Prague to Český Krumlov Road Trip (2 Days)

Prague to Český Krumlov is one of Central Europe’s easiest and prettiest short drives: motorway most of the way south, then a gentle run through South Bohemia to a UNESCO old town wrapped in a bend of the Vltava. In roughly 170 km you swap the capital’s crowds for cobbled lanes and a painted castle tower.

Day 1 — Prague to České Budějovice (150 km)

Pick up the car on the edge of Prague — you drive on the right here, and city-centre traffic isn’t worth it. Before you touch the motorway, buy a Czech e-vignette (dálniční známka) online; it’s required for the D3/E55 and the police check plates automatically. Head south on the D3/E55, then break the drive at Hluboká nad Vltavou to tour its white neo-Gothic château, one of the country’s most photographed. Continue to České Budějovice, home of the original Budweiser Budvar — sleep here and taste it at the source on its arcaded main square.

Day 2 — České Budějovice to Český Krumlov (25 km)

A short regional-road hop brings you to Český Krumlov. The medieval old town is pedestrianised, so leave the car in one of the marked lots outside the centre (P1, P2, P3) and walk in. Spend the morning climbing to the castle for its painted round tower and the views over the terracotta roofs and the tight bends of the Vltava. In summer, rent a raft or canoe and drift through town from the water. Wander the lanes, then start the return leg back up the D3 — or stay a second night if the town has hooked you.

Costs

Use the cost calculator to price fuel and nights for your exact dates. As a rough guide: budget for accommodation in České Budějovice or Český Krumlov, fuel for ~170 km each way, the paid e-vignette, and a few euros for the edge-of-town parking lots. Booking the car and a central room early saves the most, especially in peak summer.