Czech Republic with Kids

What a wonderful surprise our family trip to the Czech Republic was! We recently enjoyed a 17-day trip to the Czech Republic with kids, and were blown away by how fun & beautiful the entire country is.

We loved the beautiful capital of Prague (of course), but the real magic for families is out in the countryside, where you can hike through sandstone “rock cities” and wander castle ruins. The Czech Republic (also known as “Czechia”) is a fantastic and surprisingly easy destination for a family vacation.

If you follow our family travel blog, you’ll know that our travel style blends cultural stops with active outdoor activities. We like to hike and stay busy, but we also want to soak up history and the feel of each place. The family-friendly Czech Republic itinerary below reflects that mix, combining city walks and museums with fun outings in the national parks and protected landscapes that make Czechia so special.

This post contains compensated links.

Planning a Czechia Family Vacation

When To Visit The Czech Republic With Kids

We traveled to Czechia with our kids in April and found spring to be an excellent time to visit. Spring brings pleasant sightseeing weather and kid-friendly conditions, which makes it a strong choice for younger travelers. We had brought warmer jackets with us, but only wore them the first day or so in Prague – from then on we were able to wear our spring jackets (or even no jackets on warmer days!)

A fun seasonal perk of visiting the Czech Republic in spring was the Easter Market, which we enjoyed during our 5 days in Prague.

How Long To Visit The Czech Republic With kids

We recommend that your family trip to the Czech Republic be as long as your schedule allows. As one of Europe’s most family-friendly cities, even a short trip Prague can be an excellent family trip.

But, to appreciate Czechia’s beauty and variety, a longer family trip works best. Our 17-day Czech Republic itinerary gave us time to see Prague thoroughly, then move through four distinct countryside bases – with three days in each. While you can visit many of these places as a day trip from Prague, our pace let us linger without feeling rushed.

Getting Around The Czech Republic With Kids

Getting around the Czech Republic with kids was easy. For our 5 days in Prague we got to our Airbnb with a private transfer from the airport, then we explored the city on foot or by tram. The tram system is frequent and easy, so we never needed a rental car in the city.

I don’t enjoy driving in big European cities, but once we headed for the countryside, we picked up a rental car for freedom to reach places like Český Krumlov, Karlovy Vary, and the national parks. Having a rental car made it much easier to reach remote hiking trailheads, which wouldn’t otherwise by served by public transit.

Speaking of public transit, we sometimes took advantage of regional buses to get back to our car after a one-way hike; for example, after our hike from Karvoly Vary to Loket.

Where To Stay In The Czech Republic With Kids

One things we’ve learned from traveling to Europe with our kids, is that there is an abundance of family-friendly accommodations. As such, we are confident you will find the perfect place to stay for your family in Czechia.

Our kids were 2 & 4 (almost 3 & 5) when we took our family trip to the Czech Republic. Given they were so young, we had no interest in eating in restaurants three meals a day. Plus with young kids, it’s nice to have the comforts of home, so we stayed exclusively in vacation rentals.

It’s easy to find kid-friendly food in Czechia, but we like to have kitchen facilities to start our day with a healthy breakfast and pack our own lunches. At this age, we didn’t eat in restaurants much, preferring to make familiar meals we knew our kids would eat in our vacation rental kitchen.

We used our kitchens frequently for our young kids, but we also took advantage of the additional family-friendly amenities such as laundry facilities and separate bedrooms. Don’t underestimate the importance of separate bedrooms when traveling with kids; not only can you have some privacy at night, but your kids will sleep better in their own rooms. Trust us on this… when your kids are well rested, they are much better travelers.

If are are traveling to the Czech Republic with older kids, you may want to sneak in a hotel stay or two, especially if it’s just for a night-ot-two. Now that our kids have travelled enough, they have figured out that hotels typically come with big buffet breakfasts. In Europe, it’s often easy to find hotel rooms with family-friendly configurations, such as adjoining rooms or rooms with bunk beds for the kids.

You can browse vacation rentals and family-friendly hotels in the Czech Republic. Or, if you’d like specifics on where we stayed in each location we visited in Czechia with kids, check out our specific destination posts – we provide links to each below.

17-Day Czech Republic Itinerary with Kids

This is the 17-day family-friendly Czech Republic itinerary that we used for our trip. We try hard to develop itineraries for our family vacations which meets the needs of both the adults and the kids. As you’ll see, our family trip to Czechia balances Prague’s architecture and history with hiking and outdoor time in the country’s beautiful natural areas.

Czech Republic 17-Day Itinerary Overview

• Days 1 – 5: Prague
• Days 6 – 8: Český Krumlov
• Days 9 – 11: Karlovy Vary
• Days 12 – 14: Bynovec (Bohemian Switzerland)
• Days 15 – 17: Bohemian Paradise

Days 1 – 5: Prague with Kids

Letna Park

After a long overseas flight we always try to spend as much time outdoors, as the sunlight helps us overcome jetlag more quickly. We spent our first day in Prague with kids at Letna Park, a big green space with playgrounds, room to run, and wide city views from the top. The giant working metronome was a quirky hit with the kids.

Later we enjoyed a family walk along the Vltava River promenade. The car-free path was ideal for letting the kids burn energy while we watched swans and boats on the Vltava.

Charles Bridge

We woke early on our second day in Prague with kids. It’s always a good idea to take advantage of early wake-ups by visiting the busiest attractions ahead of the crowds. As such, we made our way to the famous Charles Bridge around 9:30 am. It worked perfectly as it gave the kids some space to run and left us time to enjoy the statues and views.

Kampa Island & Petřín Park

After a pleasant visit to the Charles Bridge, we wandered Kampa Island and its park, then found the oversized baby sculptures that made the kids giggle.

From Kampa Island, we continued exploring Prague on foot with a visit to Petřín Park. It’s important to give kids time to play on family vacations, so we let them go wild at a large playground near the entrance. Afterwards, our walk through the park was very enjoyable with a mini-Eiffel Tower and a rose garden.

Old Town Prague Walking Tour

We ended our second day in Prague with kids with an Old Town Tour, which was run by Prague City Tourism. This two hour walking tour of Old Town Prague was interesting for the adults, but as it focused on Prague’s architecture, it wasn’t the most interesting activity for the kids.

Vyšehrad

We enjoyed many easy walks around Prague during our visit. The morning of our third day in Prague with kids was spent enjoying the walk around the Vyšehrad fortress. This fun family walk through Prague began at the whimsical Dancing House, then along the Vltava River (with many swans) to the fortress.

Inside the fortress we walked garden paths, looked out over the city, and visited the Basilica of St. Peter and Paul. We rewarded our kids at the end with some time at a super-fun wooden playground, which was themed to Czech legends.

Old Town Hall Prague Tour

In the afternoon we joined a tour of Old Town Hall. Sadly, the world-famous astrological clock was being repaired, but we still enjoyed a fun tour of the underground. The kids enjoyed the medieval feeling of the Roman and Gothic basements with former cells, storage areas, and a room used for torture. The tour also included a visit to the tower, where we had big views over Old Town Square and the Easter Market.

Prague Castle

On the fourth day of our family trip to Prague, we took advantage of another early weekday start and visited Prague’s #1 attraction – the Prague Castle.

St. Vitus Cathedral was the highlight of our visit, but we also visited the Old Royal Palace (a little boring), and the Golden Lane, a small street where you can see armor, swords and other cool weapons. We ended our visit to Prague Castle with a super yummy chocolate-covered waffle on a stick from a vendor behind the cathedral.

In the afternoon, we gave our kids the option to return to one of the many fun Prague playgrounds, but they were pretty tired and elected to stay in our apartment rental to play with toys and read books. We had pushed them pretty hard so far, so they deserved the break.

Divoká Šárka Hike

As incredibly beautiful as Prague is, we can only take so much of being in a big, busy city, so on our final day in Prague, we took a tram to Divoká Šárka, a nature reserve on Prague’s west side which feels like you are miles from the city. The family-friendly hiking trail follows a quiet stream through a rocky gorge with mature forest and birdsong all around.

Days 6 – 8: Karlštejn Castle & Český Krumlov with Kids

Karlštejn Castle

We began day 6 of our family trip to Czechia by grabbing a rental car in Prague and driving to the nearby Karlštejn Castle, a dramatic hilltop fortress. We didn’t have time for one of the mandatory interior tours, so we simply we admired the magnificent exterior on a short scenic hike.

Český Krumlov Old Town Tour

From the Karlštejn Castle, we finished our drive to Český Krumlov – the first stop on our 12-day family road trip through the Czech Republic.

After setting into our vacation rental, we joined a private guided tour of Český Krumlov. Our guide started at a playground (a nice touch!) where she gave us personalized advice to make the most of our visit. Then we slowly walked through the UNESCO listed Český Krumlov Old Town, through the monastery and ended at the castle.

Dívčí Kámen Castle

On our first full morning in Český Krumlov with kids, we hopped in the rental car and visited the ruins of Hrad Dívčí Kámen. Within the ruins of this amazing castle, our kids had space to roam the 14th-century walls, climb rocks, and turn the site into an imaginative playground.

Read More: Visiting the Dívčí Kámen Castle

Křížová Hora Hike

In the afternoon we enjoyed a family hike up to Křížová hora. The path is gentle, and the view from the chapel takes in the UNESCO-listed Old Town and the looping Vltava River below.

Old Town Český Krumlov

On our final day in Český Krumlov with kids, we reached the Old Town early around 8:15 am and had its charming narrow streets to ourselves well before the tour buses rolled in. Afterward we toured the castle grounds, courtyards, and gardens, then climbed the Castle Tower for a full view of the town.

In the afternoon we visited the Historic Play World at the Minorite Monastery. It was a lot of fun, with many hands-on activities for the kids. They tried medieval toys, stenciling, and explored sensory exhibits like spice stations.

Days 9 – 11: Karlovy Vary with Kids

Dvořákovy Sady Park

After a short drive from Český Krumlov, we reached Karlovy Vary – the most popular spa town in Czechia. To introduce ourselves to this charming town, we began with an easy walk to Dvořákovy Sady park.

The pedestrian path follows the river past tall, colorful buildings. We stopped to feed ducks and watched hundreds of fish gather below a bridge. Karlovy Vary is known for its colonnades with mineral water taps at different temperatures. Tasting the different mineral waters became a game; some are quite hot at up to about 60°C, which surprised the kids.

Karlovy Vary to Loket Hike with Kids

One of the main reasons we added Karlovy Vary to our Czech Republic itinerary was the hike between Karlovy Vary and Loket. The very scenic hiking trail runs almost flat beside the Ohře River through mossy forest with constant birdsong. We did the full round trip and set a family distance record at 24 km / 15 miles. Loket itself is a pretty town with a small castle that has a torture chamber and armory.

If you prefer a shorter one-way hike, buses and trains make the return easy.

Read More: Hiking from Karlovy Vary to Loket with Kids

Diana Lookout Tower

It was raining on our final day in Karlovy Vary with kids, but we didn’t let that get in our way. We threw on our rain gear and we hiked up to the Diana Lookout Tower (skipping the easier option of taking the funicular).

The forested hiking trail to the Diana Lookout Tower was quiet and lovely. The tower is free to climb and gives nice views over the area. At the top there is a playground next to the restaurant, which kept the kids busy. We also visited the Butterfly House, a small tropical room filled with butterflies, including the Blue Morpho butterfly, which is one of the most beautiful we’ve ever seen!

Days 12 – 14: Bohemian Switzerland with Kids

Mariina Vyhlidka Lookout Trail

After settling into our vacation rental in Bynovec, we drove to Jetřichovice for an our first of many fun family hikes around Bohemian Switzerland. The hike to Mariina vyhlídka climbs through a valley of tall sandstone cliffs with stairs built from logs and carved rock.

The short climb pays off with a shelter at the top and wide views over the forest and rock towers. The stairs are steep, but with a bit of help our young kids made it to the summit.

Exploring the Tisá Walls with Kids

On our first full day in Bohemian Switzerland with kids, we explored the Tisá Walls, a super-fun park of towering sandstone formations that feels like a natural maze. Our kids loved the adventurous feel of the place and spent the entire time climbing and hiding.

Adding to the fun, there are 75 rocks in the Tisá Walls area which are said to look like turtles, faces, and more – we had a ton of fun guessing what each looked like! We enjoyed two hiking trails in the Tisá Walls: the Malé Tiské stěny loop was more fun for the kids, while the Velké Tiské stěny loop was longer, allowing us to get some proper exercise.

Hiking Pravčická Brána to Wild Gorge with Kids

On our final day in Bohemian Switzerland with kids, we enjoyed the most fun family hike in Czechia – the Pravčická brána to Wild Gorge loop.

The Pravčická Brána to Wild Gorge trail has three distinct parts. First is the big viewpoint of Europe’s largest natural stone arch. Next is a cliffside traverse on Gabriela’s Path, finishing with a riverside walk through a stunning gorge with two short, man-powered boat rides.

Read More: The Wild Gorge Hike (Via Pravcicka Brana)

Bastei Bridge

After the amazing hike, we made a quick dash across the border into Germany to see the Bastei Bridge in Saxon Switzerland (which borders Bohemian Switzerland). Our kids loved exploring the 250-foot stone bridge which spans many rock pinnacles, providing some amazing dramatic views. It was a fitting end to our time in Bohemian Switzerland with kids.

Days 15 – 17: Bohemian Paradise with Kids

Hiking the Prachov Rocks

After a short drive from Bynovec, we arrived in Bohemian Paradise and checked into our vacation rental. We still had plenty of day left, so we hiked the Prachov Rocks (Prachovské skály) in the afternoon.

As with Tisá, the Prachov Rocks are a world of sandstone towers and narrow passages that invites exploring. After the epic Wild Gorge hike the day before, we welcomed an easy family hike which was still a ton of fun for the kids to run and explore.

Troksy Castle

On our first full day in Bohemian Paradise with kids, we wanted to hike to the twin-towered ruins of the Trosky Castle. Instead of driving straight to the lot, we hiked from Ktová through bright mustard fields and forest.

This approach gave us excellent views of the imposing castle ruins, with each tower set on its own rocky plug. Inside, we enjoyed climbing to a viewpoint in each tower to enjoy the surrounding landscapes. There is no period furniture or art to slow you down, which suited us fine.

Hiking from Hrubá Skála to Valdstejn Castle

We finished our family trip to Bohemian Paradise with a scenic 5-mile loop from Hrubá Skála to Valdštejn Castle. The forest path threads between rock pillars with steady viewpoints along the way.

We did not go inside Valdštejn Castle as interior tours of castles typically focus on furniture and interior decoration, which in our experience, are often quite boring for kids.

Final Thoughts – Family Travel in the Czech Republic

Sadly, after 12 days of seeing the best family-friendly destinations in the Czech Republic, we concluded our family road trip by returning our rental car in Prague and headed to the airport.

We loved every single day of our family trip to the Czech Republic. Prague is every bit as amazing as everyone says it is, and the Czech countryside blew us away. We think the scenery in the areas we visited are highly underrated and hold their own with some of the more famous nature getaways in Europe.

We hope this guide to visiting the Czech Republic with kids encourages you to look beyond Prague and find the beautiful countryside spots that match your family’s style.