Kutná Hora is one of the most popular day trip destinations from Prague. This historic town was once rich from silver mining, and today its medieval center is a protected UNESCO world heritage site.
While most tourists only come to see the famous bone church, Kutná Hora has many secret spots, local cafes, and beautiful nature paths that most blogs completely miss. This guide covers the famous sights and the best hidden attractions you must see
Explore the Czech Republic Historical Sites & Castles: Choose the Best
The Famous Sights (The Must-See List)
If you are planning a Kutna Hora day trip, these are the famous landmarks that made the city popular. You should not miss them, but there are a few things you need to know before you go.
A walk through the historic centre is one of the best experiences in Kutná Hora. The town’s main square, Palackého náměstí, is full of historic buildings, cafés, and restaurants where you can relax during your visit. Compared with Prague, the atmosphere here is much quieter and more relaxed. Kutná Hora is usually less crowded than Prague, which makes it ideal for a peaceful day trip.
1. The Sedlec Package: Bone Chapel + Abbey (Best Visited Together)
Most tourists rush straight to the famous bone church, look around for fifteen minutes, and immediately leave. By doing this, they skip a massive hidden gem right down the street that locals and independent travelers actually rate much higher. You should always visit both using a single discounted combo ticket.
The Sedlec Ossuary (The Bone Chapel)
The Sedlec Ossuary is a small underground chapel decorated with the skeletal remains of over 40,000 people. Inside, you will see a massive central chandelier, chalices, and complex coats of arms constructed entirely from human bones.
🚫 No Photos Allowed: Since 2020, taking photos or videos inside the Bone Church is completely forbidden—even with your smartphone. This rule was put in place to stop disrespectful “selfie behavior” and protect the dignity of the 40,000 people buried here. Keep your phone in your pocket, enjoy the eerie atmosphere with your own eyes, and show respect.
The Cathedral of the Assumption (The Real Hidden Gem)
Just down the road sits the Cathedral of the Assumption of Our Lady (the main church of the former Sedlec Abbey). While the Bone Church has a lower 4.1 rating online due to heavy crowds and photo bans, this spectacular UNESCO World Heritage site holds a near-flawless 4.8/5 rating on Mapy.cz. Most day-trippers forget it exists, meaning you often get the breathtaking space entirely to yourself.
- Architectural Marvel: It features a rare “Baroque-Gothic” design by the famous architect Santini, complete with towering yellow vaults and incredible floating spiral staircases you can actually walk up.
🎫 Money-Saving Ticket Tip: Do not buy a single entry ticket at the gate. Go to the main visitor center and ask for the combo ticket for both sites. It saves you money and guarantees you see the beautiful, light-filled contrast to the eerie atmosphere of the bone chapel. It takes about 20 to 30 minutes to explore the Cathedral before you head into the main historic town center.
2. Barborská Street (The Mini Charles Bridge Walk)
TThis is the most beautiful promenade in the city. The wide stone path reminds many visitors of the famous Charles Bridge in Prague because it is lined with 13 historic stone statues.
As you walk down this boulevard, you will have the giant Jesuit College building on one side and a low stone wall on the other overlooking terraced gardens and vineyards. Best of all, the Gothic peaks of St. Barbara’s Cathedral sit directly in front of you, giving you the perfect postcard view.
- The Open-Air Amphitheater: Built seamlessly right into the landscape of the gardens, this hidden structural space hosts local acoustic concerts and outdoor plays during the summer months.
- The Jesuit College (GASK): The massive building running along the street is a former 17th-century Jesuit College. Today, it holds a famous art gallery called GASK, which hosts fantastic modern art exhibitions.
- Turn the Corner (The GASK Gardens): While most tourists only stay on the front promenade, make sure to walk around to the back of the Jesuit College building. What used to be a closed military parking lot has been transformed into a free, beautifully designed modern public park.
- The Relaxing Water Cascade: Inside this courtyard, follow the sound of trickling water to the Vodní Kaskáda, a sleek modern fountain terracing down the green slopes next to the local vineyards. It’s a wonderful, quiet spot to sit on a bench and rest your feet.
As you walk down this boulevard, you will have the giant, magnificent Jesuit College building on one side and a low stone wall on the other. If you look over the wall, you can see beautiful terraced gardens and vineyards running down the hillside. Best of all, the massive Gothic peaks of St. Barbara’s Cathedral sit directly in front of you as you walk, giving you the perfect postcard view for your phone camera.
ℹ️ Insider Tip: The massive Jesuit College building is not just for looking at from the outside. It holds a famous art gallery called GASK (Galerie Středočeského kraje) which hosts fantastic modern art exhibitions.
3. Cathedral of St. Barbara
The Cathedral of St. Barbara in Kutna Hora is a masterpiece of Gothic architecture. It has unique, tent-like roof peaks that look like a crown from a distance. Inside, you can see beautiful stained-glass windows and medieval wall paintings showing the daily lives of local mint workers.
You can go inside for a very reasonable entrance fee. It is highly recommended to pay the extra fee to walk up to the internal balcony area. Up here, you can get a close look at the massive, historic church organ. You will also walk right behind the beautiful wooden sculptures covered in real gold. Seeing the old, dark unpainted wood from the back of the statues is a really cool experience! The upper level also has detailed displays where you can read about the long history of the cathedral’s construction.
4. The Italian Court (Vlašský dvůr)
The italian court kutna hora was the royal palace and the central mint of the Czech kingdom. This is the exact place where all royal silver coins (called Prague Groschen) were made. You can take a guided tour here to see the beautiful historic royal halls, the chapel, and watch a live demonstration of a mint worker stamping a silver coin by hand.
📌 Planning your journey? Before you map out your sightseeing, make sure to read our complete transit guide on how to get to Kutna Hora, which breaks down the best train schedules, bus routes, and local ticket hacks.
5. St. James Church (Kostel sv. Jakuba) — The Skyline Ruler
Steps directly outside the Italian Court’s gates sits the towering, 86-meter (282 ft) slender spire of St. James Church. It is the oldest parish church in town, with construction starting all the way back around 1330 right on the edge of the town’s rocky ridge.
- The Missing Tower: Look closely at the asymmetrical facade. It was designed to have two towers, but intensive silver mining made the ground too unstable. Builders abandoned the second tower mid-construction, leaving just the flat square base.
- Inside the Church: The interior features a majestic mix of raw Gothic rib-vaulted ceilings and ornate Baroque art, including a rare painting by the famous Czech Baroque master Petr Brandl.
- Best Viewpoint: After exploring, head down into the valley below or look up from the nearby Breuer Gardens (Breüerovy sady) to capture the ultimate photo of this giant towering over the town.
6. Church of Saint John of Nepomuk (Kostel sv. Jana Nepomuckého)
Located on Husova street, this building is the only purely Baroque church in the historic center of Kutná Hora. It was designed in the 1730s by František Maxmilián Kaňka and completed by Kilián Ignác Dientzenhofer, the architect behind St. Nicholas Church in Prague.
- The Interior: The ceiling features a large fresco illustrating the life of Saint John of Nepomuk, the patron saint of Bohemia.
- Stained-Glass Windows: Look closely at the glass to see detailed historic panoramas of Kutná Hora’s landmarks rather than standard religious patterns.
- History: During the communist era, the church was closed to the public and used as a civil defense warehouse, a fire station, and a storage site for construction waste before its restoration in the late 20th century.
Insider Tip: Because it sits slightly off the main path between St. Barbara’s Cathedral and the town center, it is rarely crowded and stays very quiet.
Discover the Town’s Silver Secret
Kutná Hora was once the financial center of the Czech kingdom because of its silver. Here is how you can experience that history beyond the basic tours.
- Hrádek Medieval Silver Mine Tour: This museum takes you deep into the old silver tunnels.
- Warning: This tour can feel highly claustrophobic. You must wear a helmet with a headlamp and walk through very tight, wet stone paths. Skip this if you do not like tight spaces!
- The Wooden Horse-Machine (Trejv): Located right on the Hrádek museum grounds, this is a massive medieval wooden machine. Horses walked around it to pull heavy bags of silver ore out of the deep ground. It is great for photography.
- Sankturin House (Sankturinovský dům): This building sits in the Kutna Hora centrum and holds the main tourist office. But if you go up into the tower, you will find a hidden alchemy exhibition showing how medieval people tried to turn basic metals into real silver.
Hidden History & Quirky Local Museums
If you want to escape the crowds in the Kutna Hora Old Town, walk to these fascinating historical buildings that most tourists walk right past.
- Dačický House: This is the interactive house of a famous Renaissance writer. It is perfect for families and mobile-using travelers because it has touchscreens, video games about architecture, and fun displays that explain the city’s UNESCO history.
- The Stone House (Kamenný dům): This is the most beautiful private Gothic house in the country. It has a giant, incredibly detailed stone face. Inside, you can explore a cool medieval basement layout.
- The Chocolate Museum (Muzeum čokolády Lidka): A sweet piece of history! Starting in 1918, Kutná Hora was famous worldwide for making “Lidka” chocolate. The museum tells this story, and you can taste and buy award-winning modern chocolates made with old local traditions.
Escape the Crowds: Nature, Walks & Panoramic Views
When your feet get tired of the stone streets, use these spots to find peace, green trees, and the best views for your phone camera.
- Corpus Christi Chapel Roof: This building is empty. But you can walk out onto the roof terrace. It offers the absolute best, uncrowded postcard view of St. Barbara’s Cathedral.
- Ruthardka Lane Viewpoint: This is a narrow, romantic stone path running along the old city walls. It is a beautiful place for a quiet walk, especially in the evening when the cathedral lights turn on.
- The Vrchlice River Valley Trail: This is a peaceful nature trail that starts near the town center. It follows a small river through a green forest valley where you can see the ruins of old watermills (Cimburk) and old mining cliffs.
- The Jesuit Gardens: These public gardens are completely free to enter. They are located right behind the large Jesuit College building and feature modern statues, fountains, and benches next to local vineyards.
Taste the Town: True Local Cafes over Tourist Traps
Do not just eat at the first restaurant you see next to the bone church. Walk into the town center for these highly-rated local spots:
- Restaurace V Ruthardce: Located near the historic city walls, this place feels like a classic medieval tavern. It is famous for high-quality Czech food like beef cheeks and goulash. If the weather is nice, try to get a seat in their summer garden; it offers a beautiful, peaceful view of St. Barbara’s Cathedral away from the main tourist crowds.
- Restaurace Dačický: This famous Old Bohemian tavern is highly recommended on travel forums. Named after the town’s legendary historic writer, it features a traditional medieval-style wooden interior and a beautiful summer garden. It is the best place in town to try giant, hearty portions of traditional Czech food and taste the local Kutná Hora beer for great prices.
- Café Havlíček: This café sits right on the edge of a green park. It has great outdoor seating where you can enjoy coffee and cakes with a view, away from the loud tourist paths.
- Blues Café: A cozy local secret where you can drink fresh coffee or a cold Czech beer while browsing through a collection of vintage music vinyl records.
