Český Krumlov – what to see in one or two days: Krumlov Castle, St. Vitus Cathedral, monasteries, museums, restaurants, how to get there and where to stay in the city.
Český Krumlov is a doll’s town, like an illustration for fairy tale books about princes and princesses, located in the south of the Czech Republic near the border with Austria. The city is surrounded by the Vltava River – yes, this is the same Vltava that flows in Prague. But here it is winding and narrow, and in the small town of Krumlov it makes three sharp turns that divide the town into three meanders, or peninsulas.
If you haven’t been to Český Krumlov yet, I sincerely recommend doing so. Even if there are a lot of tourists, you still won’t regret it.
Best time to visit Cesky Krumlov
Český Krumlov is an ideal city to visit at any time of the year! In the summer, you can not only walk along the medieval streets with ice cream in hand, but also practice water sports on the Vltava River. Krumlov. In the fall, it becomes fabulous with the variety of colors of the trees growing on the slopes of the neighboring hills. And winter. This is where the fairy tale begins, when the city is covered with a thin blanket of snow and decorated with Christmas decorations.
Krumliv Castle
On one of these meanders stands Krumlov Castle, the second largest in the Czech Republic, after Prague Castle. It is incredibly beautiful, with a huge park, fountains, an old theater, and galleries on thick and high painted walls. At the entrance to the castle, you will be greeted by a live bear in the moat – a tradition that is 400 years old.
A great view of the city opens from the Plaschovy Bridge. This is a good alternative to the expensive climb to the Castle Tower. This three-tiered arch bridge connects the 4th and 5th courtyards of the castle. Try to see the Cloak Bridge while walking along it, or go down to the foot of the castle and look up.
The castle museum downstairs has many beautiful historical exhibits from the castle. It also has detailed information, so you can learn about the castle without joining an official tour.
Tip: At night, the castle is beautifully illuminated and illuminates the entire city. By the way, the gates to the castle courtyard are open at night. You can also walk around here, looking at the wall paintings and seeing what Cesky Krumlov looks like under the light of the lanterns.
Opening hours and entrance tickets:
Depending on the time of year, the castle’s opening hours and tours may vary.
As a rule, the museum and tower are open daily from 9:00 to 16:00. However, do not forget to check the the official website for more information and ticket prices.
Castle tower
The castle tower is one of the main attractions of the Český Krumlov Castle. Many tourists climb it every day to see a panoramic view of the city and its surroundings. At different times, the tower was built in separate sections. The lower part dates back to the 13th century, the layer above was added 100 years later, and the upper part was completed around the end of the 1500s.
Keep in mind that you will have to climb 150 steps to get to the top of the tower. But it doesn’t seem to stop anyone from climbing the tower, as there are many people who want to climb it. If you plan a visit to Cesky Krumlov on a weekday, there will most likely be no queue. A ticket to the tower costs 180 kroons (8.5 euros). Or you can get there with a tourist map of Cesky Krumlov.
Old town of Cesky Krumlov
The second peninsula is home to the Old Town, with its narrow streets, restaurants, coffee shops, and clothing and souvenir shops. The entire historic city center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The small medieval town is very well preserved. And now you can see what life was like in Central Europe several centuries ago. From Renaissance and Baroque building facades to less noticeable details, such as the location of streets in relation to the castle, everything is more or less original.
In the heart of the old town you will notice an impressive the Church of St. George. Vita. It is located on the second meander of Cesky Krumlov, which rises slightly above the city center. This beautiful masterpiece of a church was built in the 1400s and has tall arched windows on both sides. More pink and blue details can be found here on the church tower. Entrance to the church is free.
Don’t miss the Svornost Square, the main central square. Here you will find the 14th-century town hall and the plague column; built in honor of the many plague victims in Cesky Krumlov. Also visit the Minorite Monastery, which is located in the Latran neighborhood. It is very beautiful and unusual, with a cozy garden and interesting interior frescoes. And the history of this monastery is unusual: once upon a time, both monks and nuns lived here together. The entrance to the monastery is paid – 150 kroons (5.70 euros). However, if you have a Cesky Krumlov map, the monastery is included in its price.
Museums and galleries in Český Krumlov
Visit the Garden House, which houses the gallery of Austrian artist Egon Schiele. He lived and worked here in 1911. The magical atmosphere of the place where the artist’s famous paintings “City on the Blue River”, “Krumlov at Night” and “View of Houses” were painted. Another interesting museum is the house-museum of Seidel’s photo studio. This 19th-century building was the photography studio of Josef Seidel and his son Frantisek. It still has the original home decor and photographic equipment of the period. For example, the original darkroom and the thousands of glass plates they used to store their negatives.
Tourist card of Cesky Krumlov
If you are planning a trip to ČeskýKrumlov for two days and want to visit all its museums, then it makes sense to buy a museum card – the ČeskýKrumlov Card. This tourist map gives you access to five major museums in the city:
- Seidel photo studio
- Castle Museum and Tower (does not include a tour of the castle)
- Museum of local lore
- Egon Schiele Center for the Arts
- Monasteries
It costs: 400 CZK (15.25 EUR ) for adults, a family card (2 adults and a maximum of 3 children under 15) – 800 CZK (30 EUR), privileged categories (children under 15, pensioners over 65, students under 26 and disabled people) – 200 CZK (8 EUR).
- Advantages of the Český Krumlov Card:
- One ticket = entrance to 5 unique attractions
- Save 50% off the regular price
- Validity period 12 months
- Sold at the tourist information center of Cesky Krumlov and at all participating attractions (except the castle museum)
- It is possible to transfer the card to another person of the same category
- Damaged cards can be exchanged for new ones at the Tourist Information Center of Cesky Krumlov
Where to eat in Cesky Krumlov
For breakfast, you can enjoy coffee and pastries at Deli 99, or try a raspberry croissant at the cafe located in the Synagogue. You can listen to authentic Gypsy music in the Cikánská Jizba bar. I recommend Czech beer at Eggenberg, Depo, or Svejk breweries, and a cocktail at the Apotheka bar.
Many establishments are located near the river, with terraces from which you can see the castle or beautiful old houses of Krumlov. If you visit this city in the warm season, don’t be surprised by the large number of people rafting on the river. The Vltava River in this part of the Czech Republic is very attractive for water sports enthusiasts. Czechs come in groups and families, rafting on the river on weekends, and spending the night in campsites on the bank. Sitting in a cafe on the terrace, you just have time to wave to the passersby, who loudly shout a welcome “Ahoy!”
Where to stay in Cesky Krumlov
Cesky Krumlov is the best for a day trip on the weekend. But if you wish, you can stay in one of the hotels in Krumlov or in apartments, which are many in the old buildings of the city.
- Krumlovská pohádka – is located in the city center, with good breakfasts.
- Pension Galko – cozy apartments around the castle.
- Pension U Pavla – large, clean rooms at a low price in the city center.
- Amadeus Pension & Apartments – is a good option for those arriving by car (there is a private parking lot).
How to get to Cesky Krumlov from Prague
By car from Prague, 180 km on the A4 highway – about 2 hours on the way. If you don’t have your car, I recommend renting one from Rentalcars.
By trains of the Czech Railways www.cd.cz – run every two hours, with a travel time of 2 hours.
By bus Flixbus – buses run daily every hour, with a travel time of 3 hours.
By bus RegioJet buses from Prague are also very frequent, with a travel time of 3 hours.
If you are planning a trip to Cesky Krumlov from other cities of the Czech Republic or from neighboring European countries, we recommend to search for a bus on the search portal InfoBus search portal.
Useful articles and links:
- The 7-day route in Andalusia – what to see in the south of Spain
- Christmas in Prague
- Slovenia in winter – mountains, lakes, caves and ski resorts
- Thermal spas in the Czech Republic – where to relax with your family
Booking of hotels and apartments – Booking.com
Car rental – I am looking for inexpensive options on Rentalcars.com
