3 Days Based in Prague, Plus Side Trips
Three days, one city day and two gateway trips. This extends the 2 day Kutna Hora version of this itinerary with a third day at Karlstejn Castle, the shortest ride on the whole Czech gateway list. For the city-only version of 3 days, see the Prague long weekend itinerary .
Book these before you go
- A timed Sedlec Ossuary entry slot , CZK 220 adult, for Day 2
- Karlstejn Castle guided tour tickets for Day 3, since weekend and summer slots do sell out
- Old Town or Mala Strana hotel within easy reach of Hlavni nadrazi
Day 1
Land in Prague and walk straight to Old Town Square before 9am, ahead of the tour groups. Cross Charles Bridge slowly, then reach Prague Castle for the free grounds and courtyards or the paid circuit (from around CZK 450) if St Vitus Cathedral’s interior is a priority. Close the day in Mala Strana, where a 0.5 litre beer runs CZK 40 to 60 in a neighborhood pub, roughly half what the same pour costs on Old Town Square.
Day 2
Take a morning train from Hlavni nadrazi toward Kutna Hora, 41 to 50 minutes, CZK 100 to 140 one way; check current schedules on cd.cz . Start at the Sedlec Ossuary, decorated with an estimated 40,000 human bones arranged into chandeliers and a coat of arms; your timed entry slot sets the schedule, so book it before you leave Prague. Continue into the old town for St Barbara’s Cathedral, a Gothic silver-mining-era landmark, with a combined ticket running around CZK 360. Catch an afternoon train back with the evening free in Prague.
Day 3
Head to Karlstejn on a 40 minute train from Hlavni nadrazi, then walk the 2.5km, 30 to 40 minute uphill stretch from the village to the castle gate; this is a genuine climb, not a stroll. Charles IV built the castle to house the Bohemian crown jewels and religious relics, and the interior is guided-tour-only, split across circuits running roughly CZK 180 to 330; hrad-karlstejn.cz lists current tour times. Book ahead; popular slots sell out on weekends and in summer. Back in Prague by early evening, this is your shortest travel day of the trip and a good one for a slower dinner.
| Day | Focus | Travel time from Prague |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Prague core: Old Town, Charles Bridge, Castle | none, city-based |
| 2 | Kutna Hora and the Sedlec Ossuary | 41-50 min train each way |
| 3 | Karlstejn Castle | 40 min train + 30-40 min walk each way |
Does Cesky Krumlov work as a day trip from Prague?
Not inside 3 days. At roughly 2.5 hours each way it would consume most of a single day’s travel budget on its own, leaving little for the town itself. Save it for the 6 or 7 day version , where it gets a proper overnight instead of a rushed round trip.
Which of these two day trips should I book tickets for first?
Sedlec Ossuary, since its timed-entry system fills up faster and further ahead than Karlstejn’s guided tours. Book the ossuary slot as soon as your dates are fixed, then add Karlstejn once you know which morning suits your Day 3.
Getting around
A 72 hour DPP transit pass, roughly CZK 330, covers Day 1’s trams and metro plus the connections to both stations on Days 2 and 3. Validate every paper ticket on board; an unstamped ticket isn’t valid even if purchased, and inspectors fine on the spot, roughly CZK 1,500 to 2,500.
Three days lets you add exactly one more gateway trip beyond Kutna Hora without feeling rushed; Karlstejn’s short ride is the right one to add first.