Czech Republic Road Trip — 7 Days from Prague to Moravia

The Czech Republic packs an absurd amount of beauty into a small country. From Prague's Gothic spires to Moravian wine cellars, from sandstone canyons to Renaissance castles, a week-long road trip reveals a landscape that shifts dramatically every hour of driving. This seven-day itinerary loops from Prague through Bohemia, dips into Moravia, and returns — covering roughly 1,200 km of the country's finest scenery, smallest towns, and least-visited castles.

We know these roads well — they're the routes we use for day trips and regional tours. What follows is the itinerary we'd build for ourselves.

Day 1: Prague to Český Krumlov (170 km, ~2.5 hours)

Leave Prague heading south on the E55/D3. The road passes through Central Bohemian farmland before entering the foothills of the Šumava mountains.

Stop: Hluboká nad Vltavou (145 km from Prague). This white neo-Gothic castle — remodeled after England's Windsor Castle in the 1840s — sits above the Vltava River surrounded by a park. Allow 1–2 hours for a tour and grounds walk.

Continue to Český Krumlov (30 km further). Check into your hotel and spend the evening walking the medieval center. The castle, perched on a cliff above the Vltava, is lit up at night — walk to the castle's Cloak Bridge for the view down to the town's red rooftops and the river's horseshoe bend.

Where to eat: Na Louži (traditional Czech, on the main square) or Krčma v Šatlavské ulici (medieval-style tavern with grilled meats). Dinner for two: 600–900 CZK (as of 2026).

Day 2: Český Krumlov — Full Day

Spend the morning inside the castle complex. The Baroque theatre (one of a handful in Europe with original stage machinery), the bear moat (live bears since the 16th century), and the castle gardens reward a full morning.

Afternoon: rent a canoe or raft and float the Vltava through the town center. Multiple rental companies operate from April to October. The 2-hour float passes under the castle walls — it's one of the most photogenic river experiences in Europe.

Evening: dinner in the medieval center and a stroll along the riverbank.

Day 3: Český Krumlov to Telč via Šumava (180 km, ~3 hours)

Drive west into the Šumava National Park — the Bohemian Forest. This mountainous border region between the Czech Republic and Bavaria/Austria is one of Central Europe's wildest landscapes. Stop at Černé jezero (Black Lake), the largest glacial lake in the Czech Republic, surrounded by dense spruce forest.

Continue southeast to Telč (UNESCO World Heritage Site). This small Moravian town has one of Europe's most perfectly preserved Renaissance squares — a row of pastel houses with arcaded ground floors and decorated gables, reflected in the fish ponds that surround the town. The Telč Chateau, with its Renaissance and Baroque interiors, anchors one end of the square.

Check into a hotel on or near the square. Evening walks around the fish ponds as the sun sets behind the town are memorable.