Car Rental in Prague: Discover the Best of the Czech Republic

The Czech capital, Prague, is a popular destination for a city break, but other parts of the country are less well known. That’s a shame, because the Czech Republic really has much more to offer than just the Charles Bridge. With a rental car in Prague, you can take effortless day trips and longer road trips throughout the country. Drive along back roads and highways, through vast forests and rolling hills, past rural villages, picturesque towns, spa resorts, monasteries, castles, and hidden natural gems.

Rent a car in Prague and enjoy maximum freedom on your trip through beautiful Czechia! Some of the attractions listed below are not far from the Czech capital, so you can also visit them on day trips with a rental car.

Prague: the starting point of your road trip through the Czech Republic

You don’t need a car for sightseeing in Prague itself. If you’d like to spend a few days in the capital after arriving at Prague Airport, it’s best to rent a car at the main train station. This is also convenient if you’re traveling to Prague by train!

Prague’s romantic, historic city center is a beautiful blend of cobblestone streets, walled courtyards, cathedrals, and countless church towers. All of this lies in the shadow of the 9th-century Prague Castle, perched high on a hill. It is one of the largest castle complexes in the world, featuring four courtyards, several churches, and palaces. Prague is certainly not an open-air museum; its historic buildings provide a beautiful backdrop for a vibrant city full of energy, music, culture, and culinary delights. The controversial sculptures by David Černý are particularly striking.

If you want to escape the tourist crowds, head to the lively student district of Žižkov, where you’ll find countless pubs. The main attraction is the TV tower—whose architecture isn’t to everyone’s taste—but where you can enjoy a cocktail at the bar with a great view.

Day Trips from Prague by Rental Car

Velká Amerika

It takes about half an hour to drive from the airport to Velká Amerika in a rental car. It’s an abandoned limestone quarry with tall, steep rock walls and a small lake at the bottom. Although the ravine was created by human activity, it’s a beautiful sight. The quarry has been out of use since the early 1960s. There are two parking lots where you can park your rental car. From there, you can walk around the deep ravine and down to the lake at the bottom.

Karlštejn Castle

From the parking lot by the ravine, it’s a ten-minute drive to Karlštejn Castle. From Prague, it’s about a 45-minute drive by rental car to this fairytale castle. You can tour two floors of Charles IV’s imperial residence, admire the richly decorated castle chapels, or climb the Great Tower for a fantastic panoramic view. We recommend booking tickets in advance for one of the three guided tours, as this is a popular destination for a day trip from Prague.

Kutná Hora

Kutná Hora is a small town east of Prague that was once the center of the silver mining industry. The town center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, as is the 12th-century Sedlec Monastery. The monastery is known for its Baroque architecture, but especially for its somewhat eerie ossuary. The chapel is “decorated” with the bones of tens of thousands of people. There are chandeliers made of bones, garlands of skulls, and a coat of arms made of bones. Other attractions in Kutná Hora include the Silver Museum and St. Barbara’s Church, the oldest part of which dates back to the 14th century.

Český ráj – Bohemian Paradise

Drive about 100 kilometers northeast from Prague in a rental car, and you’ll arrive in Bohemian Paradise. It was the first nature reserve in the Czech Republic and features an extensive network of hiking trails that wind through vast stretches of beautiful forest. The area is known for its unique geological formations, consisting of a heavily layered plateau that has been eroded by wind and weather into separate rock blocks, towers, and columns.

The most famous hike is to the impressive Prachov rock formation. The best place to park your rental car is the parking lot Prachovské skály. From there, you can set out on four different hiking trails. These vary in length, and one trail is even suitable for strollers! Details can be found on the official website.

Ještěd Tower

Just outside the town of Liberec, high on a hill, stands a futuristic TV tower. There’s a parking lot at the top, but it’s reserved for guests of the hotel in the tower. If you haven’t made a reservation, you’ll have to park your rental car further down and hike up, which is quite a challenge. The views along the way are already beautiful, but once you reach the top, you’ll be treated to the full panorama—truly breathtaking. To the north, you can see Poland and Germany. The restaurant in the tower gets very mixed reviews, so it might be a good idea to bring a packed lunch.

Road Trip Through West Bohemia: Castles and Spa Towns

Křivoklát National Park & Castle

Drive your rental car northwest through the beautiful landscape of the Křivoklátsko Nature Reserve to the village of the same name. At times, you’ll drive right alongside the Berounka River, and at other times through dense forests on either side of the winding road. The main attraction is the intriguing Hrad Křivoklát, one of the oldest and most important castles of the Czech kings, with a history dating back to the 12th century. It has been rebuilt several times, which is clearly evident from the various architectural styles. From the Huderkatoren, you’ll enjoy a beautiful view of the surrounding area.

Karlovy Vary

If you’ve rented a car, it takes less than an hour and a half to drive from Křivoklát to Karlovy Vary, the largest spa town in the Czech Republic. Karlovy Vary has been known for its many hot springs since as early as the 14th century. In the nineteenth century, it developed into a popular spa resort for the European nobility. You can learn more about this during a guided tour of the Kaiserbad. This imperial spa was the most prestigious in the city. In stark contrast is the modern building housing the Vřídlo hot spring, a geyser that shoots water up to twelve meters into the air. You can also go underground there to see the source of the springs.

Take a walk through the forests south of the city, where there are several lookout points. For even more sweeping views, take the cable car from the Grand Hotel Pupp to the Diana observation tower.

Ticket Office / Mariánské Lázně

It’s only a fifty-kilometer drive from Karlovy Vary to Mariánské Lázně in a rental car, but the drive there is spectacular. So don’t rush; take your time to enjoy the scenery. Route 210 winds through the beautiful Slavkovský Forest, known for its mineral springs and breathtaking landscapes, including coniferous forests, heathlands, marshes, and meadows, crisscrossed by the Teplá and Ohře rivers.

Stop in Loket, a beautiful little town that served as the setting for the James Bond movie *Casino Royale*. It’s a perfect spot for lunch, as there are plenty of great restaurants. Finding a parking spot in the town itself is difficult, but there are several parking lots just outside Loket where you can easily park your rental car. Just east of Loket, an old wooden bridge spans the Ohře River, leading to a jagged granite rock formation called Svatoš.

Mariánské Lázně is also a spa town, and the town’s highlight is the Kolonáda Maxima Gorkého colonnade. You won’t find a more impressive structure of this kind anywhere in Central Europe. The 180-meter-long cast-iron colonnade was built at the end of the nineteenth century in the Neo-Baroque style. Be sure to look up, as the ceiling is decorated with beautiful frescoes.

Right in front of the colonnade, you’ll find a singing fountain, which operates every year from April 30 to October 31. There are no fewer than eight different shows, set to both classical and modern music.

The city has more than a hundred mineral springs, about forty of which are said to have healing properties. The water from some of the springs is drinkable, but be prepared for a sour or salty taste. To mellow that out, enjoy one of the waffles (oplatky) that Mariánské Lázně is famous for. These round waffles are filled with various sweet creams.

Plzeň (Pilsen)

The town of Plzeň is best known as the birthplace of Pilsner beer and is therefore better known by its German name, Pilsen. It is located just over sixty kilometers from Mariánské Lázně and less than one hundred kilometers from Prague, making it easily accessible on a day trip by rental car from the capital.

Almost every visitor takes the famous tour of the Pilsner Urquell brewery. There, you’ll learn about the history and production of Pilsner beer, and of course, you’ll get to taste it: unfiltered, straight from the keg! But Pilsen has more to offer than just the amber-colored brew.

The best way to explore the old town is to wander around, discovering charming little streets and picturesque corners. Stop at one of the cafés for a kolache (a sweet pastry) or head to the trendy Lokál, which specializes in fried cheese.

Republic Square is the heart of the city and home to St. Bartholomew’s Cathedral, whose construction began at the end of the thirteenth century. At over 102 meters, the church tower is the tallest in the country. From the tower, you’ll enjoy a beautiful view of Pilsen and the surrounding area. On a clear day, you can even see the Bohemian Forest, seventy kilometers to the southwest.

Pilsen has an extensive network of underground passages and storage chambers. You can take a guided tour through the labyrinth of passages, cellars, and shafts while admiring centuries-old artifacts. This underground tour concludes with… a glass of Pilsner!

South Bohemia and Moravia: ideal for a road trip by rental car

Hluboká Castle

The Czech Republic is home to many medieval castles, and a fine example of this is the 13th-century Neo-Gothic Hluboká Castle. All of the rooms have been preserved in their original condition. It served as a hunting lodge for the royal family, and the rooms are therefore filled with hunting trophies. So it’s not the best choice for people who aren’t into that sort of thing.

The nearest bus stop is nearly a kilometer away, and getting to the castle involves a steep climb. This is yet another attraction where a rental car is the best option. If you’re renting a car for a day trip from Prague, the distance from the capital to the castle is about 145 kilometers.

Holašovice – historic village

It sounds strange, but it is thanks to World War II that the village of Holašovice has been so well preserved. After the war, the German population was expelled, and the village fell into disrepair under communist rule. Starting in 1990, the farmhouses were restored, and the village is now proudly listed as a World Heritage Site. The distinctive farmhouses were built in a style known as South Bohemian folk Baroque.

Kleť

Between Holašovice and the popular village of Krumlov lies the highest mountain in South Bohemia: Kleť (1,084 m). Drive your rental car to the Parkoviště Krásetín parking lot and, from there, follow one of the marked trails through beautiful natural surroundings to the summit. It’s about a two-hour hike, but you can also take the cable car.

Český Krumlov

On the southern side of Kleť lies the extremely popular town of Český Krumlov. If there’s one place, besides Prague, that almost every tourist visits, it’s this little town in South Bohemia. And rightly so, because it’s a very charming town perched on a hilltop, overlooking a bend in the Vltava River. The narrow, cobblestone streets lined with colorful houses invite you to take a delightful stroll. You’ll also discover countless churches, galleries, and museums. Furthermore, the 13th-century castle is well worth a visit.

One downside: it’s crowded—very crowded. But that’s really only the case during the day, when Krumlov is flooded with day-trippers from Prague. They haven’t arrived yet early in the morning and are gone again by evening. That’s why it’s worth booking a night in a hotel to experience Český Krumlov at its quietest (and most beautiful). You can also take a peaceful canoe trip on the Vltava River.

Do you only have time for a day trip by rental car from Prague and don’t feel like dealing with crowds? Then drive to České Budějovice, which has a beautiful historic center. The city is about 150 kilometers south of Prague.

The Moravia Wine Region

South Moravia is perhaps the most romantic region in the country. Here, you’ll drive along winding roads through the hills and past vineyards, castles, and palaces. Take it easy when driving your rental car here, and stop regularly to enjoy the beautiful views. For example, north of Šardice at the Soudek lookout point, which is shaped like a giant wooden wine barrel. Moravia is also known as the “Czech Tuscany,” and the landscape does indeed closely resemble that of the famous region in Italy.

South Moravia is the country’s premier wine region. That’s why Czech wine is often referred to as Moravian wine. The oldest vineyards are located in the Pálava Hills near the town of Mikulov, close to the Austrian border. The town itself is well worth a visit, as its historic center is well-preserved and you can also tour an impressive castle there. Around Mikulov, you’ll find numerous fantastic wineries that organize tastings and, of course, sell wine.

Brno

Brno is a lively and welcoming college town with a beautiful historic center and plenty of great spots to relax. For example, on one of the beach chairs set up in the downtown squares during the summer.

St. Peter and Paul Cathedral stands on a hill, and its 84-meter-high towers rise high above the city. You’ll have a beautiful view from these towers, but if you want to get a photo of the church itself, you’ll need to climb the tower of the old town hall. Inside that town hall hangs the city’s symbol: a “dragon,” which is actually a crocodile.

The mummified bodies in the basement of the Capuchin Monastery are a bit eerie. The Capuchin monks lived very simply and considered coffins an unnecessary luxury. Thanks to the dry air and good ventilation in the basement, the bodies mummified perfectly. Above the mummies hangs a sign in Czech that leaves nothing to be desired in terms of clarity: “As you are now, so were we once; as we are now, so shall you be.”

Brno is a fantastic base for day trips by rental car, for example to historic Třebíč, the palaces and cultural landscape of Lednice-Valtice, or the Punkva Caves and the Macocha Abyss.

Olomouc

Many people consider Olomouc the most beautiful Czech city after Prague. It’s smaller and cozier, but because it’s a university town, it’s very lively. The city lies 250 kilometers east of the capital and is a great destination for a city break, without the tourist crowds found in more popular places.

Olomouc has a stunningly beautiful medieval city center with impressive churches. The city’s most valuable monument stands in the central square: the Holy Trinity Column. According to UNESCO, it is a masterpiece of Central European Baroque art. In that same square, you’ll find an astronomical clock, similar to the one in Prague, but larger and more beautiful. The murals you’ll find all over the city are also worth seeing.

National parks in the Czech Republic: best accessible by car

Podyjí National Park

The Dyje River (Thaya in German) forms part of the border between the Czech Republic and Austria. In both countries, the valley of this winding river is a protected nature reserve; in the Czech Republic, it is the Podyjí National Park. It is a true hiker’s paradise with something for everyone: from narrow and sometimes steep trails to relatively flat routes.

One of the most popular hikes runs from Čížov toward Austria. Upon arriving in that village, you can park your rental car in the free parking lot on the left side of the road. From here, you’ll first walk to the visitor center and then past a preserved section of the Iron Curtain: the barbed-wire barrier and a watchtower. Further on, the reminder of this cruel history fades as you descend and cross the river via a small bridge to the Austrian town of Hardegg. Back on the Czech side, you’ll walk along the enchanting banks of the Dyje River. Another trail from Čížov follows the so-called smugglers’ route.

Punkva Caves

The karst region north of Brno is home to hundreds of caves and gorges. Five of these caves are open to the public, including the Punkva Caves, known in Czech as Punkevní jeskyně. In this cave system, you’ll walk through impressive underground chambers and passages, adorned with stalactites and stalagmites, and down to the bottom of the world-famous Macocha Abyss. This abyss is nearly 140 meters deep. You’ll then take a boat ride on the underground Punkva River.

You can only reach these caves by rental car. Parking is available at the Skalní mlýn watermill or in the parking lot near the Macocha Abyss.

Renting a Car in the Czech Republic: Our Tips

Best time to visit the Czech Republic

The summer months are by far the most popular time to travel through the Czech Republic. This isn’t just because of the climate. Many castles, museums, and other attractions are only open from early April through late October. If you want to avoid the biggest crowds, it’s best to visit the Czech Republic in the spring or early fall. Still, winter can also be a great time to visit, if only for the charming Christmas markets in most cities.

Driving a Rental Car in the Czech Republic

The highways in the Czech Republic are well maintained, and secondary roads are generally in fair to good condition. If you’re driving a rental car on rural roads, you should be aware of potholes.

If you’re planning to rent a car in the Czech Republic during the winter, winter tires are required from November 1 through March 31. Most car rental companies have them installed as standard, but some may charge an extra fee for them. Be sure to check this when booking a rental car in the Czech Republic!

Rental Cars and Czech Toll Roads

To drive on the highways in the Czech Republic, you need a digital toll vignette. The vast majority of rental cars in the country are already registered and have this electronic vignette. If that’s not the case, you can purchase an e-vignette online yourself on the official website by entering the rental car’s license plate number. Be sure to do this before you start driving on a highway.

Why Rent a Car in Prague

Renting a car in Prague is ideal if you want to explore the rest of the Czech Republic in addition to the city. Many highlights are beyond the reach of public transportation and are perfect for day trips or a road trip. A rental car is the best way to truly get to know the Czech Republic. From lively cities to tranquil nature, from spa towns to medieval castles: with a rental car in the Czech Republic, you can travel flexibly, comfortably, and at your own pace.

Want to hit the road worry-free? Then choose a rental car with our Worry-Free label. This covers your deductible and ensures you’re booking with a reputable car rental company. Pick up your car in Prague at the international airport or the train station and start your ideal road trip through the Czech Republic right away.