Day trips from Prague for business guests: 8 classics and how to combine them

When business partners, colleagues from another office or a delegation come to Prague, sometimes with their families, the same question comes up sooner or later: where can we take them outside the city? Within a day's reach, the Czech Republic offers castles, spa resorts and UNESCO-listed towns. Here are the eight classics that work best for visiting guests, with timings, tips and tried-and-tested combinations. If you are planning a trip for yourself rather than for your guests, our guide to the best day trips from Prague compares the options for all visitors.

At a glance: distance and length of the day

Destination	Distance	Drive each way	Whole trip
Karlštejn	35 km	about 45 min	4 to 5 hours
Konopiště	50 km	about 50 min	4 to 5 hours
Terezín	65 km	about 1 hour	5 to 6 hours
Kutná Hora	80 km	about 1 h 10 min	5 to 6 hours
Plzeň	95 km	about 1 h 10 min	6 to 7 hours
Karlovy Vary	130 km	about 1 h 50 min	8 to 9 hours
Dresden	150 km	about 2 hours	9 to 10 hours
Český Krumlov	170 km	about 2 h 30 min	9 to 10 hours

Times are for a private car and depend on traffic. The length of the trip includes the drive there and back.

The eight classics

Karlštejn

Charles IV founded this Gothic castle in 1348 as a treasury for the coronation jewels and holy relics. It rises above the village in the wooded valley of the Berounka river, and the last stretch is an uphill walk. The famous Chapel of the Holy Cross is open only on a separate tour with a limited number of places, so book it early. Karlštejn is the easiest trip from Prague and also works well with children. More on our private trip to Karlštejn Castle.

Konopiště

The chateau of Archduke Franz Ferdinand d'Este, whose assassination in Sarajevo in 1914 set off the First World War. Its interiors show how the heir to the throne lived and include one of the largest collections of hunting trophies in Europe. In summer, the park with its rose garden is an extra draw. Konopiště is easy to combine with Karlštejn.

Kutná Hora

A royal silver town that once rivalled Prague in wealth, now listed by UNESCO. The highlights are St Barbara's Cathedral, the Italian Court where coins were minted, and the Sedlec Ossuary, decorated with human bones. It is the most popular day trip from Prague and fits comfortably into five to six hours. Read more about our private day trip to Kutná Hora.

Terezín

A fortress town built in the 1780s and named after Empress Maria Theresa. During the Second World War the Nazis turned it into a ghetto and transit camp: about 140,000 people passed through it, and more than 30,000 of them died there. The Terezín Memorial includes the Ghetto Museum and the Small Fortress, which served as a Gestapo prison. It is a serious visit and not suitable for young children.

Plzeň

The home of pilsner-style beer, first brewed here in 1842. The brewery tour ends in the historic cellars with unfiltered beer straight from the barrel. The city also has the Great Synagogue, one of the largest in Europe, and St Bartholomew's Cathedral, which has the tallest church tower in the Czech Republic.

Karlovy Vary

The grandest of the Czech spa towns, and one of the Great Spa Towns of Europe on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Guests stroll along the colonnades, taste the warm mineral springs from special spa cups and try Becherovka, the local herbal liqueur. The routes are mostly flat, so Karlovy Vary also suits older guests. Details are on our page about the private day trip to Karlovy Vary.

Dresden

The capital of Saxony, just across the border in Germany. The rebuilt Frauenkirche, the Zwinger palace with the Old Masters Picture Gallery and Raphael's Sistine Madonna, and the Semperoper opera house make for a day full of art and architecture. Guests must bring a passport (EU, EEA and Swiss citizens may use a national ID card).

Český Krumlov

A Renaissance town in a tight bend of the Vltava, listed by UNESCO, with the second largest castle complex in the Czech Republic after Prague Castle. It is often called the most beautiful small town in Central Europe, and around midday in summer it gets crowded. The drive is long, so many guests stay overnight and explore the town in the quiet of the evening. See our private day trip to Český Krumlov.

How to combine the trips

With a private car, you can combine two places in one day. Pairs that work well:

• Karlštejn and Konopiště: two castles in a day, Gothic in the morning and the chateau of the heir to the throne in the afternoon.
• Karlštejn and the Koněprusy Caves: the largest cave system in Bohemia is about 15 minutes from the castle, ideal with children.
• Kutná Hora and Konopiště: you can visit Konopiště on the way back to Prague, although it makes the day longer.
• Karlovy Vary and Plzeň: the Pilsner Urquell brewery on the way back, which again makes for a longer day.
• Terezín and Litoměřice: a visit to the memorial, then a walk through the nearby town.
• Český Krumlov with a stop: Hluboká Castle or České Budějovice fit in well on the way.
• Český Krumlov on the way to Vienna: if your guests are travelling on to Austria, combine the trip with a one-way transfer.

Combinations make the day longer, so we always plan the timings together with you.

Vienna: a transfer rather than a day trip

Vienna is about 335 km from Prague, a drive of roughly 3 hours 45 minutes. For most people that is too far for a day trip. If your guests want to see Vienna, we recommend a one-way transfer with stops on the way, for example in Český Krumlov, and a few days in Vienna itself.

Which trip for which guests

• Business partners with one free afternoon: Karlštejn or Konopiště.
• Guests who want the best-known sights: Kutná Hora or Český Krumlov.
• History enthusiasts: Kutná Hora, Terezín and Karlštejn.
• Older guests or an easy day: Karlovy Vary, Konopiště or Karlštejn by car.
• Families with children: Karlštejn, Konopiště and perhaps the Koněprusy Caves.
• Beer lovers: Plzeň.
• Art lovers: Dresden.

Practical tips

• Documents: for Dresden and Vienna, every guest must carry a valid passport (EU, EEA and Swiss citizens may use a national ID card) and, where needed, a Schengen visa, even though border checks are usually only spot checks.
• Winter: between November and March we always check the opening days, because many castles and chateaux scale back their opening hours out of season.
• Tickets: guided tours have limited capacity, especially in the high season. Book them together with the car.
• Interior tours: castles and chateaux can often be visited only with the monument's own guide, as at Karlštejn. We therefore book these tour times in advance and match them to the car's arrival.
• Lunch: a reserved table saves time and gives your guests Czech food without having to hunt for a restaurant.
• Pace: guests who have just flown in or spent a day in meetings will enjoy one place at a relaxed pace more than two in a rush.

How we arrange it

For your guests, we arrange a car, van or coach with a driver, a licensed guide, entry tickets and a lunch reservation, and we send you a plan with timings and one itemised quote. Our licensed guides speak English, Spanish and Turkish, and other languages depending on availability. We describe our vehicles with drivers for day trips and transfers on our page about private driver and coach hire in Prague.