★ Gothic castle in Bohemian Paradise

Private Day Trip to Kost Castle with Driver

Kost is one of the most formidable Gothic castles in the country — legend has it the name comes from its toughness, as hard as bone, never conquered. The White Tower, St. Anne's Chapel, and the fishponds of Bohemian Paradise all around. We'll take you there from Prague, hassle-free.

~85 kmfrom Prague / PRG airport
~1.25 hoursdrive one way
Fixed priceno meter running
Privatecar just for you

Why This Destination

Kost Castle: A Gothic Fortress in the Heart of Bohemian Paradise

Kost Castle sits atop a rocky spur where three valleys meet — Svatoprokopské, Plakánek, and Turnovské. Even as you approach, its iconic White Tower catches your eye, dominating the entire grounds. Around the castle lie the Bílý, Černý, and Labutí fishponds — once a defensive feature. Breaching them turned the surroundings into nearly impassable terrain.

The castle's history dates back to the first half of the 14th century, when it was founded by Beneš III of Vartenberk. Over the centuries, Kost passed through the hands of several noble families — the Zajíc of Hazmburk, the Lords of Šelmberk, the Lobkowicz family, the Černín of Chudenice, and finally the Kinsky dal Borgo. After 1945 the castle was nationalized, and following the Velvet Revolution it was returned to the descendants of its original owners.

From Prague it's about 85 km, and the drive takes roughly 1 hour 15 minutes. With a private driver, you can sit back and enjoy the ride without a worry, and you'll have plenty of time to explore every corner of this one-of-a-kind castle.

Kost Castle
An impregnable Gothic castleOne of the best-preserved castles in Czechia, perched above a pond in the Plakánek Valley.

What to see

What you'll discover at Kost Castle

The tour leads you through Gothic interiors, towers, and courtyards. Every corner tells a story — from the Chapel of the Virgin Mary to the Red Tower.

Kost Castle
Castle

Kost Castle

Perched on a sandstone promontory between ponds since the 14th century, Kost has never been conquered and ranks among the best-preserved Gothic castles in the country.

From above, you can see how cleverly it uses the rock and water for defense. It's an absolute must on any trip through the Bohemian Paradise.

Great prismatic tower
Tower

The Great Prismatic Tower

The castle is dominated by a massive four-sided tower. Its unusual shape — wider at the top than the bottom — was designed to deflect cannonballs.

In winter, under a blanket of snow, the castle looks especially magical. You can spot the tower from miles away above the valley.

White palace on the rock
Palace

The White Palace on the Rock

The residential palace with its white sgraffito plaster stands directly on a sandstone cliff. The entrance gate arches beneath it.

Inside, you'll find period interiors, an armory, and a black kitchen. The tour brings castle life vividly to life.

Plakánek Valley
Nature

Plakánek Valley

Below the castle stretches the romantic Plakánek Valley, with a stream and sandstone rocks. It's been the setting for countless fairy-tale films.

A marked trail runs through it, perfect for a leisurely walk. Kost and Plakánek are among the most beautiful spots in the Bohemian Paradise.

Kost Castle above the pond
Kost Castle above the pond
The castle in winter
The castle in winter
White palace on the rock
White palace on the rock
Kost from a bird's-eye view
Kost from a bird's-eye view
🏰

Castle Tour

The guided tour takes you through the main halls, the tower, and the chapel. You'll hear stories of its owners and the legend of Žižka.

🌳

Surrounding Nature

The castle lies in the Bohemian Paradise protected landscape area. The surrounding forests and ponds are perfect for hiking.

📜

14th-Century History

The first written mention of the castle dates back to 1346. Over the centuries, it was home to seven noble families.

🎨

Chapel Fresco

The Chapel of St. Anne still features a large 15th-century fresco bearing the coat of arms of the Zajíc of Hazmburk family.

📸

Photography

The white tower and ponds create a stunning backdrop for photos. The best light is in the morning or late afternoon.

🚗

Private Driver

The drive from Prague takes about 1 hour and 15 minutes. Your driver will take you comfortably right to the castle.

Day Trip Idea

What your day could look like

A suggested itinerary — your driver will always adapt to you.

8:30
Departure from PraguePickup at your address or from PRG airport.
11:00
Arrival at the destinationDrop-off near the center, your driver will advise on the route.
11:15
SightseeingMain landmarks with plenty of time to explore.
13:00
LunchDowntown restaurant, local cuisine.
14:30
Free timeStroll around and explore more sights at your own pace.
16:00
Return to PragueSame car and driver, comfortable ride back.
evening
HomeNo connections or transfers to worry about.

Realistic day budget

What a day like this actually costs — no hidden items

🚗 Trip there · Prague → Kost Castle
~85 km · ~1.25 hr drive
3,060 CZK
↩ Trip back · Kost Castle → Prague
~85 km · ~1.25 hr · −50% base rate
+ 1,530 CZK
⏳ Waiting time 2 hours
included
0 CZK
extra on-site h × 400 CZK — uncheck if the driver doesn't need to wait
+ 1,200 CZK
Total for the full day~ 5,790 CZK
The car and driver are all yours for ~9 hours (9:00 AM–6:00 PM), with real distances and times — no hidden fees. If you add a stop or a longer itinerary, we’ll put together a custom quote just for you. Minivan (5–8 people): higher base rate, same pricing logic.

Why go with a private driver

Comfort and peace of mind

No transfers, no waiting at stations, no surprises at the end. Just tell us the time and how many people.

  • Fixed price upfront — you’ll know it when you book, and it won’t change with traffic or jams.
  • A private car just for you — no sharing with strangers, no detours or waiting around.
  • Pickup anywhere — from your hotel, apartment, or right at the arrivals hall of Václav Havel Airport (PRG).
  • Free flight monitoring — if your flight is delayed, your driver will wait; we track arrivals.
  • Child seats — available on request at no extra charge, just let us know the kids’ ages.
  • The whole day your way — return trip, waiting at the destination, and stops along the route as agreed.

One-way price

Prague city center / PRG Airport → Kost Castle
🚗 Sedan / Estate · 1–4 people
3,060 CZK
🚐 Minivan · 5–8 people
4,250 CZK

Fixed price for a one-way trip. Return journey, waiting time, and full-day excursions are added according to the pricing below.

Book this trip →

How the price is calculated

Clear trip pricing

The base is the price for the trip to your destination. The return journey and any extra waiting time are added using simple rules — you always know upfront what you’re paying for.

✓ Included: trip to destination 2 hours of waiting free ↩ Return trip +50% of the base price ⏱ Waiting over 2 hours: 400 CZK / hour
Option (sedan, 1–4 people)Price
One-way transfer — trip there
Prague → Kost Castle. The driver takes you and returns empty.
3,060 CZK

Ceník

Cena soukromého výletu

Cena zahrnuje dopravu z Prahy a zpět, řidiče, palivo, dálniční známku a parkování. Prohlídky a vstupy se hradí zvlášť.

Jak se cena počítá  ·  Cena se odvíjí od vzdálenosti a času. Základ tvoří cesta tam a čekací doba; cesta zpět se připočítává za zvýhodněnou sazbu.

PoložkaCena
Cesta tam
Z Prahy na hrad Kost a zpět do Prahy – první část.
3 060 Kč
Čekání (první 2 hodiny)
Zahrnuto v ceně cesty tam – 2 hodiny čekání zdarma.
0 Kč
Každá další hodina čekání
Nad rámec prvních 2 hodin.
400 Kč / hod
Cesta zpět
Zpáteční cesta do Prahy – 50 % ceny cesty tam.
1 530 Kč

Příklady celkové ceny  ·  Osobní automobil (1–4 osoby)

VariantaCena celkem
Zpáteční s čekáním do 2 hodin
Cesta tam + 2 h čekání v ceně + cesta zpět (+50 %). 3 060 + 1 530.
4 590 Kč
Zpáteční s čekáním 6 hodin
Zpáteční (4 590) + 4 hodiny nad limit × 400 Kč (1 600).
6 190 Kč
Celodenní výlet — řidič k dispozici ~9 hodin
Zpáteční základ 4 590 + ~3 h programu nad limit × 400 (1 200). Individuální kalkulace na míru.
~ 5 790 Kč

Minivan (5–8 os.): stejný výpočet, vyšší základ — cesta tam 4 250 Kč. · Uvedené ceny jsou orientační příklady; přesnou pevnou cenu vám potvrdíme při rezervaci podle data, počtu osob a programu.

Praktické informace

Než vyrazíte

📅

Kdy jet

Nejhezčí je od jara do podzimu; v sezoně přijďte spíš dopoledne.

🎟️

Prohlídky

Otevírací dobu a prohlídky s průvodcem si ověřte předem.

🅿️

Pěší centrum

Se soukromým řidičem parkování neřešíte — vysadí vás co nejblíž.

🍽️

Co ochutnat

Místní kuchyni a speciality v restauracích a kavárnách v centru.

👟

Co s sebou

Pohodlnou obuv, vrstvy oblečení a foťák.

⏱️

Kolik času

Na hlavní památky stačí půl dne; s obědem a okolím celý den.

Časté dotazy

Na co se ptáte nejčastěji

Jaká je vzdálenost z Prahy na hrad Kost a jak dlouho trvá cesta?

Z Prahy je to na hrad Kost přibližně 85 km. Cesta autem trvá asi 1 hodinu a 15 minut.

Je možné si objednat soukromý transfer na hrad Kost?

Ano, nabízíme soukromou přepravu přímo k hradu. Váš řidič vás vyzvedne v Praze a pohodlně doveze na místo.

Jaké jsou otevírací doby hradu Kost?

Otevírací doba se liší podle sezóny. Doporučujeme zkontrolovat aktuální informace na oficiálních stránkách hradu.

Je hrad Kost vhodný pro děti?

Ano, prohlídka je vhodná i pro rodiny s dětmi. Děti zaujme zejména věž a pověst o Žižkovi.

Jsou na hradě k dispozici parkovací místa?

U hradu je placené parkoviště. Pokud si objednáte soukromý transfer, řidič vás vysadí přímo u vstupu.

Is there food available at Kost Castle?

Yes, there’s a restaurant and a snack stand on site. We recommend trying the local specialties.

How long does the castle tour take?

The tour route lasts about 45–60 minutes. We suggest setting aside at least 2 hours for the full visit, including a walk around the grounds.

We’ll tailor your trip to Kost Castle

Whether you’re a history buff or just looking for a day out in beautiful countryside, Kost Castle is a fantastic choice. With a private driver, you’ll skip the parking hassle and enjoy a comfortable ride. Book your transfer and discover this Gothic gem of the Bohemian Paradise.

Book your trip → +420 776 508 777
Photos: Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA / public domain).
PRG Airport Transfers — private transfers and day trips from Prague · fixed price, your own driver · +420 776 508 777
PRG Airport Transfers · IČO 04455495 · Augustinova 2075/9, 149 00 Praha 4 · +420 776 508 777 · info@prg-airport.cz