Two hours south of Prague, Český Krumlov looks like a town lifted straight out of a fairy tale: a loop of the Vltava river, a jumble of red roofs, and a castle stretched along the rock above it all. The whole historic centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and it is small enough to see in a day — though an overnight stay, after the tour buses leave, is when it is at its best.
The castle and its painted tower
Český Krumlov Castle is the second largest castle complex in the Czech Republic after Prague Castle. Climb the round, colourfully painted tower for the definitive view over the old town, then wander the courtyards decorated with sgraffito and the Baroque castle gardens above. The castle even keeps bears in its moat — a tradition going back centuries.
The old town inside the river loop
Inside the Vltava’s tight meander, every lane leads somewhere photogenic: the sloping main square, the tall Gothic church of St Vitus, and riverside pubs where rafters drift past below the terrace. Get lost on purpose — the town is tiny, and the reward for every wrong turn is another postcard view.
The Cloak Bridge
Connecting the castle to its theatre and gardens is the Plášťový most — the Cloak Bridge — a triple-decker arcade of stone arches built into the ravine. It is one of the most striking pieces of engineering in Bohemia, and the covered corridor on top is part of the castle tour route. Walk under it from the riverbank for the full effect.
Quick tips
Day-trippers peak between 10 am and 4 pm — see the castle early or late. In summer, renting a canoe or raft for the river loop is half the fun; in October the autumn colours around the castle are spectacular. The town is entirely walkable, but the cobbles are real: bring proper shoes.
