Plzeň

Pilsner was first brewed in this West Bohemian city, which has a large historic square and Loos interiors. It is about an hour from Prague by train.

Find a room in Plzeň Start with the essentials Plan a trip to Plzeň

We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.

Plzeň, known in English as Pilsen, is a city in West Bohemia, about 90 kilometers west of Prague. Pilsner lager was first brewed here in 1842, and the brewing history is still visible in the city's breweries and beer halls. The historic center is built around Republic Square, one of the largest squares in Central Europe, lined with old merchant houses. The Cathedral of St. Bartholomew has the tallest church tower in Czechia, at about 102 meters.

Plzeň suits a day trip from Prague, with trains taking about an hour each way, or a relaxed overnight stay. One day covers the square, the cathedral tower and a brewery visit. Two nights leave time for the Loos interiors and the old town streets at a slower pace. Late spring to early autumn suits walking the square and the streets around it.

Plzeň in five

Book the Pilsner Urquell tour aheadThe city tourist office advises checking current tour times and buying tickets in advance on the brewery's official page. The tour covers brewhouses, historic cellars and a tasting of unfiltered beer.
Climb the tallest church tower in CzechiaSt Bartholomew's tower is 102.26 m high, and the visitor site counts nearly 300 stairs to the top. Check the cathedral's hours page, since tower and interior times differ and change by day.
Plan the Great Synagogue for Sunday to ThursdayIt opens 10:00 to 17:00 from Sunday to Thursday and is closed on Fridays, Saturdays and Jewish holidays. It is the largest synagogue in Czechia, so do not leave it for a Friday.
Reserve a Loos interiors tourGuided tours of the Adolf Loos apartments run on set days: Fridays to Sundays from April to October, and fixed weekday times in winter. Tours are in Czech, with an English paper guide.
Choose between Pilsen and Kutná HoraBoth are rail day trips from Prague. Pilsen is a direct train of about 80 minutes, with beer, a tower and architecture; Kutná Hora offers an ossuary and a silver town after a local change.Kutná Hora or Pilsen

Things to do in Plzeň

See all attractions in Plzeň

Museum · PlzeňPuppet Museum

Museum · PlzeňBrummel House

a large building with a fountain in front of it

Synagogue · PlzeňGreat Synagogue

Free trip plannerPlan a trip to PlzeňPut the places you like in Plzeň on a map, give them days, and let one button order each day. Free, with no account.Plan a trip

Need to know

Airport: Prague (PRG), then the train west to Plzeň
Getting there: Direct train from Prague about 80 minutes
Getting around: Walkable center; trams, with contactless payment on board
Best base: The old town around Republic Square
Time needed: 1 long day; 2 with the Loos interiors and underground

Weather by month

Rainy days
Snowy days

Best
Good
Mixed
Poor

JanuaryCloudy11 rainy days2 snowy daysHigh3°Low-3°Cold, quiet
FebruaryPartly cloudy10 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh6°Low-1°Cold, quiet
MarchPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh10°Low1°Cool, damp
AprilPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh14°Low4°Mild, Loos tours
MayRain13 rainy daysHigh18°Low8°Mild, terraces
JunePartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh24°Low13°Warm, long days
JulyRain14 rainy daysHigh25°Low14°Warm, busy
AugustPartly cloudy12 rainy daysHigh25°Low14°Warm, busy
SeptemberPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh20°Low10°Mini brewery fest
OctoberPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh15°Low6°Autumn color
NovemberPartly cloudy10 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh7°Low1°Gray, short days
DecemberPartly cloudy11 rainy days2 snowy daysHigh4°Low-1°Christmas market

Average daily high and low in Plzeň, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.

Right now in Plzeň

Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.

Feels like: 4°
Humidity: 67%
Wind: 8 km/h
Chance of rain: 0%

Plzeň

11:37 PM

Monday, November 2

GMT+1

Today8°4°0%Monday: Cloudy. High 8°, Low 4°. Chance of rain 0%.
Tue7°3°0%Tuesday: Rain. High 7°, Low 3°. Chance of rain 0%.
Wed8°3°0%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 8°, Low 3°. Chance of rain 0%.
Thu8°2°0%Thursday: Partly cloudy. High 8°, Low 2°. Chance of rain 0%.
Fri10°1°0%Friday: Clear. High 10°, Low 1°. Chance of rain 0%.
Sat6°-1°3%Saturday: Cloudy. High 6°, Low -1°. Chance of rain 3%.
Sun6°1°7%Sunday: Cloudy. High 6°, Low 1°. Chance of rain 7%.

Updated 09:35 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com

Money

Mid-market rate1 USD = 21.82 CZK

Amount

Converted to

CZK · Czech Koruna

Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API

What's on in Plzeň

Concerts, festivals and big events in and around the city

Events calendar

Every year

May–JunPrague Spring International Music FestivalPrague, a day trip
MayCzech Beer FestivalPrague, a day trip

Day trips by train

Kladruby Monasterya regional trip; check IDOSA Baroque Benedictine monastery that CzechTourism lists among tips around Plzeň.
Domažlicea regional trip; check IDOSA town with picturesque old architecture, named by CzechTourism as a trip from Plzeň.
Kozel Chateaua regional trip; check its own siteA hunting lodge with a large park; confirm tour times on the chateau's own site.

Before you go to Plzeň

Trains to PlzeňDirect Prague line, point-to-point faresRead the guide

Pilsen tours and tastingsBrewery and city tours in one bookingCompare day trips

eSIM for West BohemiaData for train apps and ticket QR codesRead the guide

Insurance for a rail city breakMissed trains and tour cancellationsRead the guide

We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.

Rules for Plzeň, checked

Great Synagogue: open Sunday to Thursday 10:00 to 17:00; closed on Fridays, Saturdays and Jewish holidays.Checked Oct 4, 2026 · Source
Loos interiors: guided tours Friday to Sunday from April to October, set weekday times from November to March; tours are in Czech with an English paper guide.Checked Oct 4, 2026 · Source
Germany notified temporary controls on its land border with Czechia until 15 March 2027. Carry a passport or ID card if you cross toward Germany.Checked Oct 4, 2026 · Source

Plan around Plzeň

Kutná Hora or Pilsen

Two Prague day trips compared

Read the guide Karlovy Vary

Spa town further west along the same corridor

Read the guide Prague

The usual starting point, with direct trains

Read the guide All of Czechia

Regions, trains, money and entry rules

Read the guide Is a Eurail pass worth it?

Compare passes with point-to-point tickets

Read the guide How EES works

Border checks for short Schengen stays

Read the guide

Plzeň FAQ

Is Pilsen worth a day trip from Prague?

Yes, if you like beer history, architecture and a city with fewer crowds than Prague. The tourist board describes a direct train of about 80 minutes, which leaves time for the brewery, the tower and one more sight.

How long is the train from Prague to Pilsen?

The Visit Plzeň site gives about 80 minutes by direct train from the center of Prague. The main station is a short walk or two tram stops from the old town, and trams accept contactless payment on board.

Do you need to book the Pilsner Urquell brewery tour?

Book ahead. The tourist office recommends checking current tour times and buying tickets in advance on the brewery's official page, which matters more at weekends and in summer.

What is closed on Friday and Saturday in Pilsen?

The Great Synagogue is closed on Fridays, Saturdays and Jewish holidays, and opens Sunday to Thursday. Loos interior tours run on different days by season, so check the tour page when you plan.

What is the Pilsen historical underground like?

CzechTourism describes an 800 m sightseeing route at about 6 °C in cellars and passages dating from the 14th century. Bring a jacket, and check the operator's page for tour times.