Things to do in 

Czech Republic

If you’re after alternative things to do in the Czech Republic, trade crowds for small workshops, quiet trails, and slow evenings in wine towns and medieval corners.

Cultural experiences: In Nový Bor (1.5 hours north of Prague), step inside a glassworks to watch masters shape molten color, then try a simple blowpipe puff, a steady-paced stop seniors enjoy. In Mikulov (1 hour south of Brno), descend to a family wine cellar for a Moravian tasting and folk songs, a cozy evening for couples and friends. In Chrudim (20 minutes from Pardubice, 1.5 hours east of Prague), carve a small puppet head in the museum workshop, a playful task that keeps families engaged. In Plzeň (1 hour west of Prague), join a brewer for a cellar tour and unfiltered pour, with a private table for luxury travelers who like it quiet.

Day trip ideas: From Prague, ride to Kutná Hora (1 hour east) for the bone chapel and a stroll between St. Barbara’s and the old miners’ lanes, a full but easy day. From Prague, hike the sandstone trails of Bohemian Switzerland near Hřensko (2 hours north) and ferry across the Elbe, a good pick for active travelers. From Prague, walk forest paths to Karlštejn Castle (40 minutes southwest) and cap it with a river lunch in Srbsko, simple and low-key. From Brno, roam the cave system of Moravský Kras in Blansko (40 minutes north) for the Macocha Abyss boat ride, a hit with kids.

Explore Czech Republic’s regions: In South Bohemia, base in Český Krumlov (2.5 hours south of Prague) for riverside walks, wooden rafts on the Vltava, and day hops to the ponds near Třeboň. In West Bohemia, soak in Karlovy Vary (2 hours west of Prague) and detour to the colonnades of Mariánské Lázně for slow spa promenades. In South Moravia, cycle vineyard lanes around Znojmo and the Lednice–Valtice chateaux (1 hour from Brno), pausing for cellar doors and castle parks. In the Beskydy Mountains near Ostrava (45 minutes southeast), follow ridge trails from Pustevny and end with sourdough soup in a timber lodge.

Plan 6–8 days for Prague plus a mix of Bohemia and Moravia; with 3–4 days, keep close to Prague with one countryside day trip, and consider adding Austria, Germany, or Poland to broaden the route.

More places to see in Czech Republic

There’s a lot to see in the Czech Republic once you step outside Prague. Head for small cities, vineyard hills, and sandstone canyons where daily life sets the pace and the details pull you in.

South Moravia (Mikulov & Lednice): Start your morning with a slow walk up Svatý kopeček above Mikulov for a wide view over vines, then wander the chateau gardens and side streets around Náměstí. By early afternoon, ride or drive to Lednice Chateau and stroll the park paths to the Minaret. As the day cools, pop into a cellar in Valtice—Valtické Podzemí pours local whites and lets you taste how each village soil shifts the wine.

Bohemian Switzerland National Park: Set out early from Hřensko and follow Gabrielina stezka to Pravčická brána, the sandstone arch that anchors the cliffs. After lunch, drift through the Kamenice River Gorge on the small boats between Mezní Louka and Hřensko; it’s quiet and close to the water. Cap the afternoon with grilled trout at Restaurace U Fořta before heading back while there’s still light on the rocks.

Olomouc: Find the Upper Square by late morning to see the Astronomical Clock strike noon and circle the Holy Trinity Column. Step into St. Wenceslas Cathedral for a cool pause, then walk the park paths in Bezručovy sady along the old walls. As evening settles, grab a table at Svatováclavský pivovar for a fresh lager and a plate with a slice of pungent tvarůžky the locals grew up with.

Kutná Hora: Go straight to St. Barbara’s Church in the morning and follow the walkway past the Jesuit College to the stone fountain on Rejsek Square. In the afternoon, ride out to the Sedlec Ossuary and take your time with the details inside. When you’re back in town, Dačický pours a sturdy beer and serves a warm, no-fuss dinner that fits a day on your feet.

Seasonal activities

Spring: Watch Prague’s parks and castle gardens wake up, browse Easter markets for hand-painted eggs and braided pomlázka, and wander lanes before the heat sets in. Boats return to the rivers and beer gardens reopen, making easy afternoons for families, couples and seniors.

Summer: Hike sandstone arches in Bohemian Switzerland, raft or paddle the Vltava past chateaux, and linger in shady courtyards as church towers strike the hour. Lakes and outdoor pools make simple swimming days for kids, while spa towns offer slower, restorative evenings.

Fall: Follow vine rows in South Moravia as burčak, the cloudy young wine, pours from roadside stands, then settle in for roast duck or goose as leaves turn copper. Forest paths in the Bohemian Forest and Moravian Karst glow under soft light, perfect for photographers and unhurried walkers.

Winter: Wander Advent and Christmas markets in Prague, Brno and Olomouc, warm your hands on mulled wine, and skate local rinks as carols float through squares. Head for snow in the Krkonoše or Jizera Mountains for crisp walks and alpine villages, then return to cafés for pastries by the window.

Seasonal traditions keep the calendar lively: Masopust carnivals parade through neighbourhoods before Lent, Easter markets fill old town squares with crafts, and late-September St. Wenceslas Day brings church services and cultural events. Autumn weekends host vinobraní grape harvest celebrations across Moravia, and December closes with St. Nicholas visits on the 5th and tree-lighting rituals leading into New Year.