5 Great Destinations for the Czech Republic with Kids

To be honest, when we started planning our Eastern Europe family trip we didn’t know much about the Czech Republic (officially known as “Czechia“) outside of Prague. Once we started to see what treasures could be found in the countryside, we were excited by what we found. With so many amazing outdoor activities, we couldn’t wait for our family trip to the Czech Republic with kids.

Family Friendly Destinations in the Czech Republic

Once we left Prague, we rented a car to discover the best destinations in the Czech Republic for a family vacation. Here are some of the top destinations for your family holidays in the Czech Republic.

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1. Prague

Prague is a must-see for any family visiting the Czech Republic with kids. With architectural beauty around every corner, it’s a great city to explore on foot. For fun family activities in Prague, be sure to visit the following:

If you get there early enough in the day, your kids will love running unimpeded along the Charles Bridge while you admire the sculptures and city views.

Vysehrad is a fortified 10th century castle with a walk along the castle walls offering amazing views of the city. Your kids will love the wooden playground inspired by Czech legends.

Prague is blessed with many wonderful green spaces. Letna Park is close to the Old Town and offers amazing city views, playgrounds and a 75′ tall metronome! Petrin Park is near the Charles Bridge and features a mini Eiffel Tower observation deck.

But Divoka Sarka was our favorite thing to do in Prague with kids by far. A short tram ride from Old Town, Divoka Sarka is home to a beautiful walk through a river gorge – you won’t believe you are still in Prague! Get more details about this beautiful hike in our post on the 6 Best Family Walks in Prague.

2. Cesky Krumlov

Cesky Krumlov has all the charm of Prague rolled into a tiny little package. A UNESCO World Heritage site, Cesky Krumlov was untouched during both World Wars, so all of its original charm remains intact. 

The main attraction in Cesky Krumlov is the castle; your kids will likely find the museums within boring, but they will enjoy climbing the tower and the views of the town below. Be sure to check the nearby Minorite Monastery to see if the Interactive Exhibition of Human Skills is still on.

Sounds terrible right? Despite the lame sounding name, this is a really fun activity for kids. In addition to a room full of medieval toys, kids can enjoy many hands on exhibits like making soap, trying on medieval clothing, stenciling, smelling spices and much more.

Cesky Krumlov is home to some fun outdoor activities as well. There’s a short hike to a chapel on a hill behind old town which rewards the effort with amazing views of town. Our favorite activity here was a short drive outside of town to Hrad Divci Kamen, the ruins of a 14th century castle. We had the place to ourselves and the kids loved running around exploring the ruins, climbing walls, etc. The kids loved it!

3. Karlovy Vary

Karlovy Vary is a popular spa town known for its thermal springs. Despite being a location which seems to attract the elderly, there is a lot of fun things to do in Karlovy Vary with kids.

The riverside walk in Karlovy Vary is one of the nicest we’ve seen anywhere in the world – the buildings are beautiful and in immaculate shape. The walkway is primarily car-free, so your kids can enjoy running around being kids.

Be sure to bring or buy a cup to sample to various mineral waters pouring from fountains along the route. Each fountain in Karlovy Vary has slightly different water, some are hot, some are bubbly. It’s great fun to watch your kids faces react to the tastes (our kids thought they were all kinda yucky).

If your family likes to hike, there is an incredibly beautiful riverside, forested hike from Karlovy Vary to Loket, which also features a historic old town and castle. A one-way hike is 6-7.5 miles (10-12 km) – we walked both ways for a family record 15 miles (24 km) hike, but you can also take a bus or train back.

The Diana lookout is also a lot of fun. You can take a funicular up to the top, but if your family enjoys a beautiful forest walk, the hike to the top is a lot of fun. At the top, there is an observation tower, a zoo, a butterfly house and a playground.

4. Bohemian Switzerland National Park

The Bohemian Switzerland National Park is one of the Czech Republic’s crown jewels. An outdoor enthusiasts dream, a visit to Bohemian Switzerland with kids is going to be full of great family friendly outdoor activities.

The Mary Prospect lookout is a short 3 mile (5 km) hike to two lookout points showcasing the rock formations this region is known for. The Tisa Walls is a super fun outing for kids as they can explore, climb on and run around a park full of towering sandstone rock formations. Use your imagination to see the many shapes in the rocks, or buy a map for a full listing of the 75 rocks which look like stuff.

The Pravcicka Brana to the Wild Gorge Loop hike was the primary reason for our visit to this region and it didn’t disappoint. This 12.4 mile (20 km) hike goes through three primary sections:

1) A view of Europe’s largest natural stone formation.

2) Gabriella’s Path walks below towering cliffs, while offering amazing vistas.

3) A riverside walk through a gorge, with two man-powered boat rides in areas the gorge is too steep for the path to go. 

Bohemian Switzerland has a companion park in Germany called the Saxon Switzerland park. A quick drive or train ride allows you to visit the Bastei Bridge, a 250 foot (75 m) long stone bridge which spans the tops of some of these towering rock formations. It’s not a full day activity, but it is worth an afternoon visit.

5. Bohemian Paradise

Another beautiful protected area, the Bohemian Paradise is another fun destination in the Czech Republic for families who love the outdoors.

The Prachov Rocks is a super fun outing for the kids, very similar to the Tisa Rocks. This is a walk through towering sandstone rock formations, which your kids will love to climb on and explore.

The Trosky Castle is the region’s most famous landmark. This ruined castle can be seen from virtually everywhere in the region and has two dramatic towers, each built on its own rocky outcrop.

You can drive to the top of the hill where the castle is, but we recommend a walk from a nearby town like Ktova. The views you will get of the Trosky Castle will make the effort worth it. You’ll need a hiking map or app to help you find the pathways as they are not well marked.

And finally, the 5 mile (8 km) hike from Hruba Skala to Valdstejn Castle and back showcases the many natural wonders of this region. A beautiful walk through a forest offers views of the rock formations and surrounding countryside, while the intact castle is open for tours.

Summary: Visiting the Czech Republic with Kids

We were blown away by how beautiful the countryside was in the areas we visited on our Czech Republic family holiday. In fact, we thought it was on-par with the scenery in Tuscany (albeit it was missing the wine). We found fun, outdoor family activities each and every day of our 18 family trip to the Czech Republic. We hope you will take the time to venture beyond Prague to enjoy some of the most beautiful countryside we’ve seen.

We are grateful to Prague City Tourism and Cesky Krumlov for their generosity during our visits. All opinions are our own.

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