The birthplace of pilsner beer, Pilsen is the fourth largest city in the Czech Republic, and one of the most popular day trip destinations from Prague. It’s home to the Pilsner Urquell Brewery, where guided tours take guests through the facility, providing insight on how beer is made, where it’s stored, and ending with a glass of fresh beer for visitors to sample. Pilsner beer dates back to 1842, when it was first developed by Josef Groll, and it has since become a symbol of Czech heritage ever since.
It was one of the only Czech towns to be liberated by American troops; today, the Patton Memorial Museum pays tribute to those troops and to General George S. Patton, where visitors can learn more about the liberation and see artifacts from the 1940s and 1950s.
The city truly hones in on its affinity for beer, with concerts, keg tappings, and more revelery.
Getting There
Pilsen is easily reached by train, from Prague’s main railway station, Praha Hlavní Nádraží. Trains run every 30 minutes on the quarter of an hour. The Pilsner factory is a short 10 minute walk from the Pilsen train station, and the city center is similarly close by.
