
- The Inner Town, or Latrán for the castle gate and a little more room.
- Couples
- The Inner Town for lamplit lanes, or Plešivec for a quiet hillside.
- Families
- Latrán or Horní Brána, with easier access and more space.
- Tight budget
- Near the bus station or Špičák, ten to twenty minutes from the square.
- Arriving by bus
- Near the bus station or Latrán, with the least dragging of bags.
How we judge an area of Český Krumlov: walking time to the castle and the square, noise at night, how you arrive, and price. Nothing on this page is paid for, and the hotels we choose will say who chose them and when they last stayed.
Český Krumlov's areas, side by side
| Area | Best for | At night | Main square | Castle | Bus station | Getting around | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inner Town (Vnitřní Město) | A first visit | Busy in the evening; quiet after about 10pm | 5 min | 5 min | 5 min | On foot; bus station 10 min | €€€ |
| Latrán | The castle gate, quieter nights | Quiet to moderate | 5 min | 5 min | 5 min | On foot; bus station 10 min | €€€ |
| Plešivec | Peace, views | Very quiet | 5 min | 10 min | 10 min | On foot; steep lanes | €€ |
| Horní Brána | Easy access, value | Quiet | 10 min | 10 min | 5 min | On foot; bus station 5 min | €€ |
| Near the bus station | Budget, arrivals | Quiet | 10 min | 10 min | 5 min | Bus station on the doorstep | € |
| Špičák | Lowest prices | Very quiet | 10 min | 5 min | 10 min | Bus stop; on foot downhill | € |
Walking times run from the middle of each area: the straight line plus a third for real streets, at an easy pace, rounded to five minutes. The town is small, so every time is short, but the lanes are cobbled and Plešivec and Špičák climb. Price is our read of a standard double in the same week, from € (cheapest) to €€€€ (dearest), until booking-site prices replace it.
Where the areas are
The Inner Town, for the lanes and the square
The island inside the river bend: the main square, the old lanes and the castle all within a few minutes' walk.
The Inner Town is the old center of Český Krumlov, a tight knot of lanes inside a loop of the Vltava. The main square, Náměstí Svornosti, the church of St Vitus and most of the pubs are here, and the castle is a short walk over the bridge. Everything on this page is within a few minutes of your door.
It is also where the day groups walk. From mid-morning to late afternoon the lanes are full, and in July and August the square is busy until dark. Streets are cobbled, and some hotels sit in old houses with narrow stairs, so check the floor and the lift. Ask about noise from the pubs below, and choose a room on a courtyard or a back lane. Prices are the highest in town.
Good for
- A first visit of one or two nights
- Walking out of the door into the old lanes
- Seeing the square early and late, away from the groups
Think twice if
- You want value: this is the dearest part of town
- You sleep lightly and the room faces a pub lane in summer
- Cobbles or stairs are hard for you or your bags
Staying in Inner Town (Vnitřní Město): nearby sights, food and getting around
Latrán, for the castle gate
The district at the foot of the castle approach, across the river from the Inner Town and a little quieter.
Latrán is the street and quarter that runs up to the castle from the east. It has the castle gate at one end, the Eggenberg brewery on its side and a handful of small hotels and guesthouses between them. The main square is five minutes' walk away over the bridge.
It is calmer than the square at night, though not silent on summer weekends. The street climbs toward the castle, and wheeled bags are hard work on the cobbles. The bus station is about ten minutes' walk, so arrivals are easy. Rooms are a little cheaper than the Inner Town's.
Good for
- Early starts at the castle
- The brewery pub within a short walk
- Quieter evenings than the square
Think twice if
- You want to step out into the main square
- You have trouble with slopes and cobbles
Plešivec, for a quiet night on the hill
The hillside on the south side of the town, with small pensions and some of the best roof views.
Plešivec is the hill south of the Inner Town, climbed by steep cobbled lanes. It is mostly houses and small pensions, and from the top you look across to the castle tower and down onto the roofs. It is the part of town that feels most like somewhere people live.
It is a short walk to the main square, about five minutes down, and a hard one back up with a bag. There are few places to eat on the hill itself, so dinner means walking down. The steep lanes are slippery in rain and snow. Choose it for peace and a view, and expect a climb at the end of every day.
Good for
- Quiet nights
- Views over the roofs and the tower
- Couples who like a short climb
Think twice if
- Hills, steps or wheeled bags are a problem
- You want food and bars at the door
Horní Brána, for easy arrivals
The eastern edge of the old town, by the gate that gives it its name, ten minutes from the square.
Horní Brána sits at the east end of the old town, beside the gate where the road from České Budějovice enters. The streets are a little wider and a little plainer, with guesthouses and small hotels in ordinary houses rather than old palaces.
The main square is about ten minutes' walk, and the bus station is close. It is quieter than the center at night and usually cheaper. The catch is that you step out into a road and houses rather than a medieval lane, so the setting is less special.
Good for
- Families and drivers who want an easier arrival
- A lower bill than the Inner Town
- A quieter street
Think twice if
- You want to step out into the old lanes
- You hope to be in the middle of the evening crowd
Staying in Horní Brána: nearby sights, food and getting around
Near the bus station, for the lowest prices
Plain streets by the bus station, the cheapest rooms close to the old town and about ten minutes' walk from the square.
The streets around the main bus station, on the east side, are ordinary town: car parks, shops and apartment houses, with a few guesthouses and hostels. It is not pretty, but it is flat and close, and the old town starts a short walk to the west.
You will arrive by bus here from Prague, České Budějovice and Linz, so the first and last walks are short. It is quiet at night. Prices are the lowest of the close-in areas, and it suits a short stay when you plan to spend most of the day out.
Good for
- A tight budget
- Short walks with luggage on arrival and departure
- Late arrivals or early buses
Think twice if
- You want charm outside the door
- You want evenings in the old lanes without a walk back
Staying in Near the bus station: nearby sights, food and getting around
Špičák, for the lowest prices
The hill north of the castle, with cheap rooms and a fifteen-minute walk down to the old town.
Špičák is the residential hillside north of the castle, a mix of houses, guesthouses and a bus stop on the line from České Budějovice. It has the lowest prices of these areas and the quietest evenings, and a few places have views down to the river.
The old town is about fifteen to twenty minutes away, mostly downhill on the way in and uphill on the way back. There are very few restaurants, so you eat and drink in town and walk home. It suits someone with a car or a good pair of legs who wants to spend as little as possible.
Good for
- The lowest bill
- Quiet nights
- A car or a bike
Think twice if
- You do not want to climb at the end of the evening
- You want food and bars close by
Where not to stay in Český Krumlov, and what to do instead
Every booking site lists these places to stay in Český Krumlov. We would skip them, or at least choose with care. Nobody pays a commission on a warning.
- A room over a pub on the main square or a pub lane in summer
The terraces below stay busy late on warm nights. Ask for a courtyard or back room, or stay on Latrán or Plešivec.
- A room with no lift when you have wheeled bags
Many central pensions are in old houses with steep stairs and a cobbled lane to reach them. Check the floor and the lift before you book.
- A hotel out in a village for a city break
The rate looks good until you add the daily bus or taxi. The old town is small: stay in it or beside it.
- Arriving late with no key plan
Some small pensions have no reception. Ask how you collect the key and what hour the door is staffed until.
- Parking in the old center, if you drive
Cars are limited in the historic center and the lanes are narrow. Ask the hotel where to park before you arrive.
Which area suits you
First time in Český Krumlov
The Inner Town, or Latrán for the castle gate.
Couples
The Inner Town for the lanes, or Plešivec for a quiet view.
Families with children
Latrán or Horní Brána, for easier streets and space.
A tight budget
Arriving by bus
Food and drink
The Inner Town and Latrán, within a short walk of the pubs.
Before you book a room in Český Krumlov
The practical things that decide whether a good room makes a good stay.
- The city taxČeský Krumlov charges a local accommodation fee of 50 Kč per person per night, set by the town and paid at your hotel, often on top of the price a booking site shows. Children under 18 are exempt. Ask the hotel at check-in what it will charge, as local fees can change.
- From Prague airport: direct coachFlixBus runs a direct coach from Prague airport to Český Krumlov's main bus station in about 3 hours 45 minutes. Departures are few, from early morning to early afternoon, so check the times before you fly.
- From Prague center: busBuses run from Prague, including RegioJet, in about 2 hours 40 minutes to 3 hours. Book a seat in summer, as the coaches fill.
- From Prague center: trainA train usually needs a change at České Budějovice. The train station is also about 2 km north of the old town, so you need a bus or taxi to finish. Check the times for the day you go.
- Cobbles and hillsThe Inner Town and Latrán are cobbled, and Plešivec and Špičák climb. If you carry heavy bags, choose a hotel near the bus station or on a flat street.
- Parking and liftsCars are restricted in the historic center, and many central pensions are in old houses with narrow stairs or no lift. Ask the hotel about both before you arrive.
Where to stay in Český Krumlov: questions people ask
What's the best area to stay in Český Krumlov?
The Inner Town, for a first visit: the main square, the lanes and the castle are all a few minutes' walk. Latrán is the quieter choice, at the castle gate.
Is it better to stay in the Inner Town or on Latrán?
The Inner Town if you want the lanes and the pubs at your door. Latrán if you would rather have less noise, a short walk to the castle and slightly lower prices.
Is Český Krumlov worth staying overnight?
Yes. The town is calm and at its best in the early morning and evening, when the day groups have gone. A night makes the visit much better than a day trip.
Is Český Krumlov safe to stay in?
Yes, for the most part. As in any tourist town, keep an eye on your bag in crowds and on the cobbles in the dark. Look after valuables as you would anywhere.
Can you walk everywhere in Český Krumlov?
Yes. The old town is about ten minutes across. The only effort is the slopes on Plešivec and Špičák, and the cobbles.
Where should I stay if I arrive by bus?
Near the bus station, on Horní Brána or on Latrán, all within about ten minutes' walk. The Inner Town is also close, but the cobbles add up with a bag.
How much is the city tax in Český Krumlov?
50 Kč per person per night, paid at the hotel, usually on top of the price shown online. Children under 18 do not pay.
