Český Krumlov is one of our favorite small towns in Europe. This charming, compact town is incredibly photogenic, with winding streets, riverside views, and a fairytale castle. It’s small enough to explore in just a few hours, making it a perfect stop on a quick itinerary. To tour the town, most people either plan a Český Krumlov day trip from Prague or Vienna.
Located in Bohemia, Český Krumlov is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The town escaped the bombings in World War II, which is the reason why the old city is so well preserved and an absolute delight to walk through.
Tim and I visited Český Krumlov in April. On the day we visited Český Krumlov it was overcast and chilly, but at least it had stopped raining. We were here on a day trip, driving from Vienna to Prague.
In this guide, tour Český Krumlov in photos and learn how to plan your day trip, whether you are staying in Prague or Vienna, or if you want to do what did, and spend a few hours in town as you travel between Vienna and Prague.
Best Things to Do on a Český Krumlov Day Trip
Go for a Stroll in the Old Town. Strolling the city streets, photographing the colorful buildings, and walking along the Vltava River is the #1 thing to do in Český Krumlov.
Explore Český Krumlov Castle. Dominating skyline, Český Krumlov Castle is the second-largest castle complex in the Czech Republic, after Prague Castle. It dates back to 1253 and its unique is guarded by bears. Don’t miss climbing the castle tower for panoramic views of the town and the Vltava River.
Visit the Castle Gardens. Next to the castle, the gardens are perfect for a leisurely walk or a relaxing picnic.
Visit the Church of St. Vitus. This Gothic church, constructed between 1407 and 1438, is another prominent feature of the town’s skyline. Inside, you’ll find stunning frescoes and a richly decorated nave.
Museum Fotoalelier Seidel. This 20th century photography museum features historical photographs. Visitors can also have their photo taken, while wearing costumes from the 20th century.
Visit the Egon Schiele Art Centrum. For art lovers, this is not to be missed. On display are works of art by Picasso, Dalí, and Klimt.
Phototour of Český Krumlov
Souvenir houses for sale
Walking through the city streets
Tim picked out our restaurant for lunch, Bolero, which was a small place overlooking the Vltava River. The place was charming. The restaurant was tiny, rustic, and very cozy. From our table we could look out of the window for views over the river. We ate traditional Czech food…meat, potato pancakes, potato dumplings, sauerkraut, and pork, and drank the Czech beer Pilsner Urquell.
After lunch Tim bought a Trdelnik, a cinnamon pastry.
A view of the Vltava River
The Main Square
In Český Krumlov, bears guard the castle
We walked up to the castle for the best views over the city. It was here that we said good bye to Český Krumlov. Maybe we will return one day…
Where to Eat
For coffee, pastries, and breakfast, we recommend Drunken Coffee or Masna 130.
We ate at Bolero Restaurant, which gets OK reviews. For local cuisine, restaurants that get better reviews are Krčma Šatlava or Krcma Marketa.
If you want a cocktail, Apotheka Café Bar is the place to go.
How to Get to Český Krumlov
From Prague
To get from Prague to Český Krumlov, you have multiple options.
Self-Drive
If you have a car, it takes approximately 2.5 hours (175 km) to drive from Prague to Český Krumlov. In Český Krumlov, there is parking near the city center.
RELATED: Things You Should Know about Renting a Car in Europe
Train
Taking a train is a great option if you do not have a car. Trains connect Prague (Praha) and Český Krumlov throughout the day, with the fastest journeys taking about 2 and a half hours. Most journeys require a transfer in Ceske Budejovice although a direct train was recently added. The trains with transfers only take about 10 to 30 minutes longer than the direct train.
For a timetable and train tickets, visit the official website here. This is a good website to get the timetables and prices for the direct trains to and from Český Krumlov.
Important Note: The train station is located outside of the heart of Český Krumlov. To get into town, you can walk (30 minutes) or take the local bus. Click here to learn more.
By Bus
LEO Express runs two buses per day between Prague and Český Krumlov. The cost is relatively cheap but they get terrible reviews on Trip Advisor. I’d take the train instead.
By Shuttle
There are also numerous shuttle companies that connect Prague to Český Krumlov and other nearby cities such as Vienna, Salzburg, and Bratislava. These shuttles are more expensive but offer door-to-door service. They can pick you up right at your hotel and drop you off at the city center in Český Krumlov.
CK Shuttle connects Prague with Český Krumlov and Vienna, so if you are planning to visit Český Krumlov in transit between Prague and Vienna, this may be a convenient option.
From Vienna
Self-Drive
It takes approximately three hours (200 km) to drive from Vienna to Český Krumlov. To drive in the Czech Republic, you will need a special highway sticker that you place on your windshield. This sticker starts at CZK 200 (the price depends on the length of time it is valid) and can be purchased at petrol stations and at the post office. We purchased our sticker at the first gas station we came to after crossing the border from Austria into the Czech Republic. For full details on this sticker, click here.
Note: You will also need a vignette for Austria. It costs €12.40 for a 10 day sticker and €9.30 for a one day sticker.
Shuttle Bus
From my research, both the train and the bus options take up a lot of your time. If you do not have a rental car, your next best option is to use a shuttle service. These services pick you up in Vienna and transfer you directly to Český Krumlov. CK Shuttle gets great reviews.
Visiting Český Krumlov when Traveling from Vienna to Prague
If you have plans to visit Český Krumlov while traveling between Vienna and Prague, what’s the best way to do it?
The most convenient way to travel is by rental car. Pick up the car in the morning in Vienna, drive to Český Krumlov and tour the town, and in the afternoon or evening, drive to Prague and return the car. Of course, this can also be done in the other direction.
In recent years, the price to drop off a car at a different location than the pick up point has skyrocketed. It could cost several hundreds of dollars to do this (in addition to the rental car fee!!). If you like the idea of renting a car, check the prices, but you may get hit with a huge drop charge.
If that’s the case, you have several options.
Skip the rental car and use the CK Shuttle. While you are visiting Český Krumlov, you can store your luggage in the tourist information office. Just be aware that CK Shuttle is not cheap. But if you are traveling solo or with one other person, this works well (since you pay per person). However, if you are a family or group of four or more people, the rental car could still be the cheaper option.
Using the train does not work well, since there are no direct trains between Vienna and Český Krumlov (that I could find).
You can also travel by bus, but this can be time consuming.
Your final option is to rent a car and day trip to Český Krumlov from one city. For example, rent the car in Prague, see Český Krumlov, and then return to car to Prague the same day. This takes additional time, since you are not conveniently visiting Český Krumlov as you travel past it, but this could save you a lot of money.
LUGGAGE STORAGE: If you are visiting Český Krumlov while traveling between two cities you will need to store your luggage if you do not have a rental car. The Český Krumlov Tourist Information Center advertises that they will store luggage while you explore the town. The Tourist Information Center is located in town whereas the train station is located outside of town. From the train station, you can walk or take the local bus to get from the train station to the TI office. Get updated hours and learn more on the Tourist Information Center website.
Tours to Český Krumlov from Prague
Finally, if you don’t want to go through the hassle of arranging your own transportation, here are tours to Český Krumlov from Prague.
Tours of Český Krumlov
If you have any questions about how to plan your Český Krumlov day trip (or advice for our readers) leave them in the comment section below.
More Information for Your Trip
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