Prague to Pilsen Road Trip — Brewery Capital of the World by Car
Pilsen — or Plzeň in Czech — sits 90 kilometres west of Prague along the D5 motorway, and the drive takes just over an hour. It's one of the easiest and most rewarding day trips from the Czech capital: the city that gave the world pilsner lager, a beautifully preserved Gothic main square, one of the largest synagogues in Europe, and a set of medieval tunnels that run for kilometres beneath the city streets.
If you're spending more than two days in Prague and haven't driven to Pilsen yet, you're missing the simplest detour in Bohemia.
The Route: Prague to Pilsen by Car
Distance: ~90 km Drive time: 1 hour to 1 hour 15 minutes (without traffic) Route: D5 motorway westbound from Prague → exit Plzeň-centrum → city centre
The D5 is a straightforward, well-maintained motorway with no particularly scenic drama — the Bohemian landscape is rolling and pleasant, but this is mostly a functional drive that gets you there quickly. Save the leisurely pace for the return, when you know how much time you have.
The motorway terminates near Rozvadov at the German border, which means you could theoretically continue to Nuremberg or Munich on the same road — but that's a separate trip.
Czech vignette: Required for the D5 — included in every CarLove rental at no charge. Fuel: The drive is short enough that you won't need to refuel for a day trip. Czech fuel prices are generally lower than Western Europe. Parking in Pilsen: Several large car parks near the city centre and the brewery area. Parking garage on Dělnická street is close to both the main square and the brewery entrance.
What to See in Pilsen
Pilsner Urquell Brewery — The Main Event
The Pilsner Urquell Brewery is the reason most visitors make the trip. Founded in 1842, this is where the world's first pilsner lager was brewed — the style that now accounts for the majority of all beer consumed globally. The brewery itself is a working industrial complex, and the tours take you through the production process, into the historic underground lagering cellars carved from soft sandstone, and end with an unpasteurised, unfiltered pilsner poured directly from an oak barrel.
Book tickets online in advance, especially for weekend visits. Tours run in multiple languages throughout the day. Expect 1.5–2 hours for the full experience.
Practical: The brewery is a 20-minute walk from the main square, or a short drive with parking nearby. The beer garden adjacent to the brewery restaurant Na Spilce is an excellent lunch stop.
Republic Square (náměstí Republiky)
At around 2 hectares, Republic Square is one of the largest historic town squares in the Czech Republic. The Gothic Cathedral of St. Bartholomew rises 103 metres from the square's centre — the tallest church spire in Bohemia — and the interior contains a 14th-century Madonna statue considered one of the finest examples of Gothic sculpture in Central Europe.
The square is surrounded by baroque and Renaissance buildings, with the historic Town Hall on the eastern side and several good café terraces. Worth an hour of unhurried walking.
Great Synagogue (Velká Synagoga)
Two blocks from the main square, the Great Synagogue is the third largest synagogue in the world by interior volume, after Budapest and New York. Built in 1893 in Moorish-Romanesque style, its twin spires are visible from across the city. The interior is beautifully restored and open for visits during the day.
Pilsen had a substantial Jewish community before the Second World War — the synagogue and the adjacent Memorial Hall tell that history with unusual depth and care.
Underground Pilsen (Historické Podzemí)
More than 800 metres of medieval tunnels run beneath the city centre, built between the 13th and 18th centuries for storage, brewing, and shelter. The tours are guided and last about an hour, taking you through low-ceilinged sandstone passages that maintain a year-round temperature of around 8°C — bring a layer even in summer.
Entry from the tourist information centre on Republic Square.
Patton Memorial Pilsen
On 6 May 1945, US Army forces under General George S. Patton liberated Pilsen — the only major Czech city freed by American rather than Soviet troops. The Patton Memorial celebrates this history with photographs, vehicles, and personal accounts from the liberation. Small, well-curated, and genuinely moving.
Day Trip vs. Overnight
Day trip: Leave Prague by 9am, arrive by 10:15. Brewery tour 11:00–13:00, lunch at Na Spilce, afternoon for the square, synagogue, and one more site of your choice. Drive back to Prague by 18:00. Easily achievable and satisfying.
Overnight: If you want to explore Pilsen's restaurant scene (it has genuinely good food beyond the brewery), visit the Techmania Science Centre with children, or use Pilsen as a base for the Šumava forest region further west, an overnight stay makes sense.
Which CarLove Car for Prague–Pilsen?
The drive is short and the roads are excellent — any car in the CarLove fleet handles it without effort. For a couple, the Renault Austral or Hyundai Tucson AT makes the trip genuinely comfortable. For a family, the Škoda Kodiaq offers the right mix of space and Czech-road familiarity. For a group of six or seven, the Renault Espace keeps everyone comfortable and keeps the fuel bill reasonable.
If you're combining Pilsen with a longer western Bohemia loop — say, adding the spa town of Mariánské Lázně or continuing to the German border — consider one of our hybrid models for the extended range efficiency.
FAQ
Do I need a Czech vignette to drive from Prague to Pilsen? Yes — the D5 motorway requires a Czech highway vignette. It's included in every CarLove rental at no extra charge.
How far is Pilsen from Prague? About 90 km by motorway, approximately 1 hour of drive time in normal conditions.
Is it worth going to Pilsen for just one day? Yes — the brewery tour alone takes 1.5–2 hours, and the main square, synagogue, and underground tunnels fill a full afternoon comfortably. One day is the natural length for this trip.
Do I need to book the Pilsner Urquell brewery tour in advance? It's strongly recommended, especially at weekends and in summer. Tours fill up, and booking online guarantees your preferred time slot and language.
Can I bring children to the brewery tour? Children are welcome on the tour but cannot sample the beer. The underground cellars and production areas are interesting for older children; toddlers may find the long walk challenging. CarLove provides free child seats for all ages — book when reserving your car.
Is there parking near the brewery? Yes — there's a car park adjacent to the brewery entrance on U Prazdroje street, and further options on Dělnická street near the centre.
CarLove — rent in Prague, drive anywhere in Bohemia Hilton Prague Hotel, Pobřežní 311/1, Praha 8 | Metro: Florenc +420 608 131 151 | info@carlove.cz | carlove.cz