Budget guide to Ceské Budejovice (Budweis), Czech Republic
Our third stop in our budget-friendly tour of the Czech Republic outside Prague is Ceské Budejovice.
Ceské Budejovice
German name: Budweis
First, let’s get one thing straight: It’d be a sin to confuse Ceské Budejovice’s famous beverage with American Bud “beer.” This city is home to Budweiser Budvar, the globally exported lager. This is the one and only, and you’ll be schooled on the pedigree.
Meanwhile, the city’s historical, hectare-wide main square is a lively scene with tall townhouses, fun bars, and good restaurants.
Fine-dining doesn’t get more budget-friendly than in Restaurace U Solne brany. You’ll find it right off the historical center. To give you an idea, my full-course dinner feast:
- Starter of exquisite venison terrine with cranberries and quail egg (€3.15);
- Main Course: roasted pork Ttenderloin with seasonal mushroom ragout and mushroom truffle cream (€7.77);
- Dessert for €2.59.
- Grand total of just over €13, all the while being serenaded by a live jazz pianist!
What to do
Take a tour of the Budvar Brewery. Check out the mini-museum, complete with films and historical info. Plus, you can experience their take on all the legal clashes surrounding their fight for their name against you-know-who. During the guided tour, peek in at the brewing and bottling process — after sampling a free taste, of course!
Regular guided tours take place at 2 pm every weekday and cost €4 per adult. We took our two kids along; they were mesmerized with all the big bottling machinery!
Stay
Luxury apartments for the price of a budget hotel! Residence U Cerné veže (Cerne Veze 13, Ceske Budejovice 370 01, Czech Republic). Family or party-sized, furnished pads with a breakfast buffet from €60 per night.
Search all hotels in Ceské Budejovice
Getting there
Trains from Prague run every hour; tickets cost about €6 per person. The journey is roughly 2 ½ hours.
More affordable Czech destinations
Ceské Budejovice is just one stop on our tour of budget-friendly Czech destinations. These also include:
Also going to Prague?
Be sure to check out our recommended budget hotels in Prague, and our articles on how to save when visiting the city.
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