Plzeň, Czechia: travel guide
Birthplace of pilsner lager, with brewery cellars and a tall cathedral tower
Where pilsner was first brewed, in 1842 — the Pilsner Urquell cellars still run tours, St Bartholomew's carries Czechia's tallest church tower at 102.6 m, and the Great Synagogue is the second largest in Europe.
About Plzeň
Plzeň is the city where pilsner lager was first brewed in 1842, and beer is the thread that runs through any visit. It is a western Bohemian city with a handsome Renaissance and Baroque centre arranged around a large main square.
The Pilsner Urquell brewery, with its tours and underground cellars, is the obvious draw, but the old town is also rewarding: St Bartholomew's Cathedral has the tallest church tower in Czechia, and the Great Synagogue is among the largest in Europe. Families can add the zoo and botanical garden or the Techmania science centre.
Plzeň suits beer lovers and day-trippers from Prague. Spring to early autumn is the most comfortable time to go.
Summary adapted from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA.
- Country
- Czechia
- Currency
- CZK
- Time zone
- Europe/Prague
Last updated
Top places to visit in Plzeň
Pilsner Urquell Brewery
historic brewery · 4.8 rating · about 2 h · check the fee at the gate
The birthplace of the world's most influential beer style — Pilsner Urquell has been producing the original golden lager at this site continuously since 1842. The 26-hectare brewery complex offers world-class guided tours through mashing…
Republic Square (náměstí Republiky)
historic square · 4.6 rating · about 1.5 h · check the fee at the gate
One of the largest historic squares in Bohemia at 139 × 193 metres. The dominant Cathedral of St Bartholomew has the tallest church tower in the Czech Republic at 102.26 metres. The Renaissance town hall, a 1681 plague column, and the…
Plzen Zoo and Botanical Garden
zoo-garden · 4.6 rating · about 4 h · check the fee at the gate
Combined zoo and botanical garden across hillside grounds, with themed habitats including DinoPark, African Savanna, and the Mediterranean greenhouse.
St Bartholomew Cathedral Plzen
gothic-cathedral · 4.6 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate
Gothic cathedral on Republic Square with the tallest church tower in Czechia at 102.6m, offering panoramic city views from the climbable viewing gallery.
Great Synagogue Plzen
moorish-synagogue · 4.7 rating · about 0.8 h · check the fee at the gate
Third-largest synagogue in the world, an 1893 Moorish Revival masterpiece with twin onion-domed towers and a stunning gilded interior.
Techmania Science Center
science-museum · 4.6 rating · about 3 h · check the fee at the gate
Interactive science museum with hundreds of hands-on exhibits, a 3D planetarium, and the only science theater in Czechia, in a former Škoda factory hall.
Plzen Historical Underground
underground-tour · 4.5 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate
Network of medieval cellars and tunnels beneath the old town used for storage, brewing, and refuge through the centuries, with 800m of guided tour passages.
Plzen Brewery Museum
brewery-museum · 4.5 rating · about 1.5 h · check the fee at the gate
Museum in a 15th-century malt house tracing Bohemian brewing traditions, with original equipment, period pubs, and the Pilsner heritage story.
Patton Memorial Plzen
wwii-memorial · 4.6 rating · about 1.5 h · check the fee at the gate
Museum commemorating the 1945 liberation of Plzeň by General Patton's US Third Army, with original vehicles, uniforms, and personal artifacts.
Borsov Spa Park
riverside-park · 4.4 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate
Landscaped park along the Mže River with mature trees, walking paths, and connections to the surviving fortifications of the old town.
Things to do
- Pilsner Urquell Brewery Tour — Underground Cellars & Tank Beer Cultural · 2 h · from CZK 240 per person
Where to stay in Plzeň
Hotels
- Courtyard by Marriott Pilsen 4-star · CZK 3,500 to CZK 9,000 per night
Where to eat
- Na Spilce Czech · about CZK 420 per person
Getting to Plzeň
Nearest airport: Karlovy Vary (KLV), about 61 km away in a straight line. The road or rail journey is longer.
Getting around
- Tram
- Walking