Prague is such a magical city, so why would you ever want to leave? I know it can be hard to believe, but there’s an abundance of thrilling sights near the city that are well worth seeing! There’s a church decorated with 40,000 human bones, medieval castles, and a small town known as the most picturesque place in all of Europe. Sound interesting? Then check out these three-day trips from Prague!

Kutna Hora Sedloc Ossuary

There are only nine bone churches in the world, and one of them is a mere hour outside of Prague! Well worth making the trip, for such a unique experience. You can easily get here by buying a round trip ticket at the station (or online in advance), trains leave almost every hour on the hour. Tickets are a steal for only 100 crowns ($5)! Then you follow the path and the signs to the city center, where you’ll be able to find Kutna Hora. Strangely enough, it looks just like any other church, surrounded by a graveyard. However, once you get inside, it’s a different story. There are over 40,000 human remains in this small building, arranged by a blind monk. Legend says that he miraculously got his eyesight back after this monumental task of arranging the bones. Another man, many years later bleached all the bones, and reconfigured the decorations, adding a chandelier and a crest all from human remains. It’s eerie, but still an incredible sight. Another 20 minute walk, or a short bus ride, and you’ll be in the city center, where there are rows of beautiful pastel buildings featuring many cozy cafes and lots of gelato. Everything is much cheaper here than in Prague, so enjoy a meal, or two before you head back!

Karlstejn Castle

While the Prague Castle is breathtaking, it’s not the only castle in the Czech Republic! There’s actually numerous castles, but the next closest one is Karlstejn Castle, which is only 40 minutes away by train! Once again, the tickets are very affordable, costing 99 crowns for a round trip. Trains depart every hour from the main Prague hl.n station at 10:17, 11:17 and so on. The small village surrounding the castle is about a ten minute walk from the station and has a surprising amount to offer for being so quaint.

The castle has some great tours, but I would plan ahead and make sure you get there in time for the tour you want to see in English. They have three types of tours, in a few different languages, so if you miss the rotation, you may have to wait four hours for the one you want to become available again! While the castle is stunning, and is very reminiscent of old medieval times, the views from the castle are breathtaking as well. Karlstejn is surrounded by protected forests, so when you look over the castle walls you can see lush green bluffs for miles. I would take some time to go for a walk in the woods, there are a number of paths that are shaded by trees, providing a nice stroll in the forest. It’s also very popular with bikers, and there are a few lakes in the area that locals like to swim in. You might even see some horses wading in the water. The castle is a bit of an uphill trek, so it’s always nice to cool off with a beer at the many local restaurants and pubs. It’s an enjoyable day trip, one of the easier ones in my opinion. You can spend as much or as little time there as you want!

Cesky Krumlov

Last, but not least is Cesky Krumlov, a small town surrounded by a river and a castle. Old, and perfectly preserved stone buildings are on every corner, surrounded by beautiful pastel colored homes and shops. It’s often considered a “mini-prague” due to the signature orange roofs, but it has its own allure due to the small size of the town, and the beautiful castles and churches surrounding the river.

Cesky Krumlov is about a three-hour direct train ride from Prague, and the scenery is beautiful, so the hours went by quickly! It’s possible to buy a round trip ticket once you get to the station for about 200 crowns ($10), but if you’re traveling with a large group, I would recommend reserving your seats online for no additional cost, so that you can all sit in the same compartment. From the train station, it’s about a 15 minute walk to the town center, all downhill. While it is definitely a day trip, personally, I stayed in Cesky Krumlov overnight and enjoyed getting to watch the sunset from the castle gardens, and the calmness of the streets in the morning before I left.

Walking through the cobblestones lined streets, you are always just a few minutes from the river. This means you’ll hear the shouts of joy from people on the river canoeing or kayaking. If you have time, Cesky Krumlov is the perfect place to enjoy a long (or short) paddle along the river surrounding this beautiful town! There are a multitude of small shops and markets that are fun to visit. I broke down and finally brought my first souvenir after three weeks of traveling, it’s a beautiful necklace, and it was only $5! Of course, I would recommend a free walking tour to not just see the town, but to actually learn about the history behind it. The walking tours meet in the town square in front of the information center at 10:30am and 2:00pm, and last about two hours. There are numerous museums in the town, but the one that definitely needs to be seen, is the castle museum, it can be a self-guided tour, so you can take in the intricacies of the castle at your own pace. Cesky Krumlov is a beautiful town to walk through, but if you want a challenge, and have an extra day, I would hike Mountain Klet, which has spectacular views of the area, including the alps on a clear day. There’s even a restaurant at the top where you can enjoy a well-earned meal and beer!

Cesky Krumlov is also home to some great traditional Czech food. I would highly recommend trying Na Louzi for the best fried cheese you’ll have. U Dwau Maryi has great food, but you need to try their cinnamon mead. It’s very authentic and has a delicious, authentic flavor! Laibon is an all vegetarian restaurant, so the food is delicious and very fresh. Czech cuisine can be heavy, so Laibon is a great lighter alternative. For breakfast, I would make a visit to Kolekiv, I had some great avocado toast with eggs there. Last, but not least, is Antre! This is the place to go for thick, hot chocolate with a layer of whipped cream on top.

Whether you stay in Prague, or decide to take a couple of day trips, there’s no doubt that you’ll have an amazing time. I know I did! Find out where the best vantage points are in Prague for an extraordinary sunset viewing experience to make your trip even more memorable.

Xoxo,

Lexi