Český Krumlov is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that also happens to look like it was taken straight out of a Disney fairytale. This immaculately preserved city has all the staples of a medieval town – a beautiful castle, a moat, gates guarded by real bears, cobblestone streets and colourful rooftops. I would not have batted an eyelid if the townspeople broke out into song, because it literally felt like a scene out of Beauty and the Beast haha 😛
How to get to Cesky Krumlov from Prague
I travelled to Cesky Krumlov from Prague as part of the Busabout North Loop. However, travelling there by yourself is just as easy. Direct connection with Prague is by bus. The bus company Student Agency runs the route every 2 hours starting at 7:00AM. The travel time is approximately 3 hours and 10 mins. A one-way ticket costs 7.40 Euro or around $10 (AUD). Tickets can be purchased online or at the Prague main bus station (Florenc). The bus to Cesky Krumlov leaves from Praha, Na Knizeci bus terminal which is a few steps away from Andel metro stop. The bus station is within a 10-minute walk of the center of town.
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Where to stay in Cesky Krumlov
While in Cesky Krumlov I stayed at Hostel Postel. This was the cheapest hostel option at the time and had all the basics – kitchen facilities, free wifi, clean bathrooms and ample powerpoints! Because Cesky Krumlov is so small there isn’t a particular area of the town you should try and stay in because everything is so close to each other.
What to do in Cesky Krumlov (1 day Itinerary)
In a place like Cesky Krumlov there is not an extensive list of attractions to visit. This means you can take you time to enjoy the scenery and soak up the rich history. I started my day with one of my favourite things to do in a new city, a free walking tour.
Cesky Krumlov Wiseman Free Walking Tour
I did so many Wiseman Free Walking Tours during my time in Europe because they were always of a great standard of quality. Free walking tours work on the principle that you pay what you can afford at no obligation. This is great for backpackers who want to learn about the places they are visiting but cannot afford the ridiculous prices that some companies charge.
The Cesky Krumlov Wiseman Free Walking Tour runs every day of the year (November to March at 10:30AM, April to October at 10:30AM and 2:00PM).
During the tour you will explore the city while hearing about mysterious stories, legends and historical facts of the area. The tour starts in front of the tourist INFOCENTRUM office on the main square. The guides wear red shirts and have red umbrellas with a Wiseman logo. The tour takes .
Cesky Krumlov Castle
Český Krumlov Castle dates back to 1240 when the first castle was built by the Witigonen family, the main branch of the powerful Rosenberg family. While you get taken there with the free walking tour, I went back later in the afternoon after a lot of the crowds had started to clear. Most people do day trips to Cesky Krumlov so at the end of the day you pretty much have the castle to yourself.
Český Krumlov Baroque Theatre
Behind the castle is the Český Krumlov Baroque Theatre situated in the Castle Courtyard. It is one of the world’s most completely preserved Baroque theatres with its original theatre building, auditorium, orchestra pit, stage, stage technology, machinery, coulisses (stage curtains), librettos and costumes. The courtyard itself is very relaxing and has a lovely lake which is pictured below.
Where to eat in Cesky Krumlov
Being such a small city that relies so heavily on tourism there are ample restaurant choices. Unfortunately however, this does also mean that many of them are complete tourist traps. One of the places I did go to that I can recommend is The Two Mary’s (U Dwau Maryi) which serves traditional Bohemian dishes inspired from the Middle Ages.
Out of all the cities in Europe, Cesky Krumlov was a stand out due to its well preserved medieval architecture. Is it an incredibly unique destination and is consequently in my top 20 favourite travel experiences. Cesky Krumlov would make a perfect weekend trip but is also situated perfectly as a pit stop along a European itinerary.
If you have any questions or inquiries feel free to comment below 🙂
Suitcase And I was not commissioned to write this article and as always, the opinions in this review are my own.