Prague to Kutná Hora is one of the most rewarding day trips from the Czech capital, and here’s everything you need to know how to go about it.
A Prague to Kutná Hora day trip is one of the best you can make from the Czech capital. The medieval silver mining town is a World Heritage Site, with two amazing Cathedrals, a Silver Mine and one of the most amazing things to see in the Czech Republic, the stunning Sedlec Ossuary.
This is one of a series of articles we’ve written on Kutná Hora, and it’s simply about getting you there and back from Kutná Hora to Prague.
Each of the four options is straightforward, and this guide will give you all the information you’ll need to plan your trip from Prague to Kutná Hora, as well as what you really shouldn’t miss when you’re there.
Prague To Kutná Hora – The Essentials
Kutná Hora is a UNESCO World Heritage town 84 km (52 miles) east of Prague
Kutná Hora is one of the most popular day trips from Prague
You can get there by train, bus, a combination of train and bus, on a tour or by car
When you visit Kutná Hora, there are three absolute must-see sights – the Kutná Hora Cathedral of St Barbara, Sedlec Cathedral and the Kutná Hora Bone Church (also known as the Sedlec Ossuary)
The magnificent Cathedral of St Barbara Kutná Hora is in the historic UNESCO-listed town centre
The other two main Kutná Hora attractions are 2.5 km away in the suburb of Sedlec – the remarkable Sedlec Ossuary, and the Cathedral of the Assumption of Our Lady and St John the Baptist
As well as including these three Kutná Hora things to do, try to allow two to three hours to explore the old town centre, possibly allowing longerif you want to visit theKutná Hora Silver Museum and Stone House as well
As well as the Prague Kutná Hora journey, you also need to allow for the small – but very easy – diversion to Sedlec
If you’re travelling to Kutná Hora on your own, it makes sense to stop off to explore the two sights in Sedlec – which take around an hour to see – at the start or end of the day
Prague To Kutná Hora By Train
We think the easiest way to get to Kutná Hora from Prague is by train. If you take the Prague to Kutná Hora train, you can do so from Prague main train station in the centre of the city, and it takes little more than an hour.
You can book your tickets online on the Czech Railways website or buy them from the large ticket office (‘Jizdenky’)in the lower level of the station. Tickets for travel within the Czech Republic are sold from desks on the left-hand side of the room.
The Prague Kutná Hora train usually leaves from platform 5, but don’t assume it always will – check the departure board (‘Odjezd’) in the main concourse and wait for it to show there first. Each platform at Prague main station is divided into north and south sections, and this information is included on the departure board. If the platform is 5S, it’s 5 – sever, which is 5 North. If it’s 5J, it’s 5 jih, which means 5 South.
If you’re catching the through train to Kutná Hora, the final destination to look out for is Brno dolní nádraží. Sometimes you can also change at Kolín, the town before Kutná Hora, then board the connecting train to Kutná Hora.
Kutná Hora Train Station (Kutná Hora hlavní nádraží) is straightforward to navigate. There are two platforms – platform 2 for the main line trains (to Prague, Brno, etc), and platform 1 for the local branch line which calls at Kutná Hora Sedlec and Kutná Hora město, the station for the town centre.
Most readers would disembark the train at platform 2, then take the subway, continuing to the end and ascending the stairs to platform 1. The timetables allow passengers seven minutes to get from one train to the other, and this is ample. When you reach platform 1, board the train with the final destination ‘Zruc nad Sazavou’.
Kutná Hora – Sedlec is a request stop barely 1 km along the track from the main station. To request the train to stop, you need to press one of the small red buttons next to the doors of the carriage. This station is around 200 metres from the Cathedral of the Assumption and St John the Baptist, an easy flat walk.
However you need to cross the road to the Information Centre to buy your tickets. The 3TOP ticket is the best option, as it allows entry to the Cathedral and Ossuary in Sedlec and St Barbara’s Cathedral in Kutná Hora.
Many visitors then backtrack to the Kutná Hora-Sedlec stop, before boarding the next train to Kutná Hora město. From the latter, it’s a 10-minute uphill walk to Palackého náměstí, the main square in the centre of town.
Prague To Kutná Hora By Bus
The Prague to Kutná Hora bus is the cheapest way to make the journey, but it’s also very time-consuming. As with many buses from Prague to towns in the countryside, the Prague Kutna Hora bus leaves from one of the outlying Metro stations, in this case Haje, at the end of the red C Metro line.
The bus journey from Haje to Kutná Hora takes over 1 hour 40-minutes, and you also need to factor in time to get from your Prague accommodation to Haje. There are around 40 stops between Haje and Kutná Hora, so the journey is very slow. Count on up to an hour to get to Haje and find the bus stop.
The 381 bus to Kutná Hora departs from stand D, which is on Opatovska. Turn right as you leave the Metro station at the Opatovska exit, and turn right. Don’t be confused by the final destination, which is usually Čáslav, the next town south-east of Kutná Hora.
If you do catch the bus to Kutná Hora, it stops at the Kutná Hora bus station (Kutná Hora autobusove nádraží, or Kutná Hora aut nadr on timetables). It also continues to Sedlec Ossuary, stopping around 300 metres away at the Kutná Hora Kostnice stop.
One way of doing things is catching the 381, staying on until the Sedlec kostnice stop, which is after the town centre and bus station. You could then visit both attractions – which would take an hour, perhaps a bit more – then catch the 381 or 802 back to Kutná Hora town centre. The 802 is very useful, stopping at Palackého náměstí, a central square 5 to 10 minutes’ walk from the other main Kutná Hora sights.
Before you plan out your Prague to Kutná Hora journey, check your bus times on the excellent idos.cz website, which covers bus, train and combined options.
Prague To Kutná Hora On A Tour
A Kutná Hora tour from Prague is another way to get to see this extraordinary town. It’s a lot more convenient, especially if you don’t use public transport regularly. They also pick up from easily accessible, central pick-up points in Prague, and give you lots of information along the way – something you just don’t get with the 381 bus!
This Kutna Hora coach tour from Prague includes visits to the Sedlec Ossuary, St Barbara’s Cathedral and, interestingly, the Italian Court, which was home to the town’s mint, where its silver coins were struck.
This Kutna Hora from Prague tour is another great option, stopping at the Sedlec Ossuary, the nearby Sedlec Cathedral and St Barbara’s Cathedral, with lunch included. You also get time to look around the wonderful Kutná Hora old town area
Prague To Kutná Hora By Car
We’ve left the option of driving from Prague to Kutná Hora as it’s the least environmentally friendly option, not to mention the most stressful.
If you’re staying in Prague and planning day trips around Prague, you don’t really need to hire a car unless you’re going somewhere beyond the reach of public transport. And Kutná Hora is very easy to reach by train or bus from Prague.
It only makes sense to drive to Kutná Hora from Prague if you’re embarking on a Czech Republic road trip.
If you’re driving from Prague to Kutná Hora the most direct route is Highway 2 via Říčany. It’s also a non-toll road. Car hire companies usually provide a toll sticker on the windscreen which logs any charges you may incur along the way – you then pay these when you return your vehicle.
Check out these other day trips from Prague:
Karlstejn Castle – outstanding royal castle in Bohemian forest
Konopiště Castle – the Bohemian residence of Archduke Franz Ferdinand
Křivoklát Castle – stunning medieval castle in forest an hour west of Prague
Mělník – lovely wine town an hour north of Prague
Best Things To Do In Český Krumlov – Possibly The Most Beautiful Town In The Czech Republic
České Budějovice – South Bohemia’s Undiscovered Capital
And take a look at these other Czech UNESCO World Heritage Sites:
Český Krumlov Old Town – a visual guide to one of the most beautiful places in Czech Republic
Telč – One of the most picturesque small towns in Europe
Lednice Castle – the magnificent summer seat of the Liechtenstein dynasty, and one of the most splendid of all Czech castles
Old Town Prague – from secret side streets to soaring spires of the amazing Czech capital
Holašovice – a unique folk-Baroque farming village in rural South Bohemia
Things to do in Mariánské Lázně – explore one of the Great Spas of Europe
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