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Český Krumlov, Czechia

Destination guide

Český Krumlov

Czechia

Český Krumlov (German: Krumau) is a beautiful town of 14,600 inhabitants in Southern Bohemia, in the Czech Republic. Like Prague, the town is situated on the Vltava River and is full of Baroque buildings housing cafes and bars, features a spectacular castle (the second largest in the Czech Republic), and an old-town…

AI insights

AI-written from the Wikivoyage listings, transport section and the video stats on this page

  • Book your interior castle and Baroque Theatre tours at the main ticket office well before you intend to start them; the entrance points for these tours are located a significant, tiring walk away from the ticket office itself.

  • Avoid the crowds at the popular jailhouse tavern by visiting during off-hours, and when dining at Maštal, ask for a half-portion (poloviční porce) to manage your meal size and save on the cost.

  • If you plan to navigate the Vltava River, use a free interactive river map to check current water levels and weir safety before launching, as conditions change significantly after rainfall.

  • Prioritize a visit to the Regional Museum's top floor to view the detailed ceramic scale model of the town, which illustrates how the skyline appeared with significantly more towers and spires in the past.

  • For a unique perspective of the town, plan your river rafting for the evening; night-rafting tours offer a view of the illuminated castle and architecture that daytime visitors often miss.

How we vet these picks

Every pick is drawn from real sources — YouTube creators, Wikivoyage, and Wikipedia. We only surface sources that actually exist and that we've checked for authenticity — no filler, no dead-end searches.

Best time to go

Best window: May–October

January is the month to avoid — cold. The window below is when it is genuinely pleasant.

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IdealGoodOkayOff-season

Rated from ten years of daily temperature and rainfall recorded at this destination, via Open-Meteo's ERA5 reanalysis. Hover a month for its real numbers.

Getting around

By bike

Many good biking paths lead you to and from Český Krumlov, but you're not encouraged to ride through the streets once you get here. Park and lock your bike and enjoy not pedaling for a while.

By boat

No tours are necessary, boat rentals will sort everything out for you. If you are only interested in the Český Krumlov section of the river, it's about 2 hours long trip. Night rafting is also possible with some rental services.

By foot

Ambling around the town's crooked ulices is the best way to get lost in Český Krumlov's 750 years of history. Bring solid walking shoes for the uneven cobblestones.

Transport notes from Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA 4.0.

What to see

Places are listed from Wikivoyage and our own sourced research. Worth it means a second, independent source names the place too; “3 sources agree” means three or more do — and each card names them, so you can check.

Český Krumlov State Castle

Worth it

Also recommended by Lonely Planet

A Renaissance and Baroque castle on a river bluff, complete with a nearly intact 18th-century Baroque theatre still fitted with its original stage machinery.

Vetted sources

Castle Tower and Museum

Worth it

Also recommended by Lonely Planet

Climb the tower for photo-perfect views over the town's red rooftops and the looping Vltava below.

Vetted sources

Skip the line — book tickets

Castle Gardens

Worth it

Also recommended by Lonely Planet

Terraced Baroque gardens behind the castle, far quieter than the castle itself and at their best in spring and summer bloom.

Vetted sources

Skip the line — book tickets

Regional Museum

Horní 152

Permanent exhibitions of Bohemian antiques, geological fossils, archeological finds from the nearby Celtic oppidum, and interesting rotating exhibits of local interest.

Skip the line — book tickets

Chapel on the Mountain of the Cross

Way of the cross that leads to chapel on Cross Mountain, with nice view of the city.

Český Krumlov Monasteries

There are interactive exhibitions and nice gardens.

Český Krumlov State Castle and Chateau

The most-visited site in town and is composed of the Little Castle (Hrádek) hosting the Castle Museum, the six-storey Chateau Tower from the Renaissance period, the Chateau, the Baroque Castle Theatre, the Chateau Garden, the Gothic…

Technical Monument - Graphite Mine

Chvalšinská 243

This mine offers a bit of information about the history of mining and about the region of Český Krumlov. Before you set off on the excursion, you get a special miner uniform, including helmet and miner torch.

What to do

Old Town walk

Worth it

Also recommended by Lonely Planet

A 20-minute-across old core of cobbled lanes and Gothic-Renaissance houses that Lonely Planet calls Prague in miniature.

Vetted sources

River rafting/canoeing on the Vltava

Worth it

Also recommended by Rick Steves

Paddle the river loop that wraps the old town, the classic way locals and visitors alike see the castle from below.

Vetted sources

Vydra Boat Rental

Nové Spolí

Vydra has been running canoe, raft, kayak and paddleboard rentals for over 30 years — full equipment and transport to your launch point included, collection at the finish too.

Ontario - boat and raft rentals

Kaplická 194

If you think you know Český Krumlov well and nothing can surprise you, do night-rafting. You will explore historical centre of Český Krumlov in very different way. You ride down the river with a guide.

JK Slupenec Horses

30-minute walk from Town

They provide all the gear you need, including a helmet. Wear comfortable clothing and bring a couple sugar cubes or an apple to sweeten the experience.

Maleček Boat Rentals

Rooseveltova 28

Rent a boat or take the historical wooden raft tour with guides and commentary in English.

Rafting on the Vltava River

You can rent rafts on several locations and hostels in and out the town, and near the camping area as well. The river can become faster flowing in summer months after rain, so approach the weirs with caution.

Vetted sources

Tubing on the Vltava River

Make sure you get proper instructions on how to navigate the weirs through town, or you could end up with some small injuries as a souvenir of your visit.

Vetted sources

What to eat

Na Louži

Worth it

Also recommended by Rick Steves Travel Forum readers via ricksteves.com community

A boisterous, wood-panelled tavern serving Czech pub classics and beer with a loyal local crowd.

Vetted sources

Krčma v Šatlavské

Worth it

Also recommended by Rick Steves Travel Forum readers via ricksteves.com community

Meat grilled over an open fire in a stone cellar dining room carved into the old town's rock foundations.

Vetted sources

Hospoda 99 and Deli 99

adjacent to the Budejovicka Gate - main entrance to the old town

Whether you are staying at the adjacent hostel or not, Hospoda 99 makes it a perfect spot to sit, relax, drink and enjoy some of the best Czech and American-inspired dishes in town.

Laibon

two blocks from the town square on the right, before you reach the wooden bridge

Český Krumlov’s veggie haven and tea house. Even meat eaters enjoy the healthy departure from fried pork and take a stab at the creatively cooked grains.

Maštal

Tucked away next to the Infocentrum on the town square

Serves up quality food, and lots of it. Standard Czech fare, and a good range of salads. If you’re not so hungry, ask for the poloviční porce, or half-portion. Half-portions should be half the price of the normal-sized meal.

Vetted sources

Nonna Gina

across from the castle gates

Owned by a Sicilian-Czech couple. Serves the most authentic Italian dishes in town. Here you’ll find pizzas, salads and gnocchi to nosh, and even homemade tiramisù.

Vetted sources

Where to stay

Hostel 99

1 min. from Špičák bus stop, just go over the bridge that leads you into the old town, first left after the gate.

Fun place, no bunk beds in a 16th-century building, with wooden beamed ceilings and a terrace out-looking the castle tower. Free beer on Wednesdays! Great bar/restaurant on site. Internet access and laundry available.

Hostel Krumlov House

Rooseveltova 68

Lots of wood crafted details. Very quiet, spacious and clean. 100 percent non-smoking and family-friendly. Wifi, full kitchen, private rooms, lounge with DVDs and musical instruments. Laundry available.

Vltavan Campground

next to the Vltava River, about a 30 minute walk from main square

Large campsite. A nearby grocery store (10 minute walk) and a couple of local restaurants next to the camping site will keep hunger at bay.

Pension Ingrid

Kaplicka 194

Offers boats for Vltava trips, also kick-bike rental (scooter) for downhill ride.

Kemp Krumlov

U Trojice 107, Český Krumlov 38101

A camp site with possibility of boat rental.

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Travel content from Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA 4.0. Encyclopedic context from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Videos via the YouTube Data API.