Český Krumlov, South Bohemia & Linz in 5 Days

Activities

1. 09:00 Early start — Latrán & the castle approach 45min

   Beat the day-trip buses (they arrive late morning) by walking up through the Latrán quarter toward the castle, past the Eggenberg brewery, taking in the painted facades and the first castle views over the Vltava bend.

   Cost: Free TIP: The single best move in Český Krumlov is to be out early — the lanes are nearly empty before about 10am, then fill with day-trippers from Prague until mid-afternoon. The bus from Prague (RegioJet/FlixBus, ~2h25-3h) drops near the centre.
2. 09:45 Český Krumlov Castle — courtyards, cellars & Bear Moat 1h15

   Enter the second-largest castle complex in the Czech Republic (after Prague Castle), founded in the 13th century. The five courtyards, the cellars, the Bear Moat (bears have historically been kept here), and the terraced gardens are all free to walk.

   Cost: Courtyards & gardens free TIP: You can roam the courtyards, cellars, Bear Moat and gardens free year-round. The painted 'sgraffito' tower walls and the views down over the red roofs and river bend are the highlight. The upper gardens are a 10-minute uphill walk beyond the courtyards.
3. 11:00 Castle Tower climb (162 steps) 45min

   Climb the Renaissance Castle Tower — about 162 steps — for the iconic panorama of the Old Town's red roofs wrapped in the Vltava's horseshoe bend. Admission around 180-250 CZK (often combined with the Castle Museum).

   Cost: ~180-250 CZK (€7-10) TIP: This is the postcard view of Český Krumlov. The stairs are narrow and steep — go before the midday crowd to avoid a bottleneck. Combine with the Castle Museum on the same ticket. Open later in summer, to about 15:30 in winter.
4. 12:00 Cloak Bridge (Plášťový most) 30min

   Walk the Cloak Bridge, the dramatic multi-tiered covered stone bridge spanning the deep moat to link the upper castle with the Baroque Theatre and gardens — one of the town's most striking and most photographed structures.

   Cost: Free to cross TIP: Crossing it (free) on the way to the gardens gives the best angles back over the Old Town. To see it from inside, you'd need the second castle interior tour route.
5. 12:45 Lunch — Czech tavern or brewery 1h15

   Head back down for a Czech lunch. Krčma Šatlava (open-fire grilled meats, candlelit cellar) or the Eggenberg Brewery Restaurant (roast duck, pork knee, fresh local beer) are the atmospheric picks; for value, a pub like Na Louži.

   Cost: 200-600 CZK (€8-24) TIP: Try svíčková (beef in cream sauce with dumplings) or goulash, and the local Eggenberg beer (~60 CZK). Step a street off the main square for fairer prices. Krčma Šatlava is best booked ahead for dinner but easier at lunch.
6. 14:15 UNESCO Old Town & main square 1h30

   Wander the cobblestone Old Town — Latrán, the Inner Town, and Náměstí Svornosti (the main square with its plague column and pastel facades). Browse craft shops and photograph the lanes.

   Cost: Free (snacks extra) TIP: The whole historic centre is UNESCO-listed (1992). Midday is busiest, so it's a good time to duck into a café or a gallery if the crowds peak. The cobblestones are uneven and slippery — wear grippy shoes. Trdelník sold on the lanes is a tourist import, not a genuine Czech speciality — skip it if you want the real thing and try a koláč instead.
7. 16:00 Egon Schiele Art Centrum (year-round) 1h

   Visit the gallery dedicated partly to Egon Schiele, the Austrian Expressionist who lived here in 1911 and scandalised the conservative town. It shows his work plus rotating modern exhibitions, and unlike the castle interiors it's open year-round. Admission ~180-220 CZK.

   Cost: ~180-220 CZK TIP: A good rainy-day or winter option, and a calm break from the crowds. Schiele's stay was brief and controversial — he was effectively driven out of town.
8. 17:30 Riverside walk + dusk 1h

   Take a riverside stroll along the Vltava as the day-trippers leave and the light softens — the best time to photograph the castle and Cloak Bridge crowd-free.

   Cost: Free TIP: Dusk is when Český Krumlov is most magical and least crowded — the whole reason to stay overnight rather than day-trip from Prague.
9. 18:45 Dinner — riverside terrace 1h30

   Dinner on a Vltava terrace: Papa's Living Restaurant (Italian-leaning, river view), Laibon (vegetarian, riverside), or the Tavern of the Two Maries (medieval-Bohemian). Book terrace tables in summer.

   Cost: 200-700 CZK (€8-28) TIP: The riverside terraces charge for the view, so treat dinner as a splurge for the setting, or eat at a tavern one street back. With the castle floodlit after dark, this is the payoff for overnighting. Pay in koruna for the best rate.

Meal Recommendations

Activities

1. 08:00 Dawn Old Town walk + breakfast 1h30

   Wake early and walk the empty cobblestones — the main square, the riverside, the castle views — before the day-trip buses arrive. Then breakfast at Café Kolektiv (specialty coffee, cakes) or your hotel.

   Cost: 80-300 CZK TIP: The reward for staying overnight: the Old Town at 7-9am is almost yours alone, with soft light for photos. The day-trippers from Prague start filling the lanes from late morning.
2. 09:30 Castle interior tour (Route I or II) — April-October 1h

   Take a guided interior tour of the castle (April-October only). Route I covers the Renaissance and Baroque apartments; Route II focuses on the Schwarzenberg family and includes the Cloak Bridge from inside. English tours run at set times. ~250-300 CZK.

   Cost: ~250-300 CZK per route TIP: The painted halls, masquerade hall and original furnishings are the draw. English tours run at limited set times — arrive early or book, as they sell out in summer. Interiors are closed November-March.
3. 11:00 Baroque Theatre tour (reservation required, April-October) 1h

   Tour the Castle's Baroque Theatre — one of the best-preserved Baroque theatres in the world, with its original 18th-century stage, machinery, scenery, costumes and props intact. English tour ~360 CZK, reservation required, April-October only.

   Cost: ~360 CZK (€14) TIP: Almost nowhere else preserves the full original Baroque stage machinery. English tours are limited and sell out, so reserve in advance. Like the interiors, it runs April-October only. If it's full or closed, prioritise the tower and the Schiele centre instead.
4. 12:15 Lunch — Czech classics + Eggenberg brewery 1h15

   Lunch at a traditional spot — Restaurace Konvice (svíčková, roast duck, castle-view terrace) or the Eggenberg Brewery Restaurant in Latrán, where the town's own beer has been brewed since 1560.

   Cost: 200-600 CZK TIP: Svíčková (the national dish) and goulash are the classics; fried cheese (smažený sýr) is the vegetarian standby. The Eggenberg brewery offers tours of its historic brewhouse — a relaxed alternative to the bigger Budvar tour you can do on Day 3.
5. 14:00 Egon Schiele Art Centrum (if not seen Day 1) 1h

   If you skipped it on Day 1, the Egon Schiele Art Centrum is open year-round and a calm contrast to the crowded streets, showing Schiele's work plus rotating modern exhibitions. ~180-220 CZK.

   Cost: ~180-220 CZK TIP: A reliable indoor option in any season, unlike the castle interiors. Schiele's brief, controversial stay — and his eventual expulsion — is part of the story.
6. 15:15 Vltava River rafting (April-October) 2h

   Take a gentle Vltava rafting float — either a short stretch through the centre of town (~550 CZK) or a longer scenic float. The water is easy Class I (no real rapids), family-friendly, with castle and Old Town views from the river.

   Cost: ~550 CZK (€22)+ TIP: The town's most underrated activity, and a different perspective on the castle. Operators rent rubber rafts/canoes (April-October only); bring a waterproof bag for valuables. A short in-town float is enough for a first taste; longer floats from Vyšší Brod take a half-day. Not available in winter.
7. 17:30 Dusk riverside walk + dinner 2h

   End with the crowd-free dusk again — a riverside stroll as the castle lights up, then dinner. Papa's Living Restaurant (river-view Italian), the Tavern of the Two Maries (medieval-Bohemian), or Laibon (vegetarian, riverside).

   Cost: 200-700 CZK TIP: Dusk and after dark, with the castle illuminated and the day-trippers gone, is the most atmospheric time in town. Book riverside terraces in summer. Pay in koruna, and tip by rounding up or ~5-10%.

Meal Recommendations

Activities

1. 08:30 Travel to České Budějovice 45min

   Take an early bus or train to České Budějovice (30-45 minutes), the regional capital and the original 'Budweis' that gave Budweiser its name.

   Cost: Bus/train ~50-90 CZK TIP: Frequent departures from Český Krumlov. With a full day you can do both the brewery and Hluboká at a relaxed pace, unlike the rushed half-day version.
2. 09:30 Budweiser Budvar Brewery tour + tasting 2h

   Tour the Budweiser Budvar brewery — the genuine Czech Budweiser — with a tasting of unpasteurised beer straight from the source. ~250-350 CZK; English tours at set times.

   Cost: ~250-350 CZK TIP: Book ahead. The brand's name is unrelated to the American Budweiser — the two fought a long trademark battle. Worthwhile even for non-beer-drinkers as a piece of industrial history.
3. 11:45 Přemysl Otakar II Square & the Black Tower 1h30

   Stroll one of Europe's largest medieval squares, ringed by arcaded merchant houses, with the Baroque Samson Fountain at its centre. Climb the 72m Black Tower for views over the rooftops.

   Cost: Black Tower ~50 CZK TIP: The vast arcaded square is worth the trip alone. Look for the 'wandering stone' set into the cobbles, tied to a local execution legend.
4. 13:15 Lunch on the square 1h

   Lunch on or just off the main square — Czech classics and Budvar on tap, noticeably cheaper than tourist-priced Krumlov.

   Cost: 200-450 CZK TIP: České Budějovice is a real working city, so food is better value and less touristy. A good chance to try a Czech menu away from the day-tripper markup.
5. 14:30 Hluboká nad Vltavou + Hluboká Castle 2h30

   Travel 10-15 minutes north to Hluboká nad Vltavou for Hluboká Castle, a white neo-Gothic palace remodelled in the 19th century in the style of England's Windsor Castle, set in landscaped English-style parkland.

   Cost: Castle tour ~250-350 CZK TIP: Often called the 'Czech Windsor' and arguably the country's prettiest castle. Interior tours run April-October; the exterior and park are open year-round. The Aleš South Bohemian Gallery in the riding hall is a bonus.
6. 17:30 Return to Český Krumlov 1h

   Travel back to Český Krumlov for a riverside dusk walk and a tavern dinner.

   Cost: Bus/train ~50-90 CZK TIP: If you'd rather, České Budějovice has hotels too, but Krumlov's evening atmosphere is the reason to base there. Dinner at Krčma Šatlava or the Eggenberg brewery back in town.

Meal Recommendations

Activities

1. 08:00 Choose: Linz (Austria) or Šumava (nature) 30min

   Decide between two very different days — the Austrian Danube city of Linz (~1h45 by bus) for art, museums and a different country, or the Šumava National Park for forests, the Lipno reservoir, and hiking close to Krumlov.

   Cost: Free (planning) TIP: Linz suits culture and a passport-stamp-free border hop within Schengen; Šumava suits walkers and quieter scenery. Both are doable from Krumlov in a day.
2. 08:30 Travel to Linz (Option A) 1h45

   Take the cross-border bus to Linz, Austria's third city, on the Danube — about 1h45. No border formalities within the Schengen Area.

   Cost: Bus ~€10-18 TIP: Check timetables in advance; cross-border buses run a few times a day. Carry your passport/ID even though checks are rare. Euros, not koruna, in Austria.
3. 10:30 Linz — Hauptplatz, Ars Electronica & Pöstlingberg 4h30

   Explore the grand Hauptplatz, ride the Pöstlingbergbahn tram up to the Pöstlingberg basilica for Danube views, and visit the Ars Electronica Center (a hands-on museum of the digital future) or the Lentos art museum on the riverbank.

   Cost: Museums ~€8-12 each TIP: Ars Electronica is one of Europe's best museums of technology and digital art — the highlight for many. Linz is also famous for Linzer torte, the world's oldest known cake recipe; try a slice at a traditional café.
4. 16:30 Return to Český Krumlov 1h45

   Take the bus back across the border to Český Krumlov for the evening.

   Cost: Bus ~€10-18 TIP: Confirm the last convenient departure before you leave — evening cross-border services thin out. Back in Krumlov, dinner on a riverside terrace.
5. 08:30 Šumava National Park (Option B) 7h

   Instead of Linz, head into the Šumava National Park — the 'Green Roof of Europe' — for forest trails, peat bogs, and the Lipno reservoir. Options include the Lipno treetop walkway, lake activities, and marked hiking routes.

   Cost: Transport + ~€8-12 treetop walk TIP: Šumava is best with a car or a guided tour, as public transport into the park is limited. The Lipno treetop walkway and the Schwarzenberg Canal are easy highlights; serious walkers can tackle Boubín primeval forest. Pick this over Linz if you'd rather have nature than a city.

Meal Recommendations

Activities

1. 09:00 Final crowd-free morning walk + breakfast 2h

   A last slow wander of the empty early-morning lanes, the riverside and the castle viewpoints before the day-trip buses arrive, then a relaxed breakfast.

   Cost: 80-300 CZK TIP: The town belongs to overnight guests before 10am — make the most of it on the final morning for photos without crowds.
2. 11:00 Catch a missed sight or the Eggenberg brewery 2h

   Fill in anything you missed — the Eggenberg brewery tour, the Museum Fotoatelier Seidel (a preserved Belle Époque photo studio), the Regional Museum, or simply more of the castle gardens.

   Cost: ~150-300 CZK TIP: The Seidel photo studio is an underrated, quirky little museum. The Eggenberg brewery tour is a calm way to round out the trip if you skipped it earlier.
3. 13:30 Final Czech lunch 1h30

   A last Czech lunch — svíčková, goulash, or roast duck with Eggenberg beer — at a tavern off the main square.

   Cost: 200-600 CZK TIP: Step a street back from Náměstí Svornosti for fairer prices than the square-front terraces.
4. 15:30 Departure / onward connections 1h30

   Connect onward — back to Prague (~2h30-3h), or via České Budějovice toward Linz, Vienna, or Salzburg. Český Krumlov is a natural midpoint on a Prague-to-Austria route.

   Cost: Bus/train varies TIP: RegioJet/FlixBus run to Prague and Linz; České Budějovice is the hub for wider connections. Store bags at your hotel until departure if checkout is earlier.

Meal Recommendations