Is the Pilsner Urquell Brewery Tour Worth it? Overview & Options
Pilsen Czech Republic is home to the Pilsner Urquell Brewery, which offers a wide range of tour options for every type of beer enthusiast. Even if you’re not exactly a beer fan, the Pilsner Urquell Brewery tour is worth it!
Pilsen (Plzeň) is about an hour away from Prague, the top destination in the Czech Republic. Visiting the Pilsner Urquell Brewery is the perfect day trip from Prague. For those who want to explore the pleasant village of Pilsen, you can spend the night.
This post includes a brief summary of how to get to Pilsen from Prague and the different Pilsner Urquell Brewery tours that are available. I’ll share the highlights of the classic Pilsner Urquell Brewery Tour and some tips to make the most of the experience. While the Pilsner Urquell Brewery is the main draw to Pilsen, there are some other worthwhile spots to explore in the city.
Here’s a quick overview of the Pilsner Urquell Brewery Tour options and some highlights.
Table of Contents
- How to Get to Pilsen from Prague
- Top Rated Guided Pilsner Urquell Brewery Tours from Prague
- Pilsner Urquell Brewery Tour Options
- Highlights of the Classic Pilsner Urquell Brewery Tour
- What to Do After the Pilsner Urquell Brewery Tour
- More Things to Do in Pilsen
- Pilsner Urquell Brewery Tour: Options & Highlights
How To Get to Pilsen From Prague
Pilsen is a great day trip from Prague. There are numerous options to reach Pilsen via trains, buses, and by car.
Prague to Pilsen by Train
Frequent trains depart from Praha Hl.N, Prague’s main train station. Trains depart almost every half an hour to Pilsen. The Pilsen train station is less than a 15-minute walk to the Pilsner Urquell Brewery.
🚆 Prague to Pilsen Train | Duration: Under 1 hour 30 minutes | Average One-Way Fare: 175 CZK ($7.50 USD) | Purchase Tickets online via České Dráhy
Prague to Pilsen by Bus
FlixBus also runs frequent buses to Pilsen from Prague. There are multiple departure stations in Prague but try to be dropped off at the Plzeň Central Bus Station, as the other bus stops in Pilsen are out of town.
🚌 Prague to Pilsen Flixbus | Duration: 1 hour | Average One-Way Fare: 140 CZK ($6 USD) | FlixBus Tickets & Timetables
Driving to Pilsen from Prague
Pilsen is a little over an hour from Prague by car. It makes a great “first stop” on a Czech Republic road trip. Be mindful that there’s a zero-tolerance drinking and driving policy, so if driving it may be best to sleep in Pilsen or have a sober driver.
Top Rated Guided Tours to Pilsen from Prague
As Pilsen is a popular day trip from Prague, there are numerous Pilsen Brewery tours available.
➜ This Pilsen Highlights Small-Group Tour and Pilsner Brewery Tour from Prague highlights not only the brewery but also some of the top attractions in Pilsen.
➜ Those looking for a private tour may consider booking this Pilsner Urquell Brewery and Pilsen City Tour.
➜ Foodies won’t want to miss this private tour focused on Beer and Wine from Prague.
Pilsner Urquell Brewery Tour Options
With a sprawling facility and a diverse product catalog, the Pilsner Urquell Brewery offers a wide range of tours. Find everything from the Classic Pilsner Urquell Brewery Tour to the smaller Gambrinus Brewery Tour.
There’s even a chance to go explore in more depth below the surface via the Historical Underground Tour. This tour touches a little more on just the brewery, but the history of Pilsen as a whole.
Off-premise of the main facilities is the Brewery Museum Tour.
Many of the tours are offered in English, Czech, and German.
The 4 Most Popular Pilsen Brewery Tours
There are the most popular Pilsner Urquell Brewery Tours. Be mindful that some of these tours can be combined for a discounted price.
1 | Pilsner Urquell Brewery Tour
- Entrance Ticket: 380 CZK ($16 USD)
- Tour Duration: Under 2 hours
- Tours run frequently in Czech, English, German
- Location: Pilsner Urquell Brewery
2 | Gambrinus Brewery Tour
- Entrance Ticket: 250 CZK ($11 USD)
- Tour Duration: 2 hours
- Limited to Weekends (Typically Saturdays)
- Location: Pilsner Urquell Brewery
3 | Brewery Museum Tour
- Entrance Ticket: 150 CZK ($6.50 USD)
- Tour Duration: 1 hour
- Includes a beer voucher
- Location: Veleslavínova 58, 301 00 Plzeň
4 | Historical Underground Tour
- Entrance Ticket: 190 CZK ($8 USD)
- Tour Duration: 1 hour
- Location: Veleslavínova 58, 301 00 Plzeň
Pilsner Urquell Brewery Experiences for Beer Lovers
For those absolute beer lovers, participate in the Pilsner Urquell Experiences from the “Draft Beer Workshop” to “The Journey of a Brewery Apprentice.” These experiences are a little more pricey but offer more than just the basic Pilsner Urquell Brewery tour.
Highlights of the Classic Pilsner Urquell Brewery Tour
My dad and I opted to take the Classic Pilsner Urquell Brewery Tour. This tour is the most popular and most frequent, making it the ideal choice for most visitors.
The Classic Pilsner Urqell Brewery Tour starts right from the visitor center at the main brewery. A guide takes you through this interactive experience.
First, learn a little detailed history of how the brewery came to be. Back in the day, Pilsen had multiple “brew” houses that formed together to create this “powerhouse” brewery. Interestingly enough, see how some women played an essential role in the birth of the modern-day Pilsner Urquell.
Next, hop on the included bus next to the bottling facilities. This allows you to get a glimpse of production and the state-of-the-art bottling process. It’s loud, so the guide will explain before and after how it works. There are some supporting visual fact boards to help interpret and clarify the noisy process.
After that, it’s on to the brewhouses. Learn about how the beer is actually made. Try the malts and barely if you are so inclined. Here you’ll get a chance to see the beautiful copper tanks. Finally, watch a fun video about how the complete brewing process happens right where you’re standing.
Underground Tour
Although there is a separate tour just for the underground, the Pilsner Urquell Brewery Tour includes a walk in the old underground ice cellars. As you can imagine, these tunnels wind underneath the entire city.
Under the Brewery, there are over 60 ice rooms that help keep the cellar cool.
Underground tunnels are a common theme throughout the Czech Republic. It’s also possible to visit underground tunnels in the picturesque village of Tabor.
Pilsner Urquell Brewery Tour Tip | Bring something warm to wear in the cellars. It was so hot on the day we went on the tour, but we spent more time underground than anticipated. I wish I would have brought a scarf or something warm for my arms. Those cellars really work in keeping the beer (and you) cold!
Pilsner Urquell Beer Sampling
The most anticipated event of the Pilsner Urquell Brewery Tour is by far the actual beer sampling. The tasting actually happens below ground in the cellar 50 meters below ground. The atmosphere is just right, a it happens next to thevaging barrels in a dimly lit room.
This is as fresh as it gets. Find a man, tapping directly from a wooden keg. This beer is from the small batch kegs right next door.
The ice-cold Pilsner Urquell beer is unfiltered and unpasteurized and can only be tasted during the Pilsner Urquell Brewery Tour!
Conclusion of the Pilsner Urquell Brewery Tour
Like most brewery tours, this one ends at the gift shop. From posters, clothing, and beer, there is a nice range of souvenirs and memorabilia to never forget your Pilsner Urquell Brewery Tour experience.
Is the Pilsner Urquell Brewery Tour worth it? Definitely! The brewery tour is fun, insightful, and interactive. Those visiting the Pilsner Urquell Brewery won’t be disappointed.
What to Do in Pilsen After the Pilsen Brewery Tour
Was that one beer sample just not enough? After the Pilsner Urquell Brewery Tour, you may be inspired to drink one more Pilsner Urquell.
On the grounds, visit Na Spilce Restaurant, which is housed in the old fermentation cellar. Walk down to the restaurant and massive beer hall to enjoy another beer.
This inviting beer hall is considered to be one of the biggest in the Czech Republic. They pour up fresh mugs of Pilsner Urquell and Gambrinus on draft. Food is only served in the restaurants and not available from the “bar side.”
Na Parkánu is an awesome authentic restaurant serving up traditional Czech food and Pilsner Urquell. This establishment is located right next to the Brewery Museum and even offers vouchers to sample the unfiltered Pilsner Urquell after the museum tour here.
Skip the Brewery Museum Tour, and rather, just indulge in the cuisine. The food is delicious and the servers are friendly.
More Things to Do in Pilsen Czech Republic
There’s more to do in Pilsen than taking a Pilsner Urquell Brewery Tour.
Pilsen has a lovely main plaza with the stunning Gothic Cathedral of St. Bartholomew. In the summer months, there’s an excellent farmer’s market that happens in the square. This market has excellent local and artisanal produce.
In Pilsen, find the small, but interesting Patton Memorial Museum. This museum focuses on General Patton and the liberation of Pilsen during World War II. Nearby, find the Thank You America Memorial which passes a beautiful synagogue.
☛ If interested in World War II history in the Czech Republic, the Lidice Memorial and the Terezin Memorial are also somber, but worthwhile places to see near Prague.
There are many green spaces and parks to explore within the city.
In Pilsen, there are a plethora of excellent restaurants serving up traditional food and many pouring unfiltered and unpasteurized Pilsner Urquell on draft.
➜ Want to sleep in Pilsen? Browse all the Best Places to Stay in Plzeň
Conclusion | Pilsner Urquell Brewery Tour Highlights
Pilsen is home to the famous Pilsner Urquell Brewery. This lovely city is about an hour away from Prague and can easily be visited on a day trip.
The Pilsner Urquell Brewery Tour is a must-visit when touring the Czech Republic!
The Pilsner Urquell Brewery offers a wide range of tours and museums for any type of beer enthusiast. The most popular option is the Pilsner Urquell Brewery Tour which guides beer fanatics through the bottling facilities, to the brew houses, and into the depths of the underground ice cellars.
The Pilsner Urquell Brewery Tour is worth visiting, if you love beer or not!
It’s worth noting that Pilsen is more than just a brewery with neat places to discover within the city. With lots of fun beer halls, delicious traditional restaurants, and plenty of green space, Pilsen is a fantastic destination in the Czech Republic.
Have you visited the Pilsner Urquell Brewery? Did you take time to explore cute little Pilsen? Let me know in the comments below!
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