What to see, what to do and how much to spend depends to a great extent on your interests. Lovers of history and architecture will find in Cesky Krumlov a rich heritage of impressive architectural styles and a 13th-century Renaissance castle which was successively passed on from one influential landowning aristocratic family to another. Lovers of artistic works will be impressed by the numerous portrait paintings housed inside the Castle's Renaissance Hall and by the Flemish tapestries and priceless furnishings inside the Schwarzenbergs' rooms. Visitors who like to wander away from the crowds will find inside the Castle Gardens a paradise of tranquillity or if they venture 2kms further towards the monasteries in Zlata Koruna, they will be fascinated by the outstanding natural beauty of the region. If you like water sports, you can launch a rented canoe and navigate downriver through two areas of rapids admired by crowds of tourists laughing and clapping waiting to see if you'll survive without being thrown over.
All this may seem spectacular and interesting but if your time in the city is limited to just a couple of days, plan beforehand what to see and do. However, whatever your interests, don't miss the following:
1. Touring the Krumlov Castle is undoubtedly the highlight of any visit to Cesky Krumlov. Founded in the mid-13th-century by the rich and powerful Vitkovci family, the castle was further developed and enlarged under the rule of the influential lords of Rozmberg. After 20 years used by Emperor Rudolf II, it was donated to the Eggenberg family in 1622 and later inherited by the Schwarzenbergs. The Baroque Castle Theatre, the Bellarie summer house and the riding school were added when the Schwarzenberg family made the castle their home. You can wander as much as you like in the courtyards and within the splendid 17th-century Baroque Castle Gardens which extend over an area of 10 hectares. But the interior halls can be viewed on guided tour only which takes just over 1 hour and covers the Chapel of St.George, the Renaissance Hall, the Schwarzenbergs' rooms and the rococo Masquerade Hall in the Chateau Theatre. Don't miss the impressive view from the outdoor walkway over Na Plasti bridge. More impressive and far more gorgeous is the view from the 12th-century Round Tower. Entrance to the tower requires a separate ticket.
2. Cesky Krumlov offers visitors a wide selection of 80 restaurants, pubs and cafes. In summer, the dining areas more than double when tables are spread on numerous terraced backyards overlooking the river. If you come here in fine weather, opt for a table outside where the atmosphere is one of peace and relaxation. Four picks among the best eateries and drinking places are: Papa's, Krcma Marketa, Na Louzi and Pizzeria Latran.
3. Enjoy an evening of music or theatrical performance inside one of the city's theatres. During the tourist season, the Town Hall on namesti Svornosti becomes a venue of outstanding musical concerts while Mestske Divadlo (Town Theatre) along Horni street is the place for operettas and drama. If you're looking for a top atmospheric theatre, there's nowhere better than the Baroque Chateau Theatre which gives daily classical performances in summer. For jazz or pop music, the open-air theatre with a revolving auditorium within the Castle Gardens is the place to go. More information and theatre tickets from the Tourist Information Office, namesti Svornosti 2.
4. Cesky Krumlov hosts a number of excellent annual festivals which are both cultural and entertaining. In June, the Five-petalled Rose Festival (Slavnost petiliste ruse) is mainly a folklore activity on a large scale when the whole city becomes a stage of locals dressed up in Renaissance costumes. Musicians, artists, peasants, craftsmen, lords, knights and merchants parade the streets for three days and perform various activities ranging from folklore dancing and acting to fencing and jousting. The festival ends up with a splendid display of fireworks. Every August, performers from all over Europe take part in the International Music Festival. Concerts are held in nine spectacular venues scattered within the Old Town and the castle area.
5. Find time to visit at least one of Cesky Krumlov's museums. The Regional Museum of Local History (Okresni Museum) housed inside the former Jesuit seminary in front of Hotel Ruze is dedicated to Cesky Krumlov's one thousand year history. The museum's highlight is a huge 1:200 ceramic model which displays with surprising clarity and precision the streets and buildings within the Old Town. The museum opens daily in summer but not so frequently during the rest of the year. One other museum worth visiting is the Egon Schiele Art Centre at Siroka 70/72. This picture gallery housed inside a former brewery has a splendid permanent exhibition of paintings, mostly watercolours by the Austrian artist Egon Schiele. You can also see numerous documents related to his life and works, besides temporary exhibits of classical or contemporary artistic works brought here from museums elsewhere.