Pardubice

Day Trips

Begin at Pardubice train station and stroll through the tree-lined Havlíček Park to the Renaissance castle courtyard. Admire the fortified walls and Gothic arcades as you learn about the Pernštejn family’s legacy. Finish with a panoramic view from the castle tower overlooking the Elbe River floodplain.

Enjoy a leisurely lunch in a nearby café serving local Czech specialties like smažený sýr and potato soup. Join a guided tour of the East Bohemian Museum housed in the castle’s historic chambers. Browse exhibits on regional archaeology, art and the famous Pardubice gingerbread.

Dine at a riverside restaurant offering hearty Bohemian dishes and local craft beer. Take an evening walk along the Čertovka branch of the Elbe as the lights reflect on the water. End with a glass of Moravian wine on the terrace overlooking the city.

Start your day with fresh pastries and coffee in the Old Town Square. Explore the pastel-colored houses, burgher residences and intricate historic coach house. Pop into local artisan shops selling handmade ceramics and textiles.

Visit the Green Gate observation deck for sweeping views of Pardubice’s rooftops and countryside. Stop at the House of Art for a temporary exhibition of contemporary Czech artists. Sample traditional obložené chlebíčky (open-faced sandwiches) for a light snack.

Catch an organ recital in the nearby Church of St. Bartholomew if available. Wander through lit cobblestone streets discovering hidden courtyards and fountains. Relax over a cold Gambrinus lager at a cozy tavern near the square.

Head to the historic slightly hidden Pernštejn Brewery for a behind-the-scenes tour of the brewing process. Sample fresh unfiltered beer straight from the tank in the barrel cellar. Learn about centuries-old Czech brewing traditions and local water sources.

Climb the nearby Pernštejn Tower for a bird’s-eye panorama of Pardubice and the floodplain forest. Visit the small museum on the ground floor detailing medieval heraldry and lordly banquets. Enjoy a riverside picnic with sandwiches and local cheeses by the Elbe.

Return to the brewery’s taproom for a tasting flight of seasonal ales and lagers. Pair each brew with Czech nibbles like pickled cheese (nakládaný hermelín) and sausages. Finish the evening with a moonlit riverside walk back to town.

Begin with a workshop at the Gingerbread Museum, where you’ll shape, stamp and bake your own medovník (honey cake). Learn the centuries-old family recipe and secret spice blend. Decorate your creation with royal icing and traditional molds.

Explore the museum’s collection of antique molds, historic recipe books and folkloric displays. Sample several gingerbread varieties infused with honey, almonds and chocolate. Enjoy lunch in a café that weaves gingerbread crumbs into desserts and ice creams.

Attend a lecture on regional folklore and the role of gingerbread in festive Czech traditions. Wander through the museum’s interactive sections featuring old-world kitchens and festival stalls. Cap off the evening with tea and gingerbread cookies in a cozy gallery setting.

Travel by local bus to Kunětická Hora, a fairy-tale castle atop a volcanic hill. Hike the scenic trail through mixed forest to reach the medieval fortress. Explore battlements and panoramic terraces overlooking the East Bohemian plains.

Picnic on the grass ramparts with a view stretching to Pardubice in the distance. Enter the castle chapel, admire restored frescoes and learn about 15th-century Hussite wars. Descend via the back route through oak groves to the visitor center for regional craft beers.

Return to Pardubice and enjoy dinner at a farm-to-table restaurant highlighting locally sourced produce. Sample fresh trout or roast duck accompanied by seasonal root vegetables. Stroll back through the illuminated market square, stopping for a nightcap of slivovice.

Take a regional train to nearby Litomyšl, a UNESCO World Heritage town famed for its arcaded Renaissance château. Tour the painted facades and strolling gardens of the Smetana Festival grounds. Stop at a bakery for flammkuchen and coffee.

Explore the château’s ornate halls and baroque theater, then wander through its lush English landscape park. Visit the Smetana Memorial built on the composer’s birthplace, listening to his operatic overtures. Browse local shops selling handmade lace and pottery.

Return to Pardubice by train and dine at a riverside terrace serving modern Czech cuisine. Try mushroom risotto or wild boar goulash with a side of dumplings. Savor a glass of locally produced fruit wine under the stars.

Begin at the East Bohemian Gallery showcasing works by 19th- and 20th-century Czech painters. Engage with interactive installations in the modern wing. Participate in a drop-in sketching session inspired by exhibited sculptures.

Lunch at a creative café with art-themed décor and artisan teas. Visit the House of Photography for a retrospective on Czech photojournalism. Wander a nearby crafts market featuring woodworkers, weavers and glass blowers.

Attend a performance at the East Bohemian Theater, whether it’s a Czech play, opera or dance piece. Experience the intimate atmosphere of a regional stage with local talent. Finish with a late-night espresso at a bohemian café in the pedestrian zone.

Rent a car or join a guided tour into the Polabí floodplain meadows for birdwatching at dawn. Spot herons, kingfishers and egrets along the Cidlina River’s banks. Enjoy breakfast in the open air with farm-fresh cheese and smoked sausages.

Visit a traditional homestead museum to learn about rural life and folk customs in East Bohemia. Sample homemade buttermilk, rye bread and fresh herbs from the garden. Wander trails past wildflower fields and small fish ponds.

Return to Pardubice and dine at a countryside-style restaurant serving venison and roasted root vegetables. Pair your meal with a herbal liqueur made by a local distillery. Unwind with live folk music in a casual tavern setting.

Pick up rental bicycles and set off along the Cidlina River cycle path. Enjoy flat terrain shaded by willow trees and occasional river vistas. Stop at small villages for fresh spring water and homemade koláče.

Cross scenic wooden footbridges to reach quiet backroads lined with hop fields. Visit a working hop farm to see Czech brewing’s key ingredient and sample fresh hop tea. Pause for a picnic of local cheeses, cold cuts and crusty bread beneath an old oak.

Return to town for a well-earned dinner at a modern bistro featuring regional ingredients. Try morel mushroom risotto or pan-fried perch. End the day with a craft cocktail infused with local herbs at a stylish bar.

Enjoy a slow morning with coffee in bed delivered by room service or at a boutique hotel café. Take a final walk through the quiet lanes of the Old Town, scouting for last-minute souvenirs. Visit the small greenhouse next to the castle gardens for seasonal blooms.

Indulge in a spa session or massage at a local wellness center specializing in East Bohemian treatments. Soothe tired muscles with thermal baths and herbal wraps. Relish a light lunch of seasonal salads and fresh fruit.

Dine at a riverside restaurant celebrating your final evening with a gourmet tasting menu. Raise a toast with regional sparkling wine as the sun sets over the Elbe. Take a final moonlit stroll past the illuminated castle and wave goodbye to Pardubice.