Danube River Cruise: Český Krumlov

In this second post of a multi-part series, Bethany explores Český Krumlov before she joins her Active and Discovery on the Danube Cruise on Avalon in 2018.

The Active and Discovery on the Danube cruise was the second river cruise I did with Avalon. This cruise sailed from Linz, Austria to Budapest, Hungary in the summer of 2018. Join me as I explore many wonderful stops in the Czech Republic, Austria, Slovakia, and Hungary along the way!

Active and Discovery on the Danube Full Itinerary

Below is the full itinerary for the trip. This post includes details about my time pre-cruise in Český Krumlov, Czech Republic.

• July 26 & 27: Prague, Czech Republic
• July 28: Český Krumlov, Czech Republic
• July 29: Linz & Steyr, Austria (embarkation)
• July 30: Engelhartszell & Schlogen Oxbow, Austria
• July 31: Mauthausen & Grein, Austria
• August 1: Wachau Valley, Krems, & Vienna, Austria
• August 2 & 3: Vienna, Austria
• August 4: Komarno, Slovakia & Visegrad, Hungary (disembarkation)
• August 5: Budapest, Hungary

Český Krumlov

After spending a couple of days in Prague, our tour group packed up, checked out of our hotel, and boarded a bus. We drove about 100 miles south to the charming town of Český Krumlov. This small town has a population of around 12,000. Once we arrived, we got off of the bus and headed out on a walking tour of the historic town center. There are a few imposing looking walls and buildings that surround the town center, but once inside we were first met with a gorgeous view of the river that runs through it.

Enjoying the Architecture

Our gregarious tour guide showed us around the city center. I marveled at the well-preserved architecture everywhere…there was a mix of Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque styles throughout the town. This area was designed a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1992. The centerpiece of the town is the Český Krumlov Castle, which was founded in 1250.

A Quaint Town Square

Our guided walking tour ended in the charming town square, which is surrounded by more gorgeous architecture. Once the tour ended, we had plenty of time on our own to wander around the quaint cobblestone streets leading in and out of the town square.

Gorgeous Views

One of the highlights, tucked away at the end of one of the small streets in town, is a gorgeous viewpoint. From this vantage point I got a fantastic panoramic view of the charming village spread out below me. I relaxed and enjoyed the views a bit longer before heading back to the town square to do a bit of shopping – those who have followed some of my earlier posts know there are three things I look to get in each stop (a Christmas tree ornament, a small trinket for my curio cabinet, and a small piece of art to hang on the wall). Once the free time was up, I met up with the rest of the tour group. We got back on the bus and traveled another 50 miles south to the city of Linz.

Conclusion

I did not know much about Český Krumlov before this trip, so I really was not sure what to expect on this excursion. I was immediately smitten with the fairy-tale village from the moment I first saw it from the bus. This small town oozes charm and character from every pore. There is a nice mix of shops, restaurants, and cafes in the town square. The architecture is gorgeous and very well preserved. I thoroughly enjoyed the several hours I spent in Český Krumlov.

Links

Ready to continue the journey? Click the button below to read the next post in this series:

Missed the earlier part of this journey? Click the button below to read the first post in this series:

Click the buttons below for more information about Avalon, and to read about my other fabulous Avalon river cruises:

Note: I fully funded this trip on my own and received no compensation or any other benefits from any service providers I used along the way. The opinions expressed here are my own and I am not being compensated by any service providers.