Pilsen Day Trip from Prague: Pilsner Urquell Brewery Tour 2026
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The fastest way from Prague to Pilsen (Plzeň) is the Ex6 train from the main station: 1 hour 23 minutes, with fares of CZK 169–179 in the IDOS example for 5 November. FlixBus from Zličín takes 1 hour for CZK 128. The Pilsner Urquell brewery tour lasts 100 minutes, costs CZK 430 (€18.50) and runs in English, German and Czech. In one day you can fit in the brewery, the Historical Underground (CZK 250), the main square and the cathedral. Around Prague checked prices, opening hours and the tour calendar on the official websites, and the timetable in IDOS, on 30 October 2026.
How to get from Prague to Pilsen
| Route | Departures (Thu 5 Nov 2026) | Time | IDOS fare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ex6 train, Praha hl.n. → Plzeň hl.n. | nearly hourly at :35, such as 7:35, 8:35, 9:35 | 1 h 23 min | CZK 169–179 |
| R16 train, Praha hl.n. → Plzeň hl.n. | 7:05, 8:05, 10:05, 12:05 | 1 h 32 min | CZK 155 |
| FlixBus 851, Praha Zličín → Plzeň CAN | 6:55, 8:55, 9:55, 11:55 | 1 h | CZK 128 |
| Ex6 back, Plzeň hl.n. → Praha hl.n. | 15:00, 16:00, 17:00, 19:00, 20:00, 21:00, 22:00 | 1 h 21 min | at purchase |
Fares are for one adult on that date and can change. Zličín is the end of metro line B. Buy train tickets at cd.cz and bus tickets at flixbus.cz; idos.cz shows every departure. A new timetable starts on 13 December 2026, when Leo Express takes over the Prague–Plzeň–Munich line. On 30 October, IDOS did not yet show trains after that date.
From Plzeň hl.n. the brewery is a 5-minute walk along Nádražní street and over a footbridge. The centre is 10 minutes on foot or 2 minutes by tram 2 to Náměstí Republiky. From the CAN bus station it is a 15–20 minute walk, or take tram 2. Tap a contactless card on board: CZK 24 for 30 minutes, CZK 28 for 60 minutes.
Pilsner Urquell brewery tour: languages, prices, booking
This is where Bavarian brewmaster Josef Groll brewed the first Pilsner Urquell in 1842. The route covers the bottling plant, a panoramic cinema, an ingredients exhibit, the 1931 kettles, the 2004 brewhouse and the 9 km cellars, where visitors aged 18+ taste 0.3 l of unfiltered beer from an oak barrel.
- Tour times. The November 2026 calendar usually shows English tours at 12:30 and 14:30 and German at 11:15, 13:15 and 15:30. Saturdays differ, so check your date.
- Booking. Buy in the calendar on prazdrojvisit.cz, where the cart also shows euro prices. Online sales close 60 minutes before the start; after that, only the ticket office sells. Tickets cannot be returned or exchanged.
- What to know. The cellars are about +5 °C, so bring a warm layer and closed shoes. Since 13 April 2026 the route has not been wheelchair accessible because of construction. The bottling lines are out of service until 4 November 2026.
The CZK 345 reduced ticket is for ages 6–18, students up to 26 with ID and over-65s. On an organised trip from Prague, check that the brewery ticket is included. For more, see 7 Czech Breweries Where You Can Take a Real Tour.
Brewery Museum and Historical Underground
Both share a building in the centre, Veleslavínova 58/6, and the same ticket website. The Brewery Museum fills a 15th-century house with a Gothic malthouse and a two-level cellar. Entry slots run every 20 minutes, 10:00–12:00 and 13:00–17:00, with English ones at :20, self-guided or with the SmartGuide app.
The Historical Underground dates from the 13th century. More than 13 km of passages run under the centre, and the tour covers about 800 m at around +10 °C. November tours in English are usually at 13:00 and 15:00, in German at 12:00 and 14:00. Children under 3 are not admitted. Both visits end with a can of beer for adults.
January 2027 has few dates: the museum only 2–3 January, the Underground 2, 3, 30 and 31 January.
Republic Square, the cathedral and the Great Synagogue
On Republic Square (náměstí Republiky) stand the Renaissance City Hall of 1554–1559 and three modern golden fountains, which do not run in winter.
St Bartholomew's Cathedral was begun when the city was founded in 1295. Its 102.26 m tower is the tallest church tower in Czechia, with nearly 300 steps to the top. In good weather you can see the Bohemian Forest and part of the Alps. The roof over the nave is under repair, while the diocese lists normal hours.
The Great Synagogue (sady Pětatřicátníků 11) was completed in 1893. Visit Plzeň describes it as the largest synagogue in Czechia, third in Europe and fifth in the world. The Jewish community says the entrance is from Palackého street, with tickets in the Rabbi's House.
Pilsen with kids: Techmania and the zoo
Techmania Science Center (U Planetária 2969/1) sits in former Škoda factory halls, with 15 exhibitions, a 3D planetarium, a 10-metre slide and David Černý's Entropa. Allow at least 3 hours. From the main station it is about 11 minutes by trolleybuses 16 and 13 with one change.
Zoo and Botanical Garden (Pod Vinicemi 9) is open daily, with about 1,100 species. Take tram 4 to Zoologická zahrada and walk through the park, about 11 minutes from the station with one change. DinoPark opens only from April to October.
The brewery suits small children poorly. The visitor rules do not admit under-3s and advise against strollers, although the cart lists a free under-3 ticket, so ask before you buy. Under-18s must be with an adult.
Prices and opening hours 2026
| Sight | Adult / reduced / family | Open |
|---|---|---|
| Pilsner Urquell brewery | CZK 430 / 345 / 1,240, ages 3–6 CZK 50 | all year except 24–26 Dec and 1 Jan |
| Historical Underground | CZK 250 / 200 / 720 | by tour calendar |
| Brewery Museum | CZK 150 / 120 / 410 | by slot calendar |
| St Bartholomew's Cathedral | free | Mon–Fri 10:00–18:00, Sat, Sun and holidays 13:00–18:00 |
| Cathedral tower | CZK 110 / 80 / 280, ages 6–15 CZK 60 | daily 10:00–18:30, last entry 18:00 |
| Great Synagogue | CZK 140 / 110 / 350, under 10 free | Sun–Thu 10:00–17:00, closed Fri, Sat and Jewish holidays |
| Techmania | CZK 280 from age 4, family of four CZK 1,040 | Tue–Fri 8:30–17:00, Sat–Sun 10:00–18:00, closed Mon |
| Zoo | CZK 240 / 170 / 780, under 3 free | Nov–Feb 9:00–17:00, Mar–Oct 8:00–19:00 |
How to fit it all into one day
Tuesday to Thursday works best: the synagogue closes on Saturday, the cathedral opens at 13:00 at weekends and Techmania closes on Monday. An example using the November calendar:
| Time | Plan |
|---|---|
| 8:35 | Ex6 from Prague, arrives Plzeň hl.n. 9:58 |
| 10:10 | Republic Square, cathedral and tower |
| 11:20 | Brewery Museum, or the synagogue (Sun–Thu) |
| 13:00 | Lunch first, then the Historical Underground |
| 14:30 | Brewery tour until 16:10, then the Na Spilce pub on site. Allow 15 minutes on foot from the centre (our estimate: 10 + 5) |
| 17:00 | Ex6, arrives Prague 18:21. Later trains: R16 at 18:22, Ex6 at 19:00 |
Cost example for one adult: train 2 × CZK 169 = CZK 338, brewery CZK 430, Underground CZK 250, museum CZK 150, tower CZK 110. Total CZK 1,278, without food or city transport.
Short on time? The Prague Visitor Pass includes the Pilsner Urquell: The Original Beer Experience tour in Prague (28. října 377/13).
Pilsen day trip: frequently asked questions (FAQ)
How long is the train from Prague to Pilsen?
The Ex6 takes 1 hour 23 minutes and the R16 takes 1 hour 32 minutes. FlixBus from Zličín takes 1 hour.
Do I need to book the Pilsner Urquell brewery tour in advance?
Yes, especially on Saturdays. Some tours on 7 November already had fewer than 10 places left. Online sales close 60 minutes before the start.
How much is the Pilsner Urquell brewery tour?
Adults pay CZK 430 and reduced tickets cost CZK 345. Ages 3–6 pay CZK 50, and the family ticket is CZK 1,240.
Is Pilsen in the Prague Visitor Pass?
No. The pass covers the Pilsner Urquell experience in Prague, not the brewery in Pilsen.
Sources: brewery tour, Historical Underground, Brewery Museum, directions, cathedral and tower, Great Synagogue, Jewish Community of Plzeň, Techmania, Plzeň Zoo, PMDP, Prague Visitor Pass, IDOS. Checked on 30 October 2026; confirm hours and trains before you travel.
See also: Prague Walking Tours, Day Trips from Prague, Kutná Hora Day Trip, Karlovy Vary Day Trip, The Best Beer Halls and Pubs in Prague.
Photo: St Bartholomew's Cathedral and a golden fountain on Republic Square, Pilsen. Bernd Thaller, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0.
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