Favorite cities and towns in Czech Republic

I love Brno, been there a few times most recently last summer, I was there to meet up with friends that live there, visit a beer Festival and take in the local sights,enough to keep you interested for a few days.They have a fireworks festival there in June each year.

We loved visiting Karlovy Vary and Telc. Karlovy Vary is a spa town in the mountains. Architecture is very different from Prague and CK. You purchase cups and walk around town sampling water from the mineral springs. If you go, be sure to schedule a spa visit.

Telc is a lovely small town with a big square and pastel colored buildings surrounding the square. There are ponds on either side of the town with walking paths. The castle is amazing. We visited a vineyard, too. I think it’s in Znojomo.

There is also the small town just outside of Prague that has the bone church. Can’t remember the name offhand.

For a day trip last year, we went to visit the Nizbor Bohemia Glass factory. We took a tour which was excellent (and also just the two of us with the tour guide). If you want to purchase crystal, it is FAR less expensive there than at retail outlets. We plan to return this year. From Prague it is about 45 minutes by car or 90 minutes by public transportation.

It was also across the river from a very small farm community called Stradonice (in Nizbor--there is more than one town called Stradonice in the Czech Republic which caused some confusion on our part!!). My husbands 3rd great grandfather was born there. But I'm sure it would be much less exciting for you!

UncleGus - Brno is on my radar. I think we would really like it - just trying to decide what we should prioritize and visit! We will be there in September.

kmkwoo - Telč is also on my radar - it seems like a really neat town with unique architecture. I saw that it's on the Unesco World Heritage list. Thanks for the tip on the castle. We love visiting castles when we travel and I've been scoping out ones in the CR. I believe the bone church is in Kutná Hora. What did you think of the town? I find all the bones a bit morbid so not really sure how I feel about the ossuary but might be interested in visiting the town.

Happytravel, yes, I was reading about Nižbor in the guidebook. I'm interested in Křivoklát Castle and Nižbor is very close by. Not sure if we'd want to buy crystal but it's always interesting to see culturally interesting places. We could potentially visit Karlštejn Castle too and possibly have an overnight in Plzeň. Has anyone visited there? Love that you were able to visit a town from your husband's ancestry. So cool :)

Anybody been to Mikulov? I am interested in it as a stop between Prague and Vienna. It sounds interesting.

I really enjoyed Olomouc. It has a lovely old town square, numerous fountains, and an unusual astronomical clock. When I visited the Tourism Office offered an interesting guided tour, including a site that was accessible only through that tour.

Julie - we also visited Krivoklet Castle. I think we were two of a total of 8 visitors at the time we were there in June. We took a tour that was given in Czech, but they also purchased the English translation of the tour for not very much. If you drive, you can park for a small fee in the lot just a bit down the road next to a small cafe run by a nice young couple. After visiting the castle we stopped there for lunch. My husband ended up ordering a dish his Bohemian grandmother used to make when he was a boy but he had not remembered in years.

Another day we also stopped in Pilsen long enough to take their Underground Tour, have a nice meal, and walk around town a bit. Pilsen is easily accessible by train from Prague.

Telc and Jindrichuv Hradec. It may have been the time we visited (summer), but Český Krumlov was almost too touristy and crowded to enjoy.

Hello, Julie - fellow Kansan!

I’ve traveled quite a bit around Czech Republic and outside of Prague. I’d be happy to message you my trip report.

Several years ago. We rented a car and had a week in Southern Moravia and it was beautiful. Saw lots of castles, wineries, and scenery.

My favorite spots outside of Prague are Brno, Kutna Hora, Znojmo, Olomouc, Cesky Krumlov, Štramberk, Mikoluv, Pálava area, Lesnice, and Javorový mountain area but that is very far east but beautiful hikes and scenery.

I visited Mikulov as a day trip out of Brno. It's quite a charming town, but it's small.