The top places to visit in the Czech Republic are Prague, Prague Castle, Český Krumlov, Kutná Hora, and Karlovy Vary. Prague drew about 8.1 million tourists in 2024, a 9% rise from 2023 and a return to pre-pandemic levels, according to Prague city data. These five span the capital, the world’s largest ancient castle complex, and two UNESCO-listed historic towns.
- Prague — The Czech capital; its Historic Centre was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1992.
- Prague Castle — Founded around the 9th century, it holds the Guinness World Record for largest ancient castle, covering about 7 hectares.
- Český Krumlov — A South Bohemian medieval town on a bend of the Vltava River, UNESCO-listed the same day as Prague in 1992.
- Kutná Hora — A former silver-mining town whose Church of St Barbara, begun in 1388, anchors a historic centre inscribed by UNESCO in 1995.
- Karlovy Vary — The country’s best-known spa town, built around natural hot springs in the Ore Mountains near Germany.
Planning note: Prague and Karlovy Vary each work as standalone 2-3 day stops; Český Krumlov and Kutná Hora are both easy day trips or overnights from Prague, so five days covers the full route without switching bases more than once. See how to plan a Europe trip for strategies on regional routing.
Sources
- Prague Daily News — Prague remains the Czech Republic’s top visitor magnet, 8.1 million tourists in 2024
- Guinness World Records — Largest ancient castle
- Expats.cz — Czech cities celebrate 30 years of UNESCO status
- Wikipedia — St. Barbara’s Church, Kutná Hora
See the Top 10 Countries to Visit in 2026 roundup for how the Czech Republic compares globally.
