If you find yourself with a quick one day in Český Krumlov, don’t worry, because you’ll get to do the top 6 things anyone should do when visiting this quaint and charming Czech town.
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Český Krumlov (pronounced chess-key crumb-lov) is located in South Bohemia, aka southern Czech Republic, and is a very popular day trip for many tourists from Prague.
It feels like a real life fairytale as you walk around. It could easily be the stage for an epic Rapunzel or Sleeping Beauty kind of tale!
Located in the center of Český Krumlov and looking down upon the river is the State Castle of Český Krumlov. It’s a massive castle with the best views of the Old Town and the river.
The historic center of Český Krumlov is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and sits right on the Vltava River. It is a truly sweet little town that you will want to spend the entire day wandering and admiring.
So, if your goal is to get to know the delightful little town Český Krumlov in one day, let’s talk about how to make the most of it!
When to Visit Český Krumlov
Český Krumlov is a popular tourist day trip from Prague, so you’re likely to meet some of these fellow travelers, or maybe you are one!
So, depending on what time of year you visit, you may be in quite a crowd.
The high season in Český Krumlov is between July and August, during the summer holiday months. But, this is one of the best times to visit for a reason! The weather is nice and the landscape is beautiful!
You’ll experience significantly less people if you happen to visit in Winter, and you’ll feel like you’ve got the town *almost* to yourself. Plus, you may even get lucky and have snow covered rooftops that somehow makes the town even more stunning than it already is.
We visited the Czech Republic during Fall, or Autumn for some, and we were blown away by the colors of the leaves.
On our one week Czech Republic road trip we saw some of the most beautiful Fall colors I had ever seen, with blazing red and orange trees all around us as we drove the countryside.
The point is, there is really no bad time to visit Český Krumlov, and you’ll enjoy the quaint charm of this town either way. But keep in mind the pros and cons of each season as you plan and choose what’s best for you!
6 Things To Do In Český Krumlov
Granted, there are many more things you can do in Český Krumlov, but if you only have one day to explore, these six things are the best way to fill your quick itinerary.
What you don’t need when trying to determine how to spend your 24 hours is an overload of options to lead you into analysis paralysis. So take these 6 ideas and create your mini itinerary that works for you! Do all 6 or stick to 3 or 4 and just have some fun enjoying this lovely town!
Český Krumlov Castle & View Point
Undoubtedly, the main point of interest in town is the massive castle. Who doesn’t love a castle?
It’s quite impossible to miss it from anywhere in town. One of my favorite things about walking the streets here is looking up to be greeted by the beautiful castle as it watches over town. Feels like a fairytale!
Český Krumlov castle is actually the second largest castle in Czech Republic, after Prague Castle.
The best part is that wandering the castle grounds is free if you’re not doing a guided tour.
Castle Tower
While visiting the castle, hands down the best thing to do is climb the castle tower. The views are unmatched from up above Český Krumlov and the Vltava River. It’s just beautiful!
We stayed up in this tower for probably 45 minutes just admiring town!
From up here you can see the Church of St. Vitus, the alleyways and squares of Old Town, and rafters floating down the Vltava River.
Do be aware that the walk up is quite narrow but it isn’t too difficult. A ticket to climb the tower is 100 CZK on its own. You can also buy a joint ticket with the museum for 150 CZK.
The Castle Theater
If you’re a history lover and a phrase such as ‘the best preserved Baroque Theater in Europe’ interests you, then this is a stop you’re going to want to make.
It is an additional ticket to see the theater, and there is only one 3pm tour time slot that visits it, but if you are so inclined, it’s a great stop for the day.
The ticket to the theater costs 250 CZK.
Bears at Český Krumlov Castle
When you enter the castle through the East gate, you’re going to see bears below the small bridge to get inside.
I’ve learned that the bears are kept because of a connection to the crest of previous owners of the castle, but it’s an odd thing about the castle that we weren’t too jazzed about.
I don’t see the purpose of captive bears here, and if you aren’t interested in seeing them just know they’re there and you can walk right past.
The Cloak Bridge
Connected to the castle is the famous 3-tier covered arch Cloak Bridge. I had never seen a bridge like this before and I’m still quite unsure how it was designed to stay standing (engineering is not my thing), but it’s so cool.
The bridge dates back to the 15th century when the first mention of it details that it was made of wood at the time. WOOD. I’m always so impressed with what humans are able to build, especially without the tools and materials that we have today!
You can walk on the bridge from inside the castle grounds, and you can walk under the bridge as well. Get right up underneath it and you’ll be so impressed at the size of it!
Staying longer? Check out these hotels:
Krumlovská Pohádka
Hotel Grand
Largo *
*(this is where we stayed, it was great and the breakfast was delicious!)
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Church of St. Vitus
The Church of St. Vitus is located on the little inlet portion of Old Town. It’s the church that can be seen from the castle tower.
It’s quite pretty on the outside and sits up on a hill to make it stand tall over town. Inside you’ll find beautiful frescos and Gothic design and architecture.
I always love visiting cathedrals and churches all over the world, because you get to see a variety of architectural styles and houses of worship that I feel give you an insight into the people there.
Roam the Castle Gardens
From the castle, you can walk into the Castle Gardens and stroll about the flowers and various manicured paths. You can also get a pretty cool view of the uppermost part of the Cloak Bridge from here.
I love gardens, and walking through castle gardens gets me feeling like a courtesan taking her daily walk about the grounds, so of course I pretend as much and embarrass my husband and myself.
While there is not much more to do other than walk around and admire the beauty, it’s a really nice stop during the day. And, the walk there through the castle gets you some nice views of town as well!
Walk the Old Town
One of the best things to do in Český Krumlov is wander the twisted narrow streets below the castle to see what you can find!
Oddly, wandering is usually my favorite thing to do in small towns like this. You just never quite know what you’re going to find!
Český Krumlov is a really great example of a small medieval town. Much of the architecture continues to reflect that, even as many buildings have been transformed into hotels or restaurants to support the visitors they get every year.
What is considered ‘Old Town’ is actually two parts, separated by the river. Latran is the side the castle sits on, and the part of town that sits on the little peninsula created by the horseshoe of the river is Inner Town.
Float the Vltava River (or drink by the river!)
If you have the time or if the weather is nice enough, you can raft down the Vltava River right through the center of the Old Town in Český Krumlov.
You’ll get a different perspective and quite a fun little adventure in doing the rafting tour. So if you’re up for it, find one of the many tour companies in town and schedule it! They all do the same tour so shop around for the best price.
If rafting does not sound like your cup of tea or you’re visiting in the colder months, the best alternative is to sit by the river and indulge in some of the beer that the Czechs are so famous for.
You can choose any of the restaurants that sit upon the river and enjoy the gentle sounds of the Vltava River while partaking in the local libations 😉
The Czech Republic has the highest beer consumption per capita in the world. Now that is quite an accolade!
They are famous for their pilsner-style beers and it is actually true that in most places in the Czech Republic, the beer is cheaper than the water.
So, in order to get that authentic Czech experience, you’ve got to sit on the river in Český Krumlov and drink some Czech beer!
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