Cesky Krumlov Day Trip from Prague 2026: Bus, Train and Castle
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Český Krumlov works as a day trip from Prague. The direct RegioJet bus takes 2 h 40 min from 230 CZK, and the fastest option, a ČD train to České Budějovice plus a bus, takes 2 h 19 min. The Castle Museum and Tower cost 280 CZK, Tour Route I 300 CZK and the Baroque Theatre 400 CZK. The castle season ends on 31 October 2026: from 1 November only the museum and tower stay open, Tuesday to Sunday until 15:30. Around Prague checked prices and hours on the castle website, with the carriers and in the IDOS timetable on 30 October 2026.
How to get from Prague to Český Krumlov: bus or train
| Option | Departs | Journey | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| RegioJet bus, Na Knížecí to Český Krumlov bus station | 6:00, 7:00, 8:00 | 2 h 40 min | from 230 CZK in advance, 300 CZK on board |
| ČD train from Praha hl.n. + RegioJet bus from České Budějovice | 6:21, 8:21 | 2 h 19 min | ČD fare by date on cd.cz, bus 55 CZK |
| ČD train + S4 local train, same change | 6:21, 7:21, 8:21 | 2 h 33–36 min | by date on cd.cz |
| Direct ČD train (IC 533) | 9:21 | 2 h 28 min | by date on cd.cz |
| FlixBus, Florenc to the bus station | 8:00 | 3 h 10 min | by date on flixbus.com |
Times are for Wednesday 4 November 2026. Back to Prague: RegioJet at 15:00, 16:00, 17:00 and 19:00 (2 h 45 min), FlixBus at 17:00 and 20:00, a train with one change at 16:59, the last train at 20:57. Weekends differ and timetables change on 13 December 2026, so check idos.cz.
- RegioJet bus: the easiest day-trip choice, with no change. The bus station is 650 m from Svornosti Square, about 13 minutes on foot. In Prague it leaves from Na Knížecí, platform 1 (metro B, Anděl). RegioJet gives 50% off for children, students aged 18–25 and over-65s. See our ticket guide.
- ČD train and bus: the fastest, but the change takes only 11 minutes, about 5 of them on foot to the bus station.
- Train only: less convenient. The station is 1.7 km from the centre, about 35 minutes on foot, and the direct train arrives at 11:49, with the afternoon direct back at 14:08.
- Car: 180 km, 2.5–3 hours, and motorways need a vignette. Town car parks cost 30–60 CZK an hour.
Český Krumlov Castle and tower
The town calls this the second-largest castle complex in Czechia, with 40 buildings and five courtyards. The courtyards are open all year, day and night, and bears are kept in the moat between the first two, a tradition from the 16th century.
- Castle Museum and Tower. The tower has no ticket of its own: it comes with the museum. 162 steps lead to the viewing gallery above the town. Self-guided, no booking needed.
- Tour Route I. Renaissance and Baroque interiors, the Chapel of St George and the Masquerade Hall. 55 minutes, booking needed for groups only.
- Tour Route II. The Schwarzenberg family and the Cloak Bridge corridors. No dates listed on 30 October.
Tours run in Czech, English and German, depending on route and date.
Baroque Theatre
Built in 1680–1682 on the fifth courtyard, the theatre was rebuilt in 1765–1766 with new stage machinery. The stage mechanisms, sets and costumes survive. It was closed to the public from 1966 to 1997; tours now take up to 20 people and must be booked. This autumn they started at 10:00, 11:00, 13:00, 14:00 and 15:00, except Mondays.
Tickets and opening hours 2026
| Sight | Adult | 18–24 and 65+ | Children 6–17 | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tour Route I | 300 CZK | 240 CZK | 90 CZK | Tue–Sun 9:00–16:00, until 31 Oct |
| Tour Route II | 260 CZK | 210 CZK | 80 CZK | no dates listed |
| Baroque Theatre | 400 CZK | 320 CZK | 120 CZK | Tue–Sun, until 31 Oct |
| Castle Museum and Tower | 280 CZK | 220 CZK | 80 CZK | daily 9:00–16:30 until 31 Oct; 1 Nov–20 Dec Tue–Sun 9:00–15:30 |
| Castle Garden | free | free | free | daily 7:00–17:00, until 31 Oct |
Children up to 5 go free. Buy tickets online or at the box office in the second courtyard, by card or cash. Prices and hours for 2027 are not out yet; the town lists Route I for April–October, Route II for May–September and the theatre for May–October. Krumlov is not on the official Prague Visitor Pass list.
Latrán and the old town
Latrán grew up below the castle before the rest of the town. The street runs for about 600 m from Špičák to Lazebnický Bridge, which leads to the Inner Town and Svornosti Square. From the first castle courtyard you reach it through the Red Gate. Along the way are house no. 39 with the Rosenberg Horseman on its façade, St Jošt's Church with its rafting museum and Port 1560 in the former brewery. Across the bridge, at Široká 71, is the Egon Schiele Art Centrum, Tue–Sun 10:00–18:00.
Rafting the Vltava in summer
The stretch through town suits beginners: 2–4 km, about two hours, May to October, with four weirs of 1–1.5 m that can all be run or portaged. On a day trip from Prague, only a short run like this fits.
- Maleček: under an hour, starting and finishing in the centre, 350–490 CZK per person.
- Potápka: Krumlov to Zlatá Koruna, 16 km, about 4 hours, 2,100 CZK for a raft for up to 6 with transfer.
- No paddling: a guided wooden raft, about 50 minutes, May–September, 580 CZK with Maleček.
Operators state no year for these prices, so confirm when booking. Rentals return in spring: Vltava Sport Service on 1 April 2027, Rafting Krumlov in May.
What is closed in winter
- Closed from 1 November: Routes I and II, the Baroque Theatre, the Castle Garden and the boat rentals.
- Open: the courtyards, plus the museum and tower Tue–Sun 9:00–15:30. The castle lists hours up to 20 December; the town says November to March except Mondays, so check January–March first.
- Advent: the Christmas market runs from 21 November 2026 to 3 January 2027, Light Park from 6 November to 10 January. Advent raft cruises sail from 28 November to 20 December, except Mondays and Tuesdays.
Day trip or overnight stay?
One day is enough for the tower, one tour, lunch and a walk along Latrán. By our calculation, the 7:00 bus and the 17:00 bus back give you 7 h 20 min in town and 5 h 25 min on the road. Tickets per person: bus 230 × 2, Route I 300, museum and tower 280, so from 1,040 CZK.
Stay overnight if you also want the theatre, a longer river trip or Zlatá Koruna Monastery, 8 km away. The town has an accommodation page.
With a tour: Premiant leaves daily at 8:45 from Na Příkopě 23, takes 11 hours and costs 1,950 CZK, castle entry not included. Compare options in the day trips section of our Prague tours guide.
Cesky Krumlov day trip from Prague (FAQ)
How long does it take to get from Prague to Cesky Krumlov?
The RegioJet bus takes 2 h 40 min, a ČD train plus bus 2 h 19 min, and the direct train 2 h 28 min.
Is the bus or train better to Cesky Krumlov?
The bus: its stop is 13 minutes on foot from the square, while the railway station is 1.7 km from the centre.
Is Cesky Krumlov worth a day trip from Prague?
Yes, if you accept about 5.5 hours on the road. The 7:00 and 17:00 buses give you over 7 hours in town.
How much does Cesky Krumlov Castle cost?
In 2026 Route I costs 300 CZK, Route II 260 CZK, the theatre 400 CZK and the museum with tower 280 CZK.
What is open in Cesky Krumlov in winter?
At the castle, only the courtyards, museum and tower: 1 November to 20 December, Tue–Sun 9:00–15:30.
Sources: castle admission, opening hours, theatre, town: how to get here, river route, Advent, RegioJet, FlixBus, IDOS. Checked on 30 October 2026; confirm hours and timetables before you travel.
See also: Prague tours and day trips, Day trips from Prague: 17 ideas, 8 most beautiful towns in Czechia, Hluboká Castle, Best time to visit.
Photo: the castle and tower above the Vltava in Český Krumlov. Jakub Hałun, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0.
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