Pilsner Fest & the Pilsner Urquell Brewery Tour: Plzeň from Prague

Quick answer: Pilsner Fest is an annual beer festival held in Plzeň (Pilsen) each early October, celebrating the birthday of Pilsner Urquell — the original pale lager, first brewed here in 1842. Entry is free, and the festival's signature moment is a communal toast at 18:42, echoing the founding year. Plzeň sits about 90 km southwest of Prague — roughly 90 minutes by train — so it's an easy day trip. And the brewery itself can be toured all year round, not just during the festival.

For beer lovers, Plzeň is something of a pilgrimage: this is the city that gave the world "pilsner," the clear golden lager that the vast majority of the world's beer is now modelled on.

What is Pilsner Fest?

Pilsner Fest is the annual birthday party that the Pilsner Urquell brewery throws for itself in Plzeň each autumn. It celebrates the day in 1842 when the very first batch of Pilsner Urquell was brewed here — the beer that launched an entire style.

The festival fills the city with live music, food and beer, and culminates in a much-loved tradition: a communal toast at exactly 18:42, the time chosen to echo the brewery's founding year of 1842. Entry is free, and the atmosphere is friendly and family-paced rather than rowdy.

When is Pilsner Fest 2026?

Pilsner Fest traditionally takes place in early October, around the anniversary of that first 1842 brew. Exact dates are set by the brewery each year and are best confirmed on the official Pilsner Urquell / Visit Plzeň websites closer to the time, as they can shift from year to year.

If the festival dates don't line up with your trip, don't worry — the brewery tour, which is the real highlight for most visitors, runs throughout the year.

How to get from Prague to Plzeň

Plzeň is one of the easiest day trips from Prague, about 90 km southwest. (You'll also see it written "Plzen" without the diacritic, or by its German name, Pilsen.) Getting there is simple:

• By train — the simplest option: direct trains from Prague's main station (Praha hlavní nádraží) take around 90 minutes and run roughly hourly.
• By bus — comparable in time, with frequent departures.
• By car or private tour — the most flexible: a direct ride with no timetables, and easy to combine with other stops.

The short distance makes Plzeň a comfortable half- or full-day trip from Prague at any time of year — festival or not.

The Pilsner Urquell brewery tour

The heart of any visit to Plzeň is the Pilsner Urquell brewery itself, and its guided tour is a genuine highlight — available all year, not only during Pilsner Fest. A typical visit includes:

• the historic brewery grounds and its iconic gate;
• the brewhouse where the beer is made;
• the deep cellars, kept cold throughout the year, where the beer matures;
• a tasting of unfiltered, unpasteurised Pilsner Urquell drawn straight from oak barrels — something you can't experience anywhere else.

Tours run in English and should be booked ahead, especially in peak season. We offer a private Pilsner Urquell brewery tour from Prague with an English-speaking guide: you're collected from your hotel, driven to Plzeň and back, and shown the brewery and the city — with the logistics handled for you, which is especially welcome during the festival when the city is busy.

What else to see in Plzeň

Plzeň is more than its brewery. If you have time around the tour, the city centre is worth a wander:

• The Great Synagogue — one of the largest synagogues in the world.
• St Bartholomew's Cathedral — its tower is the tallest church spire in the Czech Republic, rising over the main square.
• The Republic Square (náměstí Republiky) — a handsome historic square at the heart of the old town.
• The Brewery Museum — for the deeper story of Czech beer, in a medieval malt house.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is Pilsner Fest 2026?

Early October, near the anniversary of the original 1842 brew. Dates move year to year, so confirm them on the official site before you plan around them.

How much does Pilsner Fest cost?

Entry to the festival is free. You only pay for food and drink, and for the brewery tour if you choose to take it.

How do I get from Prague to Plzeň?

The train from Prague's main station is the easy choice — about 90 minutes, roughly hourly. Buses run too. For a door-to-door day trip, a private tour picks you up at your hotel.

Can you tour the Pilsner Urquell brewery outside the festival?

Yes — the tour runs all year, with no link to the festival. You'll see the brewhouse and cellars and finish with a barrel tasting of unfiltered lager.

What is the 18:42 toast?

A festival tradition: at 18:42 everyone raises a glass together, the time chosen to echo 1842, the year Pilsner Urquell was first brewed.

Is Plzeň worth visiting from Prague?

Yes. It's a short, easy trip from Prague, and beyond the famous brewery it has a fine historic centre, the towering St Bartholomew's Cathedral and one of the world's largest synagogues.