You’ll be forgiven if you’ve never heard of Ceský Krumlov because not long ago it was a forgotten town after the Iron Curtain fell. But now this gorgeous little city set on a meandering river under a castle is a must-see stop for anyone going beyond Prague in Czechia.
A distant second in popularity in the Czech Republic to Prague, Ceský Krumlov is a small storybook town that you shouldn’t miss if you are in the region. It’s only 3 hours from Prague, Salzburg, or Vienna, and it’s easily one of the best-value cities in Europe.
| Population | 14,000 |
| Area | 14,000 |
| Timezone | UTC+1 |
| Currency | Czech Koruna |
| Airports | Flughafen Linz (LNZ)Prague-Ruzyne Airport (PRG) |
There are a couple of cheap and well rated hostels, but even the small pensions and hotels offer rates that are very low considering how wonderful the place is. Spend two or three days here and you’ll be raving about it too. Interestingly, it’s incredibly popular with tourists from the far east, and they are really onto something here.
Most travelers visit from late May into early September. Because of this, you may find that hotel prices have risen a bit. If you’re looking for more of a budget friendly vacation, consider traveling during other parts of the year.
April and early May experience mild temperatures alongside great weather without the crowds. September and October also see less people.
| Rating | Price(USD) |
|---|---|
 | 8.31 - 16.82 |
| 21.22 - 40.82 |
| 23.50 - 47.38 |
| 45.85 - 87.79 |
| 112.33 - 112.33 |
Penzion Pod Hrazi Doubles from €38/night | |
Our pick: The best cheap and central 3-star hotel in Cesky Krumlov |
| Type | Price(USD) |
|---|---|
| Hostel Bed | 2.70 - 3.28 |
Hostel Merlin Beds from €12/night | |
Our pick: The best cheap and central hostel in Cesky Krumlov |
Ceský Krumlov is such a small town that you can easily see all of the main sights in two days, or even one, if you are in a hurry. But you might want to stay longer because it’s such a pleasant breath of fresh air if you are otherwise going between large cities.
See the castle and take a walking tour at the very least, and spend the rest of your time wandering around and enjoying the cheap food and drinks.
The free (tips-based) walking tours of Ceský Krumlov are fantastic and the perfect way to see nearly everything in town in just a few hours.
| Location | Description | Type | Price(USD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ceský Krumlov Castle guided tour | You can see the magnificent exteriors of this castle and gardens for free. Going inside is by guided tour only. | Adults | 11.63 |
| Food Type | Description | Price(USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Budget breakfast | Your hotel should include breakfast. If not, there are only a few choices open in the morning. | 3.49 - 5.61 |
| Budget lunch | Hearty Czech food like goulash and dumplings are cheap, even in sit-down restaurants. | 4.57 - 7.89 |
| Budget dinner | Nearly every restaurant in town has loads of options in this price range. Dining in Cesky Krumlov is a bargain. | 6.02 - 10.80 |
| Beer (.5L) | Eggenberg is the local beer, but Budvar and Pilsener Urquell are also cheap at every restaurant and bar. | 1.58 - 2.28 |
| Beer .5L (retail) | Beer in shops is only a bit cheaper than in restaurants. | 1.08 - 1.45 |
| Type | Price(USD) |
|---|---|
| Express bus to/from Prague | 9.14 |
| Shuttle ride to/from Vienna | 34.47 |
| 3-km taxi ride in Cesky Krumlov | 3.28 - 3.95 |
There are no large airports near Ceský Krumlov so you’ll want to come by train or bus from Prague, Vienna, or Salzburg, in about 3 hours from each.
The train station is on the edge of town while the buses drop you off much closer to the center, so the bus service from Prague is actually more convenient for most people, with lower fares and more frequent departures as well.
Ceský Krumlov is so small that you can pretty much walk anywhere. There are some taxis to take you to or from the train station, or if you are staying at a hotel outside of the town center.
| Month | High F | Low F | Precip (inches) |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 36 | 25 | 2.9 |
| February | 39 | 25 | 2.5 |
| March | 46 | 32 | 2.6 |
| April | 55 | 36 | 2.4 |
| May | 66 | 45 | 3.5 |
| June | 70 | 50 | 4.1 |
| July | 75 | 54 | 3.8 |
| August | 75 | 54 | 3.9 |
| September | 66 | 46 | 2.9 |
| October | 55 | 41 | 2.8 |
| November | 43 | 32 | 2.9 |
| December | 37 | 28 | 3.1 |
Due to its location, Cesky Krumlov sees nice seasonal changes throughout the year. Because of this, it’s best to research a bit beforehand, helping to make sure that you visit during the season you enjoy the most.
July sees the highest temperatures of the year while January experiences the chillest days of the winter season.
If you’re looking for long sunny days with mild temperatures, consider visiting in April. If you love rain and have a few umbrellas just waiting to be used, June is the right month for you.
| 21 Mar | 7:07am | 7:15pm |
| 21 Jun | 4:59am | 9:09pm |
| 21 Sep | 6:47am | 7:06pm |
| 21 Dec | 8:53am | 5:08pm |