The fairytale town of Cesky Krumlov brings tourists from all around the world. It’s probably no surprise that this beautiful town in Southern Bohemia is known to be one of the most popular destinations to visit in the Czech Republic.
There are so many fun things to do in Cesky Krumlov including some off-the-beaten-path activities you must do. Our goal with this post is to share the best activities so you can have an authentic experience in Cesky Krumlov and get to see all of the highlights and more.
Cesky Krumlov is one of those places where you can grab a camera and walk around the street and take pictures for hours. Similar to how we felt in Pilsen and Brno (two other Czech cities you should add to your bucket list).
In this post, you will find 11 things to do in this UNESCO fairytale town. We highly recommend spending 2 days in Cesky Krumlov if possible. Most people just do a day trip, but staying overnight is pretty amazing. Also, with all the things there is to see and do in Cesky Krumlov, one day just isn’t enough.
If you can, stay the night and enjoy Krumlov to the fullest!
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11 historic, adventurous, and fun things to do in Cesky Krumlov
Quick breakdown of your trip:
- ✈️ Book cheap flights to Prague through KAYAK
- 🛌 Stay at Klášterní Apartmány (that’s what we did!)
- 🚘 Want to rent a car for your trip? Use Discover Cars to find the best deals
- 🚌 Or take the bus instead for more convenience
- 🌂 Book a guided tour through GetYourGuide
- 👩🏼⚕️ Make sure your adventures are insured with SafetyWing
- 📸 Bring your camera and get Insta ready
Cesky Krumlov is filled with narrow little cobblestone streets and beautiful cafes and restaurants that are overlooking the old town, Český Krumlov Castle, and St Vitus Church.
You’ll feel like you’re back in time exploring the storybook town. It’s one of the best day trips from Prague and the town gets quite busy at times. So in this post, we’ll talk about a few of the highlights and some little gems that are worth checking out!
#1 Canoe or kayak down the Vltava River
This is the same river that you can see from Vyhlidka Maj or while hanging out at Zlute Lazne in Prague! Not many people know about the fact that you can actually do canoe and kayak day trips in Cesky Krumlov. But in our opinion, it’s one of the best activities to do there!
There’s a good chance while you’re exploring the old town of Cesky Krumlov you’ll see some students or locals canoeing down the river. Well, guess what? You can do it too!
There are a few companies you can hire that will pick you up and drop you off. They provide all the necessary gear you need for the canoe trip and make the experience as easy and fun as possible.
There are a few companies that do day trips on the canoe. We went with Vltava Sports Service and we found them to be professional and friendly throughout the whole process. Basically, you rent the canoe or kayak at their office. They drive you to the starting point and from there you float down the river to Cesky Krumlov where their office is.
The trips range from anywhere from an hour to a full day. Since we only had 2 days in Cesky Krumlov we did the 1-2 hour canoe trip and it was perfect. It gave us a few hours on the Vltava River and it was nice to do an outdoor activity since lots of the things to do in Cesky Krumlov are indoor.
If you prefer to go with a guide though, you can try this Wooden Raft River Cruise which looks super fun or this white water experience if you’re feeling more adventurous!
#2 Viewpoint from the Cesky Krumlov Castle tower
The iconic Cesky Krumlov Castle tower can be seen from almost anywhere in the city. It’s the most iconic building in the city. It towers over all the other buildings in the city and this beautiful tower is where you can get the best view in Cesky Krumlov.
If you have the Cesky Krumlov Card it will give you access to this along with the castle museum which you will walk through before hiking up to the top of the tower.
Even if you’re afraid of heights I would personally say it feels relatively safe being up the the tower viewpoint. There’s enough room to stand comfortably and walk around to get a full panoramic view of Cesky Krumlov.
Don’t forget to explore the castle museum first though before. There are a bunch of interesting rooms sharing information and artefacts from the time of the Rosenbergs and other royal families.
#3 Seminarni Zahrada (garden) is the best viewpoint in the city
Most people stay in the city center and don’t make their way to the side of Cesky Krumlov. From the Seminarni Garden you can get one of the best views of the city!
You get the beautiful view of the Vltava river bending around the town along with the castle tower, red roofs, and last but not least the Chateau Cesky Krumlov.
On a sunny day it’s the perfect place to grab an ice cream, find a bench, and enjoy the incredible views from the garden. The garden itself is actually not that big but has room to walk around in and take in the views of the city.
There are a few cafes and ice cream shops next to the garden. It’s safe to say that Seminarni Zahrada is our favourite spot to just relax and take in the city from a quiet side of town.
There are of course plenty of other good vantage points and viewpoints of Krumlov but we like this one because it’s a bit out of the way and not so busy compared to some of the other ones.
#4 Enjoy some delicious Czech beer at Eggenberg Brewery
If you didn’t know already, the Czech Republic is famous for its beer. Especially the world-famous Pilsner Urquell from Pilsen. So we love to try out different breweries in the Czech Republic whenever we get the chance.
So of course one of the places to visit here in Krumlov is a brewery. A stunning fact about this specific brewery is that it dates back to 1336. Yes, you read that right! 1336! There is a long and rich history that we won’t bore you with now but you can learn about it while you’re at the brewery.
The brewery itself is located in an ex-monastery and the beer is absolutely delicious. It’s a fun and unique activity to do in Krumlov. I mean it’s Czech, of course, the beer will be good but here it’s quite delicious!
If you’re hungry you can order some traditional Czech food as well like Svickova, Goulash, or Chicken Schnitzel which are all popular dishes in the Czech Republic.
#5 Have some coffee and food at Drunken Coffee
We randomly stumbled upon Drunken Coffee while looking for a sunny spot to eat lunch. As we walked by the name was catchy and the food looked yummy so we got a spot in the sun and enjoyed a nice meal at the cafe.
If you like soup then consider grabbing their daily soup special. We had two different soups at Drunken Coffee and they were both delicious. The coffee and cakes are great as well! 😉
We should also mention that from the outside seating area you have one of the best views of the Cesky Krumlov Castle Tower and also the Vltava River flowing nearby. It’s a fantastic spot to hang out and relax in between all the different museums.
Check out Drunken Coffee’s reviews on TripAdvisor here.
#6 Relax and enjoy the sun at the Castle Garden
This is one of the quieter places in Cesky Krumlov. The Castle Garden just brings a sense of calmness to your day. Especially after walking around the busy streets of the old town.
It almost feels like some sort of feng shui in the garden because everything is so symmetrical and well-groomed. The plants, hedges, and trees are all aligned nicely and in order.
It’s only a short uphill walk from the castle and a nice relaxing place to explore. There are plenty of benches in the park to hang out and relax. Maybe even buy a bottle of wine and share it in the garden if you’re looking to chill over a glass of wine.
#7 Explore the Regional Museum in Cesky Krumlov
The Regional Museum is actually located directly next to the beautiful Seminarny Zahrada (garden) and is another activity that’s on the Cesky Krumlov Card. Inside the museum, you can find a bunch of different exhibits on the history of Cesky Krumlov and basically anything related to the upbringing of this famous city.
One of the most iconic things inside the regional museum is the ceramic model of Cesky Krumlov’s old town. It’s actually one of the largest models of its kind in the world. It’s at a 1:200 scale of the actual Cesky Krumlov old town which is pretty crazy.
You could spend hours inside the museum but with so much to see and do in the city we just browsed through the rest of the exhibits learning bits and pieces of Krumlov’s history.
#8 Sip on some coffee at Cafe Hrádek
The location of this coffee shop has changed this year (2022). Cafe Hrádek used to be located directly inside the castle underneath the tower but now it has changed to a more central location in Cesky Krumlov.
Reward yourself with a nice homemade cake or coffee while enjoying their outdoor patio. Make sure you go to their new location though as the old one which was right underneath the castle tower is officially closed.
The friendly staff and delicious food hasn’t changed though. The only difference between the two is the location! The old location was quite unique and special since it was actually inside the castle this one is equally as good but more central!
#9 See Cesky Krumlov from the sky
This activity will cost you a pretty penny but is well worth it. There is no better place to ride a hot air balloon than over one of Czech’s most beautiful cities. Seeing Cesky Krumlov from the sky really shows just how beautiful this Southern Bohemian city is.
Seeing the Vltava River snake around the city is something you can only properly see from the sky. You get a feel for it from some of the viewpoints and even the castle tower but seeing it from way above is something magical.
If you’re looking for the perfect date or just want to try something different then this is definitely it. Experience Cesky Krumlov from a very very different perspective.
#10 Tour the Baroque Castle Theatre in Krumlov
The Baroque Theatre in Cesky Krumlov is probably the most famous theatres of its kind in the world. You can see the times and prices for the tours here. The tours run for roughly 45 minutes and you’ll get to see and learn about the history of this famous Baroque-styled theatre.
It really is one of those things that takes you back in time. The fact that it’s as well preserved as it is is simply incredible. It’s a part of Cesky Krumlov’s story and history and not everyone knows it’s possible to even go see it. A must-tour in our opinion!
#11 Explore the Egon Schiele Art Centrum
The Egon Schiele Art Centrum is dedicated to the life of Egon who was a famous artist and designer. His life and work shared in different ways throughout the museum where you can see some of his best work and work inspired by Egon.
It’s a permanent exhibition that has Egons art along with a section of the exhibition that is constantly changing of 20th and 21st century art. If you’re a history or art buff then this museum is going to be a stop you don’t want to miss while exploring Krumlov. This museum is also on the Cesky Krumlov Card.
You may also like…
- 7 Awesome Day Trips From Prague You Need to Do
- The Best Outdoor Tour for River Rafting in Cesky Krumlov
- 11 Must Do Weekend Trips From Prague
- The Best Ways to get from Prague to Cesky Krumlov
- An Exciting Guide for a 2 Day Trip to Cesky Krumlov
Recap of all the things to do in Cesky Krumlov
Cesky Krumlov is definitely known for its beautiful castle and amazing viewpoints around the city among all the other beautiful cafes, restaurants, and shops you will find in the old town.
We recommend seeing all the busy touristy things, but we also recommend trying something like kayaking down the river where you get away from the crowds.
Either way, we’re sure you will have a great time. If it’s a day trip from Prague or you end up staying a few nights you will have an amazing time exploring this beautiful city in the Czech Republic.
Have fun!
Dom & Jo
Red White Adventures
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