Located in the heart of South Bohemia, Ceský Krumlov is one of the most picture-perfect and enchanting towns in Europe, and could easily be described as a miniature fairytale version of Czechia’s capital city, Prague. A Unesco World Heritage Site with a stunningly imposing hilltop castle, a scenic and sinuating river slicing through the town, a beautiful maze of cobblestone streets, and a stunning collection of Renaissance and Baroque buildings, are all reasons you are likely to fall in love with Cesky Krumlov. Below we present our Travel Guide on the Top Things to See and Do in Ceský Krumlov, designed to help you get the most out of your visit.
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Ceský Krumlov Orientation
Cesky Krumlov is located in the southwestern corner of Czechia, in the region of South Bohemia. It is situated 150 km south of Prague, 300 km east of Munich and 200 km northwest of Vienna.
Cesky Krumlov is an extraordinarily preserved medieval town, in large part thanks to its relatively peaceful history, having never experienced a major fire, a battle, or any other town-destroying events. Most of what you’ll see in the town today is centuries old and has been well preserved and restored, and its historic center is a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site, with picturesque highlights including a dramatic 13th-century castle, beautiful churches, and colourful historic buildings. In fact, the town preserves the street layout from the Middle Ages and most of the architecture of the old town dates from the 14th through 17th centuries, with a mix of Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque styles.
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Although many visit Cesky Krumlov as part of a day trip to Cesky Krumlov from Prague, either via an organized group tour or by public transit, this enchanting town is best explored with at least an overnight stay (and ideally more than one night). We generally recommend trying to stay at least two full days in Cesky Krumlov and, if you can stretch your stay to 3 or 4 days, there are several great day trips you can to visit nearby castles and towns.
If visiting the town on a day trip from Prague, you would miss out on the incredibly atmospheric evenings in the city and on exploring the town in the much quieter early morning setting — not to mention that you would spend 2-3 hours in transport each way. But if all you have is a day from Prague, there are several great tours to choose from to help you maximize your time in the city:
If you are arriving to Cesky Krumlov with your own vehicle or rental car, there are several paid parking lots to choose from along the town periphery.
Also, note that several streets in the city center are pedestrian-only and thus travelling with your vehicle is forbidden in certain areas – cars can only enter with a special permit from the municipal authority. If your hotel is located in the old historic center, ask them for advice on where to park. If you are visiting just for the day, park in one of the suggested parking lots above and walk into the city.
Where to Stay in Ceský Krumlov
Although Ceksy Krumlov can often get packed with tourists mid-day, many of them are daytrippers from Prague, meaning you will be able to enjoy the town’s charming atmosphere in a more relaxed setting during the mornings and evenings. There are many accommodation options to choose from in Cesky Krumlov, and there is no real wrong area to stay in considering how small the city is (the entire town can easily be covered on foot) and there are no particularly loud or noisy areas at night. We highly recommend Pension Fortna, located right along the river with great views of the historic town and St Vitus Church (the picture was taken from our room window).
Exploring Ceský Krumlov
The old historic town center is fairly compact and easily accessible on foot. If you didn’t stop to look at anything, you could probably walk through most of the main streets within an hour, but you would definitely be missing out, as there is so much to admire in this beautiful town. We constantly found ourselves going through pleasant strolls around the town.
Krumlov’s historical core is comprised of two parts (or neighbourhoods), each forming a sort of peninsula within the Vltava River’s sinuating shape. If you were to walk through both neighbourhoods in a straight line, you could probably do so in about 15 minutes, but there are so many beautiful side streets and alleyways to keep you busy for much longer.
The older section, Latrán, forms the northern section of the town that developed under the castle along the west bank of the Vltava River (upper peninsula on the map below). Latrán is also the name of the main street that runs through the neighbourhood. It starts at the wooden Lazebnický Bridge (the main bridge that connects both parts of town) and ends at the Budjovická Gate (illustrated in the walking route below).
Vnitrní Mesto (“Inner Town”) district is located within the smaller southern peninsula, on the other side of the Vltava River, and is centred around Svornosti Square.
If you like a guided tour of the city to learn more about its past and history, or because you are short on time, several great tours are available:
We also put together a separate Cesky Krumlov travel guide that might interest you. Our Best Viewpoints and Photo Spots in Cesky Krumlov guide focuses on specific spots and viewpoints in the city that we thought were particularly photogenic.
Best Things to See and Do in Cesky Krumlov
Svornosti Square
Cesky Krumlov’s largest and main town square is a pleasant and beautiful space to be in, both early in the morning when it’s calm and quiet and later in the day when becomes more lively. All around you are surrounded by colorful and decorated building facades, where the square-shaped plan and arrangement of houses stem from the medieval foundations of the city.
One of the most historic buildings found in the square is the Town Hall (House no.1), which dates from 1597 and was created by a merger of three Gothic houses with arcades, whose façade was merged with a Renaissance attic (see the white building to the right of the pictures below).
The main landmark within the square is the Marian Plague column built around 1714, with a statue of the Holy Virgin with eight saints, patrons of the town and protectors against the plague, all surrounded by a hexagonal stone fountain that dates back to 1844.
Stroll through the Cobblestone Streets of Vnitrní Mesto
Streets branch out in all directions from Svornosti Square, and each one seems more beautiful than the next. The main streets with shops and restaurants are Siroka, Soukenická and Horni, but several side streets and alleyways are definitely worthy of a detour.
Admire the City Views from Seminární Sahrada plaza
Continue along one of the Vnitrní Mesto streets highlighted above, Horni, until you reach the Seminární Sahrada plaza (it’s about a 5-minute walk from Svornosti Square). This plaza will provide you with the best views of the castle from across the river.
Enjoy a stroll through the cobblestone streets of Latrán
Back in the Latrán district near the Castle, most of the shops and restaurants are packed along Latrán Street, but again several side streets and alleyways are worth venturing off the beaten path.
The square in front of the Castle’s red gate (Castle main entrance), which Latrán Street passes through, is also a particularly scenic area.
Ceský Krumlov Castle
The town’s cityscape is dominated by its imposing 13th-century castle, which is one of the largest castle complexes in Europe, and the second largest in Czechia. It is composed of over forty buildings, with several interior courtyards and an impressively large castle garden at the western end of the Castle. For many, visiting the Castle is the main draw to Cesky Krumlov.
Castle History
The original Gothic castle was founded by the Lords of Krumlov sometime before 1250. When the Lords of Krumlov died out in 1302, their relatives the Rosenbergs inherited the castle and held it in the family for 300 years. The Rosenberg family name is associated with the greatest era of the town and castle, a time during which the castle was transformed into a magnificent Renaissance residence. The town gained most of its present appearance at this time as well.
The last member of the Rosenberg family, Petr Vok, sold the Krumlov castle and estates to the Viennese Emperor Rudolf the Second in 1602, who twenty years later gave the Krumlov estates to the Eggenbergs, a powerful noble family from Upper Austria, who were responsible for the Baroque renovations and expansions to the castle, including the castle theatre. As the Eggenbers died out without successors in 1719, the new dynasty – the princely lineage of the Schwarzenbergs – inherited Krumlov castle and estates. In 1947, the Schwarzenberg property, including Ceský Krumlov, was transferred to the Czech provincial properties and in 1950 it became the property of the Czechoslovak State.
Visiting Information
Ceský Krumlov Castle is one of the few in the country whose courtyards are open to the public all year round, day and night. However, access to the Castle Gardens is restricted to between 8 am and 7 pm (May through September), with reduced hours in October. Guided tours of the interior and rooms only take place during the day (typically between 9 am and 4 pm), April through October (more information on the guided tours below).
The best way to reach the castle is to go through the red gate from Latrán Street (number 1 in the map below).
One of the unique features of the castle is that its moat is filled not with water (although there is a small pond), but with three bears! Although it’s understandable to question the practice of keeping bears in these moat-like enclosures in this day and age, it is nonetheless interesting to learn the history of why the bears first appeared here in the 17th century. You will come across the moat at the gate located in between the first and second castle courtyards (just before you pass into the courtyard surrounded by buildings 3,4,5,6).
The Castle Tower is Located in building #4, the ticket office is in building #5, and most guided tours of the castle interior take place in buildings #7,8, and 9. Building #10 is the Baroque Theater, and the expansive castle gardens are located at the very western end of the castle beyond the theatre and can be explored through several pleasant walking paths.
You can explore all the castle grounds, courtyards, and gardens for free. If you want to see some of the inside rooms, the baroque theatre, or climb the castle tower, you will have to take one of the paid guided tours of the castle.
The Baroque castle gardens were founded in the 17th century and today form the largest part of the entire castle complex (occupying a rectangular area of about 150 x 750 metres).
Castle Guided Tours
There are 4 different tour options, but they aren’t always available every day, and the Castle is closed on Mondays (except in July/August). The tours are given in either Czech or English. Reduced fares are available for seniors and children (prices listed below are for 2024).
Renaissance and Baroque Appartments. This tour is focused on the original castle interiors from the Renaissance and Baroque periods (16th – 18th centuries). It is the most popular tour offered at the Castle and we found it to be fascinating.
55 min, 300 CSK (roughly 14 USD/Euros)
19th Century apartments. This tour focuses on the history of the Schwarzenberg family, including a visit to the Schwarzenberg portrait gallery.
55 min, 260 CSK (roughly 12 USD/Euros)
Baroque Theater. This is a visit to the best-preserved Baroque Theatre in Europe with an orchestra pit, stage machinery, sets, and props, all preserved. It was originally built in the late 17th century and renovated in the late 18th century.
45 min, 360 CZK (roughly 16 USD/Euros)
Castle Museum and Castle Tower. This is not a guided tour per se, but rather a ticket that allows you to visit the Castle Museum and access the Castle Tower, where you’ll have to climb 162 steps if you want to admire fantastic city views. 280 CZK (roughly 13 USD/Euros)
Castle tours generally don’t need to be reserved ahead of time, but you can buy your tickets in advance to avoid the risk of your preferred timeslot being sold out. The exception is the Castle Museum and Castle Tower tour option, which is self-guided and is not tied to a specific time – so you can just show up any time during opening hours.
If you can fit two organized tours into your schedule, definitely do Renaissance and Baroque Appartments for a great piece of history and the Baroque Theater to see something truly unique in the world. You can also easily add the Castle Tower to your itinerary since it is not tied to a specific time slot (it’s not actually a “guided” tour).
Free city Cesky Krumlov Walking Tour with Wiseman Tours
Although we rarely take part in walking tours, we definitely do not regret signing up for this FREE tour in Cesky Krumlov (though tips and donations are welcome). It was so well-rated that just had to give it a try and it was truly fantastic — definitely one of the best things to do in Ceský Krumlov. Our guide (Jan) was extremely friendly, knowledgeable, and had a great sense of humour. As a former history teacher, he knew so much about the city, both past and present.
They also offer paid private tours at the time of your choosing, but you might be lucky like us and sign up for the 2-hour free tour (either 10:30 am or 2 pm) and end up being the only ones that show up for it! (Of course, we gave a generous tip in light of the circumstances). There are also other alternative highly rated private tours of Cesky Krumlov to choose from.
Enjoy Riverside Views
The are lovely walking paths on either side of the Vlata River, west of Vnitrní Mesto, between the Lávka pod Zámkem and Vltava Bridges. The walk starts on the northern end under the Cloak Bridge (a three-storied covered arched bridge standing on massive stone pillars that connects the 4th and 5th courtyards of Ceský Krumlov Castle) and ends with nice views of the Cathedral.
Rafting down the Vltava River
Want a break from the sightseeing and the crowds? One fun activity to do in Cesky Krumlov is to do some mellow rafting down the Vltava River that crisscrosses the city. There are several rafting options to choose from, including a wooden raft with a skipper at the helm, or your own personal raft or canoe.
Other popular attractions
Depending on your interests, you might want to get the Ceský Krumlov Card, which for 400 CZK (roughly 17 USD/Euros) will cover entry costs for 5 museums, including the Castle Tower & Museum described above, and the Monasteries and Egon Schiele Art Centrum (both described below). You can find it for sale at the Ceský Krumlov Tourist Information Centre and all participating attractions (except the Castle Museum & Tower).
Church of St.Vitus
The history and development of the church are inherently connected with the two noble families – the Rosenbergs and the Schwarzenbergs, who made Ceský Krumlov their settlement town. The first church built at its present location was founded in 1309, but by the early 15th century it was no longer large enough to accommodate the population of the growing Cesky Krumlov. The current building dates from the early 15th century, but has since undergone several renovations and expansions. The last important stage was a drastic neo-Gothic reconstruction in the late 19th century when Baroque elements were removed and, unfortunately, many elements of the Pre-Baroque.
Today the Gothic Chuch towers above all else in Vnitrní Mesto, and is freely open to the public every day of the week (varying hours across the week, but typically always between 9 am and 4 pm except for Sunday when it opens later).
Visit Artisan Shops in Workshop Alley
Unfortunately, the workshops weren’t open during our visit in Cesky Krumlov, but we can imagine that it would have been fun to explore the different artisan works found here, including a baker, blacksmith, glassmaker, potter, shoemaker, and bookbinder. At least the shop exteriors were quite photogenic!
Cesky Krumlov Monasteries
The large complex of medieval monasteries was originally founded in the mid-14th century and has since been transformed many times. The complex is hidden away from the crowded tourist streets behind the burgher houses of the Latrán quarter below the castle and is the second largest historical complex in Ceský Krumlov (after the castle). The monastery Church of the Corpus Christi and the Virgin Mary is the heart of the entire monastery complex and separates the convents of the Minorites and the Poor Clares. After being abandoned and falling into a severe state of disrepair, the monastery was recently renovated and is now a great space for learning about the past of the monastery.
Egon Schiele Art Centrum
Ceský Krumlov has a museum and gallery that hosts a permanent exhibition about the life and work of Austrian painter Egon Schiele (1890-1918), whose mother was born in Krumlov. You will also find here annual displays of 20th-century art by artists such as Picasso, Dalí, and Klimt.
Climb to the top of the Stations of the Cross Hill
If you would like to get a different view of Cesky Krumlov from above the city, this short 30-minute uphill walk from the historic town center takes you to a chapel atop the Stations of the Cross Hill. The walk first takes you through more modern and residential neighbourhoods of Cesky Krumlov before crossing a few fields on your way to the top of the hill. Follow this walking route to reach the summit.
Where to eat in Ceský Krumlov?
Here are some of our favorite spots to dine, snack, or enjoy a drink in Cesky Krumlov.
Breakfast
Kolektiv Cafe & wine bar (Latrán): Best place in town for fresh pastries or a warm meal for brunch.
Lunch
Terasa u Reky (Vnitrní Mesto): Small and intimate riverside terrace, great soups, sandwiches and grilled sausages.
Snacks
Kolonial u zámku (Latrán): A lovely small market – your one stop in Cesky for all your grocery needs. In fact, it’s also a coffee shop with daily fresh bread and pastries.
Dinner
Papa’s Living Restaurant (Latrán): Great service, delicious food and the riverside views are hard to beat!
Cosa Vostra Pizzeria (Vnitrní Mesto): Tasty pizza in a very original decor, with nice views of the castle if seated near a window.
Drinks
Czechia is a beer country and there is no better place to sample some local beers than at the riverside terrace of Krumlovský mlýn (Vnitrní Mesto).
Pension Fortna (Latrán): This is actually where we stayed during our time in Krumlov. The first floor is a small café with an intimate outdoor terrace with bar service during happy hour.
Day Trips From Cesky Krumlov
There are a lot of interesting and exciting day trips to take from Edinburgh. We detail these in a separate guide, the Best Day Trips from Cesky Krumlov. These include trips to South Bohemia’s capital Ceske Budejovice, the impressive ruins of Divci Ramen Castle, the stunning neo-gothic Hluboka nad Vlatou Castle, and the UNESCO historic village of Holasovice.
Preparing a trip to Czechia?
You might be interested in these Czechia pages:
4-Day Itinerary in South Bohemia
Best Things to See and Do in Cesky Krumlov
Best Day Trips from Cesky Krumlov
We also highly recommend these guidebooks:
Rick Steves’ Prague & the Czech Republic
Lonely Planet’s Prague & Czechia
Photography Gear
If you like our photography, you might be interested in some of the gear we use to shoot our travel and hiking destinations.
Camera Body – Nikon Z 6ii Fx-series Mirrorless Body
Main Lens – NIKON 24-120mm F/4G ED VR AF-S
Zoom Lens – Sigma 745-306 150-600mm f/5-6.3
Polarizing filters – Urth Circular Polarizing (CPL)
Camera Tripod – K&F Concept 64-inch Camera Tripod
Mini-tripod – Lammcou Flexible Camera Tripod
Camera/hiking backpack – Vanguard Alta Rise 48 Backpack
Universal Travel Adapter – VYLEE Universal International Power Travel Plug
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Car Rentals
Discover Cars is our go-to website for car rentals. We almost always find our preferred rate there.
Transfer from Airport
Welcome Pickups is our favourite private transfer service, which you can pre-book at a fixed price. Currently available in 220 cities all over the world (mostly in Europe, but with several major cities in Asia, the Middle East and the US).
Kiwitaxi is another private transfer service – we haven’t tried it yet, but it’s currently available in a few more countries (102 as of 2024).
Hotels and Accommodations (coming soon)
Photography Prints
If you found this blog useful, you can help support our blog by purchasing low-cost digital prints. Printed physical prints are also available for purchase.
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Well, that wraps it up! We hope you enjoyed our Travel Guide on the Top Things to See and Do in Ceský Krumlov, and that it will prove useful for planning your trip to the South Bohemia region of Czechia!
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