20 Fairytale Towns and Cities in the Czech Republic!

The Czech Republic is a delightful place to visit and warrants more than just a stay of a couple of days. The beautiful countryside has spectacular mountain ranges, farms, rivers, and vineyards. Among this, you will find cities offering historic city centres, churches, underground tunnels, museums, shops, and various restaurants to suit all tastes. The country is home to more than 2000 castles, many of which are in excellent repair and will take you on a journey through the turbulent history of the Czech Republic. You will find that many UNESCO World Heritage sites have cultural and historical significance.

The Czech Republic is well-known for supporting writers and artists; many people live a Bohemian lifestyle. You will find that the Czechs are relaxed and welcoming. If you enjoy beer, you will be in heaven in the Czech Republic. It has a long history with beer, the first beer being brewed in the Brevnov Monastery in 993 AD. Czechs drink the most beer per capita in the world and in Prague, beer is cheaper than bottled water. There are many cities to choose from, some warranting an extended stay and others a shorter visit. Here are 20 towns and cities in the Czech Republic that I think are worth visiting.

Cities in Czech Republic

20 Czech Republic Cities and Towns

1- Prague

Prague, the Czech Republic’s capital, is a historical and cultural centre with a 1,100-year history and is a UNESCO-protected city.

Start your discovery of Prague in the Old Town, where the Old Town Square is best known for the 600-year-old Astronomical Clock, which is a stunning structure.

It shows Central European time, Czech time, and Babylonian time. Visit the 12th-century Strahou Library which is one of the world’s best libraries.

Prague is an architectural masterpiece of Cubist and Art Nouveau buildings mixing in with Baroque palaces and Gothic cathedrals.

You will get your best city views by climbing either the mediaeval Charles Bridge Tower or the Old Town Bridge Tower.

They offer views of red rooftops, domes, towers, church spires, and, in the winter, the Christmas market.

The Charles Bridge was built in 1357 during the reign of Charles IV.

It is the oldest bridge still standing over the Vltava River and the second-oldest bridge in the Czech Republic.

It is decorated with 30 Baroque statues and is one of the most important technical and historical monuments in Central Europe.

To discover more about the Charles Bridge, visit the Charles Bridge Museum in the Old Town.

There are over 100 museums in Prague, including the Museum of Communism, the National Museum, which has over 14 million artefacts, and a museum dedicated to Franz Kafka, who lived in Prague.

Prague Castle is 29 km (18 miles) southwest of the city; it was built in the 9th century and has been restored to its original mediaeval state.

It is perched on a hill and is the largest castle complex in the world.

Must-see areas include the Holy Rood Chapel with its gem-adorned walls, churches, exhibitions, dungeons, gardens and mediaeval houses.

Treasures like the Bohemian/Czech crown jewels and holy relics are a highlight.

Food in traditional Prague restaurants is based on meat and starches.

The most popular Czech dish is Veproba, roast pork served with sauerkraut and dumplings. However, vegans and vegetarians don’t need to feel left out, as there are 50 vegan restaurants in Prague.

Stay at: The Julius Prague

2- Brno

Brno, the second-largest city in Czech Republic, is often overlooked as an industrial city.

However, it has a historic centre which is well worth visiting and you could spend two or three days here with enough to do.

The historic centre includes Spilberk Castle, which was first a castle, then a prison, and finally barracks.

It is now home to the Brno City Museum.

The vegetable market is worth visiting.

It has stood in the same place since the 13th century, and there is a labyrinth of tunnels underneath it used for food storage.

You can visit these narrow tunnels and step back into the past.

Visit the Abbey of Saint Thomas Gregor Mendel.

He was a friar there and conducted experiments on pea plants in the 19th century that led towards the creation of the science of genetics.

If you are interested in modern architecture, the Villa Tugendhat is open to visitors.

The beautiful villa was built at the beginning of the 20th century by Mies van der Rohe and is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

There are museums in Brno, including the Museum of Romani Culture.

You can also go underground for a tour of the 10 – Z nuclear shelter and visit the Cathedral of St. Peter and Paul, which has Gothic and early Baroque architecture.

If you are staying in Brno, take a day out to the spectacular Moravian Karst, where you can explore some of the 1,000 caverns and gorges.

Top tour: Brno Historic Downtown Walking Tour.

Stay at: Grandezza Hotel Luxury Palace

3- Cesky Krumlov

Cesky Krumlov is situated on the F-bend of the Vltava River, where people go rafting and tubing during the summer.

It is a smaller version of Prague and is a fabulous place to start if you want to explore the country’s south.

It is easy to explore the Old Town on foot. Make sure that you are wearing comfortable shoes as the streets are cobbled.

There are plenty of artsy shops to discover and you may leave here with something beautiful.

The highlight of the town is Cesky Krumlov Castle which is a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Monument initially built in the 13th century but most of what you see now was rebuilt in the 17th century.

You will need to devote at least half a day to visiting the castle as it covers 27 acres.

There are 40 buildings, five castle courts, and beautiful gardens to explore.

Highlights of the castle include the Royal Apartments, the Renaissance Hall, the Chapel of St George, and the splendid Renaissance ballroom.

The castle has beautiful collections of paintings, tapestries, and furnishings.

The only Baroque theatre in the Czech Republic is here in Cesky Krumlov.

It was built in 1682 and still has all its original stage pieces and decorations.

You can visit the theatre, but there are only two public performances a year, so you may not get to see a show.

Top tour: Cesky Krumlov Half-Day Medieval Architecture Walking Tour.

Stay at: Ultra premium apartments

4- Karlovy Vary

Karlovy Vary has been a spa town since the 19th century and has hot springs reputed to have restorative properties.

Spas and wellness centres are everywhere in the town, so if you want to pamper yourself, this is the place to go.

However, there is more to Karlovy Vary than the spas.

It is named after its founder, Charles IV and is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

You will see many beautiful Baroque and neo-Renaissance buildings and can visit the famous Moser museum, which is dedicated to Czech glass making.

Every summer, the city holds the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival which has been running since 1946. Around 100,000 people, including Hollywood film stars, attend this 5-day event. Over 200 films from all over the world are shown.

Only 13 km (8 miles) from the city is the Loket nad Ohri Castel which served as a prison for 200 years.

It is worth visiting to learn about the history of the area.

You can view a magnificent collection of porcelain, firearms, and the meteorite that fell here in the 15th century.

Top tour: From Prague Day Trip to Karlovy Vary with Hotel Transfers.

Stay at: Grandhotel Pupp

5- Kutna Hora

One of the main reasons people visit Kutna Hora is to see the Sedlec Ossuary, a Baroque chapel housing the bones of over 40,000 people who died during the Black Death and Hussite Wars in the 14th and 15th centuries.

The spectacular Gothic St Barbara’s Church, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is nearby.

It is well-preserved and contains some beautiful art.

Kutna Hora used to be a silver mining town and now you can visit a mediaeval mine and a mining museum depicting miners’ lives during the 17th to 19th centuries.

It is worth visiting The Italian Court Palace, a former Royal Mint named after the Italians at the forefront of the minting reform.

It has a thousand-year history and you can take a tour around it.

You will also be able to visit a museum dedicated to coin minting and, if you are interested in the dark side, go into the cellar.

There you will be able to see mediaeval criminal records, witchcraft cases and even appliances used to torture prisoners.

You need to have a strong head for some of these.

Top tour: Kutna Hora From Prague: Day Tour to Kutná Hora & Ossuary with Tickets.

Stay at: Vista Apartments

6- Olomouc

Sitting on the Morava River, Olomouc was once the capital city of the Czech region of Moravia.

It is an old city dating back to Roman times.

In the Middle Ages, the Slavic people settled there and in the 13th century, it became an official city.

There is plenty to see in Olomouc to warrant a visit for a few days.

Visit the Gothic Saint Wenceslas Cathedral, named after Saint Wenceslas, Duke of Bohemia, built in 1107 on Wenceslas Hill.

Although only remnants of the castle are left, what you see is still impressive.

There are fascinating museums in Olomouc, including the Railway Museum, the interactive Science Museum Fortress of Knowledge, and the open-air Folk Architecture Museum.

If you are interested in religion, you will find many churches to visit during your stay in Olomouc and there are some magnificent religious structures to see.

Local artists created the spectacular Holy Trinity Column in the 18th century and is a celebration of the Catholic religion.

As in Prague, Olomouc has an Astronomical clock and Baroque fountains.

Wherever you go, you will see beautiful architecture from the past.

When it comes to food, you have to try the famous Moravian ripened curd cheese, Olomoucke Tvaruzky.

It has been around since the 15th century and has a unique spicy flavour, best enjoyed with a large hunk of fresh bread.

Stay at: NH Collection Olomouc Congress

7- Plzen

Pizen is sometimes known as Pilsen because it is the home of the Pilsner Urquell Brewery, which started 180 years ago.

The Brewery tour is very popular and here, you will be able to learn about the history and development of the beer and have a tasting.

A combination of local water and hops has contributed to the unique and delicious flavour of the beer.

The connection with beer, however, goes back to the 14th century when the Debrow Monastery in Plzen started beer production.

Pizen is an old city from the 13th century when King Wenceslas II made it a royal city. In the 17th century, it became the seat of King Rudolf II.

Don’t miss visiting the 800-metre (2624 feet) underground labyrinth, which has had many uses over the years, including storing food and ice and making beer.

It has also been used for access to water and as a haven in times of war. Today, you will find some excellent restaurants and wine bars here.

In Pizen, you will find the third-largest synagogue in the world. Even though much of it was destroyed during World War II, it has been reconstructed.

Top tour: Pilsen: Pilsner Urquell Brewery Tour with Beer Tasting.

Stay at: Riverside Hotel Plzeň

8- Telc

Telc is a beautiful city with stunning and highly decorated Renaissance and Baroque architecture.

The market square is surrounded by houses from these periods, many of which have been decorated using the sgraffito technique.

The chateau at the end of the market square is well worth visiting.

It was initially built in the 14th century in the Gothic style but was rebuilt in the 16th century and is one of the best-preserved Renaissance buildings in the Czech Republic.

You can take a guided tour and then stroll through the gardens. The chateau has a picturesque and unique charm and is worthy of being a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Climb the Holy Ghost Church, where you get a fairy-tale view of the city with its candy-coloured buildings and cobbled streets.

You get an even more magical view from the 34-metre (111 feet) high Oslednice Tower.

Not only do you get views of the town and the forest, but you can also see the roof of the Mediaeval Rostejn Castle.

Top tour: Telc The Painted Ladies: A Self-Guided Audio Tour.

Stay at: Hotel Telč

9- Ceske Budejovice

Ceske Budejovice has its roots in the 13th century and has a historic main square that is particularly beautiful.

Take photos of the Baroque Town Hall and the grandiose statue of Samson.

The Black Tower can be climbed for a spectacular view over the centre of the town.

Ceske Budejovice is where the famous Czech beer, Budweiser, is brewed using artisan water, Moravian barley, and Saaz hops.

You can take a tour of the brewery and enjoy a tasting.

Stroll along the pretty riverfront, where you will see remnants of the town’s early fortifications.

Close to Ceske Budejovice is Hluboka Castle, which was initially built in the 13th century but was renovated in the 19th century and has a neo-Gothic style.

You can tour the castle, enjoy the gardens and climb the tower for views of the surrounding countryside.

Stay at: Residence Mariánská

10- Tabor

Tabor is a town steeped in history, with many buildings dating back to the 16th century.

The best place to start your exploration of Tabor is in the main square, Zizka Square, surrounded by historic homes.

In the centre of the square is an impressive Renaissance fountain.

The Gothic Town Hall in the square is now the Hussite Museum, where you can see the Hussite’s Exposition, visit mediaeval underground corridors and see a statue of the Czech national hero, Jan Zizka.

The underground tunnels are the highlight of your visit to Tabor.

They originated in the 15th century when citizens started to dig underground cellars.

Many of them were later connected to create an underground labyrinth.

As well as being used as storage for food and beer, they were also used as shelter from invading armies.

The city is fascinating to wander around as it has been built to keep out enemies.

High walls, towers, and narrow streets make it difficult for invading forces to reach the centre.

Stay at: Dvoupodlažní zděná chata

11- Trebic

Trebic is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, home to St Procopius’s Basilica, which is right next to the Jewish Quarter and close by is the Jewish Cemetery.

The Basilica was built in the 13th century, after which the town of Trebic was built around it. It is Romanesque with some Gothic features.

From the 14th century, the Jewish population grew in Trebic, and although they lived side by side with other religions, a Jewish ghetto was established in the 18th century on the banks of the Jihlava River.

Today, the Jewish Quarter has been preserved and restored and many houses still have residents. Visit the Rear Synagogue, which is filled with beautiful 18th-century paintings.

Next to St Procopius Basilica is Trebic Castle, where you can walk through the gardens and see the exteriors of the buildings, the herb garden and the moat.

The Museum of Vysocina Trebic is well worth a visit. Here you will learn about the cultural and natural history of Trebic.

In the town centre is Charles Square, one of the largest squares in the Czech Republic.

It is surrounded by beautiful Renaissance houses and statues in the centre.

Stay at: Hotel Kocour

12- Kromeriz

Kromeriz, on the Morava River, began as a trade town and had an unsteady history with raids and wars causing much rebuilding.

Despite this, it is worth a visit, especially for its castle.

The Baroque Kromeriz Castle and Gardens are a UNESCO World Heritage site. The castle has been well preserved, and the architecture is stunning.

You can visit both the castle and the gardens. A highlight is a gallery containing masterpieces by artists such as Titian, Cranach and Van Dyck.

The Church of St Moritz is one of the largest Gothic structures in the Czech Republic and very attractive at night when the bell tower is lit up.

There are museums to visit in Kromeriz, including one dedicated to singer-songwriter Karel Kryl that displays exhibits combining music and art.

Stay at: Hotel Harmony Medical & Wellness

13- Litomysl

Litomysl is the birthplace of Czech composer Bedrich Smetana, who lived in the 19th century.

The town’s highlight is the Renaissance castle, a UNESCO World Heritage site on a slope overlooking the Town Square.

It’s an imposing, beautifully decorated sight and well worth a visit.

Near the castle, you will find the Red Tower, one of the last bits of fortification from the 15th century, which you can climb for spectacular views.

There is also a small museum to visit there.

Stay at: Apartments Marinka Litomyšl

14- Ostrava

Ostrava is the 4th largest city in the Czech Republic and lies at the confluence of four rivers.

The heart of the city is Masaryk Square, home to the old Town Hall (now a museum), as well as a spectacular Baroque column with a sculpture of the Virgin Mary and a statue of St Florian.

The city used to revolve around coal mining, and you can visit the Mining Museum, where you can explore an underground coal mine.

It will open your eyes to how harsh conditions were for the miners.

The Silesian Ostrava Castle is close to downtown, built in the 13th century.

It has been renovated and is well worth visiting, especially at night for an eerie experience.

Stay at: SILESIA Apartment

15- Liberec

Liberec is in a beautiful setting in the Jizera Mountains in Bohemia and the fifth-largest city in the Czech Republic.

Once a centre for textile manufacturing, the highlight of Liberec is the Jested Tower which you can climb for magnificent views of the Bohemian countryside, Poland and Germany.

You can hike up to the tower, but it is steep. There is also a cable car for the less adventurous.

The IQLANDIA Planetarium and Science Museum is worth a visit to see the first humanoid robot created in the Czech Republic.

While in Liberec, walk around the Botanical Gardens and visit the ruins of the ancient Frydstejn Castle.

Top tour: From Prague to Liberec: Private Full-Day Walking Tour.

Stay at: Wellness Hotel Fénix

16- Mikulov

Mikulov is a quiet town in the heart of a wine region near the Austrian border, offering opportunities to visit wineries and taste the excellent wine produced in the area.

Mikulov Castle dominates the town and was initially built in the 13th century but much of it was destroyed by fire in the early 18th century.

Although it was rebuilt, it suffered damage during World War II and much of it has been reconstructed. Surprisingly, the library survived.

The Castle Wine Cellar is worth visiting as it contains an enormous barrel of 110,000 litres of wine.

The area is ideal if you enjoy outdoor activities, as swimmers can take advantage of the many lakes and pools, while cyclists have 595 cycle routes to explore.

Stay at: Apartmán Astrid

17- Znojmo

Znojmo is also in a winemaking region and you can visit wineries for tastings.

The town is walled and has a historic Old Town, which is a good place to start your exploration of Znojmo.

Also worth visiting are Znojmo Castle, the Church of St Nicholas, and the Rotunda of Our Lady & St Catherine.

The highlight of Znojmo is the labyrinth of 13th-century underground tunnels, one of the largest in Europe, stretching for 27 km (16.7 miles).

Take a classic tour which is great for families or if you are seeking more excitement, opt for the adrenaline tour, which involves climbing walls and crawling through tunnels.

Be prepared for water and mud!

Stay at: Apartmán v srdci Znojma „Jako doma“

18- Karlstejn

Karlstejn is 16 km (10 miles) southwest of Prague and is famous for its Gothic castle, which is one of the most visited castles in the Czech Republic.

This stunning castle was built in the 14th century during the reign of King Charles IV.

For years it served as home to the Bohemian crown jewels.

Tour the Imperial Palace, the Hall of Knights, the Chapel of St Nicholas, the Church of Our Lady, the library, and the Audience Hall.

There are a couple of museums to visit in Karlstejn, including the unusual Museum of Nativity Scenes and the Wax Museum.

Skip the line and book your tickets to the castle here.

Stay at: Hotel Karlštejn & SPA

19- Jihlava

Jihlava is on the Jihlava River on the historical border between Bohemia and Moravia.

It is the oldest mining town in the Czech Republic.

It has a massive square with some beautiful historic buildings, but unfortunately, part of the atmosphere is ruined by some new shops and a Mcdonald’s.

At one end of the square are the Gates of Holy Mother. You can climb to the top for a picturesque view of the town.

There are a couple of museums to visit, including the Gustav Mahler House and the Museum Vysociny, which will take you through the history of Jihlava and silver mining.

The highlight of Jihlava is the maze of underground tunnels which are 25 km (15.5 miles).

The tunnels are spectacular, with secret passages and a glowing, mysterious green wall.

The tunnels were built between the 14th and 16th centuries, connecting underground cellars.

During World War II, they were used as air raid shelters.

Down here, you will find an exhibition dedicated to mediaeval mining, a mini-mining village, and ceramic artefacts from the 14th century.

Stay at: Hotel Savorsky

20- Sokolov

The highlight of Sokolov is Sokolov Castle which is right at the edge of the Old Town and was originally built in the 14th century but rebuilt in the Renaissance style in the 17th century.

It houses an interesting museum that exhibits early glass production, historical works of art, and artefacts relating to the area’s mining history.

While you are staying in Sokolov, take a short trip out of town to Loket Castle 12 km (7.,45 miles) away.

It was built in the 13th century in the Gothic style and the dominant feature of the castle is the massive square tower.

From the gallery at the top, you get a spectacular view of the Ohre River Valley.

A museum in the castle exhibits archaeological finds, weapons and items from nearby factories.

Don’t miss going into the dungeons with a torture demonstration. 

Stay at: Penzion PIANO & Apartment Sokolov