Czech Republic itinerary, day by day

From the cobbled lanes of Prague to the medieval river bend of Český Krumlov, by train and bus: the map, what is worth booking, everything that costs nothing, the journey times, and where to sleep at three budgets.

🗓️ 3, 7 or 14 days📍 2 stops☀️ Best time: May to September and December (markets)

Prague · Photo Diego F. Parra / Pexels

Route map (numbers = order of the stops).

Czech Republic in 3 days

2 stops · 12 things to do · ≈ 175 km

1Prague

Days 1-2

The capital of Bohemia, spread along both banks of the Vltava. Gothic, Baroque and Art Nouveau stand street by street, largely spared by the wars of the twentieth century, and the historic centre has been UNESCO-listed since 1992.

🎟️ Worth booking

Prague Castle2h · from €15
One of the largest castle complexes in the world, with St Vitus Cathedral, the Old Royal Palace and the tiny houses of Golden Lane inside its walls.
Book on GetYourGuide →
Vltava river cruise1h · from €18
An hour on the water, passing under Charles Bridge with the castle above.
Book on GetYourGuide →

✦ Free, not to be missed

Charles Bridge at dawn, before the crowds · The Astronomical Clock, working since 1410 · Malá Strana, the Lesser Town under the castle · Petřín Hill and its views over the rooftops

🛏️ Where to sleep · Budget: Sophie's Hostel (€38 a night) · Mid-range: Hotel Augustine (€180 a night) · Luxury: Four Seasons Prague (€420 a night)

🍴 Where to eat · top rated

Duplex ★ 4.8 · 54919 reviews · €€€
The Street Burgers, Street food and Cocktails, Prague 1 ★ 4.8 · 12764 reviews · €€
Sad Man's Tongue Bar & Bistro ★ 4.7 · 8800 reviews · €€
U Kroka ★ 4.7 · 8364 reviews · €€
Restaurant Mlýnec ★ 4.7 · 5108 reviews

Photo Diego F. Parra / Pexels

🚌 Bus · 3h · 175 km

2Český Krumlov

Day 3

A small medieval town wrapped inside a tight S-bend of the Vltava, under the second largest castle complex in the country. UNESCO-listed since 1992.

🎟️ Worth booking

Krumlov Castle and its Baroque theatre2h · from €15
The castle apartments, then a court theatre from the 1760s that still has its original stage machinery and scenery. Theatre tours run in the warmer months only.
Book on GetYourGuide →
Canoeing down the Vltava2h · from €25
A gentle paddle through the river bends around the town, with a few small weirs to slide down.
Book on GetYourGuide →

✦ Free, not to be missed

The medieval old town · The bend of the Vltava · The painted castle tower, from outside · The lanes and bridges

🛏️ Where to sleep · Budget: Hostel Postel (€32 a night) · Mid-range: Hotel Růže (€150 a night) · Luxury: Hotel Růže · Suite (€240 a night)

🍴 Where to eat · top rated

Můstek Beer&Burger ★ 4.9 · 1979 reviews · €€
FAJR 99 ★ 4.8 · 454 reviews
Krumlovská Picka ★ 4.8 · 324 reviews
Řízková restaurace Pivoňka ★ 4.7 · 1124 reviews · €€
MY SAIGON ★ 4.6 · 1863 reviews · €€

Photo Pexels

Czech Republic in 7 days

2 stops · 12 things to do · ≈ 350 km

1Prague

Days 1-4

🎟️ Worth booking

Prague Castle2h · from €15
One of the largest castle complexes in the world, with St Vitus Cathedral, the Old Royal Palace and the tiny houses of Golden Lane inside its walls.
Book on GetYourGuide →
Vltava river cruise1h · from €18
An hour on the water, passing under Charles Bridge with the castle above.
Book on GetYourGuide →

✦ Free, not to be missed

Charles Bridge at dawn, before the crowds · The Astronomical Clock, working since 1410 · Malá Strana, the Lesser Town under the castle · Petřín Hill and its views over the rooftops

🛏️ Where to sleep · Budget: Sophie's Hostel (€38 a night) · Mid-range: Hotel Augustine (€180 a night) · Luxury: Four Seasons Prague (€420 a night)

🍴 Where to eat · top rated

Photo Diego F. Parra / Pexels

🚌 Bus · 3h · 175 km

2Český Krumlov

Days 5-7

A small medieval town wrapped inside a tight S-bend of the Vltava, under the second largest castle complex in the country. UNESCO-listed since 1992.

🎟️ Worth booking

Krumlov Castle and its Baroque theatre2h · from €15
The castle apartments, then a court theatre from the 1760s that still has its original stage machinery and scenery. Theatre tours run in the warmer months only.
Book on GetYourGuide →
Canoeing down the Vltava2h · from €25
A gentle paddle through the river bends around the town, with a few small weirs to slide down.
Book on GetYourGuide →

✦ Free, not to be missed

The medieval old town · The bend of the Vltava · The painted castle tower, from outside · The lanes and bridges

🛏️ Where to sleep · Budget: Hostel Postel (€32 a night) · Mid-range: Hotel Růže (€150 a night) · Luxury: Hotel Růže · Suite (€240 a night)

🍴 Where to eat · top rated

Photo Pexels

Czech Republic in 14 days

3 stops · 18 things to do · ≈ 350 km

1Prague

Days 1-7

🎟️ Worth booking

Prague Castle2h · from €15
One of the largest castle complexes in the world, with St Vitus Cathedral, the Old Royal Palace and the tiny houses of Golden Lane inside its walls.
Book on GetYourGuide →
Vltava river cruise1h · from €18
An hour on the water, passing under Charles Bridge with the castle above.
Book on GetYourGuide →

✦ Free, not to be missed

Charles Bridge at dawn, before the crowds · The Astronomical Clock, working since 1410 · Malá Strana, the Lesser Town under the castle · Petřín Hill and its views over the rooftops

🛏️ Where to sleep · Budget: Sophie's Hostel (€38 a night) · Mid-range: Hotel Augustine (€180 a night) · Luxury: Four Seasons Prague (€420 a night)

🍴 Where to eat · top rated

Photo Diego F. Parra / Pexels

🚌 Bus · 3h · 175 km

2Český Krumlov

Days 8-11

A small medieval town wrapped inside a tight S-bend of the Vltava, under the second largest castle complex in the country. UNESCO-listed since 1992.

🎟️ Worth booking

Krumlov Castle and its Baroque theatre2h · from €15
The castle apartments, then a court theatre from the 1760s that still has its original stage machinery and scenery. Theatre tours run in the warmer months only.
Book on GetYourGuide →
Canoeing down the Vltava2h · from €25
A gentle paddle through the river bends around the town, with a few small weirs to slide down.
Book on GetYourGuide →

✦ Free, not to be missed

The medieval old town · The bend of the Vltava · The painted castle tower, from outside · The lanes and bridges

🛏️ Where to sleep · Budget: Hostel Postel (€32 a night) · Mid-range: Hotel Růže (€150 a night) · Luxury: Hotel Růže · Suite (€240 a night)

🍴 Where to eat · top rated

Photo Pexels

🚌 Bus · 3h · 175 km (back to the airport)

3Prague

Days 12-14

🎟️ Worth booking

Prague Castle2h · from €15
One of the largest castle complexes in the world, with St Vitus Cathedral, the Old Royal Palace and the tiny houses of Golden Lane inside its walls.
Book on GetYourGuide →
Vltava river cruise1h · from €18
An hour on the water, passing under Charles Bridge with the castle above.
Book on GetYourGuide →

✦ Free, not to be missed

Charles Bridge at dawn, before the crowds · The Astronomical Clock, working since 1410 · Malá Strana, the Lesser Town under the castle · Petřín Hill and its views over the rooftops

🛏️ Where to sleep · Budget: Sophie's Hostel (€38 a night) · Mid-range: Hotel Augustine (€180 a night) · Luxury: Four Seasons Prague (€420 a night)

🍴 Where to eat · top rated

Photo Diego F. Parra / Pexels

Hotel prices are per room per night, activity prices per person, checked when written. Some links are affiliate links (Booking, GetYourGuide): we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.

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Good to know before you go

🍽️ What to eat

Svíčková: roast beef in a creamy root vegetable sauce, served with bread dumplings and cranberries.
Vepřo knedlo zelo: roast pork with dumplings and sauerkraut, the national dish.
Goulash: a thick beef stew with paprika, served with dumplings and best with a beer.
Smažený sýr: a slab of breaded, fried cheese with chips and tartare sauce.
Trdelník: dough wound around a spit, grilled and rolled in sugar. Sold everywhere in Prague as a tradition, though it arrived with the tourists.

⚠️ What to avoid

Skip the exchange offices in the tourist centre, whose rates are poor however loudly they promise no commission.
Pay in Czech crowns, not euros, and choose crowns when a card terminal or cash machine offers a conversion.
Be wary of restaurants near Old Town Square that show no prices.
Service is rarely included: around 10% is expected.

Plan this trip

📒 The free printable Czech Republic guide→ 🗓️ Best time to visit Czech Republic, month by month→ 🎟️ What to book before you go→

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