Top 10 Places to Visit in the Czech Republic

Prague is an amazing city, but it isn’t the only place you should visit in the Czech Republic. In this article, we will share our Top 10 Czech Destinations and Day Trip from Prague ideas, so you can make your vacation more memorable and adventurous!

Karlovy Vary

Karlovy Vary is a spa town famous for its hot springs that can be found in beautiful colonnades. The thermal water has put Karlovy Vary on the map of Bohemia in the 14th century when the springs were discovered by king Charles IV during his hunting trip according to a popular legend. Karlovy Vary has been one of the most popular spa towns in the Czech Republic for centuries, and thanks to its stunning architecture and rich history it was included in the UNESCO World Heritage Sites list. It also hosts several festivals, such as Karlovy Vary International Film Festival. The only downside of visiting Karlovy Vary is the time you will spend getting there. It is around 2 hours by bus or by train, but the town itself is pretty small so I think one day should be enough to see most of it!

Křivoklát Castle

A more adventurous option is a trip to Křivoklát Castle. You will need to change trains to get there and climb the hill to get to the Gothic castle. Nevertheless, it is worth visiting Křivoklát due to its unusual history. After serving as a royal residence, the castle walls became a prison for Edward Kelly, who was an alchemist deemed to be a notorious charlatan. Thanks to this mysterious convict and a few other curious stories Křivoklát castle became overgrown with legends. It is possible to visit the interiors of the castle as well during the tour which they run all year round. Křivoklát castle boasts gothic and renaissance architecture and a large collection of artworks. You will need around 3 hours to visit the castle and another 30 minutes to see its viewpoint!

Bohemian Switzerland

If you want to see some Czech nature, definitely visit Bohemian Switzerland located in the north Bohemian region on the border with Saxony. My tip for visiting Bohemian Switzerland is to get there as early as you can because the territory is huge and you will need a lot of time to explore it. Some people even stay there overnight, but it is possible to see enough in one day. The highlight of Bohemian Switzerland is Pravčická Archway (in the photo), a large picturesque rock formation. Getting there from Hřensko, the most common starting point of the journey will be full of adventures, as you will be hiking through beautiful nature and even taking a boat!

Bohemian Paradise

Bohemian Paradise is located one hour away from Prague by direct train to Turnov. It is a vast nature park - over 180 square kilometers - so you will have a lot of space to explore and roam around. Unlike Bohemian Switzerland where you follow a certain trail, Bohemian Paradise provides trails and “free-style” hiking opportunities. No wonder it was named paradise ;) Make sure to wear some comfortable shoes, and do not forget to bring some snacks with you, as this is the closest place to wild nature that you can find close to Prague.

Tábor

This town is special not only because of its stunning architecture and cozy atmosphere but also because it was built to survive the apocalypse! Tabor was one of the centers of the Hussites’ movement and was largely built by these fierce peasant warriors. Nowadays, you can visit a museum dedicated to Hussites in the Town Hall of Tabor. We also recommend visiting the Roman Catholic parish Tábor-Klokoty is around 20 min away from the town’s historical center. It takes around two hours to get to Tabor, and you will need around four to five hours to see most of it!

Terezín

Terezín is located in the north of the Czech Republic. Unlike other concentration camps in Europe, this one was not destroyed after WWII for less obvious reasons. We explored this topic in our virtual tour of the Terezín concentration camp. The fact that Terezín had remained largely unaltered makes a trip there a unique and rare opportunity. It is pretty easy to get to Terezín from Prague. There is a direct bus that leaves from Autobusové nádraží Praha Holešovice. You can visit both the former Gestapo prison in the Small Fortress, explore the former ghetto in the big fortress, and visit the museums of Terezín. It will be a full-day trip!

Pilsen

If you're traveling to the Czech Republic because of the beer, get your train ticket to Pilsen ASAP! Pilsen is where the biggest Czech Brewery is located - Pilsner brewery. The visit there will definitely be a highlight of your trip. You can take a tour of the brewery in Czech, German, and English. Make sure to book your spots ahead of time. The tour is around two hours long and it includes a visit to the beer cellars, a one-of-a-kind experience! The rest of Pilsen is also worth visiting, we showed the most famous sights in our video. It takes an hour and 20 minutes to get to Pilsen from the train station in Prague, and you will need around 4 hours for both the brewery visit and the historical center visit!

Karlštejn Castle

The closest place to Prague on our list today is Karlštejn Castle located just 45 minutes away from Prague by direct train. This is a no-brainer if you want to see some medieval place and not spend too much time getting there. We made a video about it in the past so you can check out and find out more about Karlštejn's history. We definitely recommend signing up for the tour of the castle interiors, just make sure to book it in advance. Overall, you will need around 3-4 hours to explore Karlštejn and its village, so you can even make it half a day trip.

Český Krumlov

Even though this fairy tale town is pretty touristy, we still think that a visit to Český Krumlov will be an unforgettable experience. We have been to many quaint villages and small towns, but nothing can beat Český Krumlov’s colorful winding streets that jump over the river in bouncy bridges. You can even spend 2 days in Český Krumlov and explore its magical castle that might surprise you with its dark stories and legends. Most people go to Český Krumlov by bus, but it takes around three hours one way and you will need at least four hours to see most of the town, which can make a day trip quite overwhelming. Český Krumlov gets really busy during the summer time and during the holidays, so if you want to beat the crowds, aim at visiting off season in October-April!

Kutná Hora

Kutná Hora was founded thanks to a poor monk who discovered a silver mine, which caused an avalanche of people to move to that place and build the city on top of the mines. We recommend visiting the mines, the cathedral of St. Barbora with priceless Gothic frescoes, and, of course, the gem of Kutna Hora's attractions - the bone Chapel decorated with thousands of human skeletons. Kutná Hora is super easy to visit as there is a direct train that leaves Prague's Main Train station and it takes only one hour to get there. Check out our video for more tips on how to visit Kutná Hora!