Czechia / South Bohemia / Český KrumlovČeský Krumlov
A Castle Town in a Bend of the Vltava
A small Renaissance town wrapped in a tight bend of the Vltava below one of Central Europe's largest castle complexes, with its painted tower, a working Baroque theatre and terraced gardens; the old centre has been on UNESCO's list since 1992. Day-trippers from Prague and Austria fill the lanes at midday, so a night here shows it at its best. The castle's guided tours run from April to October; the courtyards and town are open all year. In summer people paddle canoes down the river. Coaches from Prague take about three hours, and shuttle buses run on to Salzburg, Vienna, Linz and Hallstatt.
Highlights
- Castle tower over the red roofs
- Baroque Theatre with its original stage machinery
- Cloak Bridge across the castle moat
- Castle gardens and the revolving open-air theatre
- Lanes inside the river bend
- Canoeing the Vltava in summer
- Five-Petalled Rose festival in June
Things to do
- Castle tour (Route I) and the castle towerApr–OctMorning · 2h
- Baroque Theatre tourApr–OctAfternoon · 1h
- Castle gardens and the Cloak BridgeAfternoon · 1h 30m
- Old town lanes and the Egon Schiele Art CentrumAfternoon · 2h
- Sunset over the town from the Seminary GardenEvening · 1h
Tours & tickets
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When to go
Best time: May – September
Heads up
Castle Tours Closed Until April
Český Krumlov Castle's guided tours (the state rooms and the Baroque Theatre) run from 1 April to 31 October; in winter only the courtyards, the bridges and the town can be seen. The town is quiet and cheaper then, and pretty under snow.
Heads up
Summer Crowds
June to August brings the most visitors: Charles Bridge and Prague Castle are crowded from mid-morning, and coach groups fill Český Krumlov and the Sedlec Ossuary at midday. Start early, and stay overnight in Český Krumlov to see it quiet.
- Five-Petalled Rose Festival — Český Krumlov goes back to the Renaissance on a weekend in June: costumed processions, jousting, music and a market in the old town. The centre is ticketed for the weekend and rooms sell out months ahead.
- Christmas markets · 28 Nov – 6 Jan — Prague's markets on the Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square, with a tall tree lit on the opening evening, mulled wine and trdelník; Brno's on the Freedom and Cabbage squares, Olomouc's and Český Krumlov's smaller and calmer. Weekend evenings are packed, and December rooms in Prague cost the most of the year.