Pilsen or Plzeň in its native tongue is everything that epitomizes the Czech Republic. It has a beautiful square surrounded by pastel-colored buildings, parks and museums galore, and of course…beer. You could say it does the latter better than anywhere else in the country.
I’d go as far as saying it’s Europe’s beer capital, but I know a few Bavarians that would have my head. Nonetheless, Pilsen is the home and birthplace of Pilsner, the iconic pale lager known worldwide. But, the city is more than just its recognizable beer, it’s a place rich in history and a former European Capital of Culture.
Here are 8 things to do in Pilsen: Czech Republic’s authentic brewery city!
VISIT THE PILSNER URQUELL BREWERY
The Pilsner Urquell Brewery is an obvious, but necessary stop on every Pilsen itinerary. After all, it turned the city into a recognizable international tourist destination. While a tour and tasting at the brewery is a great choice, there are other things to do for those looking to experience something less beer-related.
The architecture itself is wonderful, an iconic 19th-century double arch entrance makes way to the courtyard of a massive brewery complex. Beautiful pale yellow industrial buildings with sky-high brick chimneys are the focal point, while a sweeping wooden bridge makes its way through the center and across the Redbuza River.
There’s also a restaurant in the complex, serving traditional Czech foods that pair nicely with Pilsner Urquell. When summer hits, the brewery also hosts various events, including concerts and food festivals.
In the end, though, a tour is the best way to experience the Pilsner Urquell Brewery. Coming in at just under 2 hours, you’ll be taken through the immense bottling plant, learn about the history and ingredients of the beer, and check out the historic cellars. The same one Josef Groll, the “Father of Pilsner,” used when creating the inspirational pale lager for the first time.
Tours | If you want to learn more about the tour options of the brewery, you can check out this page. I suggest booking in advance, as tours fill up fast and are limited for each offered language.
If tours are booked up on the website, you can always double-check here for last-minute availability.
Other Experiences Offered | There are plenty of different classes and programs through the brewery to keep you busy. If you want to check out the current offerings have a look here.
After you’ve finished at the brewery complex, you can follow the wooden bridge I mentioned above to Štruncovy Park. You know you’re in the right place if you see the massive Doosan Arena, the current stadium of previous Champion’s League contenders FC Viktoria Plzen. From here you can head west towards the city center along a designated path, or east to see the confluence of the Radbuza and Mže Rivers.
CHECK OUT PILSEN’S MUSEUMS
Every city and town in the Czech Republic seems to have a museum or two, and Pilsen is no different. You’ll find a range of different museums, teaching you everything from the region’s ancient history to the traditions of puppetry.
Having a look around these places is an amazing way to glimpse into Pilsen’s past and present. Finding out how the city got to its current character.
Here are some museums worth checking out:
Pilsen Brewery Museum | The main focal point here is unsurprisingly beer. You’ll enter cellars, check out the original 15th-century brewing house, and see some a nice collection of beer containers and bottles. It’s also where you’ll go to access the historic Pilsen Underground.
Museum of West Bohemia | A museum that has a combination of permanent and rotating exhibitions. The Museum of Western Bohemia has permanent installments about the archaeological finds from the region, the history of Pilsen and its surrounding area, and the Pilsen City Armory. Its temporary exhibits tend to focus on art, music, and science, oftentimes highlighting Czech influence within each category.
Puppet Museum | A unique place whose main goal is to teach you the customs and story of puppets. From the beginning of puppetry in Pilsen to present-day shows, you’ll learn about traveling puppeteers, puppet-making, and dedicated theaters. And of course, you’ll see tons of puppets.
Patton Memorial Pilsen | The small museum shares the story of Pilsen’s liberation through various donated artifacts. If you’re into WWII memorabilia and/or history it’s a great quick visit.
EXPLORE THE PILSEN UNDERGROUND
The Pilsen Underground is a maze-like network of hallways and storage rooms that lay beneath the city’s streets. Parts of it were built as early as the 13th century, providing a necessary depository and transport system for water and waste in olden times.
The best and only way to see the subterranean passages is through a guided tour. Entry starts at the Brewery Museum and takes you through a small portion of the kilometers-long labyrinth.
Every tour starts with an introduction to the cellars and a safety presentation where you’ll be given a hard hat. From there you’ll be taken through reconstructed corridors, stopping at key points to learn about the importance of the underground to Pilsen during the medieval ages. It’s a wonderful history lesson that has some interesting exhibits, including medieval ceramics and a replica watermill.
When you’re done you’ll be given a beer voucher (if you’re of legal drinking age) to use at different establishments around town. I suggest heading over to the brewery for a mug of unfiltered Pilsner Urquell.
Tip | Packaging a Brewery Museum or Gambrinus Brewery Tour with the Pilsen Underground Tour usually gives you a small, but not insignificant discount.
If tours are booked out on the official website, I suggest having a look here for any last-minute availability.
HANG OUT IN THE MAIN SQUARE
Pilsen’s main square is a large, spacious area surrounded by beautiful buildings with varicolored facades. In the center stands an imposing 13th-century Gothic cathedral with spectacular views of the city and its encompassing area.
The Cathedral of St. Bartholomew is more than just a pretty church though, it’s a presentation of the city’s history. Construction is said to have started right around Pilsen’s founding and lasted through the Hussite Wars before finally being completed sometime in the 16th century. It also claims the distinction of having the Czech Republic’s tallest church spire, the tower coming just over 100 meters tall. The cathedral’s renovated interior is a show of grandiose cylindrical pillars, stained glass windows, and extraordinary sculptures and statues.
Entrance | Admission fees for the church tower and opening and closing times for the church can be found here.
Outside, on each of Republic Square’s corners, you’ll find a notable installation. In the northwest is the Marian Column, a typical Baroque plague column that almost seems customary in medieval Czech cities.
On the other edges, three controversial golden-plated fountains stand. The competition-winning designs were created by Ondřej Císler, and depict the simplistic versions of an angel, a camel, and a greyhound. They seem like a stretch as visual representations, but they are all portrayed on Pilsen’s coat of arms, so I believe it. I guess that’s why locals were split on the subject, to begin with. Either way, the symbolism is fascinating and people seem genuinely interested in them.
RELAX AT PILSEN VENICE
If you want a calm place to reboot your travel gears or simply enjoy coffee in the sun, Mlýnská Strouha is your spot. Dubbed Pilsen’s Venice, it’s a small park with neatly cut grass and funky art installations.
Don’t be fooled by its name, there is very little in common with Italy’s historic city. But, it’s nonetheless a place worth lazing around between sightseeing. It’s also in the perfect spot, placed directly between Doosan Arena and the historic center, and right across the river from the Pilsner Urquell Brewery.
Colorful mask-like sculptures line the park’s stone walkway, and on occasion, other works are on display. When I was there, sculptures that depicted people doing handstands underwater were smack in the middle of Mlýnská Strouha.
Additionally, a few restaurants near the bridge offer shade from the hot summer days and a bite to eat along the water. You’ll also find plenty of benches to sit at, presenting picturesque views of Černá věž tower or the ducks floating in the still pond.
ADMIRE THE BUILDINGS IN OLD TOWN
Pilsen’s easily walkable old town is worth visiting beyond the city’s main square. With soft-hued multistory buildings on every block, above-ground is just as striking as below.
Like the rest of Europe, the city’s most splendid properties revolve around religion and the arts. There are three main religious buildings to visit besides the well-known Cathedral of St. Bartholomew.
The first is the elegant Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the other two are the city’s notable synagogues. Part of the Franciscan Monastery, the Church of the Assumption is one of Pilsen’s oldest structures. It’s a lesser-visited place in the city with Gothic-style vaults and a Baroque altar.
Two synagogues, the Great Synagogue and the Old Synagogue emphasize the city’s centuries-old importance to the Jewish community. The Great Synagogue is a magnificent mix of different architectural styles, highlighted by its two towering onion domes. It’s also one of Europe’s largest synagogues. A few blocks away is the reconstructed Old Synagogue with its simple, but pretty interior.
The arts are important to the Czech Republic, and Pilsen is no exception. The J.K. Tyl Theater exemplifies that with its four genre performances. The theater company uses two stunning buildings as their main premises.
The first is the modern New Theater, with its weird but captivating bubble facade. The other is the original, extravagant neo-Renaissance style Great Theater. Steps away is the impressive Municipal Commons, an Art-Nouveau building that holds special events, activities, and conferences.
Tour | if you’re looking for a guide through the city with a little bit of a twist, I suggest looking into this tour.
GET YOU BEER ON
If you haven’t noticed by now, Pilsen is a big beer place. Most of the city’s tourism revolves around it specifically, whether it’s tours, restaurants, or bars. After all, Pilsner Urquell is a world-famous brewery that exports to more than 50 countries around the globe.
However, the city’s love for hops goes much further than Pilsner Urquell. Another Czech beer called Gambrinus is brewed at the same facility and offers more intimate tours of its fermentation room and brewing process. Named after a mythical and cultural hero, it’s extremely popular within the country. I find the brewery name fitting for a nation that prides itself on its Pilsner, Gambrinus the legend is an icon of everything that is beer.
Looking for something a little more unusual in the Pilsen beer scene? Spend an afternoon at a beer spa. Using natural ingredients and materials, a spa treatment involves traditional Czech healing methods. You can expect herbal bathing, wheat straw beds, and plenty of beer.
Spas | The two main spas in the area are Purkmistr Beer Spa and Spa Beerland.
Pubs | If you’re in search of the perfect pilsner, check here for some of Pilsen’s best places for a beer.
VISIT ONE OF THE UNESCO SPA TOWNS
West Bohemia is known for two things: beer and spas. Pilsen covers the first one thoroughly, but it’ll take a short trip to truly experience the other. A short adventure away from the city will take you to the Czech’s “Spa Triangle.” The area is home to three towns that are part of UNESCO’s list of The Great Spa Towns of Europe.
While each of these places is known for its famous spas, they all offer other highlights. There’s a ton of history in the region, with many historically significant figures using the towns as spa retreats.
Karlovy Vary | The Czech Republic’s premier spa city is overflowing with beauty. Home to the country’s largest film festival, and rich in history, Karlovy Vary is a glamorous place to visit. Its iconic colonnades will dazzle and woo, as will the picture-perfect 19th-century buildings. A mineral water drinking tour is almost a prerequisite, with more than a dozen warm spring taps popping up around the city. In the hills above, you’ll discover several trails that lead to aerial views of the city’s luxurious spas and villas.
Further Reading for Karlovy Vary:
Mariánské Lázně | A smaller, more intimate version of Karlovy Vary. With breathtaking colonnades, a singing fountain, and clean-cut lawns, Mariánské Lázně is a perfect day trip. It’s all about relaxing here, taking in the calming energy, and tasting the local mineral water.
Františkovy Lázně | The smallest of the bunch, Františkovy Lázně is a peaceful town with an assortment of useable springs. There’s greenery everywhere and the scenic Soos National Nature Reserve is just a stone’s throw away.
Getting There | The best way to get to the spa towns from Pilsen is by either car or train. There are local buses as well, but they are usually trickier to navigate. It’s about 1 hour to both Karlovy Vary and Mariánské Lázně and 1 ½ hours to Františkovy Lázně. Trains and buses run throughout the day. You can find timetables and routes on either IDOS or České dráhy.
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