Europe 2025 {Day 4~ Český Krumlov, Czech Republic}

On December 14th I got up, packed up, and headed out by taxi. I had a bus ticket to my next destination. You might recall that last year I tried to get more comfortable traveling by bus so that I could reach more destinations not accessible by train. This year I was traveling by Flix Bus for the first time to get to and from my next destination... Český Krumlov, Czech Republic. It's been on my list for years and there is a train from Prague (only one in and one out a day), but a bus was the more flexible way to reach it.

Now a little something about me... I'm going to be early. On time is late. Early is on time. Got it? I could always sleep much later than I do on vacation because I get to train stations, bus stations, and airports early. I don't want to be rushed. I don't want to stress about finding a place. I'm going to be early and if it means sitting and waiting that is perfectly fine. My anxiety cannot take being late.

On my way to catch the bus, the driver asked what time my bus was. I told him 9:20 a.m. He said "oh you are way too early. That is a not so good neighborhood". Turns out I wasn't leaving from a bus station. I was leaving from some bus stop sign on a random road in the industrial area of Linz! So he showed me where the stop was and then took me to a gas station down the block. He said nice people run it and would let me stay there until time. So I sat for about 30 minutes in a Linz gas station. Note to self: don't be early for the bus!

I did make it onto the bus and on my way for the hour and 20 minute ride.

It was so foggy along the way you couldn't see a thing most of the way, but right outside of the my destination the sun finally came out!

I got my luggage and was ready to head into CK, but there were no taxis. I set out for the 15 minute walk to my hotel which wouldn't have been terrible except for I didn't factor in that 90% of the walk was on cobble stones! When I got to the hotel they said "Why didn't you call us? We would have picked you up or called a taxi for you."

On my walk I passed a park and looked out and saw this...

I couldn't believe it! All the heart eye emojis!

I got to the hotel and had to leave my luggage because my room wasn't ready. The lady at the hotel gave me restaurant recommendations and some other information and I headed out.

Nothing of significance, just a pretty pink building.

I backtracked and went back on the road I had come in on to look at some stores, that park, and check out the Church of St. Vitus.

I wanted so many things from this store! Their credit card machine being broken saved me from buying more than I would have wanted to carry.

I headed back toward the square and then up the main road that crosses the Vltava River and goes toward the castle.

I stopped and had lunch at a restaurant that's just through that archway on the right.

Then I looked at shops and continued to make my way up toward the castle. I stopped in this gingerbread store and got a couple of things.

It was so good! I had it for an afternoon snack later and had to go back and buy more and buy one to take home to my mom.

I wouldn't have noticed this, but there was a tour group looking at this building. The tour wasn't in English so I didn't know what they were saying but they were pointing out the paintings at the top.

I knew climbing the castle tower with my knee was not an option, but there were some other spots where I could still get some good views.

The castle moat has bears! This one was resting on a log.

Of course I was a bit concerned about the bears. I did some research and animal rights advocates are also concerned and they are either going to modernize their habitat or "phase them out" by 2030.

I just love little towns with narrow winding streets where I can wander with no purpose.

Just a magical town!

They had these trees all over CK that were tied with different color ribbons.

So simple but pretty

I kept walking past the Longchamp store. I thought the toboggan purse was so cute.

I finally stopped in to look at it and decided it wasn't very practical, but did end up buying that pink travel bag. I used it when I went home at Christmas and LOVED it.

Once it got dark I walked around and looked at the lights. I also headed back toward the castle to eat at a different restaurant for dinner.

I got a chimney cake for dessert at the Christmas market. It smelled much better than it tasted so I only ended up eating a few bites. I think they were overworking the dough.

I ended up eating the Linzer cookie I purchased at the Gingerbread store earlier for dessert and it was fantastic. I discovered last year in Austria that I love the Linzer cookies with apricot jam.

Now let me tell you about my hotel. I stayed at Hotel Oldinn. It is those four buildings straight across the square in this pic. The main entrance is located in the one on the left, the restaurant in the bottom of the one with the rounded top, but the rooms are upstairs in those 4 buildings.

I had just a standard double room and it was the cheapest price I paid the whole trip. It was $109! AND it was my favorite hotel! The location! Free breakfast included! The staff! Everything was wonderful!

When my room was ready they moved my luggage up for me. When I was took a break from exploring, I stopped in and picked up my key and headed up to check out my room. It was a great surprise because I had a fabulous view!

I enjoyed the Christmas concert from my room! CK has a lot more tourists during the day than they do at night. By evening things really quiet down. This was after the market had mostly closed up for the day.