Day Trips from Cesky Krumlov

Cesky Krumlov is small, and although it rewards a slow couple of days in its own right, it also makes a relaxed base for the rest of South Bohemia. The surrounding region is dense with castles, monasteries, breweries, and river valleys, most of them within an hour by bus, train, or boat. The headline trip pairs the storybook white chateau of Hluboka with the handsome regional capital of Ceske Budejovice, home of the original Budweiser Budvar; a Gothic monastery at Zlata Koruna sits conveniently on the way; and the gentlest excursion of all is simply to follow the Vltava downstream by raft or canoe. This guide runs through the best options, what each offers, and how to reach them without a car. Most work as half or full days, so you can dip out of town and still be back for dinner in the quiet evening lanes. Save the ones that appeal to your plan.

Hluboka Castle

The most rewarding trip is to Hluboka nad Vltavou, about 35 km north, where a dazzling white chateau rebuilt in romantic neo-Gothic style - modelled on England's Windsor Castle - sits above the river in landscaped English gardens. The over-the-top interiors are toured in season (roughly April to October), and the grounds and views are lovely year-round. Reach it by train or bus to Ceske Budejovice (about 30-40 minutes), then a short local bus or a walk up from the river; allow most of a day if you combine it with the city.

Ceske Budejovice

The South Bohemian capital, half an hour away, is built around one of the largest and finest arcaded squares in the country, Premysl Otakar II Square, with a Baroque town hall, a fountain, and a climbable Black Tower. It is also the home of the original Budweiser Budvar brewery, which runs tours and tastings on the edge of town. Frequent trains and buses make it the easy hub from which to reach Hluboka, and a worthwhile half-day in its own right.

Zlata Koruna Monastery

About 8 km north towards Ceske Budejovice, the Cistercian monastery of Zlata Koruna is one of the best-preserved Gothic monastic complexes in central Europe, founded in 1263. Its church, cloister, and chapter house are toured in season, and the setting above the Vltava is peaceful. It sits right on the river, so many visitors fold it into a rafting trip or reach it by a short bus or bike ride from town.

Down the Vltava: rafting & canoeing

The simplest day out needs no destination at all: rent a raft or canoe and follow the gentle Vltava. Half-day routes run down to Zlata Koruna, while full-day trips start upstream at Vyssi Brod and pass through forest and beneath the Rozmberk castle. The river is mostly calm with a few small weirs, making it suitable for beginners and families, and operators handle the shuttle transfers. The season runs roughly May to September.

Further afield

With more time or a car, South Bohemia opens up further: the riverside Rozmberk and Cesky Sternberk castles, the vast Lipno reservoir with its lakeside trails and treetop walkway in the Sumava mountains, and the painted-village folk architecture of Holasovice, another UNESCO site, all lie within an hour or so. None is essential on a first visit, but they reward a longer South Bohemian loop.