A Czech road trip – Prague, Karlštejn, Český Krumlov, Brno and Karlovy Vary

The best way to discover the Czech Republic beyond Prague is by car. Distances are short, roads are good, and every hour brings a castle, a medieval town or a brewery. This route is perfect for couples and families – travelling independently lets you find “your own corner” and spend time on exactly what interests you.

Around Prague

Karlštejn – Emperor Charles IV’s Gothic castle, built to guard the crown jewels.
Křivoklát – a medieval castle deep in the forest, once a royal hunting lodge.
Konopiště – Archduke Franz Ferdinand’s castle, with a huge collection of hunting trophies and a rose garden.
Kutná Hora – the medieval silver town, with St Barbara’s Cathedral and the Sedlec Ossuary.

South Bohemia

České Budějovice – with its vast main square and the Budvar brewery.
Český Krumlov – a fairy-tale town on a bend of the Vltava, with a huge castle and a Baroque theatre. A UNESCO site.
Hluboká – a white neo-Gothic castle inspired by Windsor.
Jindřichův Hradec – a castle and lakes.

Moravia

Brno – the country’s second city, with the Cathedral of St Peter and St Paul, Špilberk fortress and Villa Tugendhat (UNESCO).
Lednice-Valtice – castles and wine. See South Moravia.
Kroměříž – a palace and Baroque gardens, a UNESCO site.

West Bohemia

Plzeň – the home of pilsner. See Plzeň.
Karlovy Vary – the most famous Czech spa town, with colonnades, hot mineral springs and the herbal liqueur Becherovka. Sip the mineral water from special spouted cups and try Karlsbad wafers.