Cesky Krumlov Archives – Little Holidays

Where to stay in Český Krumlov – the best hotels for a magical stay

From its medieval castle to its meandering cobbled alleys, Český Krumlov is the stuff of fairytales.

While it’s possible to see the castle town’s highlights on a day trip from Prague, you can easily spend at least two to three days in Český Krumlov. You will most likely spend your first day staring at the beautiful town square from the castle tower, pinching yourself in disbelief at just how amazingly gorgeous the old town is. [Read more…] about Where to stay in Český Krumlov – the best hotels for a magical stay

Český Krumlov travel guide – the Czech Republic’s beautiful fairytale town

Czech Republic, Europe, Travel Guides

From the moment you step into Český Krumlov’s old town, it’s easy to forget you’re in 2020.

The narrow, twisted streets with its cobblestones – each polished and naturally worn by the millions of footsteps it has weathered through the centuries – are designed to conform to the whims and meanders of the Vltava river, adding to the town’s mystery. You cannot see far beyond, making each turn a surprise.

One moment, you’re treated to a row of colorful Gothic houses. Another, a flash of light leads your eyes to a window display of Bohemian garnets and moldavites. One of the most impressive views, however, is when the narrow street of Radniční suddenly opens to the Lazebnický most, the bridge crossing the Vltava on the way to the castle. Suddenly, you are treated to a view of the Vltava river sparkling under the morning sun, the towering state castle preserved from the 14th century, and street musicians giving life to a place seemingly frozen in time. [Read more…] about Český Krumlov travel guide – the Czech Republic’s beautiful fairytale town

Best things to do in Český Krumlov’s charming old town

Czech Republic, Europe, Travel Guides

A medieval castle town set on the banks of a capricious river, its streets lined with a mixture of Renaissance, Baroque, and Gothic buildings.

If it sounds like I’m describing a fairy tale town, that’s exactly what Český Krumlov is. [Read more…] about Best things to do in Český Krumlov’s charming old town

Love at first sight – falling hard for Cesky Krumlov’s charms

Czech Republic, Europe, Travel Guides

It started with the smell of roast pig.

As we walked down the meandering pathway from our pension to the old town, I stopped in my tracks. The sweet smell of garlic, herbs, and smoke wafted from a window, bringing with it the memories of fiestas, weddings, and summers spent with cousins and grandparents in the countryside. Roast pig had always been the star of every happy occasion, and now it heralded another one. Giddy with excitement, I declared to my boyfriend even before I set foot into the old town: “I love Cesky Krumlov!”

What’s Your Travel Superpower?

Czech Republic, Travel Stories

On our last night in Cesky Krumlov, we came back from hiking around the Blansky Forest to an empty old town. Having hiked more than 20 kilometers, we were in need of some food but found most of the establishments were already closed and few people were out walking along the lamppost-lit cobblestone streets.

We checked the time – barely 8 PM. What was wrong with people? Granted, it was a Sunday, but still, this was Cesky Krumlov! How can they be sleeping?

Driving from Prague to Vienna, slowly through Czech Republic’s scenic south

Czech Republic, Europe, Travel Guides

Here’s how the typical Central European travel itinerary goes –

You spend a few days in Prague with several early morning attempts to take pictures at the Charles Bridge, board a train to Vienna where you blitz through the many historical churches and museums, maybe even spend an evening at the opera and have a slice of sachertorte, then take another train to Budapest, where you fill your camera with more crowded pictures of the Fisherman’s Bastion. By the end of this trip, you hardly remember anything and you just want to collapse in bed and take another vacation.

I get it. For most of us non-European travelers, Europe is this shiny, star-studded continent filled with some of the world’s best, most romantic, most historical – most superlative – cities in the world that we just want to cram our itineraries and see ALL. OF. THEM. The lack of borders and ease of movement is also mind-blowing for most of us that we get a little bit (or a lot) trigger-happy when planning our trips.

But here’s a radical suggestion: take it slow. Instead of rushing from one country to the next, take some time to really explore a place. While capital cities like Prague and Vienna are, of course, must-visits for first-time travelers, you can make your trip a lot more interesting with stop-overs to the little towns in between. You’ll establish a deeper connection with the places you visit, gain a better understanding of the culture, and have a more fulfilling holiday experience.