Czechs and foreign visitors are increasingly going to all corners of Czechia in search of experiences. And they have plenty to choose from. New data from the Institute of Tourism of the CzechTourism agency show that last year was marked by great interest in tourist destinations across the country. The most frequent destinations were Prague Castle, Petřín Hill or the Prague Zoo. However, science centres, natural monuments, aquaparks and castles in the regions also saw significant growth. This confirms the trend where people are increasingly discovering diverse leisure options in the country.
Prague still leads as a gateway to Czechia, regions are not lagging behind
The Prague Castle remains the most visited place in Czechia, with nearly 2.6 million visitors, up 17% year-on-year. The cable car to Petřín was used by more than 1.5 million people, and the Zoo hl. Prague's zoo was visited by almost 1.4 million animal lovers. Although the metropolis traditionally dominates the list of most visited places, the regions are keeping pace and offering a diverse range of experiences. The Central Bohemia region and South Moravia attract tourists for water fun and relaxation, the Plzeň region is number one for its brewery, Karlovy Vary scores with its medieval buildings in real and miniature form. In the Jihočeský kraj, the fauna leads the way, as it does in Ústecko, Olomouc, Zlín, Vysočina and Hradec Králové region. The Liberecký and Moravian-Silesian regions attract lovers of science and technology, while the Pardubice region is a destination for nature and views from above. In general, cultural and technical monuments, places that offer fun for families with children, as well as natural beauty and hiking opportunities are among the biggest draws.
“As shown by current data, interest in domestic tourist destinations is growing, which is great news for the entire tourism industry. A really positive finding then is that year-on-year increases are being reported by cities across Czechia and across the character. They can be found in large cities and small towns. In practice, this means that people are no longer just heading for notorious destinations, but are venturing into regions and wanting to discover gems they have never known before. This is how we are gradually succeeding in diluting the accumulation of tourists in one place and at the same time supporting local entrepreneurs and regions as a whole," says František Reismüller, Director of the Czech Tourist Authority – CzechTourism and adds: "By working with regions, operators, and conservationists, we are able to sustainably promote tourism that is both place and resident friendly.“
Record increases reported by many places across the country
The biggest year-on-year increase in visitor numbers at top destinations last year was recorded by the Blatná Castle in southern Bohemia (+486% year-on-year), with almost 200,000 people choosing to visit. The building, surrounded by a moat and free-roaming fallow deer, attracted new visitors through cultural events, among other things. The Jezy's Themed Journey in Boží Dar (+ 323 %), which was visited by 36 thousand people, and the Centrum Černá louka in Ostrava (+ 178 %) with more than 87 thousand visitors. The Four Historical Houses in Vrchlabí - the oldest folk buildings in the Krkonoše Mountains, which bring closer the life in the foothills - attracted 33 thousand people (+ 167%), The National Memorial at Vítkov, including a permanent exhibition of modern history, was visited by 38 thousand tourists (+ 141 %) and over 60 thousand visitors (+ 134 %) did not miss the State Chateau Litomyšl, a UNESCO-listed pearl of Renaissance architecture.
What draws visitors? Zoos, nature, aerial views and experiential transport
Among the top ten most visited tourist destinations this year were four zoos – in addition to Zoo Prague, Zoo Zlín, Safari Park Dvůr Králové and Zoo Ostrava. In each of them, people will find not only animals from different parts of the world, but also modern pavilions, educational programs and often botanical features or water areas. Fauna is also reaping success in other regions, where zoos are sensitively embedded in nature and often focused on the conservation of endangered species.
Within all the TOP destinations, natural sites across Czechia are also very popular, such as Adršpašské skály, Lysá hora, the longest pedestrian suspension bridge at Lower Moravia Sky Bridge 721 or Saint Hill in Mikulov, where one can enjoy the view of the surrounding vineyards. And the Punkva Cave with its underground Punkva River also made it into the top 50. Long-term attractions are cable cars, lookout towers or trails in the clouds.
If we focus on the ranking in the category of natural tourist destinations, the first place was taken by the already mentioned Adršpach Rocks, where 510 thousand people went last year. However, the highest year-on-year increase in interest, by 54%, was recorded among natural sites by the Vosecká bouda hiking trail from Czech-Polish Friendship Route in Harrachov, and a fifth more visitors to Teplice Rocks, which is becoming an increasingly popular destination thanks to its accessibility and dramatic-looking landscape.
“In general, natural beauty has long been among the most sought-after destinations by tourists. In recent years, we have seen a growing interest in long-distance walking routes, both among residents and foreigners. And it has to be said that Czechia really has a lot to offer in this respect. Among other things, we have the best hiking signs in the world, over 44 thousand km of hiking trails and 40 thousand km of road cycling routes. Domestic and foreign tourists will find here quality products such as The Ridge Route through Bohemian Switzerland or Stezka pod Lužnice, which boasts a European quality award. Worth mentioning are northern and southern parts of the Bohemian Trail. And cyclists can also enjoy a ride on the Labská cesta or the pan-European network EuroVelo,“ lists Director of Product Management, Research and B2B Cooperation of the Czech Tourist Authority – CzechTourism Tereza Hofmanová.
Last year's data also confirmed that people love a bird's eye view and that scenic views – whether natural or urban, are becoming increasingly popular. The Petřín tower, Žižkov tower and The Old Town Bridge Tower in Prague or the highest wooden tower in Veľká Deštná in the Orlické Mountains are leading the category of towers and lookout towers.
Experiential transport has a strong presence in the Czech Republic. The most popular attractions of this type include the funicular to Petřín, as well as the shortest chairlift in the country, operated by Prague Zoo. Tourists have also taken a liking to our highest transport link, which is the ropeway to Sněžka and is a kind of gateway to the highest levels of the Krkonoše Mountains, or the smaller but stylish ropeway The Bandit in the White in the Beskydy Mountains. In Prague, the Historic Tram No. 42, which travels through the most beautiful corners of the metropolis, is also a success.
Castles and Chateaux – stalwarts on the tourist map of Czechia
Historical buildings are among the drivers of tourism in Czechia. And no wonder – our country boasts the densest network of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the country's area. Alongside Prague Castle, some of the most visited are State Chateau Lednice, with its vast park and greenhouse, or the complex with its rich history and fascinating sightseeing routes, galleries and Baroque theatre State Castle and Chateau Český Krumlov. Popular are Loučeň Castle with its labyrintharium, the aforementioned Blatná Castle, the romantic Hluboká nad Vltavou and the experiential area of the Baroque Dětenice Castle, where historical feasts come to life.
Increasingly, people are visiting other types of sites such as churches, towers, museums and places associated with important people. Prague is also a leader in this respect. This is not only thanks to the Castle, but also Obecni Dom, Strahov Monastery or Vyšehrad.
Science, technology and fun for families
Science and technology centres are growing in popularity. Visitors are attracted by the industrial atmosphere of the Dolní Vítkovice complex in Ostrava, brewery tours at Plzeňský Prazdroj and interactive exhibits at the iQPark and iQLandia in Liberec. The National Technical Museum in Prague maintains high visitor numbers and the National Museum of Agriculture shows the highest year-on-year growth in the top 10 of this category.
Families with children head out not only to explore, but especially to have fun, especially water-based fun. Most visitors head to AquaPalace in Čestlice, which offers a wide range of water slides and an extensive wellness zone. The South Moravian Aqualand Moravia in Pasohlávky with its thermal pools and views of the Pálava River is also very popular. Next on the list is Aquapark in Uherské Hradiště, a regional centre of relaxation, and Park Mirakulum in Milovice, one of the largest children's entertainment areas in the country.
“From data and visitor feedback we see that people are looking not only for classic sights, but also for modern experiences, contact with nature and opportunities for spending free time with children. These are the trends we respond to when creating new products and campaigns. The aim is to offer an interesting programme in each region while taking into account the principles of sustainability and accessibility," explains Director of the Department of Marketing and Foreign Representations Jana Štumpová Konicarová.
Architecture, museums and folk culture pull
Among the attractive architectural monuments are one of the most important European buildings in the Art Nouveau style - the Municipal House in Prague and two villas in Brno – the Art Nouveau Villa Löw-Beer and the functionalist Villa Tugendhat, which show the modern style of the interwar period. The South Moravian metropolis also attracts visitors to the Labyrinth under the Green Market.
Among the museums, Kovozoo in the Old Town with life-size metal sculptures of animals, Museum of Southeast Moravia in Zlín and Prague's Kampa Museum with its collection of modern art are among the highlights. Folk creativity attracts visitors to the Wallachian Open Air Museum in Rožnov pod Radhoštěm, the Archeoskanzen Modrá or the Highlands Open Air Museum - Veselý Kopec, Hlinsko, which presents traditional rural life.
Sacred monuments and memorial sites maintain visitor interest
The Sedlec Cathedral - the Cathedral of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary and St John the Baptist and the ossuary - dominated this category last year, with more than 305,000 visitors. The second Strahov Monastery with its unique library recorded the highest year-on-year increase in visitor numbers in the category of sacred monuments and top ten most visited destinations, up 36%. Tourists also headed in large numbers to Kutná Hora – to St. Barbara's Church or to the Basilica of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary and Sts. Cyril and Methodius in Velehrad, the largest Baroque church in Czechia.
Barrier-free travel on the rise
Accessibility is one of the priorities in tourism. Tourist destinations can be found in every region that are wheelchair accessible. Among them, for example, the Museum in Stříbro in the Pilsen region, Kolowrat Castle in Rychnov nad Kněžnou, the modernized National Stud Farm Kladruby nad Labem, the Papilonia Motel in Dlouhé stráně power plant in Loučná nad Desnou, Sonnentor in Čejkovice, House of Czech Switzerland in Krásná Lípa near Rumburk or Sun Spa in Luhačovice.
Undiscovered Gems
More and more people are discovering smaller and lesser-known places. Even if they make up only a fraction of the total number of visitors, they show the diversity of the offer. So-called undiscovered gems – whether they are smaller castles, historic centres, nature spots or cultural monuments outside the mainstream – attract with atmosphere, story and authenticity. They are identified directly by the individual regions and their promotion aims to bring visitors to places they don't normally go. A complete overview is available on the CzechTourism agency's tourist portal Kudy z nudy and the data website Tourdata.cz.
Most visited tourist destinations in individual regions in 2024:
The Prague Castle remains the most visited place in Czechia, with nearly 2.6 million visitors, up 17% year-on-year. The cable car to Petřín was used by more than 1.5 million people, and the Zoo hl. Prague's zoo was visited by almost 1.4 million animal lovers. Although the metropolis traditionally dominates the list of most visited places, the regions are keeping pace and offering a diverse range of experiences. The Central Bohemia region and South Moravia attract tourists for water fun and relaxation, the Plzeň region is number one for its brewery, Karlovy Vary scores with its medieval buildings in real and miniature form. In the Jihočeský kraj, the fauna leads the way, as it does in Ústecko, Olomouc, Zlín, Vysočina and Hradec Králové region. The Liberecký and Moravian-Silesian regions attract lovers of science and technology, while the Pardubice region is a destination for nature and views from above. In general, cultural and technical monuments, places that offer fun for families with children, as well as natural beauty and hiking opportunities are among the biggest draws.
“As shown by current data, interest in domestic tourist destinations is growing, which is great news for the entire tourism industry. A really positive finding then is that year-on-year increases are being reported by cities across Czechia and across the character. They can be found in large cities and small towns. In practice, this means that people are no longer just heading for notorious destinations, but are venturing into regions and wanting to discover gems they have never known before. This is how we are gradually succeeding in diluting the accumulation of tourists in one place and at the same time supporting local entrepreneurs and regions as a whole," says František Reismüller, Director of the Czech Tourist Authority – CzechTourism and adds: "By working with regions, operators, and conservationists, we are able to sustainably promote tourism that is both place and resident friendly.“
Record increases reported by many places across the country
The biggest year-on-year increase in visitor numbers at top destinations last year was recorded by the Blatná Castle in southern Bohemia (+486% year-on-year), with almost 200,000 people choosing to visit. The building, surrounded by a moat and free-roaming fallow deer, attracted new visitors through cultural events, among other things. The Jezy's Themed Journey in Boží Dar (+ 323 %), which was visited by 36 thousand people, and the Centrum Černá louka in Ostrava (+ 178 %) with more than 87 thousand visitors. The Four Historical Houses in Vrchlabí - the oldest folk buildings in the Krkonoše Mountains, which bring closer the life in the foothills - attracted 33 thousand people (+ 167%), The National Memorial at Vítkov, including a permanent exhibition of modern history, was visited by 38 thousand tourists (+ 141 %) and over 60 thousand visitors (+ 134 %) did not miss the State Chateau Litomyšl, a UNESCO-listed pearl of Renaissance architecture.
What draws visitors? Zoos, nature, aerial views and experiential transport
Among the top ten most visited tourist destinations this year were four zoos – in addition to Zoo Prague, Zoo Zlín, Safari Park Dvůr Králové and Zoo Ostrava. In each of them, people will find not only animals from different parts of the world, but also modern pavilions, educational programs and often botanical features or water areas. Fauna is also reaping success in other regions, where zoos are sensitively embedded in nature and often focused on the conservation of endangered species.
Within all the TOP destinations, natural sites across Czechia are also very popular, such as Adršpašské skály, Lysá hora, the longest pedestrian suspension bridge at Lower Moravia Sky Bridge 721 or Saint Hill in Mikulov, where one can enjoy the view of the surrounding vineyards. And the Punkva Cave with its underground Punkva River also made it into the top 50. Long-term attractions are cable cars, lookout towers or trails in the clouds.
If we focus on the ranking in the category of natural tourist destinations, the first place was taken by the already mentioned Adršpach Rocks, where 510 thousand people went last year. However, the highest year-on-year increase in interest, by 54%, was recorded among natural sites by the Vosecká bouda hiking trail from Czech-Polish Friendship Route in Harrachov, and a fifth more visitors to Teplice Rocks, which is becoming an increasingly popular destination thanks to its accessibility and dramatic-looking landscape.
“In general, natural beauty has long been among the most sought-after destinations by tourists. In recent years, we have seen a growing interest in long-distance walking routes, both among residents and foreigners. And it has to be said that Czechia really has a lot to offer in this respect. Among other things, we have the best hiking signs in the world, over 44 thousand km of hiking trails and 40 thousand km of road cycling routes. Domestic and foreign tourists will find here quality products such as The Ridge Route through Bohemian Switzerland or Stezka pod Lužnice, which boasts a European quality award. Worth mentioning are northern and southern parts of the Bohemian Trail. And cyclists can also enjoy a ride on the Labská cesta or the pan-European network EuroVelo,“ lists Director of Product Management, Research and B2B Cooperation of the Czech Tourist Authority – CzechTourism Tereza Hofmanová.
Last year's data also confirmed that people love a bird's eye view and that scenic views – whether natural or urban, are becoming increasingly popular. The Petřín tower, Žižkov tower and The Old Town Bridge Tower in Prague or the highest wooden tower in Veľká Deštná in the Orlické Mountains are leading the category of towers and lookout towers.
Experiential transport has a strong presence in the Czech Republic. The most popular attractions of this type include the funicular to Petřín, as well as the shortest chairlift in the country, operated by Prague Zoo. Tourists have also taken a liking to our highest transport link, which is the ropeway to Sněžka and is a kind of gateway to the highest levels of the Krkonoše Mountains, or the smaller but stylish ropeway The Bandit in the White in the Beskydy Mountains. In Prague, the Historic Tram No. 42, which travels through the most beautiful corners of the metropolis, is also a success.
Castles and Chateaux – stalwarts on the tourist map of Czechia
Historical buildings are among the drivers of tourism in Czechia. And no wonder – our country boasts the densest network of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the country's area. Alongside Prague Castle, some of the most visited are State Chateau Lednice, with its vast park and greenhouse, or the complex with its rich history and fascinating sightseeing routes, galleries and Baroque theatre State Castle and Chateau Český Krumlov. Popular are Loučeň Castle with its labyrintharium, the aforementioned Blatná Castle, the romantic Hluboká nad Vltavou and the experiential area of the Baroque Dětenice Castle, where historical feasts come to life.
Increasingly, people are visiting other types of sites such as churches, towers, museums and places associated with important people. Prague is also a leader in this respect. This is not only thanks to the Castle, but also Obecni Dom, Strahov Monastery or Vyšehrad.
Science, technology and fun for families
Science and technology centres are growing in popularity. Visitors are attracted by the industrial atmosphere of the Dolní Vítkovice complex in Ostrava, brewery tours at Plzeňský Prazdroj and interactive exhibits at the iQPark and iQLandia in Liberec. The National Technical Museum in Prague maintains high visitor numbers and the National Museum of Agriculture shows the highest year-on-year growth in the top 10 of this category.
Families with children head out not only to explore, but especially to have fun, especially water-based fun. Most visitors head to AquaPalace in Čestlice, which offers a wide range of water slides and an extensive wellness zone. The South Moravian Aqualand Moravia in Pasohlávky with its thermal pools and views of the Pálava River is also very popular. Next on the list is Aquapark in Uherské Hradiště, a regional centre of relaxation, and Park Mirakulum in Milovice, one of the largest children's entertainment areas in the country.
“From data and visitor feedback we see that people are looking not only for classic sights, but also for modern experiences, contact with nature and opportunities for spending free time with children. These are the trends we respond to when creating new products and campaigns. The aim is to offer an interesting programme in each region while taking into account the principles of sustainability and accessibility," explains Director of the Department of Marketing and Foreign Representations Jana Štumpová Konicarová.
Architecture, museums and folk culture pull
Among the attractive architectural monuments are one of the most important European buildings in the Art Nouveau style - the Municipal House in Prague and two villas in Brno – the Art Nouveau Villa Löw-Beer and the functionalist Villa Tugendhat, which show the modern style of the interwar period. The South Moravian metropolis also attracts visitors to the Labyrinth under the Green Market.
Among the museums, Kovozoo in the Old Town with life-size metal sculptures of animals, Museum of Southeast Moravia in Zlín and Prague's Kampa Museum with its collection of modern art are among the highlights. Folk creativity attracts visitors to the Wallachian Open Air Museum in Rožnov pod Radhoštěm, the Archeoskanzen Modrá or the Highlands Open Air Museum - Veselý Kopec, Hlinsko, which presents traditional rural life.
Sacred monuments and memorial sites maintain visitor interest
The Sedlec Cathedral - the Cathedral of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary and St John the Baptist and the ossuary - dominated this category last year, with more than 305,000 visitors. The second Strahov Monastery with its unique library recorded the highest year-on-year increase in visitor numbers in the category of sacred monuments and top ten most visited destinations, up 36%. Tourists also headed in large numbers to Kutná Hora – to St. Barbara's Church or to the Basilica of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary and Sts. Cyril and Methodius in Velehrad, the largest Baroque church in Czechia.
Barrier-free travel on the rise
Accessibility is one of the priorities in tourism. Tourist destinations can be found in every region that are wheelchair accessible. Among them, for example, the Museum in Stříbro in the Pilsen region, Kolowrat Castle in Rychnov nad Kněžnou, the modernized National Stud Farm Kladruby nad Labem, the Papilonia Motel in Dlouhé stráně power plant in Loučná nad Desnou, Sonnentor in Čejkovice, House of Czech Switzerland in Krásná Lípa near Rumburk or Sun Spa in Luhačovice.
Undiscovered Gems
More and more people are discovering smaller and lesser-known places. Even if they make up only a fraction of the total number of visitors, they show the diversity of the offer. So-called undiscovered gems – whether they are smaller castles, historic centres, nature spots or cultural monuments outside the mainstream – attract with atmosphere, story and authenticity. They are identified directly by the individual regions and their promotion aims to bring visitors to places they don't normally go. A complete overview is available on the CzechTourism agency's tourist portal Kudy z nudy and the data website Tourdata.cz.
Most visited tourist destinations in individual regions in 2024:
- Prague: Prague Castle – 2,568,901 visitors
- Central Bohemia Region: AquaPalace Prague, Čestlice – 1,140,912 visitors
- Jihočeský kraj: Plzeňský kraj: Pivovar Plzeňský Prazdroj – 537,257 visitors
- Karlovarský kraj: Loket Castle – 161,529 visitors
- Ústecký Region: Podkrušnohorský zoopark Chomutov – 260,457 visitors
- Liberec Region: iQpark and iQlandia, Liberec – 494,817 visitors
- Hradec Králové Region: Safari Park Dvůr Králové – 729,767 visitors
- Pardubický kraj: Highlands Region: Zoological Garden Jihlava – 345,001 visitors
- South Moravia Region: Aqualand Moravia, Pasohlávky – 865,746 visitors
- Olomouc Region: Zoological Garden Olomouc – 377,359 visitors
- Zlín Region: Zoo Zlín – 765,585 visitors
- Moravian-Silesian Region: Dolní Vítkovice, Ostrava – 930,993 visitors