For most of the travelers, Czech Republic is Prague and that’s almost true, Prague has the richest history, architecture and the best attractions for tourists, can’t imagine visiting the Czech Republic without staying in Prague. This is not the case for other countries, for example you can spend your holidays in Barcelona and the Costa Blanca or Andalusia and Costa Del Sol with no need to see Madrid.

But on the other hand, Prague is quite small and all its sights, monuments and attractions are concentrated on the main central districts, you can walk easily from the Wenceslas Square, through the Old Town to the Lesser Town and Prague Castle, read our article about the preferred areas of Prague to stay in.

If you are staying in Prague less than four nights, then better to keep focused on the city and its sights, but in case you decided to stay in Prague for one week and more, there are few nice towns around the capital of the Czech Republic which also could be a good experience for you. We don’t recommend taking a one day trip, which can be very tiring and annoying as revealed several times on travel forums and reviews. A good alternative for a one day trip, we recommend booking one or two nights in those towns, not only you will explore better, but you will also save money, because accommodation and restaurants are usually cheaper than in Prague.

Cesky Krumlov is one of the most recommended towns to spend at least one night if you have time while visiting the Czech Republic. The best connection from Prague to Cesky Krumlov is by the Bus of Student Agency, it’s is very comfortable, the trip takes less than 3 hours and the price is very affordable: 150 CZK(around 5 EUR) or 120 CZK(4 EUR) for students. For those traveling by car, consider driving 2 hours and 45 minutes.
Cesky Krumlov has a good offer of hotels from cheap and middle range like pension Ingrid to even top luxury hotels like the five star hotel Ruze or the Old Inn. But carefully, never go to Cesky Krumlov without booking your accommodation in advance, the town is small and the capacity of its hotels is very limited, and mainly during weekends, you may not find any available rooms. At any time you can booking online hotels in Cesky Krumlov.

The best period of the year for visiting Cesky Krumlov is from April to October but even in winter, the town doesn’t loose its charm. One of the main events that attracts tourists is the Five-Petalled Rose Celebrations, a 700 years festival that takes place every year in June. Add to that a Jazz festival at the end of summer, usually in September and many concerts, exhibitions, theatrical shows and more festivals.

The history of Cesky Krumlov goes back to the 13th century when it was chosen to become the seat of the kingdom of Lords of Rozmberk for three centuries. Many cultures and periods influenced the architectural style of Cesky Krumlov, from Italian Renaissance to a Baroque style at the end of the 17th century.
Today the town has a great historical heritage of 300 buildings designated as a UNESCO World Heritage, the castle which dominates the city, is the second largest Czech castle after Prague Castle and it has the oldest Baroque theater in world.

In addition to the Castle, we recommend visiting the Cesky Krumlov Regional Museum and many other art galleries. For the most curious visitors, drive ten kilometers to see Zlata Koruna (“The Golden Crown”) one of the oldest bohemian monasteries or also the great Hluboka Castle at 30 kilometers from Cesky Krumlov.

You won’t go wrong with Cesky Krumlov, it’s a good idea for a short one or two days escape from Prague, that enriches your experience in the Czech republic, a destination highly recommended for romantics and culture lovers.