9 Essential Things to Do in Kutna Hora, Czech Republic

If you are looking for perfect day trips from Prague, Kutna Hora is probably the most popular option. This charming town with a history dating back to medieval times is simply the prettiest and packed with attractions, including one of the most stunning Gothic Cathedrals in Central Europe.

Even if you spend only a few hours there, you will not be bored with all the great things to do in Kutna Hora; the place has just so much to offer. In 1995, Kutna Hora was granted the UNESCO World Heritage Site title thanks to its well-preserved historical sites of outstanding value that heavily influenced the region.

I had a chance to visit Kutna Hora a few times, and over the years, it hasn’t changed all that much. It’s still one of the most interesting and prettiest towns in the Czech Republic. Even if it can be packed with tourists, especially over the weekend, it doesn’t lose its charm. I always enjoy returning there and seeing again all the best places to visit in Kutna Hora.

If you would like to visit Kutna Hora from Prague, I put together this guide with all the necessary info on how to get there and the best Kutna Hora attractions. Read on and plan your perfect day trip from Prague.

Where is Kutna Hora, Czech Republic

Kutna Hora, a town of a bit over twenty thousand inhabitants, is located in the central part of the Czech Republic, only 70 km east of Prague, the capital of the country.

A brief history of Kutna Hora

The history of Kutna Hora is strongly connected with the silver mining in the area. The town was founded in the 12 century, but the actual development took place between the 13th and 16th centuries when Kutna Hora could compete with Prague on political, economic, and cultural levels. A royal mint was located here, playing a crucial role in the region. Some of the Kutna Hora highlights date back to that period, too.

When the town became part of the Habsburg Monarchy in the 16th century, its importance gradually declined. A series of bad events (flooding of the richest mine, the plague, and the Thirty Years War) didn’t help its position.

In the 18th century, the mint was eventually closed, and the mines were abandoned. Kutna Hora became a sleepy, provincial town that today is one of the most popular places to visit in the Czech Republic, frequently visited by tourists from all over the world.

Best time to visit Kutna Hora

Kutna Hora is beautiful all year long, in every season. However, it tends to get really packed with tourists over the weekends, especially in high season, so if you can, avoid visiting Kutna Hora then (or try to be there as early as possible to beat the crowds). But even with many people around, there is no doubt it is a stunning place worth seeing.

How to get to Kutna Hora from Prague

Since Kutna Hora is located relatively close to Prague, there are a few easy ways to reach the town. Here’s a quick overview of them

The train is probably the most popular way of reaching Kutna Hora from Prague, and while it is a smooth trip, it’s also not a perfect one. While there are direct trains from Prague, they stop at Kutna Hora central train station (hlavni nadrazi), around 3 km away from the center and most of the attractions.

There is another train station, Kutna Hora Mesto, which is much closer to places you want to visit, but to get there, you need to change trains at the main station. The good news is that the trains are usually connected and the waiting time between them is minimal.

The travel time from Prague to Kutna Hora mesto is usually just a bit over one hour. On the way back to Prague, I recommend stopping in nearby Kolin, a beautiful yet very overlooked historical town in the area. The Old Town is a short walk away from the train station.

You can check the train connections and purchase the ticket on the website of the Czech Railways here.

A direct bus, number 381, departing from the Haje bus stop in Prague (you need to take the metro to get there), is also available. Even if it arrives closer to the center of Kutna Hora than the direct bus, I would not recommend it as it’s very slow, with a travel time of around 2 hours. 

If you don’t want to deal with navigating public transport, you can also join the organized tour from Prague. There are many of them to choose from, here are the recommended ones:

Where to stay in Kutna Hora

If you decide to stay in the town overnight (so you can take advantage of beating the crowds), there are some fine Kutna Hora accommodation options to choose from. Here are some of the recommended ones:

Things to do in Kutna Hora

And finally, here are the best things to do in Kutna Hora that you can’t miss during your trip there!

Visit the spectacular St. Barbara Church

The Gothic St. Barbara Church (often called “a cathedral”) is a true architectural gem and a truly spectacular place to visit. Dating back to 1388, the Kutna Hora Cathedral is one of the greatest examples of Gothic architecture in the region, stunning both from the outside and inside.

The idea to build a grand church in Kutna Hora came from the local miners who wanted to have a place of glory even better than in Prague or in nearby Sedlec (today, this is a part of Kutna Hora). The location, just outside the town walls, was where a small chapel dedicated to St. Barbara (the patron of miners) was already standing. The first architect of the cathedral was Johann Parler, the son of Peter Parler, one of the greatest sculptors of medieval times. He is known primarily for his impact on building St. Vitus Cathedral and Charles Bridge in Prague.

Due to the turbulent events in the region (such as the Hussite Wars), the progress of the cathedral was a bit delayed, and it was eventually finished in 1558. The building is so rich in detail, yet at the same time, it feels very light with its sophisticated design. It’s mind-blowing to think that such a spectacular construction was created so many centuries ago. 

While the cathedral is jaw-dropping from the outside, don’t miss visiting the place inside, too. You will be impressed with the interior and all the fantastic decorations around: frescoes, stained-glass windows, counterforts, sculptures, and more. Don’t rush your visit, take your time to admire everything and see every corner of the building, including the upper part (you will find the door leading upstairs on the right side in the back). Even if you are not a religious person, you will surely appreciate the place and its huge historical and artistic value.

To enter the St. Barbara church, you need to have a ticket, which you can buy at the entrance. You can also get a combined ticket for the church and the Sedlec Ossuary, which is slightly cheaper. 

Find the best viewpoints of the cathedral

The best place to admire the St. Barbara Church is from the Kremnicka street in front of it. You will have a perfect view of the facade and symmetrical arches on both sides. However, there are two more nice viewpoints that seem to be a bit less popular. The terrace on the side of the church, next to the infocenter and the rooftop of the Corpus Christi Chapel (which is worth visiting, too).

Getting to the rooftop is a bit confusing; there is an inconspicuous gate with random stairs – you need to walk them up, and you will be rewarded with an amazing close-up view of the Gothic masterpiece. From the rooftop, you can also admire a beautiful panorama of Kutna Hora and its surroundings. 

Admire the Baroque sculptures

When going from the St. Barbara Church towards the center of Kutna Hora, you will walk along the Jesuit College. In front of its building, you will find amazing sculptures from the early 18th century. 13 of them show various saints (including St. Wenceslas and St. John of Nepomuk), but there are also stone urns with floral ornamentations and sculptures of angels. They were ordered and placed here by the Jesuit Order and are a great addition to the vibe and scenery of Kutna Hora.

The terrace where the sculptures are located is also a great viewpoint of the town and its surroundings, with St. Barbara Church on one side and St. Jacob Church on the other. 

Visit the Jesuit College

The impressive, long white building next to the St. Barbara Church is the Jesuit College. It was built in the second half of the 17th century and was home to the Jesuit Order only for around a hundred years. Later, the majestic building was used by the military, and after World War 2, it became the automobile and tractor warehouse.

Eventually, after significant renovations, the Gallery of the Central Bohemia Region was opened here in 2010. You can visit it for a fee and see not only interesting exhibitions but also the amazing building inside. 

Learn more about silver mining

Another landmark of Kutna Hora you can’t miss is Hradek – part of an old medieval fortress from the early 14th century that was later rebuilt into a small castle in the Gothic style. Today, it is home to the Czech Museum of Silver and the Mining Museum, but inside, you can still find architectural features from the old times, such as the coffered ceiling.

There are two tourist routes available: the “Silver City,” which focuses on the history of Kutna Hora and silver mining here, and “The Journey of Silver,” which includes the tour of the original medieval mine. Both are great and highly recommended, especially since you can find some of the oldest mining equipment in Europe there. And since Kutna Hora flourished thanks to its silver resources, a visit to Hradek will help you fully understand the town and its heritage.

Visit Church of St. James

When looking at the vista of Kutna Hora from in front of the Jesuit College, there is one building that literally stands out in the skyline – the Church of St. James with its 86-meter-tall tower. It was the first stone church in the region, dating back to 1336.

It’s worth visiting the church inside to see its beautiful Gothic interior as well as valuable paintings from the 18th century. There are also two sets of organs there – a unique Baroque one from the late 17th century and the newest one from the early 20th century – the largest organ in Kutna Hora.

Another reason to visit the Church of St. James is one more great viewpoint you will find right in front of the temple, with the St. Barbara Church and the Jesuit College in their full glory.

Visit the Italian Court

The Italian Court is one of the most beautiful places you can find in Kutna Hora. While it’s impressive from the outside, its true beauty hides in the interiors. The building dates back to the 13th century. Over the years, until the end of the 18th century, it played an important role in the town, being the part-time royal residence and home to the royal mint.

Today, you can visit the building for a fee as it hosts the museum of coin minting. But the real reason to go inside is to see the stunning decor, especially in the audience hall or the royal chapel. The tours are mostly in Czech language, but those in English are available, too.

For free, you can visit the lovely courtyard and see the outdoor architectural details of the building. While you are near the Italian Court, be sure to check the view from the park on the left side of the building; it’s stunning. 

Explore the Old Town

Once you are done with visiting the main attractions of Kutna Hora, you can simply wander around the Old Town and enjoy its Central European charm. You will surely stumble upon numerous charming lanes and corners, as well as nice cafes and restaurants offering outdoor seating, perfect to relax after all the Kutna Hora sightseeing.

There are also some interesting sights you should see, such as the incredible Gothic stone fountain from the 15th century, the beautiful Stone House from that same period (it’s open to the public as part of the Czech Museum of Silver), or the Baroque Plague Column from the early 18th century. Don’t hurry; wander around with curious eyes, pay attention to details, and you will be surprised how many gems you will find.

Visit Sedlec Ossuary

Sedlec Ossuary is one of the most morbid places you will ever see. The lower part of this inconspicuous cemetery church hides the skeleton of around forty to seventy thousand people, victims of a few tragic events in the local history, mainly the 14th-century plague, the Hussite Wars in the 15th century, and the Thirty Years War in the 17th century. Many of the bones were used to create chapel decorations, such as a chandelier with at least one of every bone in the human body, the parts of the altar, or the coat of arms of the Schwarzenberg family – one of the most influential dynasties in the region.

Since the Sedlec Ossuary is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the Czech Republic, you will most likely encounter crowds here. Nevertheless, it’s worth visiting this place as it’s somehow fascinating in its creepy way. Taking pictures inside has recently been forbidden, so remember to respect this rule.

While you are at the Ossuary, you can also visit the nearby Church of the Assumption of Our Lady and Saint John the Baptist, which is also included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. This impressive structure is often overlooked by tourists, being in the shadow of the more popular attraction, but it is yet another excellent example of the Gothic architecture in Kutna Hora. 

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.

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