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.
Day 4: Telč to Mikulov via Třebíč (150 km, ~2.5 hours)
Morning: drive to Třebíč (35 km). The town's Jewish Quarter and St. Procopius Basilica are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Jewish Quarter — one of the best-preserved in Europe — has narrow lanes, a synagogue, and a cemetery on the hillside. The Romanesque-Gothic basilica has a crypt with 12th-century columns that feels ancient in a way most Czech buildings don't.
Afternoon: continue south to Mikulov — the gateway to South Moravia's wine country. This small town sits beneath a Baroque castle on a limestone hill, surrounded by vineyards. Mikulov is the capital of Czech wine, and the slopes around it produce some of the country's finest whites.
Evening: visit a local wine cellar (vinný sklep) for a tasting. The wine cellars in nearby Pavlov and Valtice are carved into hillsides and serve Moravian wines straight from the barrel. A tasting with bread and cheese costs about 200–400 CZK per person.
Day 5: Mikulov and the Lednice-Valtice Complex (50 km driving, full day)
This is the day for the Lednice-Valtice Cultural Landscape — a UNESCO World Heritage Site that rivals Versailles in ambition if not in fame. The Liechtenstein family spent 300 years landscaping 283 square kilometres of South Moravia into a massive designed landscape of palaces, gardens, follies, and fish ponds.
Lednice Chateau — a neo-Gothic palace with an enormous English-style garden, a 60-metre minaret, a Turkish bath, and greenhouses with tropical plants. The gardens alone take 2–3 hours to walk.
Valtice Chateau — a Baroque palace housing the National Wine Salon (Salon vín), where the Czech Republic's 100 best wines are available for tasting. Entry about 300 CZK for a tasting of 10 wines.
Between the two chateaux, cycle or drive through the Liechtenstein avenues — tree-lined roads connecting follies (decorative buildings) scattered across the landscape.
Day 6: Mikulov to Olomouc (210 km, ~2.5 hours)
Drive north into central Moravia toward Olomouc — the Czech Republic's hidden treasure. This university city has a Baroque historic center that rivals Prague's in quality if not in scale. The Holy Trinity Column on the main square is a UNESCO World Heritage Site — a 35-metre Baroque sculpture group that took 38 years to build.
Olomouc highlights: the Astronomical Clock on the Town Hall (rebuilt in Socialist Realist style after WWII — workers and athletes instead of saints), St. Wenceslas Cathedral, and the extensive park system along the Morava River.
Olomouc is also known for its unique cheese: tvarůžky (Olomouc cakes) — small, strong-smelling, amber-coloured cheeses that locals eat with raw onions and bread. They're an acquired taste, but trying them is an essential Moravian experience.
Where to eat: Moravská restaurace (traditional Moravian dishes), or Entrée Restaurant for modern Czech cuisine.
Day 7: Olomouc to Prague via Kutná Hora (280 km, ~3.5 hours)
Take the D35/D1 motorway back toward Prague, but stop in Kutná Hora (about 200 km from Olomouc, 80 km from Prague). The town's Sedlec Ossuary — the "Bone Church" — contains the artfully arranged remains of 40,000 people, including a chandelier made from every bone in the human body. St. Barbara's Cathedral, a Gothic masterpiece that took five centuries to build, is the town's other highlight.
Arrive back in Prague by late afternoon or evening. Check into your hotel and celebrate the end of your road trip with a pint of Pilsner Urquell at a neighbourhood pub.
Practical Road Trip Tips
Driving: Czech roads are generally good. The D1 motorway (Prague–Brno) is the busiest. An e-vignette is required for motorways — buy it online at edalnice.cz before departure (10-day pass from about 310 CZK).
Car rental: available from Prague Airport and city center locations. Book in advance for the best rates. Manual transmission is standard; specify automatic if needed.
Fuel: petrol stations are frequent on major routes. Fuel costs about 38–42 CZK per litre (as of 2026).
Accommodation: book ahead in peak season (June–September), especially in Český Krumlov and Mikulov. Off-season, walk-in availability is usually fine.
Speed limits: 130 km/h on motorways, 90 km/h outside towns, 50 km/h in towns. Speed cameras are common.
Start and End in Prague
Before or after your road trip, explore Prague with a local guide. Our All Prague in One Day private tour covers the castle, Charles Bridge, Old Town, and the Jewish Quarter. Just your group, no strangers.
For an unforgettable evening in Prague, the Medieval Dinner Show at U Pavouka — fire dancers and a Gothic cellar feast — is the perfect bookend to a week exploring the Czech countryside.
Browse all our private tours of Prague and Czech Republic.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a special license to drive in the Czech Republic?
EU, US, Canadian, Australian, and UK driving licenses are valid. An International Driving Permit is recommended but not legally required for most nationalities. You need a motorway e-vignette for toll roads.
What's the best time for a Czech road trip?
Late May to early October. The weather is warm, attractions are open, and autumn colours (October) add beauty. Avoid July-August if you prefer fewer tourists in small towns.
Is it easy to navigate Czech Republic roads?
Yes. Main routes are well-marked, and GPS navigation works reliably. Road signs are in Czech but follow international conventions. The D1 motorway is the busiest road.
How much does a 7-day Czech road trip cost?
Budget: 600-900 EUR per person (car rental, fuel, budget accommodation, restaurant meals). Mid-range: 1,000-1,500 EUR per person (better hotels, more restaurants, wine tastings).
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