6 Incredible Day Trips to Take from Prague

While Prague itself is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe, with its abundance of beautiful architecture and historical buildings, the city is also surrounded by some incredible places that make it well worth spending some time outside of Prague too. If you're lucky enough to have some days to spare while visiting the city, here are some of the best places you can head to for day trips from Prague.

Karlovy Vary

The most famous spa town in the Czech Republic, Karlovy Vary is famous for its thermal hot springs and relaxation spots. Apart from the hot springs however, the town itself is beautiful, with houses colored with all shades of the rainbow, nestled in the hills of the Slavkov Forest. For those looking to stay a little longer, there's plenty to do in the surrounding area, including the beautiful town of Loket and its historic castle.

Kutna Hora

Known as the 'City of Silver' Kutna Hora is a short journey from the capital, a historic town known for its unique churches and architecture. The town is particularly popular for the harrowing and unusual Sedlec Ossuary, the inside of the chapel is decorated with human bones and skulls, thought to hold the bones of between 40,000 and 70,000 people.

Bohemian Switzerland National Park

For those needing a short escape to nature, this national park is one of the most beautiful in the region, often referred to as the Switzerland of the Czech Republic. You'll need a car to explore this vast expanse of mountains and greenery, but it's well worth hiring one for the day as long as you have a license. One of the most popular parks in the country, Bohemian Switzerland National Park offers some incredible rocky landscape you'll be hard-pressed to find anywhere else in Europe.

Karlštejn Castle

A short drive from Prague, it's surprising this huge impressive Gothic castle isn't more popular among foreign tourists. Built in the 12th century by order of Charles IV, the first King of Bohemia to become the Holy Roman Emperor, Karlštejn Castle is set in a picturesque location surrounded by hills and greenery. Getting there is easy, there are frequent trains from Prague to the nearby town of Karlštejn.

Dresden

Close to the border with Prague, heading to Dresden for a day trip is not only easy but highly recommended. The German city takes just two hours to get to from the Czech capital, easily accessible by both car, bus or train. The site of heavy bombing during World War II, the city's historic architecture has long since been restored to its former glory, now one of the most beautiful cities in Eastern Germany.

Brno

Just a few hours by train from the capital, the second largest Czech city has plenty of things to do for those with a love for history. While Prague has plenty of incredible sights and historic buildings, Brno has its own fair share and without the crowds of the capital, few foreign tourists make it here. For this reason it's great if you're looking to get an authentic taste of Czech life and culture without the influence of tourism.

Conclusion

While Prague has long since seen a huge boost of tourism, the rest of the Czech Republic is often left out of the picture. There are plenty of places in the country well worth making the effort to get out of the capital to see and most are easy enough to get to.