A fairy-tale UNESCO-listed small town in a bend of the Vltava in South Bohemia: Czechia's second-largest castle complex, one of the world's best-preserved Baroque theatres and medieval lanes under red roofs. In summer, boating and rafting on the Vltava is great fun for families. Nearby are white Hluboká Castle, České Budějovice with the Budvar brewery, Lipno lake and its treetop walk, and the UNESCO village of Holašovice. No airport — about 3 hours by bus from Prague. Day-trippers pack the centre at midday, so staying overnight is better. Mongolian citizens need a Schengen visa.
🛂 Visa: Visa required · 90 days✈ Flight: 17h☀ Best months: May, June, July, August
#castle#UNESCO#small town#rafting#beer#Schengen visa
Orange — daytime average, blue — night, grey bars — rainfall, green — sea temperature. Best months: May, June, July, August, September.
Things to see (12)
🧸 for kids
Český Krumlov Castle
CultureTour I 300 CZK (ages 6–17 90 CZK, 18–24 and 65+ 240 CZK); Tour II 260 CZK; museum and tower 280 CZK (ages 6–17 80 CZK); under 6 freeTours Apr–Oct, Tue–Sun 9:00–16:00 (longer in summer); tower Sep–Oct daily 9:00–16:30, to 20 Dec Tue–Sun 9:00–15:30
Czechia's second-largest castle complex after Prague Castle: rooms of the Rožmberk, Eggenberg and Schwarzenberg nobles, a gilded ceremonial carriage and the bear moat (real bears live there — children love it). Interiors are seen only on guided tours; book English tours ahead. Climb the 162 steps of the colourful Renaissance tower for a view over the Vltava bend — no guide needed, easy with children.
Like a well-travelled friend for a first-timer: before you go, landing, SIM, transport, money, food, safety, manners, apps, leaving — step by step.
🧳Before you goStart the Schengen visa early: the Czech Embassy in UB only accepts applications through VFS. In summer Krumlov hotels and castle tours fill up fast.+
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Schengen visa: Czech Embassy, VFS Global
Mongolian citizens need a Schengen short-stay (C) visa. If Czechia is your main destination, apply to the Czech Embassy in UB — in person only at the VFS Global Joint Visa Application Centre (Embassy One building, 13th floor), where you also give fingerprints. Fee €90 (ages 6–12 €45, under 6 free) plus a VFS service fee. Processing usually takes 4–5 working days, or 30–60 days if further checks are needed.
Tip: Book your appointment at least 4–6 weeks before travel.
Medical insurance valid in all Schengen states with cover of at least €30,000 is mandatory. Attach a return ticket, hotel bookings for Prague and Krumlov, bank statements and an employment letter — incomplete files are often refused.
Castle interior tours, especially the Baroque Theatre, take small groups, so book English-language slots online in advance. During the Five-Petalled Rose Festival (19–21 June in 2026) and on summer weekends hotels fill months ahead.
🛬Landing and getting to townKrumlov has no airport: fly to Prague (PRG) and continue overland. Via Vienna (VIE), take a shuttle.+
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Border in Frankfurt, then Prague
Landing in Frankfurt with MIAT, you enter Schengen there — passport control and EES registration — then fly Lufthansa to Prague in ~1 h. Allow a connection of at least 2.5 hours. If you land in Prague late, sleep there and head to Krumlov next morning.
RegioJet and FlixBus buses run from Prague's Na Knížecí (metro Anděl) or Florenc to Krumlov in 2 h 50 min – 3 h 10 min for about €6–15 one way; hourly in summer. By train, go from Prague main station to České Budějovice (~2 h 20 min) and change for Krumlov (~45 min). The bus station is 700 m from the old town, the train station 1.5 km.
Tip: In summer buy bus tickets a week ahead — same-day seats sell out.
Companies such as CK Shuttle bring you door to door from Prague (airport or hotel), Vienna, Salzburg and Linz. A shared shuttle costs about 990–1,300 CZK per person Prague–Krumlov and about 700 CZK Linz–Krumlov; a private car from 4,000 CZK. Comfortable for families with luggage.
📶Phone and internet+
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eSIM — the easiest
If your phone supports eSIM, install a travel eSIM from Airalo, Holafly or similar before you leave: it works as soon as you land in Frankfurt. If you'll cross into Austria (Linz, Salzburg), pick a Europe-wide plan.
Tip: Download South Bohemia in Google Maps for offline use — coverage is weak in the Šumava forest.
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Czech prepaid SIM
O2, T-Mobile and Vodafone prepaid SIMs can be bought without documents — easiest at Prague airport or branches in České Budějovice; Krumlov has few shops. A 30-day 15 GB plan costs around 299 CZK.
🚇Getting around town and the regionThe old town is small and seen on foot; for nearby sights use trains, buses or a hire car.+
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On foot
The old town, castle and gardens are all within walking distance. Cobbles and the steep climb to the castle call for comfortable shoes. Cars are restricted in the historic centre — leave a car in the car parks on the edge of town.
The train from Krumlov to České Budějovice takes ~45 minutes; from there a bus or train continues to Hluboká. Public transport to Holašovice and Lipno is sparse, so hiring a car or joining a tour is easier.
In summer town rental firms provide rafts, canoes and life jackets and drive you to the start point. A short loop around town suits families with children; the full-day trip from Rožmberk to Krumlov (from 580 CZK) suits experienced paddlers.
Czechia uses the Czech crown (Kč, CZK), not the euro. Most hotels, restaurants and museums take cards; cash helps for boat rentals and small cafés. Withdraw from bank ATMs; Euronet ATMs charge high fees. If a terminal offers to charge in euros or tugriks, choose crowns.
Tip: Some places near the Austrian border take euros, but at a poor rate — pay in crowns.
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City tax
Český Krumlov charges guests aged 18+ a city tax of 50 CZK per person per night (the legal maximum); if it isn't in your booking price, the hotel may ask for it in cash.
Never change money with people on the street. Czech law lets you cancel an exchange-office transaction within 3 hours — keep the receipt. Non-EU visitors can reclaim VAT on larger purchases with a Tax Free form.
🍜FoodSouth Bohemian food means meat, fish and dumplings. Carp from the Třeboň ponds and Budvar beer are famous.+
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What to eat
Svíčková (beef in cream sauce with knedlíky), goulash, roast pork knuckle, South Bohemian pond carp and trout, smažený sýr (fried cheese — kids love it). Eat on a riverside terrace with a castle view. The lunchtime 'denní menu' is cheapest.
Tip: Bread and nibbles placed on the table are sometimes charged — send them back if you don't want them.
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Beer
Taste Budvar in České Budějovice and Krumlov's own Eggenberg brewery beer at the source. Kofola soda for children and drivers. No alcohol before rafting — boating drunk on the river is forbidden.
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Christmas market
In December Svornosti Square hosts a Christmas market: mulled wine, gingerbread, crafts and a nativity scene. Calmer than Prague's and good for families.
🛡️Safety and health+
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Emergency numbers
General number 112 (answered in English), ambulance 155, police 158, fire 150 — free, 24 hours.
When rafting everyone, especially children, wears a life jacket; keep the boat straight on weir chutes and skip the trip if the water is high after heavy rain. Wet cobbles are slippery. Mind your pockets in the midday summer crowds.
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Hospital, Mongolian Embassy
Krumlov's town hospital has an emergency department; serious cases go to the regional hospital in České Budějovice. If you lose your passport, report it to the police and contact the Embassy of Mongolia in Prague.
Say 'Dobrý den' entering a shop or restaurant and 'Na shledanou' when leaving. The waiter brings the bill to the table; rounding up a little as a tip is customary.
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Respect a small town
People live in the old town: keep noise down in the evening and don't walk into private courtyards or the Holašovice farmhouses. Photography is usually banned inside the castle rooms. Cover shoulders and knees in churches.
📱Useful apps+
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Transport
RegioJet and FlixBus — buses to Prague, Linz and Vienna. Můj vlak — Czech trains. Bolt — reliable taxis in Prague. Google Maps works very well on foot.
Buy castle tour tickets online on the official site. Google Translate's camera mode translates Czech menus instantly. The Visit Český Krumlov site lists events and museums.
Safest is to return to Prague and sleep there the night before your flight: the Krumlov–Prague bus takes ~3 h and traffic jams happen. Shuttles also run straight to the airport. If you connect via Frankfurt, your Schengen exit (EES) is recorded there.
Leave Schengen within the days on your visa — the EES records your exit date automatically. Carry Tax Free goods in your hand luggage and show them at customs at the EU exit airport before check-in.
One of the few Baroque theatres in the world whose 1766 stage, machinery and scenery survive almost intact. The tour shows the wooden machinery under the stage. Groups are small and tickets sell out — buy online a few days ahead.
The three-tier arched Cloak Bridge spans a deep ravine, linking the castle to the theatre and gardens. The 11-hectare Baroque garden has fountains, the Bellaria summer house and an open-air theatre with a revolving auditorium. A calm family stroll.
A fully preserved medieval town inside the Vltava's S-bend, UNESCO-listed since 1992. Cobbled lanes, painted façades and little bridges. Best early in the morning or in the evening after the day-trippers leave — which is why staying overnight is worth it.
KidsShort in-town trip ~400–600 CZK per person; Rožmberk–Krumlov full day ~580–1,250 CZKMay–Sep, daily (depends on water level)
Float the Vltava around the town for 1–2 hours in an inflatable raft or canoe and shoot the small weir chutes — the most fun family activity in summer. Rental firms provide transport, life jackets and a waterproof barrel. Life jackets are a must for non-swimmers.
Culture280 CZK (students, 65+ 230 CZK; family 580 CZK; under 6 free)Tue–Sun 10:00–18:00, closed Monday
A gallery in a 16th-century brewery dedicated to the Austrian expressionist Egon Schiele, whose mother came from Krumlov: his works and letters plus modern art exhibitions. Best for adults who like art.
CityFreeGarden daily; church usually open in the daytime
The Gothic church rising over the town; from the neighbouring Seminary Garden you get the classic photo of the river and the castle tower. Free and on foot — go at sunset.
Culture170 CZK (ages 6–15 100 CZK, students 120 CZK, family 360 CZK); guided 190 CZKTue–Sun 9:00–12:00, 13:00–17:00; closed Monday
The fully preserved studio and home of early-20th-century photographer Josef Seidel: old cameras, glass plates and pictures of Šumava village life. Guides demonstrate old developing techniques — interesting for children too.
CultureRepresentation rooms tour 300 CZK; tower 180 CZK; gardens and park freeApr–May and Sep–Oct Tue–Sun 9:00–17:00; Jun–Aug 9:00–18:00; Nov–Mar weekends only
A white neo-Gothic castle modelled on England's Windsor — Czechia's most 'fairy-tale' castle. Wood-carved halls and a large English park. 10 km from České Budějovice; ~45 minutes by car from Krumlov.
České Budějovice: Budvar brewery and Přemysl Otakar II Square
FoodBudvar tour 290 CZK (students, children 220 CZK) with tasting; square freeBudvar visitor centre daily 9:00–17:00
South Bohemia's main city: one of Europe's largest square plazas, the Samson Fountain and the Black Tower. Take a 70–80 minute tour of the original 'Budweiser' brewery and taste fresh beer in the cellar. About 45 minutes by train from Krumlov.
NatureAdults ~350–390 CZK, children ~320 CZK (varies by date, cheaper online)Daily all year, hours vary by season
A wooden walkway up to 40 m above the Šumava forest, with views of Lipno lake and the Alps from the tower; come down by a 52 m slide — a children's favourite. The lakeshore offers swimming, cycling and water sports. About 40 minutes from Krumlov.
CultureFreeVillage 24 hours (respect the residents)
A tiny village of 18th–19th-century 'South Bohemian folk Baroque' farmhouses around a large green, UNESCO-listed. A half-hour stroll; combine it with Hluboká and České Budějovice in one day by car.
