Cesky Krumlov: A Fairytale Medieval Czech Village

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Cesky Krumlov

Cesky Krumlov is a charming small town located in the Czech Republic about 2.5 hours from the capital city of Prague. We arrived via private transportation with Czech Shuttle (you can also arranged an even more affordable option by using their shared shuttle service.) Though most people just visit for a day or two, we spent 5 full days in this beautiful village, but felt like we could’ve stayed much, much longer.

Cesky Krumlov map

A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1992, Cesky Krumlov is steeped in rich history. The construction of the town and its castle commenced in the late 13th century.

Cesky Krumlov card

Cesky Krumlov Card

To make the most of your stay in Cesky Krumlov, stop by the tourism office in the main square and purchase a Cesky Krumlov card for a nominal fee. This card includes entrance to 4 museums: Castle Museum and Tower, Regional Museum, Museum Fotoatelier Seidel, and Egon Schiele Art Centrum. Save over 50% off of the regular ticket price. Stay at a local participating hotel for 3 or more nights and the card is FREE (even more incentive to stay longer than just a day or two!).

Cesky Krumlov square

With a quaint town center, and less than 9 square miles total, everywhere you turn, there is a colorful building, monument, or structure with a fascinating history. Gothic, renaissance, and baroque style architecture can be found throughout the town.

Cesky Krumlov Czech Republic

Recovered and restored fresco paintings are also present all over town, in buildings, and within the castle courtyards. Below is one of many examples…

Old frescoes

The steeple of St. Vitus Church dominates the skyline in this tiny town and can be seen from pretty much every vantage point. Although there are several noteworthy churches throughout the Czech Republic, we found it interesting to learn that they are the least religious population in the world, with barely 10% claiming a religion.

Cesky Krumlov Czech Republic

Besides the church, the other most notable landmark in the city is the castle, which is unusually large given the small size of Cesky Krumlov. It is second in size (in the Czech Republic) behind the castle complex in Prague.

Cesky Krumlov Czech Republic

Climb the castle tower stairs for outstanding views over the entire town. (Remember, this is included in the Cesky Krumlov card mentioned earlier.)

View of Cesky Krumlov from castle tower

The castle gardens are an attraction all their own, so they deserved their own write-up.

Castle gardens Cesky Krumlov

The history, culture, cobblestone streets, and general charm of Cesky Krumlov is what attracts visitors from all over the world.

Cesky Krumlov Czech Republic

Restaurants, cafes, galleries, and shops line the main alleys, providing refreshment and authentic souvenirs to the thousands of travelers who make their way to this adorable small town.

Cesky Krumlov Czech Republic

Be sure to not miss out on trying a trdelnik during your visit to Cesky Krumlov. This delicious pastry is traditionally from Slovakia, but can be found throughout the Czech Republic and a few other eastern European countries. They are best enjoyed while hot and fresh, and are served with a dusting of cinnamon, sugar, and nuts. For an extra indulgence, try one with chocolate or Nutella inside!

Trdelnik

Besides the buildings, shops, and other attractions, another aspect of this village which we appreciate is the sense of adventure and nature that it provides. With a river running through town, you can rent a canoe, kayak, or raft and navigate the mild waters! We took part in this popular activity, and while we didn’t participate in a multi-day rafting trip, we thoroughly enjoyed our brief journey from one end of town to the other.

Toccara Forget Someday Cesky Krumlov

 And, as we wrap up this post, we’d be remiss if we told you all about what to do and see in Cesky Krumlov without recommending a few places to eat!

Eggenberg beer light and dark

Na Lou啪i is located just off the main town square and serves up deliciously cold beer and authentic Czech cuisine. We’ll let the pictures speak for themselves…

Chicken and potatoes Bone-in fish and potatoes

Laibon is one of a few vegetarians restaurants in town, so after several traditional heavy Czech meals, you might be ready for lighter fare. Located along the waterfront just under the castle, it is the perfect place to enjoy a delicious meal and watch the rafters go by.

Relaxing with a beer by the riverCesky Krumlov Czech Republic

Sam ordered the Indian-style lentils with curry, cumin, tomatoes, and Arabic rice…

Vegetarian dish

… and I indulged in a scrumptious serving of pasta with cream-cheese sauce, walnuts, sun-dried tomatoes, and spinach!

Gorgonzola pasta dish

With so much to do, see, and eat jam-packed into this tiny town, be sure to add Cesky Krumlov to your itinerary when planning your next trip to central/eastern Europe. It’s one of the most charming and affordable destinations in Europe! For example, we rented an entire apartment through AirBnB for less than $60 USD/night, and the beers… they were less than $2 (USD) each!

Sunset in Cesky Krumlov

We’d like to thank the Cesky Krumlov Tourism Board for providing us with an extremely informative city tour and a Cesky Krumlov card during our stay.

30 Comments

  1. SUCH a beautiful town, and your photos are lovely. I stayed in that green house in the center of your photo of the town square! 馃檪

  2. Silvertown!

  3. So much to enjoy here, from the castle (we love history!) to the trdelnik. I say yes please to a nutella one….(but honestly it looks like a great place to visit).

  4. What a picturesque little town! I would love to visit and I will be sure to include it in my itinerary when I next visit the Czech Republic. Thanks for the tip about the discount cards, very helpful!

  5. Um, is Czech food and beer the best thing ever or what? Your photos have my stomach rumbling, haha.

  6. Absolutely charming! With that beauty, I definitely could have lived a week or two! Stunning photos too, I’m sure they translate well in real life. Happy travels, thanks for the visual treat!

  7. Wow! Your pictures (fabulous by the way) are the reason that the Czech Republic is my #1 bucket list destination! I cannot wait to see if for myself!

  8. I have been to Prague but missed out on this gem of a town! Looks absolutely beautiful. I can’t wait to head back to Europe-wandering around small towns like this has to be one of my favorite things to do. Great photos by the way!

  9. I love these medieval towns in Central and Eastern Europe. I am originally from Romania and in the region of Transylvania there are so many of these towns. You have very beautiful pictures from Cesky Krumlov!

  10. As someone who loves history Cesky Krumlov with origins in 13th century sounds right up my street! It reminds me a little of Bruges in Brussels from your cute pics. I’m glad you mentioned about the shuttle as I don’t like driving abroad (I’m also a terrible driver haha!) it’s always good to know where there is good transport links before you visit somewhere 馃檪

  11. I’ve been to few places in Czech Republic but I’ve never been to Cesky Krumlov and I think I should go there asap because it looks really lovely! And I love Czech beer! 馃槈

  12. I am loving every single one of these photos! I havent ventured to Czech Republic yet but you have both just proven that I need to go ASAP. I love reading couple travel bloggers <3 there is something so lovely about it! Best of luck with all of your adventures! I cant wait to see where you end up next. Namaste xx Kimberley

    • Awww, thanks Kimberey! Yes, the Czech Republic definitely has some hidden gems. We can’t wait to get back and explore more! It’s so beautiful and affordable, you should try to visit ASAP!

  13. Jon Sanserino

    We loved Cesky Krumlov – it was very charming and super picturesque. We only stopped there for part of a day while driving from Budapest to Prague, but it was enough to want to see it again. It was nearly Winter when we went – it would have a very different feel during the warmer seasons as shown in your photos. We really enjoyed the Czech people, food and of course, the many many great and cheap beers!!

    • It’s hard not to fall in love with Cesky Krumlov! We did enjoy the town in the warm summer months, but we think it would also be fun to visit in the winter months, like you did! The people, the food, and the cheap beer – so many reasons to visit the Czech Republic!

  14. Nice. Thanks for ur information.

  15. Czech Repuplic is awesome and no its not true that majority of Czechs are atheists, they just dont believe in religious institutions. From what I read they have the highest rate of spiritually curious people in Europe around 60 percent visit tarot readers, astrologers and clairvoyants. Strong spirituality is what helped all Eastern Europe to overcome and endure centuries of invasions and military abuse. Healing with herbs and prayer is very common in Czech Republic and many other countries like Slovakia, Bulgaria and especially further in Russia. Thanks to King Charles IV Prague is one of the greatest spiritual centers in Europe.

    • I hope I didn’t imply that the majority of Czechs are atheists; we were told by a local guide that no more than 10% claim a religion (like you mentioned – a religious institution). That’s not to take away from the spirituality of the people and yes, our guide also eluded to the fact that it was the hardships they endured that led to this lack of commitment to a particular religion. Thanks for clarifying! 馃檪

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