Hotels in Český Krumlov

Český Krumlov: A Baroque Town on the Vltava Bend

Český Krumlov sits in a tight loop of the Vltava River in southern Bohemia, 170 km south of Prague. The town's 13th-century castle — the second largest in the Czech Republic after Prague Castle — towers above red-tiled rooftops and a medieval core that earned UNESCO World Heritage status in 1992. The castle complex includes a Baroque theatre with original 17th-century stage machinery, one of the best-preserved in Central Europe.

Visitors arrive primarily for the Old Town (Staré Město), a compact area walkable in under 30 minutes, and for day trips along the Vltava by raft or canoe. The Egon Schiele Art Centrum, opened in 1993, draws art tourists with rotating exhibitions alongside a permanent collection linked to the Austrian expressionist who worked here in 1911. Summer sees the Five-Petalled Rose Festival each June, when the town hosts Renaissance markets and jousting in period costume.

Practical Tips

• Getting there: Direct buses from Prague's Na Knížecí terminal take roughly 3 hours; trains require a change at České Budějovice.
• Best base: Hotels within the Old Town loop give walking access to the castle gates; accommodation across the river in Latrán quarter is quieter and slightly cheaper.
• Timing: The castle's Baroque theatre runs guided tours May–October only; book ahead in July and August.
• Weather: Evenings in the river valley cool quickly — pack a layer even in summer.