# Hluboká and České Budějovice

The white Neo-Gothic castle of the Schwarzenbergs above the Vltava and, 12 km away, the home of Budweiser Budvar with one of the largest squares in Europe.

Fuente: https://www.geocalia.com/en/czechia/hluboka · Revisado: 2026-11-12

Hluboká nad Vltavou is a village above the Vltava with a castle that looks as if it had been moved from England: the Schwarzenbergs, the richest family in Bohemia, remodelled it in the mid-nineteenth century in the Tudor Neo-Gothic style, white, with battlements, towers and an enormous park. Inside are rooms with carved wood, tapestries, the library, an armoury and the kitchen of a great noble house. 12 km to the south is České Budějovice, the capital of South Bohemia: the city of Budweiser Budvar beer, with an enormous square plaza, the Black Tower and an old town you can cross on foot in ten minutes. Together they make a getaway of one or two nights from Prague, about two hours away.

## How do you get there from Prague?

By car, about 145 km and about two hours along the D1 motorway to Mirošovice and the E55 road towards Tábor and Veselí nad Lužnicí; shortly before arriving, road 146 leads to Hluboká. Park next to the Penny Market, on Nad parkovištěm street, and walk up about 900 m, uphill, or take the tourist train.

Without a car, take the train from Prague's main station to České Budějovice and from there a regional train to Hluboká (stops U Sudárny or Zámostí) or a Jihotrans bus to the Pod kostelem stop, about 800 m from the castle. There are also direct buses from Prague to Hluboká. Connections can be checked at idos.cz.

## What to see at the castle

Everything is visited with a guide, on separate tours:

State rooms (55 minutes, 300 CZK): the main floor, with the morning room, the reading room, the smoking room, the dining rooms, the library, Princess Eleonore's rooms and the armoury. It is the main tour.

Private apartments (60 minutes, 220 CZK): the life of the last princely couples.

The castle kitchen (35 minutes, 180 CZK): a great noble-house kitchen, English style.

Guest rooms (70 minutes, 320 CZK, 10 people): the guests' rooms and the silverware.

The lookout tower (180 CZK, no booking): the view over the Vltava and the ponds.

Winter tour (40 minutes, 200 CZK): from November to December, through the rooms that can be heated.

## And in České Budějovice?

Přemysl Otakar II Square, a square with arcades and the Samson fountain in the middle; the Black Tower, 72 m tall, with 225 steps to the gallery; and the Budweiser Budvar brewery, with a 70–80 minute guided tour that ends with a tasting of beer straight from the tank. In summer a boat links the city with Hluboká along the Vltava.

## When to go

From April to October, when all the castle tours are open and the boat runs. In November and December the castle offers the winter tour Tuesday to Sunday, from 9:00 to 16:00. The Budvar brewery is open all year except 24 to 26 December and 1 January; in January and February it closes on Sundays.

## How long should you allow?

One night allows the castle in the morning, Budvar in the afternoon and Budějovice's square at night. With two, you add the boat on the Vltava or an excursion to Český Krumlov, south of Budějovice.

## How much does it cost?

The state rooms, 300 CZK per adult and 90 CZK for ages 6 to 17. The Budvar tour, 290 CZK and 220 reduced. A meal at Masné krámy, about 200–400 CZK with beer.

## Dónde está
- Zonas: Czech beer
- Cerca: Český Krumlov (a 28.3 km), Tábor (a 43.4 km), Konopiště (a 82.5 km), Karlštejn (a 100.5 km)

## Qué hacer
- **Hluboká Castle, the state rooms and the armoury** (55 min · All ages; under-15s with an adult · 300 CZK adults; 240 CZK ages 18 to 24 and over-65s; 90 CZK ages 6 to 17; under-6s, free): The main tour covers the main floor: the morning room, the reading room, the smoking room, the small and great dining rooms, the library, Princess Eleonore's rooms and, at the end, the entrance to the armoury and the castle's armoury, with walls and ceilings of carved wood and tapestries. It lasts 55 minutes, with groups of up to 55 people. Inside you may not take photographs or enter with a pushchair or backpack. It is open from April to October; in winter, see the winter tour.
- **Tour of the Budweiser Budvar brewery in České Budějovice** (1 h 15 · Adults; minors with an adult, the tasting only for over-18s · 290 CZK; reduced 220 CZK (children from age 6, students and over-65s)): The state brewery of České Budějovice, that of Budweiser Budvar, shows its brewery on a 70–80 minute tour: the brewhouse, the lager's maturation tanks, a tasting of beer straight from the tank and the bottling plant, with part of the route outdoors. Individual visitors book the fixed slots: in English at 14:40 all year, and in July and August also at 10:40. Groups of five or more can ask for a time every 20 minutes and in seven languages, Spanish included. Until 30 November 2026 city bus 2 does not reach the brewery: take the 5 from the station and the 6 to Kněžskodvorská, and walk the rest.
- **Hluboká Castle, private apartments and the kitchen** (1 h 35 · Adults and teenagers; with children, the kitchen alone · Apartments 220 CZK and kitchen 180 CZK adults; 70 and 50 CZK ages 6 to 17): Two smaller tours for those who return or want more. The private apartments, on the ground floor and first floor, tell of the life of the last Schwarzenberg princely couples after the Romantic remodelling of the nineteenth century: 60 minutes, groups of 20. The kitchen, in the basement facing north so that the heat would not disturb upstairs, is inspired by English houses: 35 minutes, no group limit. Together, a morning.
- **The viewing tower of Hluboká Castle** (30 min · Anyone comfortable with stairs · 180 CZK adults; 140 CZK ages 18 to 24 and over 65; 50 CZK ages 6 to 17): The tower was built after 1847 on the site of one that had collapsed from the Baroque castle. You climb it without a guide or a reservation and, in good weather, you can see the Vltava valley, the ponds of South Bohemia and České Budějovice in the distance. It is the option for anyone who does not want a long guided tour.
- **Hluboká Castle winter tour** (40 min · Everyone; it is the wheelchair-accessible tour · 200 CZK adults; 160 CZK ages 18 to 24 and over-65s; 60 CZK ages 6 to 17): Hluboká used to close on 31 October and not reopen until April; recently, some rooms that can be heated have made possible a 40-minute winter tour, from 3 November to 20 December, Tuesday to Sunday from 9:00 to 16:00. It is also the only castle tour without barriers.
- **Přemysl Otakar II Square and the Black Tower in České Budějovice** (1 h 30 · Everyone; the tower, no pushchair): The main square of České Budějovice is an almost perfect square surrounded by arcades, with the Samson fountain in the middle and the Baroque town hall on one side. It bears the name of the king who founded the town in the thirteenth century. On one corner rises the Black Tower, 72 m tall, next to St Nicholas Cathedral: 225 steps to the gallery, at about 46 m, with a view of the red rooftops. The tower opens only in season; the hours and ticket can be checked at the tourist office in the town hall.
- **Boat on the Vltava between Hluboká and Purkarec** (3 h · Families; effortless): Since 2011 the Vltava has been navigable between České Budějovice and Hluboká, with locks, and in season there is a scheduled boat. The Vojtěch Lanna Junior of Plavby Hluboká leaves from Hluboká marina, below the castle, and goes down the valley to Purkarec, a boatmen's village, among forests and meadows. In České Budějovice the same company has the Sv. Rozálie, with narrated trips through the centre. The timetables and prices for each season are published on its website.

## Dónde comer
- **Masné krámy** (Restaurant, České Budějovice, €€). Qué pedir: the set lunch or the budvarské výpečky, roast pork with cabbage and dumplings, with the tank lager or the kroužkovaný ležák.
- **Pivnice Zvon** (Restaurant, České Budějovice, €€€). Qué pedir: the grilled Mysletín beef rib or the sirloin tartare, with a tank Pilsner.

## By plane: Fly to Prague and two hours south
Hluboká is about 145 km south of Prague. You fly to Prague, with direct flights from Madrid, Barcelona and other Spanish cities, and continue by hire car from the airport, about two hours along the D1 and the E55, or by train to České Budějovice and then train or bus to Hluboká.
### Dónde dormir if you're flying
- **Hotel Štekl** (Hotel): The house
The Štekl building is as old as Hluboká Castle, at whose foot it stands: the Schwarzenbergs' senior officials lived here, and part of it was kennels and stables. Today it is a four-star hotel with a courtyard, an orangery with a terrace, an English club and the ERB restaurant, under vaults. From the hotel to the castle is just a few steps.
The rooms
46 rooms, all different in size and shape: one single, one Basic, 23 Standard, 13 De luxe with more space and a view of the countryside or the courtyard, five Junior suites, some with two rooms, and three Royal suites. Guests have the wellness area included, with a counter-current pool, whirlpool, Kneipp path, saline steam bath and gym; the private whirlpool and sauna, the bowling alley and the golf simulator are booked separately. Check-in is from 14:00 and check-out until 10:00.
Getting there
By car, about two hours from Prague. Without a car, go via České Budějovice and then the regional bus or train to Hluboká; the Pod kostelem bus stop is nearby.
- **Grandhotel Zvon** (Hotel): The house
A family hotel spread over several historic houses on the square in České Budějovice, with a tradition that the house traces back to the last of the Rožmberk family. It has 24-hour reception, the Pivnice Zvon downstairs and, something unusual in a historic centre, supervised parking in the courtyard, in a multi-storey garage where the car is taken up by lift.
The rooms
80 rooms and apartments, each one different, with one to five beds, facing the square or the inner courtyard: the square-facing ones have the best view in town; the courtyard ones are quieter. Some keep period furniture and four-poster beds. Check-in is from 14:00 and check-out until 11:00. The website says that pets are welcome.
Parking and getting there
Parking has limited spaces: book it with the room. The railway station is a little over a kilometre away, on foot through the centre.
### Servicios
- **Train to České Budějovice and connection to Hluboká**: Train from Prague to České Budějovice and, from there, a regional train to Hluboká (U Sudárny or Zámostí) or a Jihotrans bus to Pod kostelem, 800 m from the castle. There are also direct buses.

## By car: By car along the D1, two hours from Prague
By car it is about 145 km along the D1 to Mirošovice and the E55 towards Tábor and Veselí, around two hours; you need the motorway vignette. With a car you can do Hluboká, Budějovice and, if you like, Český Krumlov or Tábor, which is on the way, in a weekend.
Presupuesto orientativo: 80–150 € por persona y día.
### Dónde dormir if you're driving
- **Hotel Štekl** (Hotel): The house
The Štekl building is as old as Hluboká Castle, at whose foot it stands: the Schwarzenbergs' senior officials lived here, and part of it was kennels and stables. Today it is a four-star hotel with a courtyard, an orangery with a terrace, an English club and the ERB restaurant, under vaults. From the hotel to the castle is just a few steps.
The rooms
46 rooms, all different in size and shape: one single, one Basic, 23 Standard, 13 De luxe with more space and a view of the countryside or the courtyard, five Junior suites, some with two rooms, and three Royal suites. Guests have the wellness area included, with a counter-current pool, whirlpool, Kneipp path, saline steam bath and gym; the private whirlpool and sauna, the bowling alley and the golf simulator are booked separately. Check-in is from 14:00 and check-out until 10:00.
Getting there
By car, about two hours from Prague. Without a car, go via České Budějovice and then the regional bus or train to Hluboká; the Pod kostelem bus stop is nearby.
- **Grandhotel Zvon** (Hotel): The house
A family hotel spread over several historic houses on the square in České Budějovice, with a tradition that the house traces back to the last of the Rožmberk family. It has 24-hour reception, the Pivnice Zvon downstairs and, something unusual in a historic centre, supervised parking in the courtyard, in a multi-storey garage where the car is taken up by lift.
The rooms
80 rooms and apartments, each one different, with one to five beds, facing the square or the inner courtyard: the square-facing ones have the best view in town; the courtyard ones are quieter. Some keep period furniture and four-poster beds. Check-in is from 14:00 and check-out until 11:00. The website says that pets are welcome.
Parking and getting there
Parking has limited spaces: book it with the room. The railway station is a little over a kilometre away, on foot through the centre.
### Servicios
- **Parking for Hluboká Castle**: The main car park, next to the Penny Market on Nad parkovištěm street, 900 m uphill from the castle; also on Masaryk street, at the municipal pool, the sports area and Ohrada zoo.

## Car-free: Car-free, via České Budějovice
Without a car, the base is České Budějovice: train from Prague, the square, Budvar and Masné krámy on foot, and on to Hluboká by regional train, by bus or, from May to October, by boat along the Vltava. Sleep on the square and do the castle in the morning.
Presupuesto orientativo: 70–130 € por persona y día.
### Dónde dormir without a car
- **Hotel Štekl** (Hotel): The house
The Štekl building is as old as Hluboká Castle, at whose foot it stands: the Schwarzenbergs' senior officials lived here, and part of it was kennels and stables. Today it is a four-star hotel with a courtyard, an orangery with a terrace, an English club and the ERB restaurant, under vaults. From the hotel to the castle is just a few steps.
The rooms
46 rooms, all different in size and shape: one single, one Basic, 23 Standard, 13 De luxe with more space and a view of the countryside or the courtyard, five Junior suites, some with two rooms, and three Royal suites. Guests have the wellness area included, with a counter-current pool, whirlpool, Kneipp path, saline steam bath and gym; the private whirlpool and sauna, the bowling alley and the golf simulator are booked separately. Check-in is from 14:00 and check-out until 10:00.
Getting there
By car, about two hours from Prague. Without a car, go via České Budějovice and then the regional bus or train to Hluboká; the Pod kostelem bus stop is nearby.
- **Grandhotel Zvon** (Hotel): The house
A family hotel spread over several historic houses on the square in České Budějovice, with a tradition that the house traces back to the last of the Rožmberk family. It has 24-hour reception, the Pivnice Zvon downstairs and, something unusual in a historic centre, supervised parking in the courtyard, in a multi-storey garage where the car is taken up by lift.
The rooms
80 rooms and apartments, each one different, with one to five beds, facing the square or the inner courtyard: the square-facing ones have the best view in town; the courtyard ones are quieter. Some keep period furniture and four-poster beds. Check-in is from 14:00 and check-out until 11:00. The website says that pets are welcome.
Parking and getting there
Parking has limited spaces: book it with the room. The railway station is a little over a kilometre away, on foot through the centre.
### Servicios
- **Train to České Budějovice and connection to Hluboká**: Train from Prague to České Budějovice and, from there, a regional train to Hluboká (U Sudárny or Zámostí) or a Jihotrans bus to Pod kostelem, 800 m from the castle. There are also direct buses.

## As a family: A white fairy-tale castle, a tower and a boat

Hluboká is one of the castles children like best from the outside: white, with battlements and towers. Inside, choose a short route: the kitchen or the tower. In summer, the boat along the Vltava and the square in Budějovice with its tower round off the day.

### What works best
The castle tower, 50 CZK for ages 6 to 17, no booking

The state rooms, with the armoury, 90 CZK for ages 6 to 17

The Vltava boat to Purkarec, from May to October

The Black Tower in Budějovice, with its 225 steps

### Where to sleep
Grandhotel Zvon, with rooms of up to five beds

### Where to eat
Masné krámy, with a set lunch

### Worth knowing
Pushchairs and backpacks are not allowed inside the castle: carry the baby in your arms or in a front sling

Children under 15 must be accompanied by an adult

From the main car park it is a 900 m climb

### Qué hacer as a family
- Hluboká Castle, the state rooms and the armoury
- Hluboká Castle, private apartments and the kitchen
- The viewing tower of Hluboká Castle
- Hluboká Castle winter tour
- Přemysl Otakar II Square and the Black Tower in České Budějovice
- Boat on the Vltava between Hluboká and Purkarec

## Consejos

### Start with the state rooms
It is the tour that shows you most.

### Walk up from the car park
900 m uphill, through the park.

### Book Budvar in advance
The fixed-time English slots are for five people.

### Do not bring a pushchair
Pushchairs and backpacks are not allowed in the interiors.

## Preguntas frecuentes

### How long does it take to get from Prague to Hluboká?
About two hours by car; by train, to České Budějovice and then train or bus to Hluboká.

### Which tour should I choose?
The state rooms, of 55 minutes, if you only do one.

### Can you take photos inside?
No; photography and filming are forbidden in the interiors.

### Can you go with a dog?
To the park and gardens, on a lead; to the interiors, no.

### Is there a Budvar tour in Spanish?
The brewery runs tours in seven languages, including Spanish, for groups with a reservation; the fixed-time ones are in Czech, German and English.

### Can you go there and back in a day?
Yes, but it is four hours on the road: better with a night.