Alternatives to Prague: Olomouc, Brno, Český Krumlov
Three Czech cities where you don't queue for trdelník
Olomouc
Olomouc was once Moravia's capital and you can still see why. The Holy Trinity column is UNESCO listed, the cathedral is enormous, and the cafe scene is a function of the university crowd. It's the rare central European city where you can walk into a restaurant on a Saturday night without a reservation.
Brno
Brno is a different kind of city: an interwar functionalist capital with the Villa Tugendhat by Mies van der Rohe (you have to book months ahead), a Capuchin crypt with mummified monks, and a young population that has filled the centre with serious coffee shops and craft breweries.
Český Krumlov
Český Krumlov is the small Bohemian town that gets compared to Prague's old town and isn't entirely wrong. The Vltava bends around the old centre. The painted castle tower is visible from every angle. Stay overnight, because in the evening the tour groups leave and the town reverts to itself.
Practical notes
All three are connected by direct trains or buses to Prague and to Vienna. A loop that hits Prague, Brno, Olomouc, and Vienna across ten days is one of the most rewarding central European trips.
Suggested itinerary
- Days 1 to 3: Brno, with a Moravian wine day in Mikulov.
- Days 4 to 5: Olomouc, with an evening at the cathedral.
- Days 6 to 7: Český Krumlov, stay overnight to see it after the day-trippers leave.
Local highlights
- Olomouc's Holy Trinity column and astronomical clock
- Brno's Villa Tugendhat
- Český Krumlov's painted castle tower
- Moravian wine tasting south of Brno
- Olomouc's cheese, tvarůžky, served at every pub
Nearby destinations
Other places worth combining with this trip: Mikulov, Kroměříž, České Budějovice, Telč.
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