Pilsen

Pilsen (Czech: Plzeň) is in Bohemia, in the Czech Republic in Central Europe. It is the home and birthplace of the Pilsener (or pilsner) beer variety which is derived from the city's name. It is the 4th largest city in the country and the largest city in West Bohemia, and is a convenient base for exploring this region of the Czech Republic.

Understand



 * Visit Pilsen website

Get in
The city is well connected with both buses and trains leaving hourly from Prague. Travel times for both buses and trains are just over one hour. From Germany, there are direct trains every two hours from Munich taking about 4½ hours. Another possibility is 3 hour travel from Nuremberg via Marktredwitz and Cheb which takes about 3 hours. From south it's also possible to reach the city using railway from direction of Železná Ruda (via Klatovy) where one can enjoy spectacular views of Sumava mountain range along the more than century old railway track. Last option via railway is from direction of Austrian city of Gmund via České Budějovice. The railway connections remain consistent even during the weekend.

Numerous bus companies connect the city with other European cities and stop at the central bus station, however the connections are usually a subject to reservation, meanwhile trains maintain their intervals during whole week including the weekends and don't require a reservation.

Both rail and bus stations are within walking distance from the city centre.



Get around
To get around the compact city center, it is best to walk. To get around the whole city, the services of the public transport operator PMDP are recommended. The PMDP operate trams, buses and trolley-buses in Pilsen. For information on lines, schedules and rates, visit the PMDP's official website.

Do

 * Walk through the city parks that circle the historical city center on its two sides.
 * Enjoy the view of the city and its surrounding areas from the church tower of the St. Bartholomew's Cathedral.
 * Enjoy a drink of Pilsner Urquell in the city that gave its name to all the pilseners in the world.

Sports

 * Football:

Events
There are several events during the year.
 * The Liberation Festival - around May 6th, when the city of Pilsen was liberated from Nazi Germany by the George Patton's 3rd Army in 1945. The city is full of music and other culture.
 * The Puppet Rock Festival - This summer festival is hold in the park behind the Plzen Plaza the last weekend of July.
 * The In The Streets Festival - generally in the first half of August. Small stages around the city center, a big stage on the Square of Republic. Music, theater and street performances.
 * Pilsner Fest - the biggest and most famous beer festival in the Czech Republic takes place every year around September when Pilsner Urquell Brewery celebrates its birthday.

Eat

 * Potrefená Husa (Martinská 1) - a big restaurant, good selection of meals and drinks
 * U Salzmannů (Pražská 8) - the oldest beer restaurant in Pilsen serving Czech traditional cuisine
 * Slunečnice (Jungmannova 4) - healthy bio cuisine including vegetarian and vegan cuisine
 * Anděl Vegetarian Restaurant (Bezručova 5) - a creative and stylish vegetarian restaurant
 * La Tartelette (Rokycanská 174/7) - French fast food (soups, salads, quiche ...)
 * Na Parkáně (Veleslavinova 4) - the pub to get an excellent unfiltered Urquell
 * Na Parkáně (Veleslavinova 4) - the pub to get an excellent unfiltered Urquell

Drink
Pilsen is the city where the pilsner beer was invented. Pilsner Urquell is the famous beer brand of Pilsen. In a few pubs (Senk Na Parkanu) and at the brewery, you can get the unfiltered, unpasteurized version of Pilsner Urquell, which tastes even better that the common filtered version. Another brand made in the same brewery is Gambrinus. Gambrinus Light (desitka) is probably the most common beer in the Czech Republic, and it's cheaper and weaker than Pilsner Urquell.

Cafés

 * Měšťanská beseda (Kopeckého sady 13) - a luxurious Art Nouveau-style café
 * CrossCafe (Jungmannova 5) - good coffee and light meals (sandwiches, salads, yoghurts)
 * Kajetánka (Sedláčkova 2) - a winehouse
 * Anděl Café (Bezručova 7) - coffee and chocolate house with music
 * Kačaba (Prokopova 17) - café and teahouse employing people with disabilities as part of therapy

Clubs

 * Zach’s Pub (Palackého nám. 2) - Irish pub with music club, regular music production
 * House of Blues (Černická 10) - regular live concerts, nice milieu
 * Buena Vista Club (Kollárova 20) - regular live music, movie projections, theater performances
 * Jazz Rock Café (Sedláčkova 18) - a place to chill, live music, groovy-jazzy-funky
 * Anděl Music Bar (Bezručova 7) - good music, projections

Tourist information
There are two official tourist information offices in Pilsen. Start your visit of Pilsen by visiting them (choose the main one on the náměstí Republiky, if possible), finding out about the current events and collecting a free map of the city. Both offices are open daily from 09:00 to 18:00 (until 19:00 between April and September).



Connect
Pilsen has coverage by 5G from all Czech carriers. Wifi is widely available in public places.

Go next

 * Cheb
 * Františkovy Lázně
 * Karlovy Vary
 * Lázně Kynžvart
 * Loket
 * Mariánské Lázně