Prague side trips
 

Considering a 5 day trip to Prague from London in April. I'd like to spend 3 days in Prague and 2 for day trips outside.

I'm hoping to visit 4 of the following using public transport. How can I combine them into 2 two-day excursions? Is this even possible ... too rushed? I feel like I'd probably only need 2-3 hours at each place, but maybe I'm wrong:

Ceský Sternberk
Karlstejn Castle
Konopiste
Krivolklát
Melnik - a must b/c of wine tasting.

Somewhere else I should consider? I'm not interested in the spa towns or Kunta Hora or the Gestapo site. I’d love to see Cesky Krumlov, but maybe on another visit.

Thanks

anyone?

Sorry ... just re-read my post and realized it's confusing. I'm meaning to say how can I fit 4 of those places into 2 days, if possible.

Konopiste and Cesky Sternberk should be doable together in one day - they are relatively close to each other. Be prepared to leave early - you have to get on buses, which do not run very often.

It is impossible at the moment to get schedules for next April - too early.

I think you should see either Krivoklat or Karlstejn. I heard many bad reviews about Karlstejn, so I tend to recommend Krivoklat, but I haven't been there, sorry.

Please re-think wine tasting in Melnik. Their wines are not so special, although not bad either, and April is very early in the year. Are you sure they're open for wine tasting? Just an idea - the vineyards near Dresden (Schloss Wackerbarth e.g.) offer much better wine tasting (Ok, I know you have only one day in Dresden).

I.

Thanks as always, Ingo. Melnik also appeals to me to get to see the building/chateau itself. I think you can always tour the cellar there and have a tasting.

I have also heard, like you, that Karlstejn is not so hot from the inside. Maybe that's something I buy a postcard of and actually skip seeing.

I didn't answer because I wasn't sure how you'd get to some of those by public transporation, although I have info at home. I know there is a train to Karlstejn. I think you have to walk a bit more to/from that one and maybe it's not worth it. I haven't been there. Both it and Krivoklat caste are accessible by train from Praha-Smichov station.

I just visited the chateau Hluboka for a Prague day trip and I loved it. It was really a nice place, much nicer to visit than a lot of them are. That is about 15 k from Ceske Budejovice, which is worth visiting also. We did both in the same day, but I was on a bus tour from Prague Sightseeing which made it easy. I know you can get to Cesky Budejovice by train, and Hluboka is only 15 k from there, so a taxi wouldn't cost much. Those two together are a good day trip IMO.

Here's some info on Hluboka
http://www.hluboka.cz/unkg001.html

http://www.discoverczech.com/ceske-b...e/hluboka.php4

You really should be thinking of visiting Terezin. It is every human's obligation to bear witness to the atrocities of war. Don't keep shutting your eyes.

Boy! This is one way to get someone pumped up! Thanks for the depressing post:
"You really should be thinking of visiting Terezin. It is every human's obligation to bear witness to the atrocities of war. Don't keep shutting your eyes."

I found some of my info.

Karlstejn is accessible by train, most from the Prague Smichov station. Apparently no bus. You do have to walk up a hill to get there. Better from the outside than the inside, which I don't think has much and a lot is closed.

Krivolat is accesible by train (also from Smichov), but you probably will have to change trains on the way.

Cesky Sternberk is accessible by bus, not train, but the bus leaves from the Roztyly metro station at the south end of the red line.

Melnik is only 20 miles or so north of Prague, and buses leave from Florenc and Holesovice metro stations.

Konopiste is accessible by frequent bus from Florenc, and the stop is about a half mile from the castle. It's not so easy to get to by train.

Thank you for the details, Christina. Hluboka does look very nice, but I might save it for a time when I'll be near Cesky Krumlov, which I may not be able to do this time.

Joe...if you would rent a car on a two day (weekend rates) rental you could easily complete your proposed schedule...good roads everywhere in the vicinity....signage is excellent.
Stu T.

Thanks, Stu. I realize it would be more convenient with a car, but I'm a young solo traveller and not really up for driving ... I don't like doing it in America, let alone a foreign country. I'm okay with public transport even if it takes longer or means I can't fit everything in.

ttt ... maybe I should cut Melnik since it's the opposite direction from everything else, is a chateaux (and I'd already be seeing others) and could surely do wine tasting elsewhere in Prague?

I'm with you, Joe, on the public transportation. I drive a lot during my regular life (50 miles a day for work), and really don't want to drive on vacation. It is a lot of hassle just renting the car, finding maps, etc.

ANyway, as for Melnick, I would scratch it, but I'm not that interested in wine tasting. I like wine and drink it a lot, just have never understood why people do the tasting thing, actually. There doesn't seem much point unless you plan to buy a lot of their wine and take it home. Maybe you do, but I really don't think Czech wine is something special, myself (yech). I've had some that was... adequate.

But why go for wine-tasting in April? Is it just to drink wine, which you can do anywhere? Because wine harvest festivals are in September.

Here's a wine cave in Prague that specializes in Czech wines, maybe it is what you want. They say they can arrange wine tastings.
http://www.pragueexperience.com/places.asp?PlaceID=1116

Thanks; it would be to drink wine. I enjoy wine from other countries, and while the CR is known for beer, I imagine they have some good wine too. Frommers made Melnik sound very nice, but you right that I could just get my wine fix at a restaurant or the wine cave as you mention. Thanks for that link.

Plzen is ok for a day, the brewery is great and well worth a visit.

Muck

How far is that from Prague?

It's about 60 miles away and takes about 90 mins.

Muck

What about the Lobkowicz family castle of Nelahozeves? Has anyone been there? Definitely realizing there is more to see and do in Prague and around than I'd first considered.