AUTHOR: ARTSY CHOW ROAMER

5 of the Very Best Day Trips

FROM PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC

While it would take awhile to see everything in Prague, I still like to recommend that people get out of the city and visit other special places. There are at least five on my very best list within a couple hours drive or train trip and they offer some of the best architecture, spas, exploring, shopping and food you can find! Ready to explore?

CHOICE #1-CESKY KRUMLOV

Located in the Southern Bohemian region of the Czech Republic is Cesky Krumlov; a National Heritage Site. By train or car it is a little over two hours outside of Prague (train ticket runs around $20). It is bisected by the Vltava River and dominated by it’s 13th century castle.

It is best if driving to park in a public spot and do your walk about. Beware: the walking is steep and hilly with lots of steps and cobblestones. Wear your most comfortable shoes for the touring! The river views are really breath taking and the architecture is every bit as pretty and fairy tale like as Prague.

The core of the old town is within a horseshoe bend in the river and is filled with buildings from the 14th-17th centuries. All around are wonderful little shops to pop in to buy gifts and items of interest. I picked up a cute little accordion folding picture book of the best photography of the city for around $4.

Bars and restaurants abound as well and on beautiful days it is nice to find one with outdoor terrace seating to just sit, have a beer and people watch the tourists and locals as they go about their business. Best to stick with traditional Czech and German food but there are other choices as well.

TWO OF THE BEST THINGS TO DO IN CESKY KRUMLOV

Cesky Krumlov Castle is very large for a town of this size. It is second only to Hradcany in Prague. There is a large Rococo Garden within its walls. American Express gave money to rebuild the original fountain at its center in order for it to be functioning again.

The moat surrounding the castle was not filled with water but by bears as the family wanted to be associated with the famous Italian Orsini family. There is also a still functioning Baroque theater that is open three times a year for candlelight performances of a famous opera.

You can enjoy some great modern art in an historic setting at the Egon Schiele Art Centrum. There is also a lovely little cafe called the Three Grace and a good shop for picking up interesting books, calendars and the usual museum items. These are just a few reasons why this little jewel needs to be on your list.

CHOICE #2-TREBON

Located in the South Bohemian region about an hour and a half’s drive from Prague is the charming city of Trebon. My husband was stationed there when still living in Prague and loved it. He hadn’t been back for awhile and wanted to introduce me to it.

Boy am I glad he did! I loved this little Baroque town of only 8,000 in population. I would live there in a heartbeat and checked out some very affordable rentals starting at around $350-400 a month! This is a very walkable town with no steep hills or climbing necessary.

CHARMING TOWN WITH FRESH WATER FISH FARMS

Trebon is known for it’s unique system of fresh water canals and ponds creating a fish farming business by providing the Czech favorite; carp. (Think sort of like our catfish). They ain’t pretty but they do make for some good eating. The waters provide a beautiful backdrop for visiting the real countryside of the Czech Republic.

Put that together with the ease of getting around, spas, pretty colorful architecture, quiet gardens, a brewery and you got a special package to offer visitors. The town has nice shops with interesting Czech handmade items so I picked up great gifts at good prices for a lot of friends and family.

SUPINA & SUPINKA IS SUPERB

We decided to land at a fabulous little B&B called Supina and Supinka. (Loosely translated-Large Fish Little Fish). The rooms were super clean, fresh and modern with all the comforts of large towels and warmers, robes, in room tea and coffee maker, bar fridge and a lovely tray of handmade soaps. The bathroom was a good size with top notch shower facilities (instantly hot) and toilets (two sizes of flush).

Our little travel companions settled right in as well. The gardens were wonderful for morning and evening walks and our windows opened directly onto them for fresh air whenever we desired. Our room being on the back was very quiet and easy to sleep in late if we wanted.

Breakfast was included in our affordable room rate and was delicious in the European style with poached eggs and bacon and fresh butters and jams. The two restaurants on site are both excellent and draw big crowds from the locals and surrounding towns.

We enjoyed a lunch of crisp pork belly and dumplings served with micro greens and rabbit served with potatoes and spinach. Both of us tried fish for dinner; mine was trout and my husband had carp. Both were fresh and superbly prepared. The kitchen knows what it is doing in this great little spot! I highly recommend you staying for a few days to a week in this wonderful B&B!

Don’t forget to book spa services while visiting. There is a great little spa just around the corner from where we stayed. Also, pop into the Church of St. Giles for a visit as it is quite beautiful.

CHOICE #3-KUTNA HORA

I know you may be saying to yourself at this point… more architecture? More monuments? More churches? Well…..yes! It goes without saying that one of the main reasons to go to the Czech Republic in the first place is for the beautiful architecture.

Every major town that you would want to see before leaving has it’s beautiful examples of historic fame and Kutna Hora is no different. East of Prague, about an hour away, it is dominated by Sedlec Abbey, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the St. Barbara Church with it’s famous five naves.

These two places along with a tour of the Italian Court which acted as both a residence and a mint would take up most of your day. There are many restaurants to choose from to pop in for a quick lunch or dinner before you head back to Prague.

CHOICES #4-MALEVIL RESORT & KROMPACH

Malevil Resort is located in the heart of the Lusatian Mountains near the village of Heřmanice v Podještědí, about 75 minutes to the north of Prague. It really was the first country club built in the Czech Republic in that it has an 18 hole golf course, restaurant/bar, and an equestrian facility for housing and riding horses.

It has a great corporate events program and they have added a pool, a beach and a petting zoo which is great for the kids. They have nice grounds with a collection of African sculptures the owners had shipped over for the property.

They offer a variety of accommodations at an average $70 a night; hotel rooms residing in the main complex, cute wooden cabins on the edge of the forest with rustic finishes and wood burning stoves, two guest houses and four fully equipped Lusatian chalets.

Malevil’s main restaurant offers quite a spread of tasty dishes from steak tar tare to roast pig or duck. The food is quite good and there is something for everyone including a kids menu. Once a month the club hosts an auction which is very fun.

You bring the interesting stuff you don’t want and sell it while buying someone else’s interesting stuff that they don’t want; sorta like a Czech swap meet. We were staying close by in Krompach with friends and attended with them.

We picked up a fabulous little Romanian ceramic pot and an antique child’s set of of architectural building blocks for about $25 total. We were thrilled!

SPEAKING OF KROMPACH

About a half hour away from Malevil is the tiny town of Krompach. Our friends have a retirement home there that they have built over the years together so we always stay for a couple of days with them. There are hotels, restaurants and bars but this place is really meant to be just a walk about and enjoy the nature kind of place. There are lots of cute little houses to see too! So take it in while visiting Malevil as well OK?

CHOICE #5-KARLOVY VARY

Of all the places I have sent you, Karlovy Vary is by far the prettiest. I have seen it before the renovation work of years ago and now. Restored to it’s original glory mainly by Russian investment, the town is simply fabulous to walk around in and explore.

It is a spa town, famous for it’s health and stomach wellness spring waters. People come from all across Europe to walk it’s wide Colonnades sipping on the waters with special ceramic cups while enjoying the lush hotels and good restaurants.

Having said that, I miss the days of the cute traditional shops with handmade Czech items like candy, toys, ceramics and art. They have for the most part been displaced with high end expensive retail shops with clothing, jewelry, shoes and watches. They do still sell the wonderful Oplatky wafers that the region is known for. I suggest you pick up many boxes of all types as they are delicious!

Most of the locals can’t afford to buy the new apartments and houses that are being renovated and offered every day at prices more like their American and European big city counterparts. Moser still has a renovated Contemporary Glass Museum on the Square you will want to check out.

Karlovy Vary is not a cheap destination if staying at the Grandhotel Pupp (which we have) but there are more affordable options in good locations. Our last stay was at the Hotel Romance Pushkin; it was lovely. Nice rooms, great location, affordable and a very good restaurant as well.

CONCLUSION

Any of the trips I have outlined for you here are doable in a day if you don’t mind the driving time. We enjoy it because we like to see the countryside and discover fun new places to stop along the way. Most are better as weekend stop overs because you will want to spend more time seeing everything than a day will give you. Check out the short video below for views outside of Prague.

These are my top five places not to miss and get yourself out of the city proper of Prague. They won’t be as crowded and some really are off the beaten path. If you enjoyed what you read about here you might also enjoy reading more blogs from Edible Fare and Explore the World.

Hey, don’t be a stranger! Let me know if you’ve been to Prague or are planning a trip! Happy to answer any of your questions. Let me know what you would be interested in reading about here too OK? Really… drop me a line….ask a question….make a comment….give me some love! Until next time…

Cheers,

ArtsyChowRoamer

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