From Medieval Cities to Spa Towns

I recommend that you start your visit to the castle complex from St Vitus Cathedral, the element that attracts the most tourists. You will avoid the long queue by being there at opening time.
For more information on the whole tour, you can choose to rent an audio guide at the ticket office, where you can also decide which type of ticket to buy.
You can also buy the basic circuit ticket, which is the option I suggest, online through this link. If you want permission to take photos, you can buy a photo pass.
This majestic cathedral is a wonderful example of a Gothic church that you cannot miss. Access the historical part by entering the choir, the chapels, the tombs of Bohemian kings and archbishops, and the large unfinished southern tower.
Take your time to contemplate the wonders inside, such as the glass mosaics, but also outside, such as the huge doors and gargoyles.
The cathedral is open daily from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM and on Sundays from 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM. Last admission 20 minutes before closing.

Continue through the golden alleyway of the castle, another point that is best put at the top of the list as it is normally packed with tourists and cannot be appreciated.
The beauty of this place lies in the small colourful houses built next to each other, which appear to be dwellings for gnomes but were actually built by the emperor's archers who, for lack of space, had used every cm available.
The name derives from the goldsmiths and the alchemists who moved into this street later on. In the 1800s it became the artists' street, in fact during the First World War even Kafka lived at number 22 in this alley.
Continuing down the alley, you will visit St George's Basilica and the Daliborka Tower, the castle prison named after the first prisoner and to which a legend is also linked.

Once you have visited the tower, head back to the central square, where St Vitus Cathedral stands, and where the statue of St George points the way to the Royal Palace.
You will pass through the enormous Vladisao Hall where festivals, balls, markets, and tournaments with knights used to take place. The horses used to enter through the Knights' Staircase instead.
The coronation of Bohemian rulers used to take place in this hall. You can step out onto the terrace of the Hall where you can enjoy a fantastic view over the rooftops of Prague.
The monuments are open from April to October daily from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM and from November to March from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM.

Once you have finished your visit to the castle, which theoretically could last indefinitely given its size, return to the guesthouse to check out and continue your road trip.

Take the car you parked here yesterday on your arrival and drive south towards the famous town of Pilsen.

Once in the city, leave your car in this car park near the centre. From here you can easily reach the main points of interest.

I recommend this restaurant if you want to eat excellent vegan cuisine, even if only to get a break from the typically Czech meat menu.
The vegan burger is really delicious, and the rest of the menu seems to be extremely sophisticated as well. They have a great selection of fancy beers, including pilsner of course, but you can also choose a small tasting.
I suggest you book a table by filling out this form or by calling this number +420 725 886 889.
The restaurant is open Monday to Thursday from 11:00 AM to 11:00 PM, on Friday and Saturday it closes at 12:00 AM and on Sunday at 6:00 PM.

After lunch, start exploring the city with this beautiful Gothic-style cathedral located on the city's main square. Inside, you will see numerous works of art and beautiful ornamental Art Nouveau stained glass windows.
The height of its spire exceeds one hundred metres and the tower, on which you can climb almost 300 steps, remains the tallest in the Czech Republic since its construction.
The effort is worth it, as you will see a crazy panorama of the entire city. The cathedral is open daily from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM and is closed on Mondays.

The next destination is another extremely important historical and religious building in Pilsen. You can choose to see it from the outside or pay a ticket at the entrance.
The city's synagogue is the third largest Jewish place of worship in the world, right behind the mosques in Jerusalem, Israel, and Budapest, Hungary.
Opening hours are from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM with the exception of Saturday, the closing day.

Wear a sweatshirt for the next stop, in fact you will visit the city's underground where temperatures hover around 6°C.
The first area is the ice cellar, where the ice used for brewing beer was stored. In fact, originally these underground cellars were used by houses that had brewery rights to store food and to brew beer.
You will venture through the cracks and tunnels underground, once also used as a defensive system during wars, while your guide will explain the city's medieval past.
At the end of the tour, you will be able to redeem a voucher for tasting a Pilsner Urquell beer in one of the three marked pubs.
Book the guided tour directly online at this website. You can visit the underground all year round from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM in winter and from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM in summer.

Visit this unusual museum dedicated to puppetry, a type of art that has been famous in the city of Pilsen for centuries.
The exhibition, divided into three floors, tells the story of the birth and evolution of puppetry at the end of the 20th century in the city.
The last floor, on the other hand, is dedicated entirely to play. Try animating different puppets, you will see that they may look simple but for some, it takes great dexterity.
The museum is open daily from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM and is closed on Mondays.

After this visit to this beautiful medieval city of arts and traditions, get back in the car and back on the road.

Before you head off to your next destination, I suggest you check in at the hotel where you booked to stay where you can also freshen up before dinner.
You will probably arrive after 6:00 PM so let the hotel know in advance your arrival time by sending an email after booking.
The bedroom is very comfortable, clean and has all the amenities, including wifi and even a fridge. The hotel has a garden where you can take a walk and in its vicinity, there is a green park with some springs.
All the ambience is quiet and relaxed. The breakfast is also very good, I recommend including it in your package for a perfect wake-up call. Check-out is between 8:00 AM and 11:00 AM.

You can leave your car nearby on the road within the white stripes and reach the singing fountain.
This attraction accompanies the whole spring season until reaching the autumn season, spreading a song in the air every hour.
You can check the songs schedule, depending on the time of day on this link.
After watching the performance continue through the next beautiful colonnade, the Kolonáda Maxima Gorkého, surrounded by small shops and restaurants.

Keep strolling through the streets of this small spa town that became famous in the second half of the 19th century for its curative springs.
Walk under the colonnade where you can buy different kinds of healing water springs in a glass. You can also try some springs for free in the cup. Its particular urban layout, characterised by all these springs in different places, has allowed the city to be declared part of the transnational UNESCO World Heritage Site.

I recommend booking at least 24 hours in advance through these contacts at this restaurant, which is always very full due to the excellent quality of the food and service.
Order the cabbage soup, the grilled goat cheese, and try the homemade dumplings, everything is delicious. Ask the waiter for any off-menu items.
The restaurant is open daily from 11:00 AM to 10:00 PM.

Back to the hotel after another busy day of Czech history and culture to rest up for the last day on the road.