Five Towns To Visit Outside Of Prague, Czech Republic

The number one mistake people make when traveling is never going past the city limits. That's just silly.

1. Kutná Hora

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Kutná Hora is an old silver mining town 78 km (or 48 miles) outside of Prague. The town is dominated by the monumental St. Barbara Cathedral which was built in 1388.

The town offers tours through the Czech Museum of Silver which will take you stories underground and explore the mines from more than 800 years ago.

If you're feeling a bit dark, head to the Sedlec Ossuary - the church made almost entirely of bones from 40,000-70,000 people. Morbid, yes, but also fascinatingly intricate.

2. Javoříčko

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Javoříčko is located 308 km (191 miles) outside of Prague and is home to miles of underground caves.

The Javoříčko Caves, discovered in 1938, are nothing to joke about. More than 3.5 km (2.2 miles) of underground caves have been explored in this small town which are compiled of corridors and twists and turns. The caves are also surrounded by a heavy wood perfect for hiking and exploring.

3. Mariánské Lázně

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Mariánské Lázně (Marienbad) is located 169 km (105 miles) outside of Prague and is an old spa town surrounded by grass-covered mountains.

Being an old spa town, there are dozens of springs around the city feeding into several spas which include baths, steam rooms, saunas, hot tubs and pools. A perfect way to spend a day in Marienbad is heading to the spa and finishing off with a treat of Kolonáda oplatky, cream-filled spa wafers.

4. Karlovy Vary

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Karlovy Vary (Carlsbad) sits 127 km (79 miles) outside of Prague and is arguably the most gorgeous spa town in the Czech Republic. Several movies have been shot here including Last Holiday, Casino Royale and Shanghai Knights.

Take a funicular ride up the mountainside to Diana Tower and enjoy colored buildings for miles, hiking paths and a petting zoo. Natural springs and fountains are located all over the town offering different tastes due to different minerals in the water.

Last, check out the home of Becherovka, a tasty herbal bitters, and enjoy a stroll through the museum tasting several samples leaving your bellies warm and head fuzzy.

5. Karlštejn

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The small town of Karlštejn is situated 31 km (19 miles) outside of Prague and houses Karlštejn Castle. The castle was founded in 1348 by Charles IV and still has the original wall paintings from the 14th century.

There is not much to do in the town of Karlštejn, but the unique architecture and location of the castle are enough to warrant a visit. Karlštejn Castle remains the second most-visited Castle in the Czech Republic, behind Prague Castle.