Bohemian castles
Karlštejn, the silver town of Kutná Hora and the river bends of Český Krumlov.
- Distance
- 311 km (193 mi)
- Driving
- 4 h 17 min
- Suggested days
- 3
- Stops
- 5
- Countries
- Czechia
- Updated
- May 10, 2026
At a glance: 3-day road trip of about 311 km (193 mi) with 5 stops, from Prague to Český Krumlov. About 4 h 17 min of driving in total.
Route description
From Prague take the D5 south-west into wooded hills to Karlštejn Castle, built to guard the imperial crown jewels. Cars are not allowed up to the castle, so park in the village and allow about half an hour for the walk.
Then cross to the east of Prague for Kutná Hora, once rich from silver mining, with the Gothic cathedral of St Barbara and the Italian Court, the former royal mint. In the Sedlec district, the ossuary is decorated with the bones of some 40,000 people, including a chandelier.
The long drive south through the fields and fishponds of southern Bohemia leads to Český Krumlov, a castle town inside a tight loop of the Vltava. The castle’s Baroque theatre still works and can be seen on guided tours with limited places.
Czech motorways require an electronic vignette, and the historic centres of Kutná Hora and Český Krumlov are best explored on foot from car parks on the edge. In summer, rafting on the Vltava is a popular way to see Český Krumlov from the river.
Stop-by-stop itinerary
In driving order. Distances are estimates between consecutive stops.
- 1Start
Prague
Czechia - 229 km
Karlštejn Castle
HistoryKarlštejn, CzechiaA Gothic castle built to guard the crown jewels of the Holy Roman Empire, in wooded hills near Prague.
- 397 km
Kutná Hora
Czechia - 43 km
Sedlec Ossuary
OdditiesKutná Hora, CzechiaA small chapel decorated with the bones of some 40,000 people, including a chandelier.
- 5182 km
Český Krumlov
HistoryČeský Krumlov, CzechiaA castle town wrapped in a loop of the Vltava, with a Baroque theatre still in working order.
