Czechia travel guide: Prague, Český Krumlov and what is beyond
Czechia (the Czech Republic) is a small country with a very good train network, and most short trips start in Prague. Add one or two other places and it becomes a different trip: a medieval river town in the south, a spa town in the west, a university city in Moravia. The one thing to know is that Prague takes most of the visitors, and the country rewards anyone who leaves it.
The short answer
- First trip
- Three or four days in Prague, then a night or two in Český Krumlov if you have a week. Prague alone is a full city break.
- How long
- Three to four days for Prague. A week to ten days adds Český Krumlov and one more region, such as Moravia or the spa towns.
- Best time to go
- May, June, September and early October are mild and not yet crowded. December is cold, but the Christmas markets are why many people come.
- Getting around
- Trains and buses connect most towns. Prague to Brno is about two and a half hours, and Prague to Český Krumlov is about three to four hours with a change.
- Money
- The currency is the Czech koruna (Kč), not the euro. Cards are taken in cities, and cash is useful in small towns and village pubs.
- Book ahead
- Prague Castle and Český Krumlov Castle interiors in summer, and any rooms in Prague in December, Easter week and weekends from May to September.
Best cities to visit in Czechia
Prague
A castle above the river, old squares, bridges and long pub evenings, all within walking distance. It suits a first visit to the country, couples, and anyone who wants a big city break on a modest budget.
Give it 3 to 4 days
Český Krumlov
A small medieval town folded into a bend of the Vltava, with a castle on a rock above it. It suits a quiet night or two after Prague, and it is best early and late, when the day trippers have gone.
Give it 1 to 2 days
Best places to visit in Czechia other than Prague
Brno and southern Moravia
Brno is the second city, with a student crowd, good coffee and wine bars, and the vineyards of the south close by. It is about two and a half hours from Prague by train.
Karlovy Vary and the spa towns
Karlovy Vary and Mariánské Lázně in the west are built around hot springs and colonnades. They are two to three hours from Prague by bus or train, and they suit a slow day or a weekend.
Kutná Hora
A silver-mining town with a large Gothic cathedral, easy as a day trip from Prague by train in about an hour.
The sandstone rock towns
Bohemian Switzerland and the Bohemian Paradise are walking country, with rock towers and forest paths. They need a car or a regional train and a bus, and suit a hiker more than a city breaker.
Olomouc
A university city in Moravia with a baroque center and far fewer visitors than Prague. It is about two hours from Prague by fast train.
Czech Republic itineraries
- Four days: Prague
Spend all four nights in Prague. Day one for the Old Town and the bridge, day two for the castle and the Lesser Town, day three for the Jewish Quarter and a pub evening, and day four for a day trip to Kutná Hora by train.
- A week: Prague and Český Krumlov
Four nights in Prague, then a bus or train south to Český Krumlov for two nights. Take the last day to return to Prague, or fly out of Vienna if you are going on into Austria.
- Ten days: Prague, Český Krumlov, Brno
Four nights in Prague, two in Český Krumlov, then a long day by train via České Budějovice or back through Prague to Brno for three nights. End with a day among the vineyards of southern Moravia before you leave.
Best time to visit Czechia
Late spring and early autumn are the easiest months: May, June, September and early October are mild, the gardens and terraces are open, and the crowds are smaller than in July and August. Summer is warm and busy in Prague and Český Krumlov, so go early to the main sights.
Winter is cold and short on daylight, but it is a good time for a city break. December has Christmas markets in most towns, and January and February are quiet and cheaper. Some castles outside Prague close or cut their hours from November to March, so check before you travel.
How to get around Czechia
- TrainsČeské dráhy is the national operator, and RegioJet and Leo Express run private services on some main lines, such as Prague to Brno and Ostrava. Fast trains are comfortable and the main lines are frequent. Book online in advance for the best fares.
- Rail passesInterrail and Eurail passes are accepted on the national network and on RegioJet within Czechia, with a free reservation required on some trains. A pass pays off only if you move every day or two, because single tickets are cheap.
- BusesBuses fill the gaps. Prague to Český Krumlov is usually quicker and simpler by direct coach than by train, which needs a change in České Budějovice.
- DrivingA car helps in the south and in the rock towns, and not at all in Prague, Brno or Olomouc. Motorways need a digital vignette, which you buy online or at a petrol station before you use them.
What to book before you go
These are the ones that sell out across Czechia. Each city guide has its own list.
- Prague Castle and Český Krumlov Castle2 to 4 weeks ahead in summer
Some interiors and guided routes sell out in high season, and the castle in Český Krumlov is by guided tour only for some routes.
- Rooms in Prague6 to 8 weeks ahead for December, Easter and summer weekends
The best-placed hotels in the Old Town and Lesser Town fill first, and prices rise sharply in the Christmas market weeks.
- Trains and coaches on long routesA few days to 2 weeks ahead
Fares on the private operators rise as seats sell, and the Prague to Český Krumlov coach can be full on Friday and Sunday.
Money, tipping and practical things
- CurrencyThe Czech koruna (Kč). Czechia is in the EU but not in the euro. Some hotels and tourist shops will take euros, at a poor rate, so pay in koruna.
- Cards and cashContactless cards are taken almost everywhere in cities. Cash is still useful in small towns, markets and village pubs. Withdraw from a bank ATM and, if asked, choose to be charged in koruna, not your home currency. Be wary of street exchange offices.
- TippingRound up the bill, or add about 10 percent in a restaurant if service was good. Tell the server the total you want to pay as you hand over cash or card.
- Tourist taxesTowns set their own accommodation fee, charged per person per night and usually collected by your hotel, often separately from the room price. Prague charges a fixed amount per night, and children under 18 are generally exempt. Check the rate with your hotel.
- EntryNon-EU visitors are registered at the border by the EU's Entry/Exit System. Whether you need a visa, and an ETIAS travel authorization once it starts, depends on your passport: check the EU's official site, travel-europe.europa.eu, before you book.
- PlugsType C and E, 230 volts. A standard European adapter works.
What to skip in Czechia
- Street money changers
Exchange offices near the main squares often take a high commission. Use a bank ATM or a bank branch instead.
- Prague as the whole country
Do not spend a whole week there. Give it three or four days, then go to Český Krumlov or Brno for a different pace.
- Trdelník as a Czech tradition
The rolled pastry sold in the Old Town is not a traditional Czech sweet. Try a koláč or a palačinka instead, or a fruit dumpling from a restaurant.
Czechia: questions people ask
How many days do you need in Czechia?
Three to four days covers Prague. Add two or three for Český Krumlov, and a week to ten days to include Brno or the spa towns. Czechia is small, so distances are short.
What is the best time to visit the Czech Republic?
May, June, September and early October. They are mild and quieter than midsummer. December is cold but has Christmas markets, and winter is cheaper.
Is Czechia the same as the Czech Republic?
Yes. Czechia is the short official English name of the Czech Republic. Both are in use, and many people still search for the Czech Republic.
What are the best places to visit in the Czech Republic other than Prague?
Český Krumlov for a medieval town, Brno for a city with fewer visitors, Kutná Hora for a day trip, and Karlovy Vary or Mariánské Lázně for the spa towns.
Does Czechia use the euro?
No. It uses the Czech koruna (Kč). Cards are widely taken in cities, and a little cash helps in small towns.
Can you travel around Czechia by train?
Yes. The main lines between Prague, Brno and Ostrava are frequent and comfortable, and branch lines reach most towns. Český Krumlov is easier by coach from Prague.
Is Czechia cheap for a city break?
It costs less than much of Western Europe, especially for food and beer outside the Prague center, though Prague hotels and Old Town restaurants can be expensive in high season.