Prague is such a magical city with so much to do that I can see why so many people stay there their entire trip. I did for my first trip as well! For my second trip to Prague, I knew I wanted to explore more of the Czech Republic and see if I could even visit another country I haven’t been to. My goal is to visit a new country every year, and so far I have already accomplished that for 2026! There are so many day trip options from Prague, but here are the ones I experienced and loved on my recent trip! We used the České Dráhy app called Můj Vlak or the website (https://www.cd.cz/en/) to buy tickets and for the train schedules. It was easy to use and very helpful so I highly recommend it. While buying tickets in advance is the most budget friendly option, we often purchased ours on the day to keep our plans flexible. All prices are based on exchange rates from my March 2026 trip. Rates can fluctuate even daily, so use these as a helpful estimate for planning!

1. Tábor, Czech Republic

Tábor is a magical medieval city that was originally built to survive an apocalypse. It is about a twenty-minute walk from Tábor’s main train station to the main square.   We decided to take the route that hugged the Jordán Reservoir, which is the oldest reservoir in Central Europe. The medieval area is raised above the rest of the town and has beautiful views of the surrounding area. The streets are random and winding and we truly felt like we stepped back in time. There are underground tunnels you can explore, but we didn’t have time. The main square is large and has so many beautiful buildings surrounding it. When we were there, locals were gathered in the center and children were having fun playing. We had a nice meal in the square and enjoyed roaming through the side streets. Everyone we met was so kind and friendly despite the language barrier. It was our favorite day trip we took and I can’t wait to go back someday.

2. Pardubice, Czech Republic

I picked Pardubice for a day trip because it seemed like the perfect mix of old and new. Pardubice is mostly known for gingerbread and horse racing. The walk from the main train station to the main square is about twenty five minutes. The main train station is very easy to navigate, it is basically one long hall. It is described as still having a Soviet era vibe. Along the way you pass more modern buildings that holds shops and restaurants . We were surprised with how many thrift or second hand shops there were. It was so cool to walk through the different shops and we even got a little vase that reminded me of my great grandma! Pardubice Castle is so unique looking and was beautiful from every angle. We enjoyed walking on the elevated trail around the castle. The grounds of the complex are stunning and free to roam around. Parts of it require a ticket to enter, but we got to see so much without having to pay. We bought gingerbread from a store in the main square but haven’t tried it yet. Something I was not expecting was for so many places to be cash only. Besides one bar in Prague, this was the only time we had this issue. Overall, I really liked this town and am so glad I visited!

3. Dresden, Germany

This was a bit far for a day trip and the direct train schedule was not ideal, but going to Germany has been a dream of mine for so long. It is was also the most expensive for train tickets, but the trains were all news and really nice! If you buy your ticket in advance, you can greatly reduce the cost of the ticket. The train ride ended up not feeling that long because of how beautiful the view was. I highly recommend sitting on the right side of the train on the way there! The walk from the train station to where all the historic buildings are is about a 25-30 minute walk. We started off at the Zwinger and other main attractions were close by. The Zwinger, like everything else in the area, was so detailed and grand. Truly such a beautiful area and I couldn’t stop taking pictures of everything. We also loved walking by the river even though it was very cold that day. While waiting on the platform for the train home, German police did randomly approach people to see their passports so I would make sure you definitely have yours for this day trip! Dresden was the day that also made me really feel “Wow, I can’t believe I am really here” and I am so glad I got to experience it!

4. Olomouc, Czech Republic

This was also a really long travel, but I picked it because I wanted to see the Moravian part of the Czech Republic. Before this, we had only traveled throughout Bohemia. It felt like a smaller and less crowded Prague. We absolutely loved this town and felt like we could live there. We had the best meal of our trip at a restaurant called Long Story Short (https://www.longstoryshort.cz/) and still talk about it! We loved walking around town to find all the different fountains and loved the large main square. We stumbled upon the Easter market and it was one of my favorites of the entire trip! We got hand painted eggs and a crocheted stuffed animal at the market. People were so friendly and kind, someone even offered to take a picture for us! Unfortunately, the Holy Trinity Column ( a UNESCO World Heritage Site) is being renovated, but we loved this town so much that I know we will be back!

Have you visited any of these places? I would love to hear about your adventures as well!