The Czech Republic is a land of castles, cobblestones, and history, but you don’t need to rent a car to explore its gems. In fact, ditching the car and hopping on a bus or train is often the cheapest, fastest, and most relaxing way to see the best of the country.
This guide focuses on the most beautiful UNESCO World Heritage Sites—the ones with the jaw-dropping castles, famous churches, and perfectly preserved old city squares—and shows you exactly how to get there using Czech public transport.
Kutná Hora: The Silver City
Kutná Hora is famous for its history as a medieval silver mining town. It’s a huge, protected area that includes two incredible buildings: the artistic Sedlec Ossuary (Bone Church) and the magnificent St. Barbara’s Church.
| ⛪ UNESCO Site | Kutná Hora: Historical Town Centre with the Church of St Barbara and the Cathedral of Our Lady at Sedlec |
| 📍 Where to Go | St. Barbara’s Church, Sedlec Ossuary, Italian Court |
More information about trip from Prague to Kutna Hora read here.
How to Get There from Prague
The Best Way: Train
- Why: The train is direct, reliable, and fast. It’s the easiest connection between the two cities.
- Duration: About 55 minutes to 1 hour 15 minutes.
- The Route: Take a fast train from Prague Main Station (Praha hlavní nádraží) to Kutná Hora hlavní nádraží (Main Station).
- The Pro Tip: Once you arrive at the main station, take the local train shuttle (the local line is sometimes called Kutná Hora zastávka) to either Kutná Hora-Sedlec (for the Bone Church) or Kutná Hora město (for the Old Town/St. Barbara’s Church). It’s easy to walk between the old town sights once you are there.
Karlovy Vary: The Grand Spa Town
Karlovy Vary (Carlsbad) is one of the “Great Spa Towns of Europe” and feels like something from a grand 19th-century movie. It’s famous for its warm, therapeutic mineral springs and stunning colonnades. There is no castle here, but the whole town is a historical jewel.
| ♨️ UNESCO Site | The Great Spa Towns of Europe |
| 📍 Where to Go | Mill Colonnade, Hot Spring Colonnade, the whole city center |
How to Get There from Prague
The Best Way: Direct Express Bus
- Why: The bus is faster than the train for this route and usually drops you off very close to the center.
- Duration: About 2 hours 15 minutes to 3 hours.
- The Route: Buses (like RegioJet or FlixBus) leave frequently from Prague, often from the Florenc bus station or Praha Veleslavín.
The Pro Tip: Ask to get off at the stop closest to the centre, often labeled Karlovy Vary tržnice. The main train station is far from the spa district, so the bus is definitely the winner here.
Český Krumlov: The Fairytale Castle Town
If you have one day trip from Prague, make it Český Krumlov. This is the poster child of Bohemian beauty, a tiny town wrapped around a river bend with a massive, breathtaking castle. It truly feels like stepping into a medieval fairytale.
| 🏰 UNESCO Site | Historic Centre of Český Krumlov |
| 📍 Where to Go | Český Krumlov Castle and Old Town Square |
More information about trip from Prague to Czech Krumlov read here.
How to Get There from Prague
The Best Way: Express Bus
- Why: It’s a direct, fast, and comfortable ride. The bus companies (like RegioJet or FlixBus) run modern coaches with Wi-Fi, power outlets, and often free hot drinks or built-in entertainment screens.
- Duration: About 2 hours 40 minutes to 3 hours 15 minutes.
- The Pro Tip: The bus station in Český Krumlov (Špičák) is just a 5 to 10-minute walk downhill to the castle and the heart of the Old Town.
4. Telč: The Picture-Perfect Square
Telč is an absolute stunner, famous for its perfectly preserved Renaissance and Baroque houses that line the main square, all painted in beautiful pastels.
| 🏡 UNESCO Site | Historic Centre of Telč |
| 📍 Where to Go | Zachariáš of Hradec Square and Telč Castle |
How to Get There from Prague
The Smart Way: Bus with a Quick Transfer
- Why: This route is generally the quickest way to get close to the town square.
- Duration: The total journey can be as quick as 2 hours 15 minutes to 3 hours 30 minutes with a transfer in a city like Jihlava.
Litomyšl: The Sgraffito Castle
Litomyšl is home to one of the most remarkable Renaissance castles in all of Central Europe, covered in an elaborate decoration style called sgraffito (it looks like a million little pictures covering the walls!).
| 🖼️ UNESCO Site | Litomyšl Castle |
| 📍 Where to Go | Litomyšl Castle and the Smetana Square |
How to Get There from Prague
The Simple Way: Direct Bus
- Why: This is a straightforward, no-fuss journey.
- Duration: Plan for about 2.5 to 3 hours.
- Departure Point: Direct bus lines run regularly from Prague to Litomyšl.
Lednice-Valtice: The Grand Landscape
This isn’t just one castle, it’s a massive, sprawling cultural landscape dotted with castles, follies, ponds, and huge parks—so vast it’s often called “the Garden of Europe.” The two main highlights are the Lednice Chateau and the Valtice Chateau.
| 🌳 UNESCO Site | Lednice-Valtice Cultural Landscape |
| 📍 Where to Go | Lednice Chateau and Valtice Chateau |
How to Get There (Best from Brno)
- From Prague: Take an express train to Břeclav (around 3 hours). Then, transfer to the local transport to Lednice or Valtice.
From Brno (Faster): Take a fast train or bus to Břeclav (about 40 minutes), then take a local bus/train
Train & Bus Times to Czech UNESCO Gems (From Prague)
| City to Visit | Main Attraction (UNESCO) | Best Travel Time (Bus) | Best Travel Time (Train) | Best Transport Tip |
| Kutná Hora | St. Barbara’s Church, Sedlec Ossuary | ~1 hr 45 min (Local PID Bus) | ~50 min – 1 hr 15 min (Direct) | 🚆 Train is much faster! The bus is slow and makes many stops. |
| Karlovy Vary | Grand Spa Colonnades | ~1 hr 35 min – 2 hr 15 min (Direct Express) | ~3 hrs 15 min – 3 hrs 30 min (Direct) | 🚌 Bus is faster! Express buses drop you closer to the town center. |
| Český Krumlov | Castle and Old Town Centre | ~2 hr 35 min – 2 hr 45 min (Direct Express) | ~2 hr 30 min – 3 hrs 15 min (Often requires one change) | 🚌 Bus is usually easier. The bus terminal is a shorter walk to the historical centre than the train station. |
| Telč | Renaissance Town Square | ~2 hr 15 min – 2 hr 45 min (Often requires one change) | ~3 hr 20 min – 4 hrs (Requires multiple changes) | 🚌 Bus is significantly faster by combining an express bus with a local connection (e.g., via Jihlava). |
| Litomyšl | Renaissance Sgraffito Castle | ~2 hr 30 min – 3 hrs (Direct options available) | ~1 hr 30 min – 2 hrs (Often requires one change) | 🚆 Train is often the fastest (via Česká Třebová), but direct bus routes are less fuss. |
| Lednice-Valtice | Lednice Chateau (Landscape) | N/A (No direct route to the park) | ~3 hrs 15 min (To Břeclav, then local transport) | 🔗 Requires a connection. Take the fast train to Břeclav, then switch to a local train or bus to the actual chateaus. |
More Helpful Info for Travelling the Czech Republic
Train vs. Bus: The Quick Choice
- When to Choose the Train (ČD, RegioJet): For travel to major Eastern cities like Kutná Hora and Brno (the starting point for Lednice). Trains are generally faster, more spacious, and more frequent on these main corridors.
- When to Choose the Bus (RegioJet, FlixBus): For destinations in the North and South/West, such as Karlovy Vary and Český Krumlov. Buses are often faster and drop you off closer to the main tourist area than the train station.
Booking and Tickets
- Advance Booking: For express buses (RegioJet, FlixBus) and the faster train lines, always book tickets online ahead of time. This guarantees you a seat and is significantly cheaper than buying at the last minute.
- The Go-To Site: Use the national public transport search engine IDOS (idos.cz/en). It combines all train and bus schedules for the entire country and is essential for trip planning.
