Hi, I'm planning a trip to the Czech Republic next february for two weeks. I thought we'd spend a week in Prague, looking round the city and day trips to nearby places of interest such as Kutna Hora. For the second week, my girfriend and I liked the look of Český Krumlov, and looking at the map, Ceské Budejovice looks within a reasonable travelling distance. However I was wondering whether there would be enough to see to fill a week, seeing as february would pretty much be the closed season. How long do you think is needed to visit the two towns? And should we be thinking of visiting anywhere else, such as Plzen or Karlovy Vary? Richard
Feb. was still very cold last year. The castles are not open yet. We have some nice ones here but I think they open at the end of march. Ceske Budejovice is a great town and cheaper than prague but aside form eating out and partying not much to do that time of year. This is an outdoor sports area. Rivers sports and hiking as well as sking in the winter. My favorite is the mushroom picking but again the time of year is bad. Krumlov takes a day to see. It is very nice but mostly hotels and reasturants.
Richard, Cesky Krumlov and Ceske Budejovice are both really nice towns to visit, Krumlov for the location, buildings, castle and heritage, and Budejovice more for the bars and the nightlife. I'd say a day in each would be plenty. In Southern Bohemia, there is loads to do but really you'd want to be there in the summer - it's great for cycling and swimming and stuff like that. Prague is great in February, as it's relatively quiet and cheaper than in the summer. If you are into skiing and stuff you can go to the mountains near Poland and elsewhere for winter sports. I don't think Plzen is really worth visting btw. Have a good trip!
We took bus to C.Krumlov this Fall and stayed two nights. I would suggest it strongly as you would miss real beauty. There is few very good and not expensive restaurants and even great variety of accommodation. We were glad we stayed two nights as first day we arrived and had walk through beautifully lighted town and nice dinner, whole next day just walking and looking (photos!!!!) at beautiful architecture and lovely streets of old town. Third day we took 3 diferent castle tours, walked castle grounds/gardens atd. At evening we left for Ceske Budejovice. We stayed there for two nights too, but didn't find there was enough to do. Their main square is very very nice, but that was about all. One day would have been enough. If you have time/car also plan on visiting Karlovy Vary, Marianske Lazne and Frantiskovy Lazne. It is fun to go from spring to spring tasting them. Very lovely spa towns. I think that Kutna Hora is overrated. There is catedral...and near by "bone church". For that reason tourists remember it and tell each other. It is difficult to remember names of towns so this one is easy. But that is my opinion. Have fun.
A trip to Kutna Hora is worthwhile, in my opinion, to not only see the morbid display of skeletons at Sedlec and the glorious architecture of St. Barbara's, but to learn about the silver mine and coin production system. I took a half-day tour there last year and found the "coinage" part of the tour the most fascinating part of it all. Susan
