Outside Prague

Outside Prague

EXCURSIONS AND ACTIVITIES OUTSIDE PRAGUE:

The Czech Republic is a very pretty country! Most of its surface is hilly and forested with rivers, beautiful colorful little towns and castles. Many, many castles.

Here we present you with a selection of wonderful excursions you can make from Prague. Do also have a look at our section “walks, sports and activities” for the more active and nature orientated trips.
And don’t forget: we are your private guide. If you would like any of these tours a bit differently, we will be happy to adept to your wishes :)

The most important difference between all these tours and the package tours is off course flexibility. You will have your own guide who can totally adapt to your interests. More spontaneous, more off the beaten track, more in depth and much more original.

The prices for these tours are based on making these excursions with your own driver and guide. Naturally that influences the price. It is however also possible to do most of these trips with just your private guide and travel by public transport, or with your own car. This would be more economical. If you would like to do it that way, just write us your wish and we will inform you of the prices and possibilities.

NB: Because of popular demand we have added Vienna and Dresden to our list of excursions! See numbers 1.33and 1.34

1.1.16 Tábor - the beautiful Hussite utopia! - NEW

For some reason the town of Tábor has not ended up on the standard mass-tourism track. However, in our opinion it is the best destination for those who want to make a day trip out of Prague and not be on the road for too long, like the 2,5 hours to Český Krumlov. Tábor is just over an hour from Prague and a beautiful little town with a rich and very interesting history. It has a picture perfect central square, windy little streets and some great views from the tower of Kotnov fortress. And some excellent restaurants not to forget. Besides guided tour through town we will take you onto the tower of Kotnov, into  the house of a noble,  the ancient town hall and UNDER the ground into the old cave system...

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1.17 Karlstejn, max 6 hours

An amazing castle that the famous Charles IV built for the crown jewels and other treasures. Hidden in forested hills not far from Prague, and BEAUTIFULL.
We will approach the castle through the forest and visit the actual CHAPEL OF THE HOLY CROSS, decorated with gothic panel paintings of master Theodoricus, gold plate and semi precious stones. A marvel!
This package tours do not do, even though it is the most precious part. You do need to reserve this a few weeks in advance. Before returning we recommend a drink or some food in the restaurant that lies hidden in the forest.....
This excursion could be extended with a hike in the forested hills...

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1.18 Nelahozevez, Dvorak and Veltrusy, 6 hours

This is an excursion for lovers of art and music. Nelahozevez is a tiny village that offers a beautiful renaissance palace and the birth-house of famous composer Antonin Dvorak.
In the palace you visit one of Europe's largest private Art collections, collected over six centuries by the noble Lobkovitcz family. Artists include Rubens, Canaletto, Velazquez, Breughel, Cranach, etc. Besides paintings you will see beautiful furniture and original compositions from Beethoven in the music room.
After a tour through the castle you can visit the Dvorak house with an exhibition on...Dvorak, who was born in this house.
On the way to back to Prague we stop by the Veltrusy chateau for a stroll in the grand statue gardens of this 18^th century Chateau.

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1.19 Kutna Hora UNESCO 6 hours

Bohemia's ancient silver mining town, now a sleepy little town with some very impressive monuments that prove its former importance. One can a visit to the old mint, or go into some old silver mines. The huge cathedral is a must and then there is..... a real OSSUARY: A chapel decorated with the bones of 40.000 humans!

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1.20 Concentration camp Terezin (Teresienstadt), possibly with Litomerice, 6 hours

A visit of the former concentration-camp Teresienstadt/Terezin, where we tell you the stories of the war in Central Europe and of the terrible fate of it's Jewish citizens. We take you to the cemeteries, show you the big and the small fortress, the crematorium, the columbarium and off course we visit the museum, where you also have the chance to see some film material.
For those interested in visiting a non touristy little town this trip could be combined with the town of Litomerice. For lunch for instance.

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1.21 Bezdez castle and swimming in the beautiful Machovo lake

A lake so beautiful it was named after a poet. Natural white sandy beaches with high, bent pine trees. Next to it a forested hill with a medieval castle on the top. We climb to the castle, swim in the lake and have food in the picturesque little town on the shore. To get there we deliberately take the slightly longer scenic route. This tour could also be planned after Terezin concentration camp, to lighten up the mood.

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1.22 Cesky Sternberk , 6 hours

Cesky Sterberk is an old gothic castle, located above the river Sazava, not far from Prague. The surroundings are very beautiful. The castle is still inhabited by the Šternberg family.
This trip is a nice alternative to Karlstejn castle in winter

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1.23 Glass Factory with Krivoklat or Pilsen (Pilsener Beer brewery), 6 hours

One of the main products of the Czech republic that you might know is glass and Crystal. This excursion takes you to- and into one of the factories. After the visit you have the possibility to buy in the factory shop. Off course we could leave it at that, but as the old medieval Krivoklat castle lies hidden in the woods nearby we recommend going there after the glass factory. Another option would be visiting the town of Plzen (Pilsen) and its famous beer brewery. Or you could do them all!

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1.24 Pilsen (Plzeň) with brewery and surroundings

An hour west of Prague lies the city of Plzen, which in German is Pilsen. In this town the famous Pilsener Urquell beer is brewn. On this tour we go visit the brewery and then find a local restaurant in the historical centre to drink some Plzeň whilst having lunch.
On the way back to Prague we take the scenic route through the hills and the forests, passing by the medieval Krivoklat castle for a visit.

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1.25 Konopiste with gardens, 6 hours

Konopiste Castle was the hunting castle of Franz Ferdinand d'Este, successor to the Habsburg throne. It was his death in Sarajevo that became the excuse for starting WW1. The history of this castle off course goes a lot further back. Deep into the Middle Ages.
On this excursion you visit the actual living areas of the castle, see part of the HUGE collection of hunting trophies and then stroll through the beautiful gardens.

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1.26 Cesky Krumlov UNESCO, 12 hours

Wonderful!! Cesky Krumlov is a jewel; one of the most beautiful towns of the Czech Republic. Time stood still here somewhere in the renaissance. Charming, elegant and SO worth the fairly long, but beautiful ride.
When doing this trip as a private tour we recommend taking 12 hours. It would be a shame to be rushed, like on the package tours. Your guide will show you the town and arrange a visit to the enormous castle, if you like. There will be time to just stroll, or shop, or just sit by the river having a drink.
If you have the time you should see Cesky Krumlov

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1.27 Telc and Slavonice UNESCO, 12 hours

Telc and Slavonice are also in South Bohemia, like Krumlov, but further to the east. Charming renaissance. These towns are, like Krumlov, places where time stood still in the renaissance and early baroque period. Telc has got what is may be the countries most beautiful square and Slavonice is tiny, but all scrafitto facades! These towns are not as discovered by tourism yet, and certainly very worth the visit!

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1.28 Karlovy Vary and Moser...or becherovka :) 12 hours

Karlovy Vary is a famous spa town in the hills of West Bohemia, where many famous and important Europeans have loved, and still love, to spend their time.
The thing to do here is strolling the Colonadas (beautiful column-lined walkways) and drink the curative waters directly from the 12 warm mineral springs. Your guide will off course tell you all about them. To soothe the stomach one eats Oplatky wafers and drinks Becherovka herbal liqueur.
For this tour we recommend taking twelve hours, so you that you are not rushed and can enjoy Karlovy Vary.
Besides the springs you can visit the Moser Crystal Factory or.....have a bath and a massage!

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1.29 Marianske Lazne and Loket, 12 hours

Marianske Lazne is in the same area as Karlovy Vary, and if you like you could combine the two. Also Marianske Lazne is a pretty spa town with Colonadas but smaller and less touristy.. And then there is Loket, hidden in forested hills. It means "elbow", because it is located on a hill in a little bend of the river Ohre. It is tiny and very picturesque. In Loket you can visit the casle at the top with its (very) scary torture chambers....

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1.30 Jewels of west Bohemia, 12 hours

This tour is basically a day with a local guide, a driver and a car/van in the region of West Bohemia, where Karlovy Vary, Marianske Lazne and Loket are. There is however much more of interest in this beautiful area. The Idea is to explore the region. Stopping in little towns and paying visits to the bigger touristy ones. More off the beaten track.Your guide brings a detailed map, his knowledge, and you take it from there....

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1.31 Jewels of south Bohemia, 12 hours

This tour is basically a day with a local guide, a driver and a car/van in the region of South Bohemia, where Cesky Krumlov, Telc and Budejovice are. There is however much more of interest in this beautiful area. The Idea is to explore the region. Stopping in little towns and paying short visits to the bigger touristy ones. More off the beaten track. Your guide brings a detailed map, his knowledge, and you take it from there....

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1.32 A beerbath! With beer and beerspirit!

Exactly as the title says: this is a visit of a beer-spa! As beer is the national drink of the Czechs, you should enjoy good beer while you are here. And if you REALLY love beer, this is your chance to lie in a bath of warm beer whilst drinking beer! Alone or together in a bath for two. The beer comes from a family brewery next door, where they brew excellent beer the old fashioned way. They even distill beer into beer-spirit "pivovice"

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1.33 Vienna

Now the classy capital of Austria and in the past: The Capital of the Habsburg empire in which, at one point in time, the sun never set!
In Vienna you can visit the grand Schonbrunn Palace and the Hofburg palaces downtown. Residences of imperial glory! Amazing musea, fantastic shopping and of course: Vienna's coffee houses.
Vienna is a 4 hour drive from Prague. If we leave early we can do it in a day. Another option is to go there via Cesky Krumlov (tour 1.26) where we would spend the night! or spend a night in Vienna....

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1.34 Dresden

Dresden, capital of the German state of Saxony, is only two hours away from Prague. After the end of communism and the reunification of Germany Dresden has once more become a very happening city.
Considering the city was terribly bombed in the second world war, when many of its citizens lost their lives, the reconstruction they have done is to say the least impressive. The famous Fauenkirche stands once again and many other monuments are their to be admired.

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