Latest update: 3 August 2023
Tell anyone you’re going to Pilsen in the Czech Republic, and you’re guaranteed to get some beer jokes thrown at you. Haha, yes, very funny. But the city has so much more to offer! Discover the sights of Pilsen and what else you can do there.
Where is Pilsen in the Czech Republic?
After Prague, Brno, and Ostrava, Pilsen (Plzeň) is the fourth largest city in the Czech Republic. It is an hour to Prague by car or Flixbus. Pilsen is both a region and a city. About 170,000 people live in the city. It is located in West Bohemia, in the west of the Czech Republic, near the German border.
From Bohemia to Bohemian Rhapsody
Let’s talk about Bohemia. About ⅔ of the Czech Republic is Bohemian territory. Moravia and part of Silesia complete the country. Perhaps, like me, you immediately think of the word bohemian (or variations of it: boho, boho-chic). It’s a bit of a tricky word because it is a clothing style, a living style, a lifestyle, and maybe even more. But none of that connects it to the Czech Republic, right? According to the Dutch dictionary, bohemian means an artist who shows carelessness and indifference to convention in their way of life.
Apparently, in the 19th century, French people who wanted to break free from tradition, and embraced creativity, and lived a free lifestyle called themselves bohemien. They actually thought they had learned the lifestyle of the Roma. And those Roma had apparently told the French that they came from Bohemia. Now you also know what ‘Bohemian’ means in Bohemian Rhapsody. Fun fact: Czech people don’t say Bohemians, but Čechy.
Travel tips for Pilsen in the Czech Republic
Anyway… I promised I’d talk about Pilsen. After all, you came here to find out what to do in Pilsen and what sights to see. The claim to fame is, of course, beer. The lager (pilsener) was born in Pilsen. So, of course, you should plan an activity with beer in Pilsen, but a little variation can’t hurt. So here are some more Pilsen tips for sights and fun to do’s.
Check out the pretty town square Náměstí Republiky
The Náměstí Republiky square is located in the middle of the city. On all four sides are beautiful houses in pastel colors. Look at those facades! Baroque and Renaissance. So special how you can literally find such beauty on the street. The dark building with the remarkable paintings is the town hall of Pilsen. You can view a model of the city inside.
There are golden fountains on three corners of the square. They were designed by architect Ondřej Císler. The gold connects the fountains with the golden Mary and gold details on the plague column at the fourth corner of the square. The plague column is meant to remember the victims of the plague.
Using your imagination, you will see an angel, a greyhound dog, and a camel in the golden fountains. It’s because they are on the coat of arms of Pilsen. A bit of a crazy combination, right? The greyhound represents loyalty to the king, the camel is said to have been stolen by the inhabitants of Pilsen during the Hussite war, and the angel is just a pretty addition carrying the shield.
Visit Pilsen Cathedral Pilsen
Cathedral (also known as Katedrála svatého Bartoloměje) is impossible to miss. With its 102.6 meters (to be precise), the church tower is the highest in the Czech Republic. It is ‘new’ compared to the rest of the cathedral. The church’s construction took no less than 100 years and started in the 14th century. But due to a fire in 1835, the church tower had to be rebuilt.
Don’t forget to walk to the gate at the back of the church. On the fence, you will see golden angel heads that will make your wishes come true and bring you good luck. So pet them on their heads please. It won’t hurt! According to legend, in the Middle Ages, there was an executioner who got married, but because of his profession, he was not allowed to enter the cathedral. So a friend went to the altar in his place.
Meanwhile, the executioner prayed outside and touched one of the angels when he got up. The story then goes that this little angel brought good luck to the executioner. More people wanted some of that! So you’ll see that one angel head has also been touched much more often than the rest because this one has real miraculous powers.
Admire the Jewish synagogue
In addition to the highest church tower in the Czech Republic, Pilsen also has the largest synagogue in the country. An important attraction in Pilsen because it is even the third-largest synagogue in the world. Hence the name: Great Synagogue (Velka Synagoga). Sometimes it’s just that simple.
Before the Second World War, the Jewish community wasn’t that big actually, but they had a lot of money. The 3,000 Jews paid for the lavishly decorated synagogue. Today, somewhere between 100 and 200 Jews still live in the city. They still use the synagogue, which is now also open to the public and for events.
Stroll through the city parks of Pilsen
Where the city wall of Pilsen used to be, are now lovely green parks. A green belt embraces the city. The parks merge into each other, and you can take a short walk, read a book, or grab a drink at one of the cafés. The parks are well maintained, and you will find, for example, statues, a fountain, and beautiful flowers.
Tip! Do you need to go to the bathroom in Pilsen? You can use the toilet for free if you see this logo at a restaurant, attraction, or something else. 
Beer activities in Pilsen
Because Pilsner was invented in Pilsen, you HAVE to do something with beer in the city. What about:
- A tour of the famous Pilsner Urquell beer brewery
- Visit the brewery museum
- Take a beer bath
- Order a beer in the oldest café
In this blog about activities with beer in Pilsen, I will tell you more about them.
Go underground in Pilsen
In the Middle Ages, underground passages were built in Pilsen to store food and brew beer. There are at least 20 km of tunnels under Pilsen. Part of it can be visited. A guide will take you along wells, cellars, and water pipes to learn you how people used these corridors in the past. This tour is cheap and includes a beer!
Coffee break in Pilsen
In Brno, I was pleasantly surprised by the coffee culture. Ostrava was still a little behind. So what about Pilsen? Well, I discovered three lovely coffee shops where they serve excellent coffee and where you can also order something delicious.
Pappa Coffee is a small coffee shop with a few tables outside. It doesn’t look very cozy on a gray day. It’s cozier inside. Pappa Coffee has various milk alternatives; you can order all kinds of sweets and cakes. Bring cash because they don’t accept debit cards. By the way, the name Pappa Coffee comes from the owners: it is run by a father and son.
Le Frenchie Café has a nice location in the park. The outdoor spots are popular, but there are more nice cafes around, so you can find a place somewhere if you want to sit outside. The coffee is delicious, and Le Frenchie Café also offers breakfast, brunch, lunch, and drinks. Hello mimosas! There is also a branch on the main square in the city.
At Walter’s, I unfortunately only have time for a takeaway coffee. The cappuccino with oat milk is the best of the three coffee cafés. Tasty sweets are on the counter, but this place also seems great for brunch. Do make a reservation because more people know about Walter’s. 😉
Try traditional Czech food in Pilsen
What do you think of when you think of Czech food? Goulash maybe? Lots of meat? Well, then you’re pretty close. There is still a lot of variation in traditional dishes though. So definitely go to a Czech restaurant to try out some things. At U Salzmannů (Google Maps location), you have a lot of choices. Here are some options:
- Dumplings: these are served with many dishes. A kind of dough disc of, for example, potatoes or bread.
- Smažený sýr: fried cheese with tartar sauce, usually served with chips and salad.
- Nakládaný Hermelín: Czech version of camembert marinated in oil, peppers, and spices.
- Svíčková na smetaně: beef loin in cream sauce with dumplings. Often with some cranberries and whipped cream.
- Plněný kynutý knedlík: a large, usually fruit-filled dumpling topped with a mixture of ground poppy seeds. Sometimes this is on the menu as a dessert, sometimes as a main course.
Of course, to go with it, you drink a beer from Pilsner Urquell or try the sparkling wine Bohemia Sekt. Also tasty: Šumavěnka, a soft drink with fruit in different flavors.
Good hotel in Pilsen: Courtyard by Marriott Pilsen
If you are looking for a good hotel right in the center of Pilsen, I recommend Courtyard by Marriott. It is directly opposite the brewery museum, and you can easily access the park or the city center. The rooms are nice and spacious (enough space to lay my yoga mat down), and the bed sleeps wonderfully. There is a small gym so you can work out after breakfast. Because the breakfast is really, really good, so you’ll probably eat way too much. It’s served buffet style in the Marriott’s Pils ‘n Grill restaurant. Plenty of choice, endless supply, and very tasty.
More Czech inspiration?
Useful links for your Czech trip
- Accommodation. My favorite is still Booking.com. Rather stay in a hostel? Check Hostelworld.
- Activities. GetYourGuide and Viator offer the best tours and activities. WithLocals offers activities with local guides. For ‘free’ walking tours, check Freetour.com and GuruWalk, and for bike tours, go to Baja Bikes.
- Attractions and museums. Check out Tiqets for tickets for museums and attractions (you get 5% discount with the code KIMOPREIS22)
- Car rental. You can compare prices at Discover Cars or Rentalcars.com.
- Flights. Compare your options! Be sure to check Skyscanner, Trip, and Kiwi.
- Package deals. Prefer a fully catered holiday? Expedia and CheapOair might have suitable options.
- Train and bus. Travel to the Czech Republic with NS International or book buses and trains with Busbud, 12Go or Omio.
- Travel guides. Call me old-fashioned, but I still enjoy browsing through a paper travel guide. Available at Amazon.
- SIM card. Beware of unexpectedly high calling and internet costs. Buy a local SIM card when you arrive, or arrange one online via Airalo.
Some of the links on this site are affiliate links. If you buy something through these links, I might receive a small commission.
I visited Pilsen by invitation of Visit Czechia and Visit Pilsen. So they arranged some of the activities mentioned for me. I was allowed to write about it what I wanted.
