Your Perfect Cesky Krumlov Itinerary for 2024

If visiting fairy tale towns in Europe is on your bucket list be sure to add Cesky Krumlov. Most visit Cesky Krumlov in one day, but you’ll see with this Cesky Krumlov itinerary it’s better to stay for longer.

Everyone will tell you that your Cesky Krumlov one day itinerary has to include the Castle complex, and they are not wrong. But, what I loved the most about fairytale town was the atmosphere in the evening. It is simply magical.

That’s why I created the perfect Cesky Krumlov 2 day itinerary because you’re going to want to spend at least one night here. Not to worry, there is lots to keep you busy in the charming Old Town.

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Summary: Cesky Krumlov 1 Day Itinerary

red rooftops and church steeple in cesky krumlov itinerary

Spending one day in Cesky Krumlov is possible. Cesky Krumlov is not very big at all. You can easily walk from one end to the other in less than 30 minutes.

Split your day between touring the Krumlov Castle complex and Old Town as the top two things to see in Cesky Krumlov.

  1. Explore Cesky Krumlov Castle Complex
  2. Climb the Castle Tower for the highest viewpoint
  3. Admire the panoramic view from Mantelbrucke
  4. Stroll the Krumlov Castle Garden
  5. Have lunch on Namesti Svornosti square
  6. Wander the cobbled streets of Old Town
  7. Treat yourself to a Trdelnik

Summary: Cesky Krumlov 2 Day Itinerary

red rooftops and church steeple in cesky krumlov 1 day itinerary

Most travellers make Cesky Krumlov just a day trip. Don’t. If your Czech Republic itinerary allows for it, add at least one night.

Why? It’s magical at nighttime. With the tourists gone, the streets become quiet. The restaurants become dark, lit only by candles or lanterns. They become more cozy and intimate in the small cave-like rooms.

Cesky Krumlov is one of the most romantic places I’ve been to, and I highly recommend at least one overnight allowing for 2 days in Cesky Krumlov.

  1. Explore Cesky Krumlov Castle Complex
  2. Climb the Castle Tower for the highest viewpoint
  3. Admire the panoramic view from Mantelbrucke
  4. Stroll the Krumlov Castle Garden
  5. Have lunch on Namesti Svornosti square
  6. Go paddling on the Vlata River
  7. Treat yourself to a Trdelnik
  8. Tour St Vitus Cathedral
  9. Enjoy a candlelit dinner riverside or in a centuries-old cave
  10. Wander the cobbled streets of Old Town
  11. Explore the shops, galleries, museums
  12. Take a day trip to surrounding places within 1 hour of Cesky Krumlov

Cesky Krumlov Itinerary: 12 Cesky Krumlov Attractions

1. Explore Cesky Krumlov Castle Complex

rooftops, church steeple with sun rising in cesky krumlov in one day

A great starting point for your Cesky Krumlov itinerary is to visit the immense castle that dominates the skyline of this fairy-tale town.

It’s the second largest castle complex in the Czech Republic, beside the massive Prague Castle. Tour the inside of the Krumlov castle and get a glimpse into the life of the Rosenberg family from centuries ago.

Highlights of this castle tour include St. George’s Chapel, a Baroque Theater, and Eggengerg Hall with a golden carriage. 

As you come upon the Castle, you can’t help but notice the moat protected by bears. Yes, real bears. This tradition dates to 1707 when there were up to four bears kept here. At the time of my visit, only one large bear was roaming the moat.

  • 🕘 Tuesday to Sunday 9 AM to 5 PM | 240 CZK (Stables 50 CZK, Baroque Castle Theatre 280 CZK)

2. Climb the Castle Tower for the highest viewpoint

krumlov castle tower in czech republic in cesky krumlov 1 day itinerary

The main tower of the castle features a beautiful and colourful façade.

Climb the 162 steps to the top for one of the best viewpoints of Cesky Krumlov. The Castle Tower was built to guard the medieval river crossing.

  • 🕘 Tuesday to Sunday 9 AM to 5 PM | 180 CZK

3. Admire the panoramic view from Mantelbrucke

view of rooftops and church steeple through opening on bridge on cesky krumlov 2 day itinerary

As you walk through a series of courtyards, you’ll come across an elegant bridge that can look out over the entire Cesky Krumlov town.

The 15th-century Mantelbrucke bridge provides an impressive viewing platform of this fairytale town with the striking castle tower and the twin towers of the St. Vitus church together.

4. Stroll the Krumlov Castle Garden

statue fountain in cesky krumlov 1 day itinerary

The exterior grounds of the Krumlov Castle can be toured for free. This includes a viewpoint along the Castle wall and the Castle gardens.

The garden boasts a mix of French and English styles in its design. A fun thing to do is to go through the hedge maze and try and find your way out.

But the real highlight is the Neptune Fountain from 1745.

5. Have lunch on Namesti Svornosti square

restaurant in cesky krumlov day trip with outdoor seating

After exploring the Cesky Krumlov castle complex, it’s time for lunch. Cross the river and you’ll now be in the charming Old Town. The main square called Namesti Svornosti is the best place to stop for lunch.

It’s surrounded by charming cafes and restaurants. I ate at Jakub, which offers pub-style food, and you can’t beat the terraced seating location on the square. The highlight was dessert, which was warm apple strudel with ice cream and wild blueberries on top.

6. Wander the cobbled streets of Old Town

architecture in cesky krumlov one day itinerary

Walk through the winding streets of Old Town made for strolling. Marvel at the old cobblestoned town full of Renaissance and Baroque architecture.

All the historic buildings curve with winding streets and at the heart is the main square. Many of the frescoes that you see today date back centuries ago. What I also love about this town is that it is almost completely car-free!

architecture in cesky krumlov in a day

One of the oldest sections of the Old Town is Lekarna. Seek out the most important building in this area- a pharmacy from 1620. And, it’s still a pharmacy today.

7. Treat yourself to a Trdelnik

pastry on spit over open coal fire in cesky krumlov day trip

Trdelník is a kind of spit cake. Let your nose be your guide to finding them. It is made from rolled dough that is wrapped around a stick, then grilled over an open firepit and topped with sugar and walnut mix.

You have to try this Czech Republic specialty treat, which I first tried when I was spending a weekend in Karlovy Vary, the spa town north of Prague.

8. Go paddling on the Vlata River

vltava river in cesky krumlov itinerary

One of the best ways to see this fairytale river town is from the water. Renting kayaks is a popular thing to do.

Rafting companies offer different packages to suit how much time you might want to spend and even combine this with bicycle rental. Paddle down the river and ride a bike back to town.

Plan on spending a couple of hours on this activity, and can be added to your 2-day itinerary.

9. Tour St Vitus Cathedral

Another important landmark and top thing to see in Cesky Krumlov is the Roman Catholic church of St. Vitus.

This 13th-century cathedral, with its beautiful steeple added in the 19th century, is also part of the town’s skyline. One more important historical religious site is the Minorite Monastery.

If you are spending more than a day in Cesky Krumlov, be sure to add a visit to this incredible cathedral.

10. Explore the shops, galleries and museums

old town tower in cesky krumlov 2 day itinerary

While you’re exploring Old Town, and if you are spending longer than a day in Cesky Krumlov, check out some of these galleries and museums.

  • Egon Schiele Art Centrum (ESAC), a large art gallery featuring classical and contemporary 20th-century artwork by Austrian painter Egon Schiele | Address: Široká 71 | 200 CZK
  • Museum Fotoatelier Seidel – photographers will love this museum dedicated to the history of photography, including a collection of vintage cameras and photographs | Address: Linecká 272 | 140 CZK or 170 CZK guided tour
  • The Museum of Torture – one of the unique things to do in Cesky Krumlov is to visit this museum where you’ll find displays of medieval torture instruments | Address: náměstí Svornosti 1 | 100 CZK
  • Museum of Regional History – dedicated to the history of the Bohemian region that includes a collection of artifacts and exhibits on the town’s past and the surrounding area | Address: Horní 152 | 60 CZK

Several wonderful boutique shops in Cesky Krumlov are found spread out in the winding streets of Old Town. Be sure to duck down the tiniest of streets to find all of them. Most of the shops feature handmade crafts, jewellery, woollen sweaters, slippers, leather goods and glassware.

There are even some great antique shops, where I found my handmade Christmas ornaments which I now treasure.

This is why exploring the shops, galleries and museums needs extra time and if you’re only in Cesky Krumlov for one day it will be difficult to see it all.

11. Take a Day Trip from Cesky Krumlov

  • Climbing Mount Klet. Located on the outskirts of Cesky Krumlov, is the 1,084 m viewpoint. Getting there is half the fun, you can reach the summit on foot using the marked trails or by a chairlift.
  • Ceske Budejovice. I made a quick stop to this largest city in South Bohemia and it’s known for its beautiful square, the Budweiser brewery, and the Black Tower, which provides great views of the city. (24 km or 20-minute drive)
  • Hluboka nad Vltavou. This town is known for having one of the most beautiful castles in the Czech Republic. (33 km or 30-minute drive)
  • Linz. This Austrian town is known for its Christmas markets, river cruises and Baroque architecture in the Old Town. (70 km or 60-minute drive)
  • Tabor. This town is known for its well-preserved medieval center and its beautiful Gothic church, which is one of the most important historical monuments in the Czech Republic. (85 km or 60-minute drive)
  • Telc. This town is known for its well-preserved Renaissance architecture and its beautiful square, which is considered one of the most beautiful in the country. (110 km or 90-minute drive)

12. Enjoy a Late Night Dinner

  • Le Jardin – a French-inspired menu that is in the beautiful Bellevue Hotel | Address: Latrán 77
  • Laibon – I highly recommend the only fully vegetarian restaurant serving Middle-Eastern-inspired food that’s located in a cave or outside terrace dining by the river | Address: Parkán 105
  • Krčma Saltlava – for a real tavern experience – stone walls, open grill pit for meat and fish, I went here for dessert after Laibon dinner | Address: Šatlavská 157
  • Restaurace U Vejvodu – is located in a historic building and serves traditional Czech cuisine and local beer | Address: Jilská 4
  • Pizzeria Ristorante Pizzolo – if you’re in the mood for Italian, you’ll love the wood-fired pizzas and pasta dishes here | Address: Latrán 37

Is Cesky Krumlov Worth Visiting?

castle tower and church steeple in cesky krumlov 1 day itinerary

Yes! So much so that Cesky Krumlov was the highlight of my entire Czech Republic trip.

I heard tales of this fairy tale town from my Czechoslovakian father-in-law and knew it needed to be part of my road trip from Prague.

Located in the deep south of the Czech Republic in the Bohemian Forest Foothills this charming town makes you feel like you’ve stepped back in time. You can easily see why it has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The only drawback about visiting here is the secret is out attracting almost 2 million visitors every year, Cesky Krumlov is not a hidden gem of Europe. But don’t let that stop you from visiting here, as this is one of the most picturesque towns I’ve ever visited.

Where to Stay in Cesky Krumlov

rooftop with church steeple in cesky krumlov itinerary
View from Pension Athanor hotel room

I stayed at Pension Athanor, which I highly recommend. Not only is the room (I had the loft apartment) gorgeous in its pale gray interior but the view from the room is amazing. A breakfast is included in your stay and is held in the cellar of this historic building. Oh, and parking is included.

  • Bellevue Hotel Diamond Suites – a 5-star property offering a large terrace and incredible views a short walk to the main square, includes a breakfast
  • Largo – a 4-star property near the Krumlov castle with a bright modern interior, breakfast is included
  • Orangerie – a 4-star property set in a building from the 16th century sitting on the bank of the Vltava

FAQ About Cesky Krumlov in One Day Itinerary

How old is Cesky Krumlov

Cesky Krumlov was founded in the 13th century. The first mention of Cesky Krumlov dates back to 1253 when Krumlov was called Chrumbonowe.

How did Cesky Krumlov get its name?

The name Krumlov is derived from the German word “Krumme Aue” which means “crooked meadow”. That’s how the Vltava River meanders through the town.

How to get from Prague to Cesky Krumlov?

Prague to Cesky Krumlov is 172 km and a 2-hour drive. Buses and trains run regularly between Prague and Cesky Krumlov and the journey takes about 3 hours. Lastly, a full-day group tour is another option.

When is the best time to visit Cesky Krumlov?

The best time to visit Cesky Krumlov is in the spring and fall when there are fewer crowds and the temperatures are still pleasant. Cesky Krumlov receives the most amount of visitors in the summer and for the Christmas market.

As a Holidaymaker

For a small town, there are surprisingly a lot of things to see in Cesky Krumlov. If you are still wondering how many days in Cesky Krumlov are ideal – my advice is always going to be at least 2.

Although many come for the day, with so many things to do in Cesky Krumlov, it’s so much better to spend a night. Come nightfall, this fairy tale town is so wonderfully atmospheric. It’s definitely the way to experience it.

Next, check out my Czech Republic Travel Guide which has everything you need to know to plan your trip, including my other articles.

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