Guidebook Updates for the Czech Republic

When we learn of critical changes to the information in our guidebooks on the Czech Republic, we post them here. (Of course, it's still smart to reconfirm critical transportation and sightseeing details locally.) Armed with a Rick Steves guidebook and these late-breaking updates, you're set for a great trip!

Český Krumlov

For books printed before April 2021, the following may apply:

  • The synagogue is now free and open May–September Tues–Sun 10:00-16:00. It is closed Monday and from October through April. Their telephone number is +420 737 378 336. Café Synagoga is open daily May–September 10:00–8:00 and closed from October through April.
  • There are a number of changes at the Krumlov Castle Complex. You can now book ahead online for a spot on the English tour of the Krumlov Castle interior or for the Baroque theater (you can also still book ahead by phone or at the ticket office).
    • The Castle Museum and Round Tower are open daily 9:00–17:00, June–Aug until 18:00, closed Monday in Nov–Dec, and closed Christmas–March.
    • Upper Castle tours run June–Aug daily 9:00–17:00; April–May and Sept–Oct Tue–Sun 9:00–16:00, closed Monday; closed Nov–March.  Baroque Theater tours run Tue–Sun May–Oct, daily July–Aug, no tours Nov–April.
  • The train station no longer rents bikes.
  • Hostel 99 no longer rents bikes and accepts cash only.
  • Restaurace Barbakán has closed.
  • Rybářská Restaurace is now Restaurace Zdroj (daily 10:30–22:00, +420 724 149 771).
  • Eggenberg Brewery is now Pivovar Český Krumlov Brewery (900 Kč/1-4 people, 200 Kč/person for larger group, daily 10:00–18:00, shorter hours off-season, reserve at least two days ahead by phone or email, or show up to see if you can join a reserved English tour that day; +420 720 942 010, [email protected]).

Mikulov Wine Region

For books printed before October 2023, the following may apply:

  • Cyklosfera Café in Břeclav no longer rents bikes.

Moravský Krumlov (Slav Epic)

For books printed before October 2023, the following may apply:

  • Alphonse Mucha's Slav Epic paintings are still in the town of Moravský Krumlov (their return to Prague is now planned for 2027). Tickets are 250 Kč, and the exhibit is open June–Aug Tue–Sun 9:00–17:00, Sept–May Tue–Sun until 16:00, closed Mon year-round.

Olomouc

For books printed before October 2023, the following may apply:

  • The Crack Irish Pub has closed.
  • Poet's Corner hostel has closed, along with its bike rental. Bikes can be rented at Centrum Semafor on Legionářská street.

Prague

For books printed before October 2023, the following may apply:

  • The correct URL for the website of recommended guide Jana Hronková is praguediscoveries.com.
  • Security checks have been eliminated at Prague Castle, though bags may still be subject to random searches. The castle's "Circuit B" ticket is now the "Basic Circuit" ticket (includes St. Vitus Cathedral, the Old Royal Palace, Basilica of St. George, and Golden Lane), and the castle's "Circuit A" ticket, covering all the castle sights in one ticket, is no more. For entry into all of the castle's sights, get the "permanent exhibitions" ticket as well as the basic ticket; the former covers the Story of Prague Castle exhibit and the Castle Picture Gallery. And the castle now has three ticket offices: one in the Second Courtyard, one in the Third Courtyard (in front of the cathedral), and one at the east end of the complex, near the Golden Lane.
  • Black Light Theatre Srnec has moved to Národní Třída and is now in the same building as the Reduta Jazz Club (at Národní 20).
  • Virtually all of the city's trams and buses now have a red ticket machine in the middle of each car that sells time-stamped tickets that don't need further validation (only credit cards accepted).
  • Tickets to the Strahov Monastery and Library are now sold in the small former church to the left just after the entrance gate.
  • The tourist information office on the castle side of the river has moved to Petřín Tower (from its former spot near the Charles Bridge).
  • The Prague Card is now the Prague CoolPass (for most travelers it's still likely not worth the steep price).
  • Hoshino massage therapist Patrick Kočica is no longer in business.
  • The phone number for Na Františku Hospital (on the embankment next to Hotel InterContinental) is now +420 222 801 343.
  • The Tesco grocery on Národní třída (mentioned as a landmark in our guidebooks) is no longer there (the venerable Máj department store now takes up the whole building).
  • The Franz Kafka Society bookstore in the Jewish Quarter has closed.
  • Ta Fantastika puppet theater has closed.
  • Several recommended restaurants have closed: Dinitz Kosher Restaurant, Pasha Turkish Restaurant, Trattoria Aldente, and Balkánská Kuchyne.

For books printed before April 2021, the following may also apply:

  • The Touristpoint office in the main train station (Hlavní nádraží) has closed.
  • Kolonial restaurant has closed.
  • The Astronomical Clock glockenspiel show occurs hourly from 9:00 to 23:00 (until 20:00 in winter).
  • The phone number for the General Hospital right above Karlovo Náměstí at U Nemocnice 2 is now +420 224 961 111.
  • The phone number for Hospital Na Homolce is now +420 257 271 111.
  • The Canadian Medical Care Center has moved from Veleslavínská 1 to the Nádraží Veleslavín Metro station; its phone number is now +420 222 300 300.
  • Alfons Mucha's Slav Epic is back on display at the Moravský Krumlov castle until Prague's elected officials find a permanent exhibition space for these huge canvases in the city.
    • Moravský Krumlov is 4 hours by train or 3 hours by car from Prague, so a side trip to see the paintings is best for those traveling through Moravia en route to Vienna or Budapest, or visiting the Mikulov wine region.
  • Restaurace U knihovny in the Jewish Quarter has closed.

Prague Day-Trip Destinations

For books printed before April 2021, the following may apply:

  • Konopiště Castle is now open May–Aug Tue–Sun 10:00–17:00; September Tue–Sun 9:00–16:00; April and Oct–Nov Tue–Sun until 15:00. The castle is closed Monday year-round and from December through March.
  • Near Karlovy Vary, Moser Glassworks is open Mon–Sat 9:00–16:00, closed Sunday.
  • Buses from Prague to Terezín no longer leave hourly from Nádraží Holešovice on Metro line C. The new schedule is Mon–Fri at 9:00, 9:25, and 10:45, Sat at 9:30 and 11:00, Sun at 9:30 and 10:30.
  • Kutná Hora's Restaurace Donna-U Žlutého Kola is now Restaurace Čtyři Sestry, with a daily rotation of Czech classics.
  • At the Kutná Hora Italian Court you can likely access many areas without taking a guided tour — just check at the ticket desk.
  • The Kutná Hora Alchemy Museum has permanently closed and the tourist information office has moved to Kolárova Street, just a few steps from Palacký Square.
  • Bus numbers have changed between Sedlec and Kutná Hora. To get from Sedlec Bone church to Kutná Hora, from the stop on the main street across from St. Mary's Basilica take bus #12, #14, or #91 (Sat-Sun) to the Stone Fountain stop or bus #11 to Na Valach.
  • Sedlec Bone Church has a new 220 Kč combo-ticket with St. Mary's Basilica and St. Barbara's Cathedral.