What are the best day trips from Prague by train or bus?

Day trips from Prague at a glance

Times and one-way adult fares below are from IDOS, the Czech national journey planner, for a weekday in November 2026. Fares vary by train, time and how early you book; RegioJet and FlixBus prices rise as seats sell.

1. Kutná Hora: the bone church and St Barbara's (1 hour)

Direct ČD trains from Praha hlavní nádraží reach Kutná Hora in about an hour; other trains need a change at Kolín. The main station is in Sedlec, a 15-minute walk from the Sedlec Ossuary, the chapel decorated with human bones, which now needs a timed ticket booked in advance. The old town, about 3 km away, has St Barbara's Cathedral and the Italian Court, the old royal mint.

It is the easiest full-day trip from Prague, and the one to pick if you only do one. Our Kutná Hora day trip guide covers the ossuary rules, the local bus between Sedlec and the centre, and the order to see things in.

2. Karlovy Vary: spa colonnades and hot springs (2 hours by bus)

Take the bus, not the train. RegioJet and FlixBus run from Florenc bus station to the Karlovy Vary terminal in about 2 h 10 to 2 h 15 (158 to 199 CZK (≈ $7.2–9.1) on our sample day), while the train takes about 3 h 30.

In town you walk the river valley between five colonnades, drinking mineral water from a spa cup, and watch the Vřídlo hot spring shoot up to about 12 metres. Four to five hours is enough. Details in our Karlovy Vary guide.

3. Český Krumlov: the castle town in South Bohemia (2.5 to 3 hours)

Český Krumlov is the most famous of these towns: a medieval centre inside a loop of the Vltava, below a huge castle. RegioJet buses from Na Knížecí (by Anděl metro) take about 2 h 40 direct; the alternative is a ČD train to České Budějovice and a short bus, about 2 h 20 in total.

With 5 hours or more of travel in the day, it is a long trip. If you can, stay one night; the old town is far quieter after the day buses leave. Castle interior tours are seasonal, so check the castle's own site if they matter to you.

4. Terezín: the WWII ghetto and Small Fortress (1 hour)

Terezín was an 18th-century fortress town that the Nazis turned into a ghetto and transit camp; the Small Fortress across the river was a Gestapo prison. The Terezín Memorial runs the sites.

• Getting there: direct buses from Praha-Letňany (metro C) take about 1 hour. By rail, take a train to Bohušovice nad Ohří and a short local bus, about 1 h 20.

• Tickets: one ticket covers the Small Fortress and the former ghetto sites: 310 CZK (≈ $14.1) adults, 240 CZK (≈ $10.9) reduced, 630 CZK (≈ $29) family, valid for 4 days. Pay on site by cash or card.

• Hours: the Small Fortress is open daily 9am to 4pm from November to March and 9am to 5pm from April to October. The Ghetto Museum is open daily 9am to 5pm. Allow 3 to 4 hours for both, and book a guide in advance if you want one.

5. Bohemian Switzerland and Hřensko (2 hours)

Bohemian Switzerland National Park, on the German border, is sandstone towers, forest and river gorges. Take a ČD railjet to Děčín (about 1 h 30) and a local bus to Hřensko (about 20 minutes); the whole trip is about 2 hours.

From Hřensko a marked trail climbs to Pravčická brána, the largest natural sandstone arch in Europe. The trail is open daily 10am to 6pm from April to October, but only Friday to Sunday, 10am to 4pm, from November to March. The boat rides through the Kamenice gorges run only in the warmer months, roughly April to early November. We stayed three nights in Hřensko; a day from Prague covers one walk at most, so stay at least a night if you can. Our Hřensko guide covers the walks.

6. Plzeň: Pilsner Urquell (1 hour 20 minutes)

Plzeň is the closest of these trips by time. ČD trains from Praha hl.n. take 1 h 20 to 1 h 30 (155 to 169 CZK (≈ $7.1–7.7)), and FlixBus from Zličín takes about an hour (128 CZK (≈ $5.8)).

The main draw is the Pilsner Urquell brewery tour, where pale lager was first brewed in 1842; book it ahead. The old town square, with St Bartholomew's Cathedral and its tall spire, is a 15-minute walk from the station. Half a day is enough, so Plzeň pairs well with a late start.

7. Mariánské Lázně: the quieter spa town (2.5 hours)

Mariánské Lázně is greener and calmer than Karlovy Vary, built around a long cast-iron colonnade and landscaped parks. Direct ČD trains take 2 h 30 to 2 h 40 (239 to 278 CZK (≈ $10.9–12.7)), and FlixBus about 2 h 20 (212 CZK (≈ $9.7)).

It is a long day for a smaller town. It works better as part of a West Bohemia loop: Prague to Karlovy Vary, a night in Mariánské Lázně, then Plzeň on the way back, which is the order we travelled in.

Tickets and practical tips

• Plan and book on IDOS or the ČD app. IDOS shows ČD, RegioJet and FlixBus together; ČD tickets can be bought at the station or in the app, and RegioJet and FlixBus tickets are cheapest online in advance.

• Check the return first. The last direct train or bus back is often earlier than you expect, especially to Hřensko and Český Krumlov.

• Know your Prague station. Trains leave from Praha hlavní nádraží; buses use Florenc, Na Knížecí, Zličín or Letňany depending on the route.

• Timetables change each December. Check the dates of your trip after the mid-December timetable change.

Choose a base near Praha hl.n. or a metro line to the bus stations; see where to stay in Prague. Heading on to Hungary afterwards? See Prague to Budapest.

Frequently asked questions