Hotel Štekl
Why we like it: Four-star hotel in a building as old as Hluboká Castle, at its foot: 46 rooms, the ERB restaurant, and a private pool, whirlpool and sauna.
Duration1 night
From PragueCar, about 2 h · train to České Budějovice
Where to sleepGrandhotel Zvon or Hotel Štekl
Budget€110–190 pp
Best seasonMay to September
The plan
The plan, hour by hour
Designed to leave Prague on Saturday morning, do Hluboká castle before lunch and the Budvar brewery in the afternoon, dine and sleep on the square in České Budějovice and spend Sunday on the Black Tower and the boat along the Vltava. On the way back, Tábor is on the route.
Day 1
- 108:00Leave Prague
Along the D1 and the E55; you reach Hluboká around 10:00. Park next to the Penny Market and walk up through the park.
- 210:15Hluboká castle
The state rooms with the armoury, 55 minutes, 300 CZK; then the tower if the weather is good.
- 312:30Lunch
In Hluboká, at the Hotel Štekl, or go down to Budějovice and eat at Masné krámy.
- 414:40Budweiser Budvar
The 14:40 tour in English, with a tasting of the tank beer, 290 CZK. Book it beforehand.
- 517:00Hotel and square
Leave the car in the Zvon garage and stroll around Přemysl Otakar II square.
- 619:30Dinner
Masné krámy, with tank Budvar, or the Pivnice Zvon, with meat from its farm.
Day 2
- 109:30The Black Tower
225 steps up to the gallery, if it is open, and the square in morning light.
- 211:00Boat on the Vltava
May to October: from Hluboká harbour to Purkarec and back with Plavby Hluboká.
- 315:00Tábor, on the way
An hour to the north: the underground beneath the Hussite square, if you arrive before 16:00.
- 417:00Return to Prague
Along the D3; you arrive around 18:15.
Hluboká and České Budějovice are 12 km apart and about two hours from Prague: too far to go and come back calmly in a day, perfect for a night. This getaway does the white Schwarzenberg castle in the morning, the Budweiser Budvar brewery in the afternoon, dinner with tank beer at Masné krámy and sleeps on the square. On Sunday, the Black Tower, the boat along the Vltava and, on the way back, a stop in Tábor.
How do you get there from Prague?
By car, about 145 km along the D1 and the E55, around two hours. By train, to České Budějovice and, from there, a regional train or bus to Hluboká; for this car-free getaway, sleep in Budějovice and go to Hluboká by bus or, in summer, combine it with the boat.
Where to sleep?
| Accommodation | Area | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|
| Grandhotel Zvon | On the square in České Budějovice | Strolling the square at night, supervised garage, dogs welcome |
| Hotel Štekl | At the foot of Hluboká castle | Sleeping next to the castle, with a pool and wellness |
And in winter?
From November to 20 December the castle offers only the winter tour, of 40 minutes, and the boat does not run. Budvar is open all year. Swap the boat for a long walk around the centre of Budějovice or for Český Krumlov, to the south.
With children
The castle from the outside, the tower, the boat and the Black Tower work well. Pushchairs and backpacks are not allowed inside the castle, and under-15s must be with an adult. At Budvar the tasting is only for over-18s.
Map
The stops, in order
What to do
Eat
88 €Stay
Services
Plan the trip
Hluboká and České Budějovice, step by step
Each choice narrows the next: the season shapes how best to travel, and how you travel decides where you stay and where you eat.
When to go
When to go to Hluboká and České Budějovice
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How you travel
The same break, your way
The plan stays the same. What changes is where you sleep, how you get there and how much you spend.
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.
- Getting therePrague Václav Havel (PRG), about…
- Getting aroundHire car to combine Hluboká…
- Where to sleepHotel Štekl, next to the…
- ServicesTrain to České Budějovice and…
Getting there
- Prague Václav Havel (PRG), about 160 km by road
- Airport Express to the main station and train to České Budějovice
Getting around
- Hire car to combine Hluboká, Budějovice and Český Krumlov
- Regional train and bus between Budějovice and Hluboká
- Boat along the Vltava in summer
Where to sleep
- Hotel Štekl, next to the castle
- Grandhotel Zvon, on the square in Budějovice
Services
- Train to České Budějovice and connection to Hluboká
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.
80–150 €per person per day, approximate
- Where to sleepHotel Štekl, at the foot…
- Getting aroundD1 and E55, with a…
- Where to eatMasné krámy, in Budějovice
- ServicesParking for the castle
Where to sleep
- Hotel Štekl, at the foot of the castle
- Grandhotel Zvon, with a garage on the square
Getting around
- D1 and E55, with a vignette
- Castle car park next to the Penny Market
Where to eat
- Masné krámy, in Budějovice
- Pivnice Zvon, on the square
Services
- Parking for the castle
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.
70–130 €per person per day, approximate
- Where to sleepGrandhotel Zvon, on the square
- Getting aroundTrain from Prague to České…
- Where to eatMasné krámy
- ServicesTrain to České Budějovice and…
Where to sleep
- Grandhotel Zvon, on the square
- Hotel Štekl, if you prefer to sleep next to the castle
Getting around
- Train from Prague to České Budějovice
- Train or Jihotrans bus to Hluboká
- City buses to Budvar
Where to eat
- Masné krámy
- Pivnice Zvon
Services
- Train to České Budějovice and connection to Hluboká
How much does it cost?
People2
Nights1
Where to stay
Where to stay if you're flyingif you're drivingwithout a car
We show you what suits the way you travel.Change how you travel
Grandhotel Zvon
Why we like it: Family hotel with 80 rooms and apartments in historic houses on the square in České Budějovice, with supervised garage, 24-hour reception, brewery restaurant and pets welcome.
Services for this trip
Where to eat
Where to eat in Hluboká and České Budějovice
Masné krámy
What to order: the set lunch or the budvarské výpečky, roast pork with cabbage and dumplings, with the tank lager or the kroužkovaný ležák.
Every day · Sunday 12:00 to 21:00
Pivnice Zvon
What to order: the grilled Mysletín beef rib or the sirloin tartare, with a tank Pilsner.
Every day · last orders around 21:00 to 22:30
Tips
Worth knowing first
Local tip
Book the Budvar tour in advance: the fixed-time English tour admits few people.
We'd skip it
Doing it in a day from Prague: it is four hours on the road and you miss the square at night.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Where do I sleep, in Hluboká or Budějovice?
In Budějovice if you want to dine and stroll in the town; in Hluboká if you prefer the castle and the pool.
How much does the getaway cost?
About €110–190 per person with a four-star hotel, tickets and meals, not counting petrol.
Can it be done without a car?
Yes: train to Budějovice, bus or train to Hluboká and, in summer, the boat.
Are dogs allowed?
At the Grandhotel Zvon, yes; at the castle, only in the park and on a lead.