# One night in Hluboká and České Budějovice, two hours from Prague: castle, Budvar and a boat Two days in South Bohemia: the neo-Gothic castle of Hluboká, the Budvar brewery with a tasting, dinner at Masné krámy, a night on the square and the boat along the Vltava. Fuente: https://www.geocalia.com/en/czechia/hluboka/itineraries/one-night-with-budvar-from-prague · Revisado: 2026-11-12 Dónde: Hluboká and České Budějovice 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? AccommodationAreaWho it suits Grandhotel ZvonOn the square in České BudějoviceStrolling the square at night, supervised garage, dogs welcome Hotel ŠteklAt the foot of Hluboká castleSleeping 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. ## El plan ### Day 1 · 08:00 · Leave 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. ### Day 1 · 10:15 · Hluboká castle The state rooms with the armoury, 55 minutes, 300 CZK; then the tower if the weather is good. ### Day 1 · 12:30 · Lunch In Hluboká, at the Hotel Štekl, or go down to Budějovice and eat at Masné krámy. ### Day 1 · 14:40 · Budweiser Budvar The 14:40 tour in English, with a tasting of the tank beer, 290 CZK. Book it beforehand. ### Day 1 · 17:00 · Hotel and square Leave the car in the Zvon garage and stroll around Přemysl Otakar II square. ### Day 1 · 19:30 · Dinner Masné krámy, with tank Budvar, or the Pivnice Zvon, with meat from its farm. ### Day 2 · 09:30 · The Black Tower 225 steps up to the gallery, if it is open, and the square in morning light. ### Day 2 · 11:00 · Boat on the Vltava May to October: from Hluboká harbour to Purkarec and back with Plavby Hluboká. ### Day 2 · 15:00 · Tábor, on the way An hour to the north: the underground beneath the Hussite square, if you arrive before 16:00. ### Day 2 · 17:00 · Return to Prague Along the D3; you arrive around 18:15. ## Un consejo más Book the Budvar tour in advance: the fixed-time English tour admits few people. ## Cuándo no ir Doing it in a day from Prague: it is four hours on the road and you miss the square at night. ## Preguntas frecuentes ### 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. ## Dónde dormir if you're flying - **Hotel Štekl**: 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**: 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. ## Dónde dormir if you're driving - **Hotel Štekl**: 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**: 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. ## Dónde dormir without a car - **Hotel Štekl**: 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**: 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.