Located only 60 km away from Prague, Podebrady in the Czech Republic is a lovely spa town, perfect for a relaxing trip. I ended up there by accident, really. I was exploring the area and had a few hours extra to spend in a nice place. After a quick look at the map and a search of the train connections, I’ve decided to visit Podebrady. And I was enchanted right away.
If you are looking for a nice yet not overcrowded day trip from Prague, Podebrady is a good choice. You can combine it with visiting another nearby interesting place, like Kolín or Nymburk.
I put together all the info you might need to plan a trip to Podebrady. Read on and enjoy this charming Czech town.
Where is Podebrady
Podebrady, a town of around fifteen thousand inhabitants, is located 60 km east of Prague, making it a perfect destination for an easy day trip from the capital.
A brief history of Podebrady
Even if today Podebrady is known mainly as a spa town, in medieval times it was an important stop on the trading routes from Prague to the Silesia region and further to Poland. The town was first mentioned in the early 13th century, shortly after the local private estate became the property of King Ottokar II. He built the stone castle on the banks of the Elbe River, quickly becoming a favorite destination for rulers and nobles thanks to its proximity to Prague and good hunting options in nearby forests.
Podebrady developed further and flourished, even giving Bohemia one of the kings in the mid-15th century – George of Podebrady. Unfortunately, the series of fires and the Thirty Years’ War in the 17th century ended the prosperity of Podebrady.
The town got its second chance when, in 1905, the mineral water spring was discovered here. Podebrady quickly became one of the most popular spa towns in the Czech Republic, specializing in treating cardiovascular diseases. Today, most people who visit Podebrady come there to enjoy spa activities, but the town has some interesting attractions worth seeing, too.
How to get to Podebrady
With the close proximity of Prague, there are frequent trains connecting Podebrady with the Czech capital, at least a few per hour. The fastest ones take only 50 minutes to reach Podebrady from the Prague main train station.
Some connections require a change in Kolin, but it will still be a quick trip (and you can visit Kolin along the way, which is an interesting town too). You can search the connections and buy the ticket on the official website of the Czech Railways.
What to see in Podebrady
The train station in Podebrady is located across the street from the spa park, so as soon as you arrive in town, you can start your relaxing stay here. The park is very pleasant, neatly designed and well-kept, perfect for a stroll or sitting down to enjoy the laid-back vibe of the place.
Even if it was raining during my visit to Podebrady, many people were still wandering around in this lovely green space. This is also where you will find one of the mineral water springs, so you can start your spa treatment right away by trying the local drink.
A bit further, along the pedestrian promenade, you will find the main square with the statue of George of Podebrady right in the middle (the square is named after him, too).
The square is surrounded by historical buildings, including the former Renaissance town hall from the 16th century (today it serves as a library). Like in many other towns in Central Europe, in Podebrady you will also find the Marian column from 1765, erected in appreciation to end the plague.
From the main square, it’s only a few steps to the main attraction of Podebrady – the castle. At first, a wooden fortress stood in this place but was replaced by the stone castle in the mid-14th century.
Over the years, the building was renovated and rebuilt a few times, changing its look into the massive structure you can admire today. The castle looks especially impressive from the banks of the Elbe River, which is yet another nice area for a stroll in Podebrady.
Where to go next
You can easily combine a trip to Podebrady with a visit to another interesting place nearby. The public transport (especially trains) works very well in the Czech Republic, and getting around is very easy.
Some of the places near Podebrady that are worth-visiting are Nymburk, Kolin, Kutna Hora, Hradec Kralove, or Pardubice. You won’t find there many tourists (except of Kutna Hora which is the most popular destination for a day trip from Prague) and you can enjoy a true spirit of Central Europe.
Further reading
I published many articles about the Czech Republic that you might find useful when planning your trip there. Here are some of them:
If you are looking for articles about a specific destination – check out the map with all the articles I’ve published (and their locations). You can also join my Facebook group about traveling in Central Europe and ask your questions there.
Travel Resources
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