Český Krumlov's medieval old town and impressive castle make it a popular trip from Prague.
If you've just started planning your trip to Czechia, we know how easy it is to be overwhelmed by the insane number of things to do in Prague, so that you might not even notice how many gems lie within its reach. Yet, when you start digging deeper, you'll soon find out that there are many worthwhile day trips from Prague. And this will also be the time when the name Cesky Krumlov begins to appear more frequently. Well, a bit more than frequently, to put it mildly.
Cesky Krumlov is often on the top of the list of Czechia's must-sees, and that's why the question what is the best way to get to Cesky Krumlov from Prague is often asked. No worries, not only traveling to Cesky Krumlov is easy no matter if you are an independent traveler or you prefer to be part of a guided tour, but thanks to the fact we are locals, we'll guide you through the whole process.
The medieval UNESCO town sitting perched atop a hill overlooking the winding Vltava River is simply stunning. And thanks to the compact center where you can find some of the top attractions such as lookouts, Castle, or Cloaked Bridge, the visit does not have to take too long necessarily, so you can incorporate a visit to Cesky Krumlov even if your Czech Republic itinerary is packed.
How to Reach Cesky Krumlov
The best thing about traveling around the Czech Republic is the fact that our country is fairly small, and the tourist infrastructure is quite good, so there are many alternatives on how to reach your chosen destination. You can select the way of transport depending on your travel budget, favorite transport option, but most importantly, depending on your travel style and your travel itinerary.
Cesky Krumlov is accessible by car, train, and bus, and you can even join a tour, which is an advantage for travelers who like to have everything sort out on their behalf. We've put together all options so you can choose the one that suits you the best.
Before we finally tell you more about transportation options, one thing that could influence your decision on how to get is how many days you need for visiting Cesky Krumlov. In our opinion, one full day in Cesky Krumlov is completely enough, and no matter which alternative you choose, there still be enough time to return back to Prague.
We know that this travel guide is mostly aimed at day-trippers who usually only look for advice on getting from Prague to Cesky Krumlov and return the same day. But the truth is that more and more travelers look for a way to escape crowded capital and spend a night somewhere else. Luckily, Cesky Krumlov does not have a shortage of accommodation options. Most of the guesthouses and hotels are within the historical center or within walking distance. Villa Beatika is definitely a great place to stay in Cesky Krumlov.
If you are more flexible, it is possible to take it more slowly, explore the town after all day-trippers leave, and maybe visit other worthwhile destinations such as another UNESCO gem Holasovice, or Lipno nad Vltavou, a wonderful place that will appreciate all nature lovers.
Driving to Cesky Krumlov
For many, traveling by car is the most convenient way on how to get around any country. Although public transport in the Czech Republic is on a very high level in terms of comfort and reliability, we are always keen to take a proper road trip. If you are not worried about driving in a foreign country, then the most comfortable way to get to Cesky Krumlov from Prague is by car, as you can plan your day without any schedule in mind.
Renting a car in Prague is very easy (every hotel's concierge can help you with that), and thanks to the harsh competition, prices for the rental are quite low. Always make sure you know the rental company policy when it comes to fuel, and ensure your car comes with an e-vignette as you'll be driving on a highway.
It takes about 2 hours to get from Prague to Cesky Krumlov by car (it is a 173-kilometer long ride), and the time depends on the traffic. The highway is pretty busy, especially on the way from Prague to the south at afternoons when people return from the capital back home.
The situation is the opposite on the weekends, especially on Sundays, when local day-trippers return from their holiday houses or trips back to Prague. The road to Cesky Krumlov from Prague is pretty straightforward, and the only thing you must do is turn a GPS on. If you prefer to be well-prepared, follow the directions below.
Leave Prague via D1 Brno Exit and stay on the highway for approximately 30 kilometers. In Mirosovice, leave the highway, turn right onto E55, and continue through Benesov and Votice to Tabor. By the way, you can take a detour and make a quick stop in Tabor, which is also a very pretty Czech town that played an important role in the Hussite movement back in the 14th and 15th centuries.
If you want to leave the sightseeing for Cesky Krumlov, before you reach Tabor (near Mezno), the highway resumes once again and continues to Dolni Trebonin where you leave the highway for good. If you have time to spare, you can make a stop in Ceske Budejovice, because the city has a very nice historical center, too. From here, you can return back to the highway, or head toward Kamenny Ujezd, and then turn left onto Road 39, which will lead you to Cesky Krumlov.
As you can see, visiting Cesky Krumlov by car has many advantages, especially when it comes to time efficiency. But the biggest plus we see is that you can include many other places in your itinerary, such as Tabor, Ceske Budejovice, Holasovice, or Hluboka Castle. By the way, this route will also give you a nice little insight into the incompetence of the Czech government as it takes forever to complete the highway. But that's another story.
Parking in Cesky Krumlov
The only concern you might have when traveling to Cesky Krumlov is where to park. We won't lie to you; the town can be insanely busy, especially during the summer. Fortunately, the town's officials came up with a smart parking system, and you should always find a place to park.
Once you are getting nearer the town center, you only need to follow signs that will lead you to designated parking lots. There are more than 800 parking spots divided into five official parking lots, and we believe you'll always find a place to park, but the rule of thumb is to arrive early in the morning.
Once the P1 is full, it indicates the situation, and the system will lead you to P2 and so on. Although you can find some free parking spots in the town, for visiting the historical center, we would recommend you to stay in these designated zones, where the fee is between 30-60 CZK per hour.
Even though it is not very cheap, you'll always be only steps away from the main attractions. Personally, we prefer Parking number 1 as it is really close to Cloaked Bridge, but it does not matter, the main goal is to find a spot, as all parking lots are within walking distance to the historical complex.
Traveling to Cesky Krumlov on a Tour
Last but not least option is to take a day tour from Prague to Cesky Krumlov. This alternative is also very popular as travelers do not need to arrange anything (except for reserving the tour); tours usually offer a pick up, transport, and a guide, sometimes even a lunch.
You can either book a traditional Cesky Krumlov Tour that focuses just on this UNESCO town or take one of those that also add one of the stops we mentioned earlier. For instance, this popular Ceske Budejovice Tour makes also a stop in the largest city of South Bohemia, while this Hluboka Castle Tour makes a stop at this beautiful Neo-Gothic chateau.
Although we typically prefer traveling independently, it is only up to you to consider whether this option has an appeal for you or not. Price is usually a bit higher than what you would pay when arranging everything yourself, but the comfort you get in return might be exactly what you are looking for.
Taking a Train to Cesky Krumlov
All train enthusiasts, now it is time to pay attention. If you prefer to travel by public transport, the good news is that you can take a trip and get from Prague to Cesky Krumlov by train. The only downside is that there is no direct train, and you have to switch trains in Ceske Budejovice, but it is not complicated at all.
Well, there's one direct train, but it leaves early in the morning from Prague, and it returns back in the early afternoon. It's an IC train, so the ride takes a similar amount of time as the one with the transfer.
Therefore, we recommend you take the express train from Prague's main train station to Ceske Budejovice. The connecting train to Cesky Krumlov usually leaves from Ceske Budejovice within a few minutes after the train from Prague arrives, which is an advantage.
The train ride takes about two and a half hours (so bring a book), and the one-way ticket costs 415 CZK. It's usually unnecessary to book the train ticket in advance; you can just show up in the morning and buy it straight away at the station. The train station in Cesky Krumlov is about 20 minutes walk from the historical center, so incorporate the walking time in your travel itinerary as well.
Taking a Bus to Cesky Krumlov
In our opinion, taking a bus from Prague to Cesky Krumlov is by far the most popular option among international travelers. The direct bus to Cesky Krumlov leaves Prague's station Na Knizeci almost every hour, and the ride takes about three hours.
Na Knizeci bus station is right behind a busy Andel metro station (read our guide on using the metro in Prague), and it is easy to get there, no matter where you stay in the capital. Unlike train tickets, we highly recommend you reserve your bus tickets in advance at least a few days before your chosen date because both visitors and locals use this line.
The price is cheaper than the train option, about 249 CZK per one way. When it comes to the pros of taking the bus, we have to mention the direct line without the necessity to change buses and also the bus station in Cesky Krumlov is much closer to the city center than the train station.
Hluboká Castle is a Neo-Gothic château in South Bohemia, famous for its white towers, elaborate interiors, historic collections, and landscaped gardens.