Things to do in Český Krumlov: the castle, the river and slow lanes
Český Krumlov is a small riverside town under a large castle, and two days is plenty. You can walk across the whole old center in ten minutes, so the days go on the castle, the river and the evenings. The one thing to know is timing: tour groups fill the lanes from mid-morning to late afternoon, and the town is at its best before and after them.
The short answer
- First trip
- Come for one night, not a day trip. Climb the castle tower early, walk the lanes in the evening, and take the river on day two.
- Where to stay
- Inside the loop of the river for atmosphere, on the Latrán side or near the bus station for a lower bill.
- How many days
- Two days is right. A single day works but you will share the lanes with every tour group.
- Best time to go
- May, June and September. December for the Christmas market. Midsummer is the busiest.
- Book ahead
- The castle's guided tours and the Baroque Theatre in summer, and the revolving auditorium in the castle gardens.
- From the airport
- There is no airport. From Prague airport, a direct coach takes about 3 hours 45 minutes, or go via Prague by bus or train.
Where to stay in Český Krumlov, in brief
Vnitřní Město (Inner Town)
the old lanes and the main square
The island inside the river bend, with the main square and the castle a few minutes away. It is the prettiest base and the dearest. Cobbles are rough on wheeled bags, and some streets are loud on summer evenings.
Latrán
the castle side and the brewery
The district on the castle approach, across the river from the Inner Town. Quieter than the square, and a short walk from the castle gate, the brewery and the bus station.
Plešivec
a quiet hillside
The hill on the south side of the Inner Town, with small pensions on narrow lanes. Calm at night. It is a climb, and the lanes are steep and cobbled.
Near the bus station and Horní Brána
lower prices and easy arrivals
The eastern edge of the old town, with the bus station and the Horní Brána gate. Less charming, usually cheaper, and about ten to fifteen minutes from the square on foot.
Things to do in Český Krumlov
Český Krumlov Castle and its tower
A large castle on a rock above the river, with five courtyards, a painted round tower and a bridge over a moat where bears live. The courtyards are free to enter. Inside rooms are shown on guided tours, and the tower is a separate climb with a view over the roofs.
a few days ahead in summer
The castle gardens
A formal garden behind the castle with fountains, long paths and a view back at the tower. It is the quietest big space in town and a good place to be at the end of a hot afternoon.
The Cloak Bridge and the bear moat
The covered bridge carries the path from the castle to the gardens, high over a drop. The moat below holds brown bears, which many visitors feel mixed about. Look, then move on.
Náměstí Svornosti and the old lanes
The main square has a plague column, a town hall and painted houses. The better walking is in the side lanes, such as Horní and Široká, once the day groups have thinned out.
The Baroque Theatre
A castle theater with original 18th-century stage machinery that still works. It is shown on a limited guided tour only, and places are few.
several weeks ahead in summer
The revolving auditorium
An open-air theater in the castle gardens where the whole audience turns on a platform to follow the scenery. It runs in summer only. Take a layer, as evenings are cool.
a week or more ahead
Rafting and canoeing on the Vltava
The river loops through the town, and from spring to autumn you can paddle or raft it past the old town and out into the country. Expect some queues at the weir in July and August.
a day or two ahead in summer
The Eggenberg brewery
A brewery on the castle side of the river with a pub on site. It runs tours at set times, which you can check on the day.
Egon Schiele Art Centrum
A gallery in a former brewery building, with work by the Austrian painter who lived briefly in the town. Worth an hour on a wet afternoon.
Church of St Vitus and the view from Plešivec
A Gothic church in the Inner Town, and a hillside lane a few minutes' climb away with a good view back over the roofs, the tower and the river.
What to book before you go
These sell out. Most of the rest of Český Krumlov can be decided on the day.
Every tour and ticket in Český Krumlov, and which to pick- Castle guided toursa few days ahead in summer
Interiors are shown on tours with a language and a time, and weekends in July and August fill.
- Baroque Theatre tourseveral weeks ahead in summer
Group sizes are small, so it is the first thing to sell out.
- Revolving auditorium ticketsa week or more ahead
Summer performances with good seats go early.
What to skip in Český Krumlov
- The middle of the day in July and August
Coaches arrive from Prague and Vienna in the morning, and the lanes and the bridge are crowded until late afternoon. Do the sights early and use the middle of the day for lunch or the river.
- Menus in six languages on the main square
The food is average and the prices are for a captive crowd. Walk five minutes to a pub in a side lane.
- A day trip in one afternoon
Arriving at noon and leaving at five means the busiest hours and none of the calm. Stay one night if you can.
Best time to visit Český Krumlov
May, June and September are best: warm days, the river open for paddling and the gardens at their best. December has a Christmas market on the main square, from late November into early January.
July and August are the busiest, with the longest queues. Winter is cold and quiet, and some attractions and the river trips close, but the castle and the lanes look good under frost.
- From PragueThe bus is the simplest way: services run from Prague and take about 2 hours 40 minutes to 3 hours. A train usually means a change at České Budějovice, so check the times on the day.
- From Prague airportFlixBus runs a direct coach from the airport to the main bus station in about 3 hours 45 minutes, a few times a day. Check the times, as the first and last services are far apart.
- From Linz and ViennaThe routes go through České Budějovice or by direct coach. Check which suits you, as the connections change by season.
- On footThe whole old town is walkable in about ten minutes end to end. The train station is about 2 km north of the center, so take a bus or taxi from there.
Český Krumlov in two days
- Day 1
The castle courtyards and tower early, the gardens and the Cloak Bridge, lunch in the old town, then the lanes of Latrán and the brewery. Dinner in a pub.
- Day 2
A morning on the river by canoe or raft, then the Egon Schiele Art Centrum or St Vitus. Finish with the view from Plešivec before the bus.
Day trips from Český Krumlov
- České BudějoviceThe regional city, about 30 to 45 minutes away by bus, with a very large square, arcades and the home town of Budweiser Budvar beer.
- Hluboká CastleA white fairy-tale castle near České Budějovice, reached by a short extra bus ride. Combine it with the city in one day.
- Lipno Treetop WalkA wooden walkway in the forest by Lipno lake, around an hour away. Better for families and in warm months.
Český Krumlov: questions people ask
How many days do you need in Český Krumlov?
Two days is enough for the castle, the lanes and a morning on the river. One day works, but you will share the town with the day groups.
Is Český Krumlov worth visiting?
Yes, if you like small old towns and are happy to share them in summer. It is very pretty, and the best hours are early morning and evening.
Can you do Český Krumlov as a day trip from Prague?
Yes, by bus in about three hours each way. It makes a long day with a lot of travel, and an overnight stay is much better.
What is the best time to visit Český Krumlov?
May, June and September. December if you want the Christmas market.
Is Český Krumlov expensive?
It costs more than the rest of rural South Bohemia and a little less than Prague. Pubs are cheap if you walk off the main square.
How do you get around Český Krumlov?
On foot. There are no trams or metro, and the old town is small. A taxi helps from the train station or with heavy bags.
Do I need cash in Český Krumlov?
Most places take cards. Czechia uses the koruna, not the euro, so use a bank cash machine for small sums.