Český Krumlov

A fairytale medieval town in a tight loop of the Vltava River in South Bohemia, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, overlooked by a huge castle with a painted tower. The castle tours include a rare, still-working baroque theatre, and there are terraced gardens.

Wander the cobbled lanes, see the Egon Schiele Art Centre, and float down the river by raft or canoe in summer. It's crowded with day-trippers; stay overnight to enjoy it quietly. Buses run from Prague in about 3 hours, and from České Budějovice.