How to Get from Prague to Cesky Krumlov
Thinking about planning a day trip from Prague to Cesky Krumlov? Discover the best ways to get to Cesky Krumlov and find the one that suits you for a perfect day trip from Prague.
Cesky Krumlov is an ancient, medieval town located in the South of the Czech Republic, about 20 km from the Austrian border. It’s one of the Czech Republic’s greatest UNESCO World Heritage Sights and the town’s architecture is one of the best examples of medieval architecture still standing today.
Visiting this historic, picture-postcard town has always been towards the top of my Europe bucket list for years. Even though I had really high expectations of Cesky Krumlov, it didn’t disappoint whatsoever and I highly recommend visiting.
Cesky Krumlov can easily be visited as a day trip from Prague and most visitors who come here do just that. If you do have more time, however, I highly encourage you to stay the night, as, once the day-trippers leave the place turns into a magical, charming town where you can pretty much walk the streets alone.
You can get from Prague to Cesky Krumlov a few different ways; by bus, train or by driving or even by private transfer or guided tour. The bus or train are by far the easiest options even though driving is a little quicker and gives you more flexibility.
Let’s dive into all the way to get from Prague to Cesky Krumlov so you can plan that perfect day trip.
Read more: 2 Days in Prague: The Perfect First-Timer’s Itinerary
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FROM PRAGUE TO CESKY KRUMLOV BY BUS
Taking the bus is one of the best. cheapest and easiest ways to get from Prague to Cesky Krumlov. There are three different bus companies that you can take, RegioJet, FlixBus and Leo Express.
RegioJet- RegioJet buses depart Na Knížecí bus terminal in Prague. To get to this bus terminal get metro line B (yellow line) to Andel from where Na Knizeci is just a short walk away. The first bus from Prague to Cesky Krumlov is at 6 am. The last bus from Cesky Krumlov is at 7 pm. Tickets cost €9 each way and the trip takes just under 3 hours.
It’s a good idea to book your ticket online before your travel even if it’s just a few minutes before to guarantee your seat. There are no ticket offices at the station but if you don’t manage to get a ticket in advance you can pay the driver directly. To check schedules and book bus tickets check the RegioJet website here.
Flixbus – FlixBus also have a number of services leaving Prague to Cesky Krumlov throughout the day. The first bus departs at 8am, rolling into Cesky Krumlov at 11am. The last Flixbus leaves Cesky Krumlov at 8pm. Most Flixbus buses to Cesky Krumlov depart from either their Prague Station (UAN Florenc bus station) or Prague Roztyly station.
I highly recommend opting for Prague Florenc station as this is the closest to the city centre. To get to Florenc bus station take Metro Line B (yellow) or C (red) and walk from there. To find out more and book your tickets with Flixbus click here.
Leo Express – Another bus and train company, Leo Express also has services to Cesky Krumlov. Their buses depart from ÚAN Florenc Station and reach Cesky Krumlov 3 hours later. Their first departure goes at 8 am with the last departure at 8 pm. Tickets cost €18 return. Check the Leo Express website here for more information.
When taking the bus, I highly recommend taking the RegioJet bus simply because it has the earliest departures. Arriving in Cesky Krumlov at 9 am means you can beat the crowds and have the town to yourself for a while, especially if you’re going just for the day.
Pros of taking the bus from Prague to Cesky Krumlov:
- Easy
- Cheap
- Departs from multiple bus terminals in Prague, most of which are centrally located and easy to get to.
- RegioJet has a 6 am departure getting you to Cesky Krumlov by 9am.
Cons of taking the bus:
- It takes 3 hours to get there
- Not as flexible as driving
- Not so much space to stretch your legs or move around
- You are limited to bus schedules
FROM PRAGUE TO CESKY KRUMLOV BY TRAIN
If you prefer to travel by train, you can take a train with Ceske Drahy Railways. The Prague to Cesky Krumlov train takes 3 hours – the same as the bus- and the first departure is just before 8 am but you’ll have to change trains at Cesky Budejovice. The first direct departure leaves Prague at 8.49 am and arrives at 11.50am-not exactly ideal if you’re heading out on a day trip.
Ticket prices depend on the type of service you opt for but direct services cost about €8 one way. Tickets can be booked online ahead of time on their website here.
Taking the train is a lovely way to relax and take in the beautiful Czech countryside along the way. The trains are also much more spacious than the bus. However, given the late departure time of the first train, it doesn’t give you so much time in Cesky Krumlov, especially if you’re heading out for just the day. I personally would, and did, choose to take the bus for this reason.
Pros of taking the Prague to Cesky Krumlov train:
- Easy
- Cheap
- The Prague to Cesky Krumlov train departs the main station which is very central and close to the Old Town
- Train seats and carriages are very spacious
Cons of the Prague to Cesky Krumlov train:
- The first train gets to Cesky Krumlov much later than the bus giving you less time in Cesky Krumlov
- The train station in Cesky Krumlov is much further than the bus station from the center of town.
FROM PRAGUE TO CESKY KRUMLOV BY CAR
If you’re doing a road trip around Europe or the Czech Republic and want to drive from Prague to Cesky Krumlov you’ll be happy to know that this is a pretty quick and easy drive.
It takes about 2 hours to drive from Prague to Cesky Krumlov, covering the 172 km/106 miles. The easiest way is to follow the D3 south of Prague before turning onto Route 3 all the way to Cesky Krumlov.
If you’d like to rent a car to drive to Cesky Krumlov from Prague there are many national and international car rental agencies in Prague. For a basic, compact car expect to pay about $45/€38 per day plus fuel and full insurance coverage.
While renting a car isn’t really necessary to get to Cesky Krumlov, it does give you more flexibility especially if you do want to stop off at a few other places along the way. If you do plan to visit a few other destinations in the Czech Republic like Brno or Karlovy Vary it might make sense to rent a car for the duration of your trip.
For the best car rental deals check out Rental Cars- the rental car search engine I always use to book cars.
BY PRIVATE TRANSFER
For those looking for comfortable, private and quick transportation to Cesky Krumlov at a time that suits you, organising a private transfer to Cesky Krumlov might be the best option for you.
Private Transfers will pick you up from your hotel in Prague and drop you off in the centre of Cesky Krumlov at the time that you desire. You can also leave Cesky Krumlov at a time that suits you so that you don’t have to work with limiting public transportation schedules.
Private transfers to Cesky Krumlov often look like private tours just because your driver will need to hang around for the day to wait to bring you back to Prague, so they may as well be your guide for the day. For one of the best private transfers to Cesky Krumlov that includes a driver guide via Welcome Pickups click here.
If you’re heading to Salzburg or Vienna after Cesky Krumlov, there are also a number of private, sightseeing transfers that stop at Cesky Krumlov for a few hours before heading on to Austria.
Check out this sightseeing transfer from Prague to Vienna via Cesky Krumlov.
BY GUIDED TOUR
If you prefer to have everything planned out for you, from the sightseeing in Cesky Krumlov, a guide, meals and transportation definitely opt for a day tour to Cesky Krumlov. There are many day tours out there from Prague to Cesky Krumlov which generally include hotel pick-up and drop-off, comfortable transportation, entrance fees to Cesky Krumlov castle and sights, lunch and a local guide.
The best websites I use for organised tours are GetYourGuide and Viator. From here you can select the tour that suits you most based on availability, dates, price and activities. You really don’t need to organise anything more than to book the tour and the process couldn’t be more straightforward.
Click here for the best tour to Cesky Krumlov via Viator.
If group tours aren’t for you, you can also organise a private tour of Cesky Krumlov with a private transfer and guide included. This will give you full flexibility on what you’d like to do and see as well as with departure times. Click here for one of the best private guided tours offered from Prague.
TOP TIPS FOR GETTING FROM PRAGUE TO CESKY KRUMLOV
↠ If you’ve only got a day in Cesky Krumlov I highly recommend starting early. Not only will you beat most of the crowds and the tour groups you’ll also make the most of the day because while there aren’t that many things to do in Cesky Krumlov it’s a gorgeous place that makes you want to just stroll around forever.
↠ If coming in by bus, the bus will stop in two places in Cesky Krumlov, a small stop in the north of town and then the main bus station. You want to wait to get off at the main bus station as it’s a little closer to town- just a 5-minute walk. However, having said that it’s a pretty short walk from the north bus stop to town anyway.
↠ The weather in Cesky Krumlov can be unpredictable. When visiting in spring I had a brief storm followed by intense blue skies and sunshine just 30 minutes later. Make sure to bring layers for when it gets a little chiller as well as an umbrella or waterproof. When visiting in the winter you’ll really want to wrap up as it can get very cold.
↠ Wear comfortable shoes. While I certainly didn’t do as much walking as in Prague, Cesky Krumlov is a much smaller place, after all, you will be walking as there is no other way to get around. Note also that the roads are made from cobblestones so make sure to wear flats or shoes with a thick heel. Stiletto-type heels are a definite no-no as they will get stuck between cobblestones as you walk.
↠ There are plenty of ATMs around town so getting cash in Cesky Krumlov is easy. There are two banks with ATMs right on the main Old Town Square. Many businesses do take credit cards but there are quite a few others that don’t. It’s worth having Czech Koruna with you for paying in smaller boutique stores, local restaurants and businesses.
↠ While most come to Cesky Krumlov for the day, it is worth considering staying the night. This will allow you to walk the atmospheric, charming streets in the early evening, watch the sunset from one of the viewpoints and if you’re a photographer, it will allow you to wake up early the next morning and have the town completely to yourself with good, soft light (providing the weather is cooperating).
Read more: Magical Things to Do in Český Krumlov
Ready to travel from Prague to Cesky Krumlov? Let me know your questions and comments below, I’d love to hear from you.
Planning a trip right now? These are just some of my favourite websites I use to book everything from hotels to rental cars!
Rentalcars.com for quick and easy car rentals worldwide
Booking.com for great deals on hotels
Agoda also for great deals on hotels
Get Your Guide and Viator for tours and adventures around the world
Related posts you might like:
2 Days in Prague: The Perfect First-Timer’s Itinerary
Magical Things to Do in Český Krumlov
Where to Stay in Prague: The Best Areas and Hotels
The Best Viewpoints in Prague: 11 Best Views of Prague You Can’t Miss
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