Český Krumlov

Český Krumlov Travel Guide

A fairytale medieval town embraced by an S-shaped bend of the Vltava River. The UNESCO-listed Old Town has barely changed since the 13th century, and the view of red rooftops from Český Krumlov Castle is one of Europe's most beautiful. While a day trip from Prague is possible, staying overnight to enjoy the evening ambiance is highly recommended — a perfect town for romantic travelers who love medieval atmospheres.

Essential Český Krumlov Travel Info

Must-Visit Places in Český Krumlov

★ 4.8

Český Krumlov Castle

Begun in the 13th century, this is the Czech Republic's second-largest castle, blending Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque styles. The painted Round Tower is the town's symbol — climb it for a picture-perfect view of the Vltava curving around the town below. Don't miss the Baroque theatre inside (one of the world's best preserved) and the revolving auditorium in the castle gardens. Tower admission about CZK 100; castle interior guided tour about CZK 300. About 10 minutes on foot from the Old Town square.

HoursMuseum and tower roughly 9:00–17:00 (until 19:00 Fri–Sat); in winter (Nov–Mar) Tue–Sun 9:00–15:30. Guided tour routes run seasonally and are closed on Mondays and in winter; the gardens close Nov–Apr.

LocationLatrán, Český Krumlov

TipsThe tower viewpoint is the town's best photo spot. Choose between Tour I (Renaissance halls) and Tour II (Schwarzenberg era) for the interior.

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★ 4.6

Vltava River Rafting

Canoeing, kayaking, or rafting down the Vltava as it wraps around Český Krumlov is a hugely popular summer activity. Seeing the castle and town from the river offers a completely different, beautiful perspective. It's safe for beginners, with routes ranging from short loops around the town (1-2 hours) to full-day trips to Vyšší Brod. A 2-person canoe rental is about CZK 700-1,000 for half a day. Multiple rental outfits operate in the town center.

HoursRental outfits: 08:00-18:00 (operating May-September; schedule varies with weather).

LocationVltava River, Český Krumlov

TipsSummer (June-August) is best — bring a dry bag. Short routes don't always need a booking, but reserving ahead on weekends is wise.

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★ 4.3

Egon Schiele Art Centrum

Austrian Expressionist master Egon Schiele's mother hailed from Český Krumlov, and Schiele himself drew great inspiration from the town. Housed in a converted 16th-century brewery, the center displays Schiele's drawings and paintings alongside rotating contemporary art exhibitions. A hidden gem of Czech modern art, it offers a more intimate viewing experience than Prague's larger galleries. Admission about CZK 200. 3-minute walk from the Old Town square.

Hours10:00-18:00 (open daily).

LocationŠiroká, Český Krumlov

TipsRotating exhibitions change frequently, so check the website before visiting. The center is compact — about an hour is enough.

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★ 4.4

Church of St. Vitus

Completed in 1407, this Gothic church shares the skyline with the castle as the town's defining silhouette. Its soaring spire rises prominently above the red rooftops. Inside you'll find medieval frescoes, tombs of the Rosenberg family, a Neo-Gothic restored altar, and a Baroque organ. Viewed from across the Vltava, the church and castle together create a stunningly photogenic townscape. Free entry (outside mass hours). 2-minute walk from the Old Town square.

Hours10:00-17:00 (outside mass hours; reduced winter schedule).

LocationKostel, Český Krumlov

TipsFor the best photo of church and castle together, stand across the Vltava near Seminární Garden. Visiting is restricted during mass.

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★ 4.2

Castle Gardens

Stretching behind the castle, these 17th-century Baroque gardens feature geometric flower beds, fountains, and sculptures. The highlight is the world-famous Revolving Auditorium (Otáčivé hlediště), which rotates 360 degrees during summer opera and theater performances (June-September). The three-tiered Cloak Bridge connecting the castle to the gardens is an architectural marvel in itself. Gardens free; revolving auditorium shows require separate tickets. 5-minute walk from the castle.

HoursGardens: 08:00-19:00 (May-Sep; closed in winter).

LocationZámecká zahrada, Český Krumlov

TipsRevolving auditorium shows run only in summer and sell out fast — book ahead. The gardens are a peaceful place for a stroll.

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★ 4.3

Český Krumlov Main Square

Náměstí Svornosti, the central square of Český Krumlov, has been the town's social and commercial hub since the 13th century. Renaissance-fronted buildings surround it, and an 18th-century plague column stands at the center. The tourist office, restaurants, cafes, and souvenir shops make it a natural starting point. On summer evenings, enjoy Eggenberg beer on an outdoor terrace soaking in the medieval atmosphere. Free and open. 10-minute walk from the bus station.

HoursOpen 24 hours.

LocationNáměstí Svornosti, Český Krumlov

TipsPick up a town map and event info at the tourist office. Relax at a cafe terrace with views of the castle and church spire.

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★ 4.3

Eggenberg Brewery

Brewing since 1560, the Eggenberg Brewery is one of the oldest in the Czech Republic. A guided tour walks you through the traditional brewing process, and afterward you can sample freshly tapped, unfiltered beer in the adjoining beer garden. Flagship brews include the light lager (Světlý ležák) and dark lager (Tmavý ležák), with the unfiltered tank beer available only on-site being the real highlight. Tour about CZK 150 (includes tasting). 5-minute walk from the Old Town square.

HoursTours: 11:00, 14:00 (daily May-Oct; weekends only in winter).

LocationLatrán, Český Krumlov

TipsTours run in Czech and English; advance booking is recommended. Don't miss the unfiltered tank beer in the beer garden.

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★ 4.4

Museum Fotoatelier Seidel

This unique museum restores the photo studio of Josef Seidel and his son František, who worked from the late 19th to mid-20th century. Holding over 180,000 glass-plate negatives, it offers a vivid window into a century of Bohemian life, landscapes, and portraits. Original cameras and darkroom equipment are preserved, teaching visitors about early photography. Nominated for the European Museum of the Year award. Admission about CZK 130. 5-minute walk across the Vltava from the Old Town.

Hours09:00-18:00 (Tue-Sun; closed Mondays; reduced winter hours).

LocationLinecká, Český Krumlov

TipsYou can search the online archive for ancestor photos before visiting. A small but highly regarded hidden gem of Český Krumlov.

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★ 4.6

Cloak Bridge

One of the castle's most iconic structures, this three-tiered stone bridge spans a deep ravine (originally a moat, artificially deepened in the Middle Ages) to connect the castle with its gardens. Starting as a 15th-century wooden footbridge, it was rebuilt and expanded across the 17th-18th centuries (1686, 1707, 1748, 1765) into its current Baroque form, and at completion was the tallest stone bridge in the Czech Republic. Its railings display replica Baroque statues of saints including St. Anthony and St. John of Nepomuk (originals kept in the castle lapidary); the lower passage links the Masquerade Hall with the castle theatre, while the upper passage connects the picture gallery with the castle gardens. The panoramic view of red rooftops and the Vltava from the bridge is one of the best in town. Free to visit (part of the castle courtyard route). 10-minute walk from the Old Town square.

HoursOpen 24 hours as part of the castle courtyard walkway (limited lighting at night).

LocationZámek, Český Krumlov

TipsEarly morning, before day-trip crowds arrive, is the best time for photos from the bridge. It's part of the free castle courtyard walk, so no separate ticket is needed.

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★ 4.2

Regional Museum

Housed in a Baroque building constructed as a 17th-century Jesuit seminary, the museum opened its first exhibition in 1952. Its centerpiece is a hand-built ceramic model of the Old Town, created 1977-1984 and first unveiled in 1985, recreating roughly 800 buildings and the curve of the Vltava across 26 hectares as they looked around 1800. Other highlights include the fully preserved interior of a 17th-century Jesuit pharmacy and exhibits on regional life and South Bohemian natural history. The Seminary Garden viewpoint next door offers a panoramic view of the castle and town, making it a natural pairing. Admission about CZK 60-80. 5-minute walk from the Old Town square.

HoursTue-Sun 9:00-17:00 (closed Mondays; reduced winter hours — subject to change, check before visiting).

LocationHorní, Český Krumlov

TipsTime your visit to when the ceramic model's lighting sequence runs (usually on the hour) for the best effect. Pair it with the Seminary Garden viewpoint right next door.

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★ 4

Museum of Torture

Located in the cellars beneath the Old Town Hall at Náměstí Svornosti 1, this roughly 400-square-meter exhibition displays about 100 torture instruments and period engravings. Life-sized wax figures bring the era's brutal judicial history to life, and two set-piece scenes — a witch burning and an execution by sword — add sound and lighting effects for extra immersion. It's a grim subject, but offers a unique window into medieval European justice; consider your children's age before bringing them along. Admission about CZK 200-250. Located right on the Old Town square.

Hours09:00-20:00, open daily (subject to change).

LocationNáměstí Svornosti, Český Krumlov

TipsThe exhibits are graphic, so consider whether it's suitable for young children. About 30-40 minutes is enough for a full visit.

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★ 3.9

Wax Museum

This wax museum opened in 2001 inside a Renaissance building, spreading over 600+ square meters of cellar space with more than 60 wax figures. Visitors pass through recreated medieval craft workshops, an alchemist's laboratory, and an old tavern before meeting Bohemian royals and their courts — Charles IV, Rudolf II, Franz Joseph — with a jump-scare appearance by the ghostly White Lady along the way. The final hall of fame features wax likenesses of global figures such as T. G. Masaryk, Václav Havel, Pablo Picasso, the Dalai Lama, Salvador Dalí, and Michael Jackson. Admission about CZK 200. 3-minute walk from the Old Town square.

Hours10:00-18:00 (09:00-20:00 in Jul-Aug; 10:00-17:00 in Jan-Feb; subject to change).

LocationKájovská, Český Krumlov

TipsWarn young kids in advance about the White Lady jump-scare. In peak season (Jul-Aug) hours extend to 20:00.

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★ 4.3

Marionette Museum (Church of St. Jošt)

Originally a hospital chapel founded in the early 1300s, the Church of St. Jošt changed religious hands several times before being deconsecrated under Joseph II's reforms in 1787. After serving as a theater, apartments, and a museum over the centuries, it now houses a Marionette Museum run by Prague's National Theatre. Inside the former nave, traditional and contemporary marionettes are displayed alongside complete puppet-theater sets with scenery and curtains, highlighted by a fully functional Baroque-era mechanical puppet theater. A small exhibit on the history of timber rafting is also on-site. Admission about CZK 100. 3-minute walk from the castle on Latrán street.

Hours10:00-17:00 (varies by season; reduced Monday hours possible — subject to change, check before visiting).

LocationLatrán, Český Krumlov

TipsThe church architecture itself is worth a look — check the ceiling and remnants of the old altar. If a puppet show is scheduled, it's worth confirming the time in advance.

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★ 4.5

Seminary Garden Viewpoint

This small hillside garden next to the Regional Museum was once part of a Jesuit seminary, and though modest in height, it's widely regarded as the town's most famous viewpoint. From its terrace, you get a sweeping view of the castle with its painted tower, the winding lanes of the Old Town, and the colorful rooftops below. It's also the first viewpoint you'll encounter walking from the bus terminal into town. A small park just behind the municipal theater nearby offers an alternative angle, taking in the castle, the Eggenberg brewery, and the Latrán district. Free and open. 5-minute walk from the bus terminal.

HoursOpen 24 hours.

LocationHorní, Český Krumlov

TipsVisit in early morning or late afternoon golden hour for fewer crowds and the best light. Easy to combine with a Regional Museum visit next door.

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★ 4.1

Český Krumlov Town Hall

Located at No. 1 on the Old Town square, the Town Hall traces its roots to a building first erected around 1300 by the Zlatá Koruna monastery. Several Gothic houses were merged into a single Renaissance structure in 1597, and it has served as the Town Hall ever since. The ground-floor arcade features six pointed arches, and the facade's upper gable displays stucco coats of arms for the town along with the Eggenberg and Schwarzenberg families. The Museum of Torture (see separate listing) occupies the cellars beneath the building, so the two are easy to combine. Exterior viewing is free (interior is a working municipal office, not open to the public). Located in the center of the Old Town square.

HoursExterior viewable 24 hours (interior not open to the public).

LocationNáměstí Svornosti, Český Krumlov

TipsLook for the Schwarzenberg family emblem on the facade — a crow pecking out the eyes of a defeated Turk. Easy to pair with the Museum of Torture in the cellars below.

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★ 4.4

Kleť Lookout Tower

This 18-meter stone tower sits atop Kleť (1,084m), the highest peak in the Blanský les protected landscape area north of Český Krumlov, built in 1825 by Duke Josef Schwarzenberg. On a clear day, you can see the Šumava range and even Alpine peaks in Austria. Reach the summit via the Krásetín chairlift (running since 1961, 1,792m long, about 15 minutes) or hike up in about an hour (2km, 410m elevation gain). At the top, Tereza's Chalet (1925) offers food and lodging, and an observatory with the Czech Republic's largest refracting telescope opens in summer. In summer you can also rent an all-terrain kick scooter and ride down toward Český Krumlov or Zlatá Koruna, with routes dropping up to 630m in elevation.

HoursTower open year-round (chairlift and observatory operate seasonally — subject to change, check before visiting).

LocationBlanský les, Krásetín

TipsThe chairlift operates seasonally, so check ahead. The garlic soup at the summit chalet is a local specialty worth trying.

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★ 4.3

Holašovice Historic Village

Located west of České Budějovice and about 30km north of Český Krumlov, this small village was abandoned after WWII, restored in the 1990s, and inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1998. Twenty-three farmsteads surround a rectangular village green with a chapel and fishpond, their facades preserved in the stucco-decorated, brightly colored 'South Bohemian Folk Baroque' style dating from the 18th-19th centuries. Most farmhouses remain privately owned and closed to visitors, but Farmhouse No. 6 holds a small museum offering a look at the interior layout and rural life. Public transit from Český Krumlov requires a transfer via České Budějovice and takes over 1.5 hours, so renting a car or joining a tour is more efficient. About an hour is enough to see the whole village.

HoursThe village itself is always accessible (the farmhouse museum operates seasonally — subject to change, check before visiting).

LocationHolašovice, Jankov

TipsPark only in the designated lot on the village's northeast side (about CZK 20/hour, minimum 3 hours prepaid) — never park on the square, since people still live there.

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★ 4.3

Zlatá Koruna Monastery

Located in the village of Zlatá Koruna in the Vltava valley, about 6-8km north of Český Krumlov, this Cistercian monastery was founded by King Ottokar II in the 13th century. Visitors can choose between two guided tours: the 'Sacral Route,' centered on the Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, and 'Monastery with the Baroque Pharmacy,' which explores everyday monastic life. A cloistered courtyard and a mix of Gothic and Baroque architecture reveal centuries of monastic life, making it one of South Bohemia's most significant religious landmarks. Tours cost roughly CZK 150-250 depending on the route. Open seasonally April-October, with online booking at least 48 hours ahead recommended.

HoursOpen seasonally April-October; days and times vary by tour (subject to change — check the official website before visiting).

LocationZlatá Koruna

TipsAdvance online booking through the official website is essentially required; free-admission visitors can't book online and should bring ID on-site instead.

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Things to Do in Český Krumlov

Adventure

Vltava River Canoe Experience

Paddle a canoe down the Vltava River and admire Český Krumlov Castle and the medieval town from the water. Safe for beginners, with short routes taking about 1-2 hours.

Price About CZK 700-1,000 (EUR 28-40) for a 2-person canoe, half dayDuration About 1-4 hours (depending on route)

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Culture

Medieval Tavern Dinner Experience

Dine by torchlight at Krčma v Šatlavské ulici, enjoying medieval-recipe dishes and mead. Wooden tableware and candlelight create a time-travel atmosphere.

Price About CZK 300-600 (EUR 12-24, including food and drinks)Duration About 1.5-2 hours

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Tour

Eggenberg Brewery Tour

Tour the 500-year-old Eggenberg Brewery, learn the brewing process, and taste unfiltered tank beer available only on-site in the adjoining beer garden.

Price About CZK 150 (EUR 6, including tasting)Duration About 1 hour

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Culture

Revolving Auditorium Open-Air Performance

Watch opera or theater on the world-famous revolving auditorium in the castle gardens, where the audience platform rotates 360 degrees. A unique Český Krumlov cultural experience, running June-September only.

Price About CZK 600-1,200 (EUR 24-48)Duration About 2-3 hours

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Tour

Český Krumlov Evening Walk

An evening stroll through the Old Town starting at dusk. The illuminated castle, reflections on the Vltava, and quiet medieval lanes offer a completely different romantic atmosphere from daytime.

Price Free (self-guided walk)Duration About 1-1.5 hours

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Culture

Five-Petalled Rose Festival

The town's biggest festival in late June, when the entire village dons medieval costumes for knight tournaments, fire shows, parades, and artisan markets. A time-travel experience to medieval Bohemia.

Price Free (some performances ticketed)Duration All day (3-day festival)

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Must-Try Food in Český Krumlov

Trdelník (Chimney Cake)

🍢 Street Food

A cylindrical sweet bread slowly turned over charcoal, a specialty of the town. About CZK 80-120 (EUR 3-5). Freshly baked from stalls near the castle entrance is the tastiest.

Goulash

🍱 Traditional

Bohemian-style paprika and beef stew served with bread dumplings. About CZK 200-300 (EUR 8-12). Krčma v Šatlavské ulici, a medieval tavern in the Old Town, is tops for both atmosphere and taste.

Eggenberg Beer

🍵 Drink

Local beer brewed for over 500 years at the Eggenberg brewery in Český Krumlov. About CZK 50 (EUR 2) for 500ml. Take the brewery tour and enjoy a freshly tapped pint in the beer garden next door.

Svíčková na Smetaně

🍱 Traditional

Braised beef sirloin in a creamy vegetable sauce served with bread dumplings, a quintessential Czech main course. About CZK 180-280 (EUR 7-11). Try it at Krčma v Šatlavské ulici in the Old Town for a medieval dining experience.

Pečená Kachna (Roast Duck)

🍱 Traditional

Crispy roast duck served with braised red cabbage and dumplings, a Bohemian classic. About CZK 250-350 (EUR 10-14). Restaurant Konvice near the castle is known for its duck dishes.

Medovina (Mead)

🍵 Drink

A medieval honey wine (mead) served warm in Český Krumlov's taverns. About CZK 60-100 (EUR 2-4) per glass. Warm mead is especially popular in winter months.

Palačinky (Czech Crepes)

🍰 Dessert

Thin Czech crepes filled with jam, fruit, chocolate, or whipped cream. About CZK 80-150 (EUR 3-6). Enjoy as dessert at an Old Town cafe or as a riverside snack.

Český Krumlov Travel FAQ

When is the best time to visit Český Krumlov?

May-September is ideal. Summer is great for Vltava rafting, and the June Five-Petalled Rose Festival brings the medieval atmosphere to its peak.

How much does it cost to travel in Český Krumlov?

Daily budget around $45-85 (accommodation $20-45; food $15-20; transport and admissions $7-20).

How do I get around in Český Krumlov?

About 3 hours from Prague by direct bus (Student Agency/RegioJet) or 3.5 hours by train. The town is small enough to explore entirely on foot. Buy a prepaid SIM in Prague beforehand. Card payments accepted at tourist venues, but small shops may need cash. Tipping 10% at restaurants is standard.

Do I need a visa to visit Český Krumlov?

Korean passport holders can enter visa-free for up to 90 days under the Schengen Agreement.

Is Český Krumlov safe for tourists?

A very safe small town. Basic care of belongings in crowded tourist areas during summer is sufficient.

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