If you could choose one for a daytrip from Prague, which would you choose and why?
We were planning on going to Cesky Krumlov because so many people say it's magical, but I'm starting to wonder if it's really worth 6 hours on a bus or if it would be better to see one of the other closer ones instead. Any thoughts or the castles, the towns, and/or the journey to and from Prague?
Thanks!
Karlstejn is really easy to do on your own, 40 minutes by train from Prague and a 15 -20 minute walk up to the castle.
Krivoklat is not that far from Karlstejn so both could be done in a day.
Again Konopiste is easy to get to on your own Train from Prague the either walk 25 minutes or local bus or taxi but if you don't like stuffed animals in particularly birds then stay away.
Cesky Krumlov if a fairly long day trip and not something I have ever done.
I am back in Prague next week and will be doing some walking near Karlstejn .
https://www.getyourguide.com/prague-l10/konopiste-and-karlstejn-castles-with-lunch-from-prague-t53265/
found this tour , covers Konopiste and Karlstejn castles and includes lunch.
Biko Adventures do a really great trip out to Karlstejn. It's a lovely cycle from Prague, following the Berounka river all the way. Best of all, you get the train back. However, it's more about the journey than the castle. The Karlstejn itself is moderately interesting.
Konopiste is really great. It's a handy train journey from Prague to Benesov and then a lovely walk up through the estate. They have a variety of tour circuits, so there are lots of different things to see. The armoury is particularly impressive, and Franz Ferdinand's collection of things he killed and then mounted on the wall give you a look into the psychology that lead to the First World War.
Krivoklat is worth a look. It's a bit of an adventure to get there - a mainline train to Beroun, followed by a motorak (little motorized wagon) which plies its way on a single track through the forest, stopping at holes in the hedge to let villagers on and off. If you'd like a Czech-style, then Krivoklat is the one to do. Beroun is a really nice market town. They've a nice square, a few nice restaurants and cafe and rather bizarrely, a medvedarium (bear enclosure). I would go to Krivoklat in the morning, and stop in Beroun the way back.
Krumlov is too far away, too full of tourists and generally overrated.
Finally, I don't recommend using Get your Guide. They are massive multinational based in tax haven Switzerland, who charge the local tour guides a whopping 27% to list with them. Avoid resellers like this who push up the prices. Look instead for a local operator, and book through their own website.
Marcus thanks for that info on Get a Guide .I was looking at some of the normal Prague tour companies for the castle tours and that was only one that came up . I will not use that link again.Viator also comes up in a lot of searches and they have direct links to Trip Advisor but I have no idea what there commission rates are.
I can also recommend Beroun ,I often visit the place and always head to Berounsky Medved micro-brewery just a few hundred yards from the train station, very cheap , great service , not bad food and brilliant beer made on site ,set in a scrap yard in an old sugar mill,brilliant place.
Viator charge 20%-25% and now they are now owned by TripAdvisor.
Last year, TripAdvisor started putting a lot of pressure on my Naked Tour Guide company to list with Viator. We refused to hand over such a huge slice of our turnover, and accordingly our visibly on TripAdvisor was instantly diminished. Overnight, we went from a situation where 80% of our guests found us on TA to less than 20%.
Also, TA started cloaking their referrals, so we couldn't trace traffic coming to our website from them anymore. It created the worrying impression that suddenly we were invisible on TA, unless we signed up to Viator. Accordingly, they kept pushing Viator, hoping that we would buckle to the pressure and surrender 20%. I think the best analogy this business practice is the Speedy Boarding Sketch.
Then late last year, I was contacted by two small tour operators in Amsterdam and Paris who had experienced the exact same phenomenon. As we had all suffered the same tactics, we decided to band together and we have formed Tourlings - an independent collective of small group tours. We actively recommend each others' tours in Prague, Amsterdam, Bratislava, Paris and Istanbul and unlike the major resellers we do not extort any fees from our members. It is an arrangement based on mutual respect and cooperation, and is designed to help people find easily find the best small group tours in our member cities.
As for the brewery in Beroun, it is really excellent. They also stock an excellent cyclists beer (very weak, about 1.4%), which is the closest thing available to the old-style beer that was consumed in mediaeval cities.
I used to be involved quite a bit with TA but find them totally untrustworthy these days .I actually removed all my reviews .They link up to Viator whenever they can and try to get you to book through them.
There is more chance of me removing my own eyes with a spoon than to ever book anything via Viator or Trip Advisor.
Thank you for the input and also the inside view of Viator, et. al.--I had no idea!
Also, the Biko tour sounds fabulously fun! Not a good choice for my elderly mom who will be with us (sorry, didn't mention that part!) but I hope it will give someone else who's looking for options a wonderful adventure to look forward to :)
when are you visiting?
Many years ago I did a tour that took in Konopiste castle and the Kozel brewery, really good day out but I don't think that any company does that tour. I have since been to both places several times but under my own steam or with friends who live in Prague. once you get to know Prague and the surrounding area you soon work out how easy it is to get around the city and the country.
I first visited Prague on a day trip from the north of the country in 1993 and have been coming back ever since ,as Kafka says "Prague never lets you go............ this dear little mother has sharp claws."
Hi,
Given those listed choices, I recommend Konopiste as the first choice. Or, any of them minus Cesky Krumlov.
Thank you all!
Fred, is Cesky Krumlov off the list for the distance or other reasons?
UncleGus, we'll be in Prague in the summer so lots of other people but it can't be helped. Still I suspect Prague will get her claws in!
@ thousandsofkates...Both reasons, that of distance but more so that it's a place swamped with tourists. Konopiste is more historical, the ill-fated Franz Ferdinand's residence and that of his family, and therefore, educational. If you saw the movie, "The Ilusionist," with Ed Norton and Jessica Biel as the Duchess of Teschen (a real place but not with this German name anymore), part of it was filmed at that chateau.
I am back in prague tomorrow and then again late June and early july, like the summertime but I avaoid the main tourist areas unless I really have to go there, lots of nice parks and beer gardens to get away from the crowds
I agree with Fred. Konopiste is the most interesting. Karlstejn is the most photogenic. Krivoklat is the wildest, in the deep woods far away from it all. Cesky Krumlov is too far from Prague for enjoyable day trip. If you want to see it, go for overnight. Day mobs disappear by the evening and reappear by mid morning. Other interesting towns to consider for a day trip: historical silver mining town Kutna Hora, wine town Melnik. Kutna Hora about one hour from Prague by train or bus. Melnik little over half an hour by bus.
@ Ilja....As you know my reasons are primarily historical. Konopiste (Konopischt ...old historical spelling) is a place I am trying get to myself, to fit it in time wise on this upcoming trip. Cesky Krumlov is in the former Sudetenland. I've seen the documentary film excerpts showing the place as Krumau in 1938 . There are numerous small towns (historically) in Bohemia and Moravia well worthy for going from one site to another.
