The tiny city of Karlštejn which shelters the castle of the same name is located about 30 kilometers away from Prague. And this makes it really convenient for a day trip with the whole family!
The Karlštejn castle is probably the second most famous castle of the Czech Republic, after Prague castle, and is highly visited throughout the year.
The castle itself, of Gothic architecture, was founded in 1348 by Charles IV who was at the time elected King of Bohemia. The castle was mainly used to keep safe the royal treasures or holy artifacts.
The nice thing about Karlštejn is that it feels like time has stopped right here for you. There are just a few streets that fairly quiet because the entire city is a pedestrian zone with just souvenir shops, restaurants, and bars.
It doesn’t matter where you are in the city, because the castle is always right in front of you, on the hill which makes it look even more impressive.
Once you arrive there, you can have something to eat, and get a Trdelník on the go to start climbing the hill which goes to the castle. It takes some time and it might be somehow tiring but once you get to the top, the view is breathtaking. When you are there you can admire the view and then go for a guided tour.
Keep in mind that there only guided tours that will allow you to appreciate the historic interiors and jewels. When the tour ends, you can walk around the city and castle. The city and castle are surrounded by forests and if you are lucky, you might see some animals wander around.
Another place nearby to go with kids is Velká Amerika, popularly know as the Czech Grand Canyon. Velká Amerika is an abandoned limestone quarry and a popular place frequented by Czech filmmakers. Here, it is possible to take a dip in the lake or have a picnic.
How to get there:
There are trains from Prague to Karlštejn every 30 minutes, one way for an adult is 56 CZK, for children between 0 and 5 years old, the train is free, and between 6 and 9 years old you have a reduced fare of 28 CZK. The train takes about 40 minutes to get there and once you are there you just have to follow the street signs and walk for about 10 minutes.
If you are coming with a car, you can take the highway towards the city of Plzen and after some time you will see the sign indicating the exit to Karlštejn.
For guided tours and to book tickets you can look up the castle website.
Day trip to Karlštejn Castle
