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Český Krumlov and Hluboká Castle

Historic Photography Nature
Suitable for photography
Panoramic view of Český Krumlov at sunset – part of the Hluboká & Český Krumlov private tour from Prague with PrivateToursCzech.cz. Český Krumlov at sunset, view from the Vltava River with colorful houses and the castle glowing in warm evening light. Hluboká Castle – Autumn Gardens | Private Tours Czech Evening street in Český Krumlov with a view of the illuminated castle tower during blue hour. Winter panorama of Český Krumlov covered in snow – evening lights over the historic UNESCO old town, part of the Český Krumlov & Hluboká private tour with PrivateToursCzech.cz. Hluboká Castle in winter — evening snow scene with warm lights, part of the Český Krumlov & Hluboká private tour from Prague with PrivateToursCzech.cz View of Český Krumlov’s old town during blue hour from a scenic overlook above the city. Couple enjoying the panoramic view from the tower over Český Krumlov’s historic old town. Night view of St. Vitus Church and the Vltava River in Český Krumlov — illuminated town in autumn atmosphere Český Krumlov Castle and old town glowing in the blue hour above the calm waters of the Vltava River. Hluboká Castle in summer daylight — view of the main entrance and castle gardens Winter view from the castle bridge in Český Krumlov overlooking the snow-covered old town at blue hour. Night view of a narrow street in Český Krumlov’s old town illuminated by warm lantern light. Vertical view of Český Krumlov Castle and old town at sunset with reflections in the Vltava River. Hluboká Castle – Autumn Gardens | Private Tours Czech Winter night panorama of Český Krumlov with illuminated castle and the Vltava River below.
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About the trip

9 hČeský Krumlov UNESCO Castle – one of Europe's finestMedieval old town & Vltava River horseshoe bendHluboká Castle – the "Czech Windsor Castle"South Bohemian countryside & traditional architecturePrivate car, licensed guide, ~8 hour trip

There are two castles on this tour, and they could not be more different. Český Krumlov is one of the largest and most theatrically beautiful castle complexes in Central Europe — a Baroque palace coiling around a rocky bend in the Vltava, its tower visible for kilometres, its old town below a warren of cobblestone lanes and riverside gardens. Hluboká Castle, an hour’s drive north, is something else entirely: a 19th-century neo-Gothic fantasy modelled on Windsor, gleaming white above the Vltava valley, its silhouette unmistakably romantic. Together they form one of our most visually dramatic tours — two entirely different visions of power and beauty, within a single long and rewarding day.

You might also enjoy: Trebon & Wachau Valley, Konopiste Castle & Tabor, Moravian Karst & Brno.

Český Krumlov is approximately 2h 45min from Prague; Hluboká is 1h 15min north of Krumlov on the way back. Plan for a 10–11 hour day. Český Krumlov requires booking castle interior tickets in advance for peak season (May–September); we arrange this. The old town is busiest mid-morning — arriving early rewards you with the most atmospheric experience.
Price and Capacity: Book your private day trip for a single price, valid for your entire group of up to 4 people.

Included: Private vehicle, professional driver, fuel, highway tolls, and parking.

Not included: Entrance fees to Cesky Krumlov Castle or Hluboka Castle interiors, meals, or beverages.

Category: Historic | Architectural
Duration: Full-day (approx. 10–11 hours)
Seasonality: Year-round; castle interiors closed Mondays (Oct–Mar), peak season May–Sep
Suitable for: Couples, families, history lovers, architecture enthusiasts

Stops

Hluboká Castle in afternoon light, view from the manicured park in front of the neo-gothic façade.
Hluboká Castle 1 h 30 min

Český Krumlov Old Town and its castle are, together, a UNESCO World Heritage Site — and the designation is well earned. The castle complex is the second largest in the Czech Republic after Prague Castle, built across 40 buildings on a rocky promontory above a horseshoe bend in the Vltava River. Its round tower, painted with trompe-l’oeil Renaissance details and topped with a Baroque cap, has become the symbol of South Bohemia. The interior — State Rooms, Baroque Theatre, Eggenberg and Schwarzenberg apartments — preserves the furnishings and collections of the aristocratic dynasties that held it across five centuries. The tiered castle gardens above the town are among the finest Baroque formal gardens in Central Europe. Below the castle, the old town is equally extraordinary: a small, almost completely preserved medieval and Renaissance townscape, its main square ringed by painted facades, its lanes ending at the river on three sides. The Vltava wraps the old town so completely that it feels like an island. There are few places in Europe where the density of beauty in a small space is this high.

Winter panorama of Český Krumlov covered in snow – evening lights over the historic UNESCO old town, part of the Český Krumlov & Hluboká private tour with PrivateToursCzech.cz.
Český Krumlov – historic center 3 h

Hluboká Castle stands on a ridge above the Vltava valley north of České Budějovice — a neo-Gothic confection of white-rendered towers, crenellations, and manicured lawns that was rebuilt in its current form between 1841 and 1871 by the Schwarzenberg family, who were inspired by Windsor Castle and the romantic English Gothic Revival then fashionable across Europe. The result is one of the most photographed castles in the Czech Republic — simultaneously theatrical and somehow genuinely elegant, the white stonework bright against the surrounding parkland in almost any weather. The interior is exceptionally well preserved: the Schwarzenberg collections of paintings, tapestries, weapons, and furniture are still displayed in the rooms as they were arranged in the 19th century. The wood-panelled library, the Winter Garden, and the Hunting Room with its antler collection are among the standout spaces. The grounds include a large English-style park descending toward the river. After the medieval intensity of Český Krumlov earlier in the day, Hluboká offers a different kind of pleasure — lighter, more ordered, and very beautiful in afternoon light.

Total distance 359.2 km
Total trip time 8 h 36 min
Price 14 303 Kč

Price per vehicle with driver (max. 8 persons)

Frequently asked questions

Further Reading

Roadmap 2 | Úvodní strana

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