5 Days From Prague: A Day-Trip Itinerary
5 Days From Prague: A Day-Trip Itinerary
Five days adds a full, slow-paced day in the spa town of Karlovy Vary on top of the 4 day route’s Kutna Hora, Karlstejn Castle, and Terezin. One more day gets you to Cesky Krumlov in our 6 day plan, though that trip genuinely wants two days, not one.
Book these before you go
- Check Prague hotel rates on Booking.com
- Book a Kutna Hora day tour
- Book a Karlstejn Castle tour
- Book a Karlovy Vary day tour if you would rather skip coordinating the bus schedule yourself
Day 1: Prague, Your Base Camp
Land and settle into Stare Mesto or Mala Strana; every gateway trip on this route starts and ends at Hlavni nadrazi or Florenc, so a central base saves real time across all five days. Grab a stamped transit ticket the moment you arrive, then spend the afternoon on Old Town Square and Charles Bridge. Our Prague travel guide covers the city itself in real depth beyond this day-trip-focused route.
Day 2: Kutna Hora and the Sedlec Ossuary
Trains from Hlavni nadrazi run roughly every hour, take about 50 minutes, and cost CZK 100 to 140 one way. The Sedlec Ossuary requires a timed online ticket through sedlec.info : CZK 220 adult, CZK 150 reduced, CZK 80 child. Pair it with St Barbara’s Cathedral in town and be back in Prague by early evening.
Day 3: Karlstejn Castle
Trains from Hlavni nadrazi take about 40 minutes to Karlstejn village, then a 2.5km, 30 to 40 minute walk uphill to the gate. The interior is guided-tour-only, with limited timed slots that sell out on summer weekends, so book through hrad-karlstejn.cz . Since it is only a half-day trip, spend the afternoon back in Prague, with dinner in Vinohrady.
Day 4: Terezin Memorial
A bus from Florenc takes about an hour to reach Terezin, a WWII Jewish ghetto and transit-camp memorial with a separate Small Fortress Gestapo prison, entry roughly CZK 310 for the main sites (check current pricing at pamatnik-terezin.cz ). This is a somber half-day, not a casual sightseeing stop, so pace the rest of the day lightly once you are back.
Day 5: Karlovy Vary
A direct bus takes 1h35 to 2h15; skip the train, which runs closer to 3.5 hours for no real benefit. Karlovy Vary is a spa town of colonnades and mineral springs, home to the herbal liqueur Becherovka and the Grandhotel Pupp, a Casino Royale filming location. Check karlovyvary.cz for colonnade hours before you go. This is the slowest-paced day on the whole route, built for strolling rather than checklists, so treat it as a reset after four fuller days.
| Day | Focus | Distance/Travel time from Prague |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Prague orientation, Old Town Square, Charles Bridge | Base, no travel |
| 2 | Kutna Hora, Sedlec Ossuary | About 50 min by train each way |
| 3 | Karlstejn Castle | About 40 min train, plus a 30-40 min walk |
| 4 | Terezin Memorial | About 1h by bus each way |
| 5 | Karlovy Vary | 1h35 to 2h15 by bus each way |
Is Cesky Krumlov Worth It as a Day Trip?
Not appended to a five day trip, no. The 2.5 to 3 hour transit each way leaves only a few rushed hours in a town built for lingering. If you want Cesky Krumlov done properly, our 7 day plan gives it a real overnight instead.
Can You Do Karlovy Vary Without a Car?
Yes, easily, and the bus is genuinely the better option regardless. A direct bus covers the route in 1h35 to 2h15, while the train takes closer to 3.5 hours for no real advantage. Once you arrive, the colonnades and springs are all within walking distance of the bus station, so a car adds cost without adding convenience.
Book the Sedlec Ossuary and Karlstejn tour slots before you land, and give Karlovy Vary its own unhurried day rather than squeezing it against another full-day trip.