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How many days in Český Krumlov? 3 days of castle, river and South Bohemia
By Tony Panopoulos · travel-agency planner in Greece · Updated
Český Krumlov is a small South Bohemian town wrapped inside a tight double bend of the Vltava river, under the second-largest castle complex in Czechia, and it has been on the UNESCO list since 1992. Most people see it on a day trip from Prague, about 3 hours away, and leave at 16:00. Give it three days: one for the castle and its Baroque theatre, one on the river by canoe and up Cross Hill, and one for the white castle of Hluboká and the brewing town of České Budějovice. Stay overnight: the lanes are at their best after the coaches leave.
Short answer
One day covers the castle courtyards, the tower and the old town. Three days adds a castle interior tour, the gardens and Baroque theatre, a paddle on the Vltava and the South Bohemian countryside.
The 3-day plan, day by day
Day 1: The castle and the Cloak Bridge
Morning. Walk up through the Red Gate into the castle courtyards, which are free to enter. Climb the painted round castle tower first, at opening time (about Kč 180-200), for the view over the roofs inside the river bend. Look down into the bear moat at the entrance, where the castle still keeps brown bears.
Afternoon. Take one of the guided castle interior tours (about Kč 320-400, 1 hour; book a time at the ticket office in the morning), then cross the Cloak Bridge (Plášťový most), a multi-level bridge with covered passages high over a ravine, to the long terraced castle gardens with their Rococo fountain (free; open roughly April to October).
Evening. Walk down to the old town, cross the Vltava on the Lazebnický bridge for the classic view of the castle tower lit up, and have dinner in a cellar restaurant: svíčková, beef in cream sauce with dumplings, about Kč 300-380, with a local Eggenberg beer at about Kč 60-80.
The castle's Baroque Theatre, one of the best preserved in Europe with original stage machinery, can only be seen on a few guided tours a day from May to October; book ahead, they sell out.
Day 2: The old town and the Vltava
Morning. Start at Náměstí Svornosti, the main square, with its plague column and Renaissance houses. Walk to the church of St Vitus, then the Egon Schiele Art Centrum in an old brewery, dedicated to the Austrian painter who lived here briefly in 1911 and whose mother came from the town (about Kč 250-300).
Afternoon. Rent a canoe or raft for a 1-3 hour paddle on the Vltava, with simple weirs that boats slide over (about Kč 500-1,000 per boat; operators drive you upstream and you paddle back into town). The trip from Rožmberk is longer; the shorter stretch ends right under the castle.
Evening. Climb about 20-30 minutes to Cross Hill (Křížová hora), with a small pilgrimage church and the best evening view of the whole town and castle. Then eat by the river in Latrán, the district between the castle and the bridge.
The best quick viewpoint, open all day, is the terrace of the Seminary Garden next to the regional museum, about 3 minutes from the main square.
Day 3: Hluboká castle and České Budějovice
Morning. Take the bus or drive about 45 minutes north to Hluboká nad Vltavou, a white castle remodelled in the 19th century in the style of Windsor, with a park around it (guided tours about Kč 250-400). Allow 1.5-2 hours.
Afternoon. Continue 15 minutes to České Budějovice and its huge arcaded main square, Přemysl Otakar II Square, one of the largest in Central Europe, with the Samson fountain and the Black Tower, which you can climb (a small fee). Visit the Budějovický Budvar brewery on a guided tour (about Kč 200-300; book ahead).
Evening. Return to Český Krumlov, about 30-40 minutes by train or bus, for a last evening in the old town. On the way, the monastery of Zlatá Koruna, a Cistercian abbey on the Vltava, makes a good short stop.
On the way to Hluboká, stop at Holašovice, a small village of rural Baroque farmhouses listed by UNESCO, about 30 minutes from Český Krumlov.
Only have 1 day?
With 1 day, do the castle tower, courtyards and gardens in the morning and the old town and Cross Hill in the afternoon. You lose the castle interiors, the river and Hluboká.
Got extra days?
A fourth day can go to the Šumava hills and Lipno lake, about 45 minutes, for cycling and the treetop walk, or to Kleť, the highest hill near town, with an observatory and views to the Alps on clear days.
Where to stay in Cesky Krumlov
| Budget | Area | Why | Typical double/night |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | Hostels and pensions in Latrán | Under the castle, walk to the old town. | Kč 1,200-2,200 |
| Mid-range | Old town inside the river bend | Step out into the lanes at night, when the day trippers are gone. | Kč 2,500-4,000 |
| Mid-range | Pensions near the bus station | 10 minutes' walk to the centre, with parking. | Kč 2,000-3,200 |
| Comfort | Historic hotels on the main square and by the river | Painted Renaissance houses with castle views. | Kč 4,500-8,000 |
Getting around
From Prague, RegioJet and Flixbus buses take about 3 hours (about Kč 250-400), or take the train to České Budějovice and change (3-3.5 hours). From Linz in Austria it is about 1.5 hours by car or shuttle. Český Krumlov is entirely walkable: the bus station to the main square takes about 10 minutes, and cars are restricted in the old town. Buses and trains reach České Budějovice in 30-40 minutes.
What to eat in Cesky Krumlov
South Bohemian food is river and forest food. Try pstruh, grilled river trout; svíčková; roast duck with red cabbage and dumplings; bramboráky, potato pancakes; and kulajda, a creamy dill and mushroom soup. In season, order game. Beer comes from Eggenberg, brewed in Český Krumlov, and Budvar from České Budějovice. A main in a restaurant costs Kč 250-400; a half-litre beer Kč 60-80. Tourist restaurants near the castle are more expensive than those across the river.
Best time to visit
May to June and September are best: highs of 18-24°C, the gardens and theatre open, and the river good for paddling. July and August are busy and warm. On the weekend nearest to the summer solstice, the Five-Petalled Rose festival fills the town with Renaissance costumes. Winter is cold, around -2 to 3°C, quiet and pretty under snow, but some castle tours close.
What a day costs
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per person, sharing a double) | Kč 700 | Kč 1,600 | Kč 3,200 |
| Food & drink | Kč 600 | Kč 1,100 | Kč 2,000 |
| Sights & tickets | Kč 250 | Kč 700 | Kč 1,400 |
| Local transport | Kč 50 | Kč 200 | Kč 500 |
| Total per person, per day | about Kč 1,600 | about Kč 3,600 | about Kč 7,100 |
Approximate 2026 prices (about Kč 25 to €1); the town charges a small local accommodation fee per person per night.
Before you go
Common questions
Is Český Krumlov worth staying overnight?
Yes. Most tour groups arrive around 10:00 and leave by 16:00, so the main square and castle lanes are crowded in the middle of the day. Staying the night lets you climb the tower early, walk the empty streets at night and visit the gardens or the river in the evening light, when the town is at its prettiest.
How do I get from Prague to Český Krumlov?
Direct buses from Prague's Na Knížecí or Florenc stations take about 3 hours and are the easiest option; book a seat in advance in summer. Trains go via České Budějovice with a change and take a little longer, but the final stretch follows the Vltava valley. Private shuttles and tours cost more but drop you at your hotel.
Can you visit the castle interiors without a guide?
No. The courtyards, gardens and tower can be visited on your own, but the castle rooms and the Baroque Theatre can only be seen on guided tours, in Czech or with English groups at set times. Tickets for English tours sell out on summer days, so book online or at the ticket office first thing in the morning.
Is the river trip suitable for beginners?
Usually. The stretch of the Vltava around Český Krumlov is calm, with small weirs that boats slide down through chutes. Rental companies give a short briefing, life jackets and dry barrels, and drive you upstream. After heavy rain the water rises and some weirs can be dangerous, so follow the operator's advice.
How this guide was made
Compiled by TonyPlan from official tourism, transport and attraction sources and on-the-ground travel knowledge. Prices are approximate for 2026 and change with season; anything we could not confirm is marked as approximate.
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