Pilsen in 2 days
Day one is carried by the Pilsner Urquell brewery alone, with its tour and tasting. Day two belongs to what sits below and above the square — the underground, the cathedral tower and the synagogue.
- How long
- 2 days
- The brewery
- 100 min tour
- The underground
- 60 min, €10.25, booking yes
Day one belongs to beer: the Brewery Museum in the morning, then the Pilsner Urquell tour with a tasting in the afternoon, since the slot needs booking. Day two runs below and above Republic Square — the underground, the cathedral tower and the Great Synagogue, in that order. A third day, if there is one, continues into the day trips.
Beer: the museum, then the brewery
Arrival from Prague (České dráhy train or RegioJet/FlixBus coach), getting off a short walk from Republic Square.
Republic Square, a first look before the day starts, 20–30 min walk.
The Brewery Museum, right on the square, covering the town's long relationship with beer, from before the brewery existed. The visit takes 60 min, entry €6.15.
A few streets further to the Pilsner Urquell brewery itself, on the spot where the first bottom-fermented golden lager came out of the kettle in 1842.
The tour with tasting, 100 min, €17.60. Slots book out well ahead of the date, so reserving counts as recommended.
Lunch in the brewery yard, at Na Spilce.
A free afternoon around the old town near the square, with nothing new to book.
The underground, the tower, the synagogue
Republic Square, the start of day two.
St Bartholomew's Cathedral Tower, standing 102.6 metres over the square, higher than any other church in the country. The climb is €4.50, 10:00–18:30 (last entry 18:00).
The Historical Underground of Plzeň, reached from under the same square, its medieval tunnels running beneath the old town. Visits run 60 min, entry €10.25; groups are capped, so a slot needs booking yes.
On foot to the Great Synagogue, Europe's second-largest: it opens Sun–Thu 10–17, entry costs €5.75, and it's closed Friday, Saturday, Jewish holidays.
Lunch in town, then the train or coach back to Prague.
Before you go
Short answers to what people ask most before setting out.
What if there's only one day?
Day one carries everything essential: the Brewery Museum and the Pilsner Urquell tour with a tasting. The underground, the tower and the synagogue wait for next time.
Does anything need booking ahead?
The brewery tour, since slots fill up the calendar in advance, and the underground, since groups are capped. The cathedral tower and the synagogue need no booking.
What if day two falls on a Friday or Saturday?
The Great Synagogue is closed both days. The tower and the underground are still open, and the synagogue moves to another date or drops from the plan.
Ready for Pilsen?
Where to next
Day trips from Pilsen
→A spa town, a Baroque monastery and catacombs under a small town — all three are reachable without a car, and…
Karlovy Vary · 65 km
→This is a town you drink your way through, from a spouted cup, along colonnades over twelve mineral springs.
How well does Pilsen suit you?
→Six questions: a score for this place and others like it.
Front row for the next trip
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