pilsner urquell tour pilsen

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TOUR OF THE PILSEN BREWERY – PILSNER URQUELL

GIFT VOUCHERS

Don´t miss the tour of the brewery, visited by hundreds of thousands of tourists from all around the world every year! And it’s no wonder! The tour is proud holder of the award for the best brewery tour in Europe for 2024. The recognition was granted within the international World Travel Awards! Among other things, the tour will take you to see a modern brewhouse with a daily capacity of almost 3,000,000 beers , a packaging plant with a capacity of 120,000 bottles per hour , and you will taste unfiltered Pilsner Urquell straight from lagering kegs in the famous lagering cellars!

Get to know the unique story of Pilsner Urquell

Get acquainted with the history of the beer that changed the world – Pilsner Urquell, the first golden lager, which saw the light of day in 1842. It became popular mainly thanks to its typical full-bodied taste. Pilsner Urquell is still brewed using the same high quality Czech ingredients and the same original process. The original recipe has never changed, and that´s why our lager is unique. Take the tour of the Pilsner Urquell Brewery and find out more about how Pilsner Urquell is brewed. Visit the historical cellars and the packaging plant, get a closer look at the brewing process, and taste the beer at the end of the tour. The tour of the Pilsner Urquell Brewery will impress true beer lovers as well as visitors with a lukewarm relation to lager – come and see for yourselves.

What to expect during the tour

• Bottling facility – You will take a bus from the brewery courtyard to see the bottling facility one of the most modern of its type in Europe. You will see a line where beer is packaged into bottles at an impressive speed of 120,000 bottles per hour.
• Exhibition of ingredients – After visiting the packaging plant, you will take the biggest personal elevator in the Czech Republic to a unique panoramic cinema. You will get to know the secret of Pilsner Urquell brewing in a short film, and then you will find out with all your senses what ingredients are used to brew this lager.
• Brewhouses – While wandering through the beer production plant, you will also stop to look at historical brewing kettles from 1931 . You will also peek into a modern brewhouse from 2004 with a daily capacity of almost 3,000,000 beers, and naturally there will be a presentation of the entire Pilsner Urquell brewing process.
• People of Pilsner Urquell – Do you know how many people work on brewing the beer? It´s not only about the brewmaster. There are plenty of brewing professions without which you wouldn´t be able to drink Pilsner Urquell. You will find out what their everyday job involved and what was necessary for them to succeed. Diligence, enthusiasm and persistence are handed down from generation to generation in Pilsen.
• Brewery cellars – You will also visit the brewery cellars, which are 9 kilometres long. You will learn what a fermenting tub is and what we call a beer blanket. Plzeňský Prazdroj still brews some of its beer in these premises just like the first brewmaster, Josef Groll, did by fermenting beer in open tuns and maturing it in oak barrels.
• Tasting of unfiltered beer – What kind of tour of the Pilsner Urquell Brewery would it be without tasting its lager? Adult visitors will have a chance to try unfiltered and unpasteurized Pilsner Urquell poured straight from an oak barrel. You can try this beer only during the brewery tour or   the experience programme in Šalanda

If you still haven’t had enough of beer even after this 2-hour tour, you can visit  the Brewery Museum in Pilsen   or   the historical underground  or go to our   Na Spilce Pub .

CONCESSIONARY PACKAGES

Pilsner urquell brewery tour + brewery museum tour, pilsner urquell brewery tour + gambrinus brewery tour.

If you are interested in booking a tour more than one month in advance, please contact us at   [email protected]  or +420 377 062 888.

During tours for individual visitors, it is always necessary to respect the assigned language of the tour and it is not possible to interpret into other languages.

Additional tour information

Map of brewery premises

Not to be missed, brewery museum tour.

Enjoy the medieval atmosphere in the only museum of its kind, located in an original authentic brew house from the 15th century.

Pilsen Historical Underground

The Pilsen Historical Underground, with its nearly 14 km of corridors, is one of the largest historical underground systems in Central Europe.

Tours and educational programs for schools

The Brewery Museum has prepared three interactive learning programmes for first and second-grade pupils about the history of Pilsen and traditional trades.

For tour times, see below.

Plzeňský Prazdroj reserves the right to modify the times of public tours. Currently available time slots  can be verified online  or by calling +420 377 062 888.

• Reduced admission: children up to 6 and under 15, students under 26, pensioners over 65, TP, ZTP, HI YHA cardholders
• Children from 3 to 6 years of age are charged CZK 50 per visit
• Free admission: children under 3 years of age, ZTP/P card holders + their escort (1 person)
• Family ticket: max. 2 adults + 3 children up to 6 and under 15
• 15% discount on the price of a ticket for two or more of our various tours (brewery, Gambrinus Brewery, Brewery Museum, Pilsen Historical Museum) on one day. This offer does not apply to school groups

For 1 to 19 persons it is possible to buy the ticket online   for the given times. On-line purchase of tickets is possible no later than 1 hours before the start of the tour; card payment is the only option.

Cash (EUR) and payment cards are accepted when purchasing tickets upon arrival at the Visitor Centre or the Brewery Museum.

We offer tours for groups of 20 or more  in these language variants:   Czech, English, German, Russian and French. You can choose a date based on your requirements. Tour times outside the regular opening hours of the Visitor Centre may be arranged for   an additional fee of CZK 50 per person. Please order the tour at least 3 days in advance.

VISITOR RULES

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Brewery tour Brewery Museum Historic Plzeň Underground Rent of premises, fun programmes, Secese Conference Centre Pilsner Urquell Gift Shop Pilsner Urquell e-shop Group Tour Booking Experiences

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In accordance with an order from the Ministry of Health of the Czech Republic, tours and experience programme are closed to public until further notice. Sorry for inconvenience. If you have any questions, contact us at [email protected] or by phone on +420 377 062 888.

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Pilsner Urquell Brewery Tour Review

Pilsen > Things to do in Pilsen > Pilsner Urquell Tour

Pilsner Urquell Brewery Tour is is according TripAdvisor one of the world´s best tourist attractions. Discover how to book Pilsner Urquell Brewery Tour online, learn how to dress and everything you need to know before visiting Pilsen Brewery in this Pilsner Urquell Brewery Tour Review.

Book the brewery tour

Plzeň (in English and German called Pilsen) is the Czech City situated only 90 km southwest of Prague , the Capital of Czech Republic. Pilsen is the home to two major breweries: Pilsner Urquell and Gambrinus, but you can find also several microbreweries here. 🍺

Plzeň is especially known as the birthplace of the famous Pilsner beer , which is the grandfather of all lager beers and which has been brewed in Pilsner Urquell Brewery the same way since 1842.

Pilsen Urquell Brewery Tour in Plzeň is a goal of 750,000 tourists from all over the world every year.

The famous golden drink (Pilsner Urquell Beer) attracts thousands of tourists to visit Pilsner Urquell Brewery Tour each year.

So, if you want to know more about the history of the legendary Pilsner Urquell Brewery, about the ingredients from which Pilsner lager beer is brewed, and taste unpasteurized beer directly from the barrel, then take part on the Pilsner Urquell Brewery Tour .

Because I live in Pilsen I prepared for you a detailed guide to Pilsner Brewery tour :

1. Pilsner Urquell Brewery Tour Plzeň

2. how to book pilsner urquell tour.

• 3. Pilsner Urquell Brewery tour from Prague

3.1. How to get to Pilsner Urquell Brewery from Prague?

4. about pilsner urquell brewery.

• 5. Pilsen Brewery Restaurant

6. Pilsner Urquell Shop

• 7. Brewery Museum Plzeň

8. Hotels near Pilsner Urquell Brewery

• 9. Purkmistr hotel with spa, restaurant and brewery

When visiting Pilsen brewery you understand why Pilsner Urquell beer is so unique. Pilsner Urquell Tour will take you across all Pilsner Urquell factory's areas and explain how beer is made. You will learn about every step in the brewing process: ingredients used, malting, fermentation is steel tanks, maturation in wooden tanks etc.

First you will see the ingredients and beer brewing in general, then packaging plant (which has a capacity of 120,000 bottles per hour), will continue to see authentic parts of the brewery where the original Pilsner beer has been made since 1842 and current brewing houses of Pilsner Urquell Brewery.

Pilsner Urquell Brewery Tours lead through all parts of the famous Plzeň Brewery.

Pilsner Brewery Tour takes 110 minutes and finishes in the brewery cellars 20m below ground. Cellars beneath the Pilsen Brewery are 9 km long and they used to serve for storage and cooling of Plzeň beer. Ice pieces remained here for almost a whole year. Nowadays, only a small part of production is stored here: only beer which is fermented in wooden barrels.

Pilsen Brewery Tour finishes by tasting of Pilsner Urquell unpasteurized and non-filtered beer (0.3l) straight from the wooden barrel. Of course, if you are older than 18 years.

Don't forget to bring a jacket or sweater, because beer cellar is really cold: 7°C (40° F).

You can get a fully guided Pilsner Urquell Brewery Tour in English, Czech, German, French and Russian. The ticket costs about US$16 and if you want to take pictures then another US$5. For booking of Plzeň brewery tour you have following 2 options:

• Come to Pilsner Urquell Brewery Visitors Centre directly. Pilsner Urquell Brewery tours are in a variety of languages that are shown on a screen above the admission desk. Just sign up for the one you need if it isn't full.
• Book your Pilsner brewery tour online here.

Pilsner Urquell Brewery

U Prazdroje 7, Plzeň GPS: 49°44'47.339"N, 13°23'10.568"E Book your tickets to Pilsner Urquell Brewery » --> Open daily: January - June: 10 am – 6 pm July – August: 9.30 am - 6 pm September - December: 10 am – 6 pm

Web page of Pilsen Brewery

Pilsner urquell brewery tour times Pilsner Urquell Brewery Tour in English language takes place two or three times a day, check date and language here .

Visit to Pilsner Urquell Brewery as a one day trip from Prague. The driver will pick up you in Prague and then bring you again back to your hotel. You will have enough time to visit the Pilsen Urquell Brewery Tour, have lunch, and still have time for a short walk through Pilsen city centre. The city can be easily reached on foot. We strongly recommend to make a booking online at least 2 days ahead. Price for Pilsner Urquell Brewery tour (110 minutes) is CZK 300 (US$13).

The view from the main entrance to the area of Pilsen Brewery: the Visitor Centre is located on the left side, the Pilsner Urquell Restaurant "Na Spilce" is situated on the right side. You can see the Water Tower of Plzen Brewery in the middle of the picture.

How to get to Pilsner Urquell Brewery from Prague by train? Czech Republic has one of the best railway networks in Europe. So, the transportation from Prague to Pilsen is quite easy by a direct train connection from Prague Main Railway station (Hlavní Nádraží) or Prague Smíchov station. Pilsner Urquell Brewery is situated 400 meters from the Pilsen Main Railway Station (Plzeň Hlavní nádraží). You can walk, just follow the sign "Plzeňský Pivovar".

Trains from Prague to Pilsen run several times a day. The journey takes about 90 minutes. Train ticket costs for one way (Prague to Pilsen) US$7 or you can buy the return ticket which is cheaper than two one way tickets. For train schedule go to the Web page of Czech Railways and choose the English or German language. Read also our detailed guide how to get from Prague to Pilsen here »

Based on my recent experience, I highly recommend adding a seat ticket to your ticket, because the trains from Pilsen to Prague are very popular and you definitely don't want to stand in the aisle for more than an hour.

Where you can learn more about beer and taste the best beer in the world than in the City where almost every household brewed beer at home since 1295 until the biggest brewery in the Czech republic Pilsner Urquell was grounded?

Plzen Brewery Tours are perfect for learning something new about beer.

You have to understand: in the medieval times was the beer healthier than water, because the water had very poor quality.

4.1 History of Pilsner Urquell Brewery

Pilsner beer wasn´t always so tasty as today.

Beer has been brewed in Plzeň since 1295 when the King Václav II. gave to 260 Pilsner burghers the right to brew the beer. This privilege, a very profitable financially, allowed the holder to sell beer in his house.

Pilsners had been making beer without the necessary education and knowledge and often improving the tastes by variety of ingredients. No wonder, that the quality of beer was really horrible!

This lead to an unusual theatre: 36 barrels of disgusting Pilsner beer was poured out in front of Pilsen City Hall in February 1838.

The owners of the right to brew beer joined together and choose a place for constructions of a new brewery: a place with sandstone underground for deep cellars and with a rich water source. The construction started in 1839. Then they hired a German brewer Josef Groll to prepare German style lager beer. The taste of new brewed beer was extraordinary! Probably because of unique Plzeň water. It was the year 1842 when the legendary Pilsner Beer was born.

To take part on Pilsner Urquell Brewery Tour is a great opportunity to learn more about Pilsen beer history.

4.2 Pilsner Urquell ingredients

Plzeň has very good assumptions for brewing excellent beer. Special local Czech ingredients as: Pilsen´s soft water, red hops from Žatec, malt and special brewer´s yeast accompanied with the love to beer create the necessary base for production of Pilsner beer.

You will see all these ingredients during your visit to Pilsner Urquell Brewery tour.

Pilsner Urquell ingredients are used in beer baths. Pilsner Urquell Brewery and Spa Beerland® invite you to the unique beer wellness on Pilsen main square.

Read about my visit to BEERLAND beer spa in Pilsen here .

4.3 Wooden barrels

Pilsner Urquell Brewery is the only one brewery at the world which keeps the traditions of handmade wooden barrels . Coopers of Pilsner Urquell Brewery produce small and also huge beer barrels (of the size 4.000 liters) which serve for storage of Pilsner lager beer in cellars of Pilsner Urquell Brewery. You can see these barrels during the Pilsner Brewery tour. And we hope that this tradition will be included to UNESCO intangible cultural heritage soon.

Nowadays, Pilsner Urquell Brewery is the biggest producer of beer in the Czech Republic.

5. Pilsner Urquell Restaurant

The famous Pilsner Urquell Restaurant "Na Spilce" is situated in front of visitor center in the area of Pilsner Urquell Brewery. After the visit to the Pilsner Urquell Tour is the right time to relax, taste the typical Czech cuisine and the unpasteurized and unfiltered Pilsner Urquell beer from the tank. The Pilsner Urquell Brewery restaurant is equipped with the children playing area; you can also sit in the garden in good weather.

Pilsner Urquell Brewery Restaurant

Restaurant Na Spilce U Prazdroje 7, Plzeň GPS: 49°44'47.339"N, 13°23'10.568"E Open: Mo - Su: 11 am – 10 pm

Web page of the Restaurant Na Spilce

Did you enjoy Pilsen brewery visit and want to buy some souvenirs, Pilsner Urquell glasses and mugs, pilsner beer, home accessories or clothing with the logo of Pilsner Urquell Brewery? There is a special Pilsner Urguell Souvenir Shop in the area of Plzeň brewery where you can find wide-range of these items. Pilsner Urquell Shop is open every day from 10 am till 7 pm. Don´t have the chance to visit Pilsner Urquell Gift Shop? Then you can also buy Pilsner Urquell beer and gifts online here »

Pilsner Urquell Souvenir Shop in the area of Pilsen Brewery.

7. Pilsen Brewery Museum in Plzeň

Get the Brewery Museum Entrance including a Glass of Beer here.

Pilsen Brewery museum uses the same entrance as Pilsen Historical Underground . It is located in Plzeň City Centre, only 400 meters far from Pilsner Urquell Brewery. It is easy to walk by following marked path from Pilsner Urquell Brewery. You can download the free Tourist Map (pdf) of Plzeň City Center here .

The exposition of Pilsen Beer Museum will take you through the history of Plzeň beer production. In the atmosphere of the Middle Ages you will learn how Pilsen beer is brewed, how to serve and drink it. You can even taste Pilsner Urguell, of course if you are older than 18.

Pilsen Brewery museum reminds the time when started the production of Pilsner Beer.

Veleslavínova 6, Plzeň Open daily: 10 am – 6 pm Web page of Plzen Beer Museum

BOOK NOW »

Just in front of Pilsner Urquell Brewery you will find very pleasant hotel Vienna House Easy Pilsen . It is an excellent place where you can stay overnight because it is situated close to Pilsner Urquell Brewery and also very close to Pilsen Old Town. The railway station is only 300 meters far. Click here to check out prices and book your stay.

Vienna House Easy Pilsen isn´t of course only one hotel near Pilsner Urquell Brewery. I prepared for you the list of 11 best hotels in Plzeň. Now, the choice will be easier for you. Read more about hotels in Plzeň here »

Pilsner Urquell Brewery isn´t the only one Plzeň Brewery. During your visit to Plzeň you can taste also craft beer and have a beer spa in a local microbrewery Purkmistr:

#2 Restaurant and brewery Beer Factory

The new microbrewery and restaurant Beer Factory was built in the old town house located on the corner of Dominikánská and Veleslavínova Street, just a few steps from the Plzeň Republic Square. The restaurant serves typical Czech food as Svíčková, Venison, burgers and steaks, the great advantage of this place is garden in inner courtyard.

Architects succeeded to connect an old architecture with modern clean industrial style: dominants are walls without painting and materials as iron, steel and wood. The beer club and the biggest part of all technologies are concentrated in the cellar, but the main bar with two brew houses are in the ground floor.

The brewery offers several kinds of own beer including top fermented beer (called ale) but it imports also fine beer from Belgium as Kasteel Rouge or Gulden Draak.

The brewery is very popular among tourists, for Friday evening you will need a reservation.

If you want to find an accommodation close to the brewery Beer Factory, I recommend a beautiful place Hotel Rango .

Open Mo-Th: 11am-11pm, Fr+Sa: 11am-12pm, Su: 11am-11pm. Dominikánská 8, Plzeň. Web page of Beer Factory Brewery.

Restaurant and brewery Beer Factory.

For those who prefer bottom-fermented beer (as Pilsner lager made by Pilsner Urquell Brewery) and don´t like fruity beer as ale, is better to visit the next Pilsen brewery “U Pašáka”. #plzenguide

Read also: The best restaurants in Plzeň »

9. Purkmistr: hotel, brewery, restaurant and Plzeň beer spa

Purkmistr brewery is a great place where you can spend a whole weekend with your partner, friends or family and we guarantee that nobody will get bored.

This Pilsen brewery is located in the suburban part of Plzeň-Černice. The large newly renovated farmhouse includes a beerhouse with a brewery, a restaurant, a hotel Purkmistr with spa , wellness and a bowling alley .

It brews own beer under Purkmistr brand: PURKMISTR lager (classic Pilsner style lager), semi dark and dark 12% lager, PÍSAŘ wheat beer (top-fermented wheat beer with a characteristic fruity component), RADNÍ (amber semi-dark special with a prolonged maturation time) etc. There is also a wide variety of beers flavored with fruit and herbal flavors.

Restaurant is open: Mo-Th: 11am-11pm, Fr-Sa: 11am-12pm, Su: 11am-10pm. Selská náves 21/2, Plzeň - Černice. Book your stay in Purkmistr here.

Brewery and beer spa Purkmistr in Plzeň.

The beer in Purkmistr house is brewed using traditional recipes , several types of high quality malting barley, hops from the Žatec region and a famous Pilsen’s soft water. The beer is served unfiltered and unpasteurized, so all the original nutrients are preserved and thanks to this it contains exclusively natural substances: a high vitamin B content, sugar, yeast, etc. So it has many benefits for your body.

Former farmhouse was reconstructed and serves as a brewery now.

• a wide range of activities as Pilsen brewery tour, bowling, yoga lessons, wellness with sauna and massage
• a beautiful and quite place of the former farmhouse
• Pilsen city center very easily reachable by trolleybus No. 13
• Czech traditional cuisine

#3 RAVEN brewery and pub

We finish our Plzeň Brewery Tour in young Pilsen Brewery RAVEN. The cute pub with 60 places for sitting was open in 2017.

RAVEN brewery is situated behind the pub and brews 6 kinds of own beer, mainly ale beer. It is also possible to order the brewery tour with beer tasting.

Pub is open: Mo-Fr: 4pm-10pm, Fr-Su: 2pm- until the last guest leave.☺ Address: Mozartova 1, Plzeň. Web page of RAVEN Brewery.

The pub offers cold and sometimes hot meals, and there are barbecues in the garden during the summer. The RAVEN beer is unfiltered and unpasteurized and it is served directly from the lager cellar at the same temperature as the beer matured.

Pilsner Urquell Brewery Tour is one of the most popular things to see and do in Pilsen .

Visiting the Pilsner Urquell brewery tour can be an interesting and also educational experience for anyone who is interested in the history and process of brewing beer.

You can learn about the history of Pilsner Urquell beer and how it has evolved over the years, as well as see the traditional methods and equipment that are used to brew this famous beer. 🍺

I think that you are already looking forward to visit Pilsner Brewery Tour.

Are you looking for accommodation in Plzeň? Here are the best deals for today »

Written by Šárka Novotná

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Šárka Novotná Hi, I'm Šárka and I'm so glad you've found this Website! I was born in Plzeň and from the love to my home city I launched PlzenGuide.com . I hope you will find important information and ideas about how to spend an incredible time in Pilsen Czech Republic.

Today open 11:00 - 20:30 (Last entry 19:00) Today open from 11:00

Pilsner Urquell Experience

• Experiences

The Original Tour

Experience our story, brewing processes, games & tasting

• 2 Beers or soft drinks included

Experience Pilsner Urquell through all senses

THE MUST-DO ACTIVITY IN PRAGUE!

Discover the story of Pilsner Urquell, the world's first golden lager that revolutionized the beer industry 180 years ago! In The Original Tour, we will transport you back in time through immersive audioguide, video mapping, light shows and projection to explain how the first pilsner beer was created.

You will taste our golden beer while meeting our first brewmaster, and with your senses already stimulated, you will experience the brewing processes - our ingredients, the hot brewhouse, or chilly cellars! We will explain to you the importance of foam in each of the perfect Czech beer pours, and before leaving the storytelling floor, a lot of fun will be waiting for you in our 360° game hall!

The tour continues in our iconic Beer Hall or in our Výčep U Zvonu, where you can taste two more beers served by our friendly tapsters or participate in one of our shows! And if you visit our brand shop, you can take home a personalized hand-engraved beer mug or a bottled Pilsner Urquell with your name on it.

Tripadvisor

We'll get you involved thanks to.

Immerse yourself in the Pilsner Urquell story through 3D surround sound in one of 8 languages - CZ, EN, DE, ES, IT, FR, JP & CN

There are many - try to count them and get a liquid golden reward!

We use thousands of integrated lights reacting to our story for a better experience.

Meet ancient Gods!

Museums don't serve beer; we do! Enjoy all three tasting moments!

Customer reviews

After learning the history of Czech beer, I now have many fun facts to share with friends.

Would highly recommend to anyone visiting Prague who likes beer!

The building is beautiful, and the experience is really interesting!

Did the Tapster Academy and the Tour - if you love beer, you’ll love the Experience!

Amazing story in Japanese, together with the best beer we've had so far.

We didn't expect such luxury in the souvenir shop and impulsively bought a few trinkets.

The team was extremely informative about the local culture valuing the foam on top of the beer, not just the contents below.

Spacious and high-tech, with brilliant multimedia and interactive displays.

It's a truly excellent experience, with the tradition of the brewery juxtaposed wonderfully with modern graphics and technology and friendly, knowledgeable staff.

Other experiences

Tapster Academy

Learn to pour a perfect Pilsner!

• Exclusive class
• Includes beers, certificate & personalised bottle
• Approx. 60 min

The Original Tour + Tapster Academy

Enjoy the immersive Experience and learn to pour our Pilsner!

• 2 - 2.5 hours

Frequently asked questions

We welcome our visitors every day except for Christmas and New Year. Current opening hours can be found in the Contact section .

Yes! The Original Tour is very informative, and your children will enjoy it, too. However, we don't serve beer to anyone under the legal drinking age (18 years), but don't worry - two non-alcoholic beverages are available instead.

Our Tapster Academy is reserved for adults only.

• Norsk Bokmål

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• Czestochowa

Prague to Pilsen and Pilsner Urquell Brewery One-Day Trip

Discover the charms of Pilsen, home of the legendary Pilsner Urquell lager. Visit St Bartholomew Cathedral and see the Republic Square and other highlights of the Old Town. Extended option: beer tasting tour at the Pilsner Urquell Brewery.

• Explore Pilsen’s Old Town with a 5-Star Local Guide
• Visit the magnificent St Bartholomew’s Cathedral
• Learn about beer and brewing at the Pilsner Urquell Brewery (only in 8-hour option)
• Taste original unfiltered Pilsner Urquell lager (only in 8-hour option)
• Enjoy private car transfers from your Prague accommodation

Check Price

Data *   (optional)

Godzina  (optional)

Available trips:

Activity details.

• 6 - 8 Hours
• Private Tour Exclusive only for you
• Just buy and we instantly organize Your booking ensure the tour is already fully organized, just come and enjoy!
• Live Guide English, German, French, Italian, Russian, Spanish
• Car Transport
• Skip The Line Tickets for Priority Access

Pilsen has it all – outstanding architecture, unique history and tasty cold beer! Enjoy an exclusive city break in Pilsen and discover top attractions of its charming Old Town, including the historic Pilsner Urquell Brewery. Fall in love with a town of beautiful monuments, rich industrial tradition and a passion for beer!

Choose the basic 6-hour option to discover the best selected highlights of Pilsen’s Old Town. During this short car trip from Prague to the city of Pilsen you can enjoy the comfort of private transportation, as we will arrange a 5-Star Driver and a clean, air-conditioned vehicle exclusively for your group. Upon arrival, a Local Guide will take you on a private tour of the city, its landmarks, monuments and hidden gems.

Explore the Republic Square (Náměstí Republiky), the heart of the city, and listen to local history, legends and fairytales, like the one about Spejbl and Hurvínek. Admire the colorful Gothic and Renaissance-style historical buildings, unique fountains and monuments, and the magnificent Cathedral of St Bartholomew, which has the tallest spire in all of Czech Republic. Entrance tickets to this 13th-century Gothic cathedral are included in the itinerary so you can see its beautiful stained-glass windows, Renaissance paintings, argillite sculpture of the Pilsner Madonna and a pseudo-Gothic altar.

Another point of interest will be the Great Synagogue, which is the second largest synagogue in Europe, built in the unique Moorish-Romanesque style in 1893. You will also see the smaller Old Synagogue, the J.K. Tyl Theater (Divadlo Josefa Kajetána Tyla), the Municipal Commons, the Study and Research Library and the Museum of West Bohemia. The final stop will be at the historic Pilsner Urquell Brewery, where you’ll find the iconic Pivovar Gate, a symbol of the world-famous Pilsner Urquell lager. Enjoy free time after the guided tour to try original Pilsner beer at a local restaurant or do some souvenir shopping in the city!

Choose the 8-hour option for a private tour of Pilsen’s Old Town and skip-the-line tickets to the city’s top attraction: the Pilsner Urquell Brewery. This option includes a guided tour of the historic brewery where the original Pilsner Urquell lager was born in 1842. Learn all about the Czech beer that inspired more than ⅔ of the world’s beer and see the exhibition of beer ingredients, brewhouses, brewery cellar and the bottle filling facility. The highlight of this original experience will be tasting unfiltered beer from oak lager barrels! Enjoy the best Czech beer straight from the tap!

• Private Car Trip from Prague to Pilsen’s Old Town and the Pilsner Urquell Brewery (number of attractions depends on the selected option)
• 5-Star Licensed Guide who is fluent in the language of your choice
• Entrance fee to St Bartholomew’s Cathedral
• Skip-the-line tickets for the official tour and beer tasting at the Pilsner Urquell Brewery (only in 8-hour option)
• Private transport with pickup and drop-off at your accommodation in Prague
• Lunch (optional)
• Skip-the-line tickets for the official tour and beer tasting at the Pilsner Urquell Brewery (in 6-hour option)

Important information

What you should know.

• Please check your email the day before the tour to receive important information.\
• Please note that the number of attractions depends on the selected option. Tickets for the official tour and beer tasting at the Pilsner Urquell Brewery are not included in the basic 6-hour option. During the tour, lunch can be arranged on your request.
• St Bartholomew Cathedral has limited opening hours from April to September: Wednesday – Saturday at 10.00 am-4:00 pm; and from October to December: Wednesday – Friday at 10.00 am-4:00 pm. Tours inside may be limited due to scheduled events, such as the daily, Sunday and holiday masses. On the days when it’s not possible to visit the cathedral interiors, the guide will offer an alternative attraction such as a visit to the observation deck in the cathedral tower.
• The 8-hour option includes tickets for the official tour of the Pilsner Urquell Brewery. Please note that other participants can join your group at the brewery. Private tours of this attraction can be arranged for groups larger than 15 people, however, due to the limited number of guides this cannot always be guaranteed.
• The Pilsner Urquell Brewery tour includes a tasting of Pilsner Urquell (0.3l) which is intended solely for visitors 18 years of age or above.
• We will arrange private transfers in a standard car (sedan) for groups of 1-4 people, and in a large van for groups of 5 people and more. If you’re traveling in a smaller group but want to travel in a more spacious car, we recommend booking a tour for 5 people to take advantage of the van transport.

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A Tour of the Pilsner Urquell Brewery, Pilsen

• Last Updated March 17, 2024
• Europe , Czech Republic

Throughout the world there are countless recipes, snacks, and products that are so intrinsically linked to their place of origin that it is almost impossible to think of one without making a connection in your mind to the other. Has anyone ever travelled to Leicestershire’s Melton Mowbray without craving one of their succulent pork and jelly-filled pies, stepped foot on the streets of Lisbon without hot-footing it to a local bakery for a pastel de nata or spent any amount of time in Hungary and not been tempted by a steaming, spiced bowl of hearty goulash.

However, with Pilsner – the pale and hoppy thirst-quenching lager that was born in the Czech city of Pilsen – it has become so ubiquitous worldwide that people do not always make the connection between product and place. Those that are in the know or have even the feintest interest in the history of beer styles will tell you, Pilsner –and by extension the local Pilsner Urquell Brewery – holds a hugely significant place in of brewing heritage.

Back in 1843, the brewery first defined the style of well-hopped pale golden lager that today sets the framework for the vast majority of the world’s beer production. It is a style of beer that has been reproduced, copied and replicated so often that it is now the planet’s most prevalent beer, spawning equally popular adaptations like German Pils and American light. Every country, it seems, now has its own take on this Czech creation.

The story behind the first batch of Pilsner, while disputed by some, is an interesting one.

Pilsen has been steeped in brewing heritage since its inception. When the city was founded in 1295, a decree was passed from King Wenceslas II in which he bestowed upon Pilsen’s enterprising burghers an extraordinary privilege – the right to brew and peddle beer from within the walls of their own homes. A symphony of clinking tankards and fragrant aromas wafted through the air, as nearly every dwelling in the city’s historic centre became a veritable hub for the craft.

Yet, in those bygone days, brewing adhered to the capricious whims of top fermentation. The brewers of Pilsen ceremoniously pitched yeast upon the surface of their wort to set the wheels of fermentation in motion. However, this method, akin to a delicate balancing act, demanded higher temperatures and unveiled a tapestry of unpredictable outcomes – It often resulted in wayward flavours and imperfections. The ales, vulnerable to the untamed forces of wild yeasts and unruly bacteria, often danced the fine line between success and spoilage. Astonishingly, even with the wisdom of eight centuries imbued in their vats, Pilsen’s venerable brewers found themselves still locked in a relentless battle against contamination.

This eventually came to a head in 1838 when a batch was so bad that local citizens rolled 36 barrels of ale into the street, opened them up, and poured the beer across the cobbles of the main square in protest.

Something had to be done. Local architect Martin Stelzer was sent on a scouting mission to study the breweries in Munich and returned with plans to build Pilsen its perfect brewery. In those days Bohemia was part of Austria-Hungary and Bavaria was then the principal centre of lager brewing, which is why he also brought with him Josef Groll, a master Bavarian brewer, who would go on to change beer history forever. On October 5, 1842, Groll and the other brewers of Pilsen gathered for their first taste of this new brew, a pale beer using a cold fermenting lager yeast. They were instantly impressed. Its straw-like golden colour and clarity were unlike anything they had ever seen and the brewers of Pilsen knew that they had made something special.

The beer brewed in Plzeň in 1842 was groundbreaking, placing the brewery at the cutting edge of innovation in the industry. With this, the Pilsner Urquell Brewery was born.

The brewery where it all started can still be found in Pilsen, although it has grown somewhat since its original form. Wander through the beautifully expansive town square, Namesti Republiky, past the towering Cathedral of St. Bartholemew towards the outskirts of the city centre, across the Radbuza River, and pass through the ornate double-arched entrance archway and you will find yourself within the sprawling complex that makes up Pilsner Urquell. Fitting well with the cobblestone paths and pastel-hued 19th century factory aesthetic, the company still plays heavily on its tradition and heritage. After all, “Ur-Quelle” means that this is the ‘original source’ of pilsner.

When I say that the brewery has grown since it was founded, I may be understating the facts. Pilsner Urquell is now the Czech Republic’s largest brewery, claiming around 50% of the domestic market across its various brands. After becoming nationalised, along with Budvar, by the pro-communist regime of the 60s and being re-privatised following the political changes of 1989, the company was eventually bought by South African Breweries (SAB), which in turn merged in 2002 to form SABMiller. While corporate takeovers come with the risk of having attaching a ‘sell out’ label to your product, especially in the UK craft scene, the new owners did bring investment and modernisation to the production process that was desperately needed – while hopefully maintaining the character and history that makes Pilsner Urquell so appealing.

Thankfully, even under new ownership, the brewery takes its heritage seriously and this is on full display in their state-of-the-art glass-fronted visitor centre & museum. Just beyond the reception area, you will find case upon case of awards and documents that date back to the brewery’s origins. Everything, it seems, has been saved. The company’s on-site archives contain a record of everything that has happened at the brewery since its inception in 1842. This includes details of every employee, minutes from each company meeting and most importantly the Pilsner recipe: Pilsen water, two-row barley and Saaz hops both grown in the Czech Republic, plus the all-important H-yeast strain. Proof, if any was required, that Pilsner is brewed to the same recipe today that it always has been.

After watching a short film on the history of the brewery on a 180-degree video screen, the museum experience continues in an area displaying the all-important raw ingredients for making the perfect pilsner and how they are produced. As mentioned above, both the Barley and hops are Czech grown, produced in an area not too far from Pilsen, and particular care is taken by the brewery in protecting its yeast strain – samples are contained in temperature-controlled vaults situated in different countries to ensure that it is never lost or damaged.

As someone that has spent a good amount of the past few years working in a brewery, I was particularly interested in visiting the brew house. While the main brewing operation of Pilsner Urquell moved to a modern brew house thanks to the investment by SABMiller, the old mash tuns have been left behind as a kind of museum piece. Large, cylindrical copper tanks filled the tiled room connected by pipes that jut off in all directions. It is in these that the pale malts were heated and stirred (mashed) in boiling water to release the sugars that go on to be fermented into alcohol, a very important step in the brewing process. Incidentally, Pilsner Urquell is one of the few breweries to triple mash their beer, meaning the mash passes through the process three times before the hops and yeast are added.

One of the key steps in the process of lager brewing is the lagering itself. This is where the beer is left to mature in tanks at near-freezing temperatures following the primary fermentation. While this process is derived from the old Bavarian practice of storing beer over the summer months in cold caves, it also allows the beer to stabilise and for any harsh and unpleasant tastes to be removed, giving a cleaner, fresher flavour. While this is now done in temperature-controlled steel tanks, the remnants of the old lagering method remain on the Pilsner Urquell site, deep underground.

There are 9km of lime-washed tunnels that run almost 20m beneath the brewery. It is here in this cavernous labyrinth of dark, dank passageways that brewers of the past would leave their huge oak barrels of beer to condition, aided by the cool temperatures and large blocks of ice carved from a nearby lake each winter.

This damp and gloomy subterranean world is like a labyrinth, so I was glad to have an official guide show us the way from the entrance to the corridor of enormous oak barrels that are still maintained and used by the brewery. These are not just show pieces for the tourists either, they are used for a process that the brewery likes to call parallel brewing.

When the brewery modernised, they were so worried that the new process may alter the taste of Pilsner Urquell that a team led by Václav Berka, their Brewmaster, decided that they should continue to brew a small portion of their beer in the cellars – that way it could be compared with the beer made in the new tanks. This beer is brewed in the old-fashioned way before a team of current and retired Brewmasters, as well as the brewery’s own tasting panel, conduct comparative taste tests in the laboratory to ensure that there is no difference between the two brews.

Speaking of old barrels and using traditional methods, Pilsner Urquell is one of the last places in Europe that still preserves and develops the traditional craft of coopering, or barrel making. There are currently only eight coopers in Pilsen and their knowledge is passed down orally from master to journeyman. We were lucky enough to be taken around the workshop to catch a glimpse of the art of coopering for ourselves and although it is not part of the regular tour, it can be witnessed year-round at special brewery events.

From these barrels, our guide pours us what we have been waiting for: a glass of the golden lager itself, specifically Pilsner Urquell Nefiltrovany Lezak, the superior unfiltered, unpasteurised version of their beer. It is not every day that I get to stand in the damp, dark cellars of the Pilsner Urquell Brewery drinking its famed lager directly from an enormous wooden cask. As our guide explains, “This is the best beer that you can get, so enjoy it. Na zdraví.”

Tour Information

• Opening Hours: Daily from 9am until 6pm (May - September) or 10am until 6pm (October - April)
• Tours take place in English, Czech, or German
• Price: CZK 380
• Duration: 110 mins
• Beer tasting is included in the tour but only available to people aged 18 or older

How to get to Pilsner Urquell Brewery

Most people visiting Pilsen will arrive via Václav Havel Airport in Prague (90km away/50mins by car). From the airport, you can take the no. 100 bus to Praha-Zličín (40 Czk) and from there, catch the yellow Regiojet buse or the green-orange Flixbus buse to Pilsen (every hour/100 Czk). It is also possible to catch the airport shuttle to Prague railway station where you can transfer to the Západní Express. The Express leaves every hour and takes approximately 1 hour 15 to reach Pilsen.

There are also direct trains from České Budějovice, Klatovy (Železná Ruda), Domažlice, Cheb and Žatec.

From Pilsen train station, it is a short, 10-minute walk to the brewery. You will find that it is signposted from the station and throughout the city centre, however, this isn’t always necessary as the chimneys are visible from across the Radbuza River. 

Where to Stay in Pilsen

Being Czechia’s 4th largest city and a major business/industrial hub, there is no shortage of large hotels and accommodation options in Pilsen’s city centre. However, a number of Pilsen’s breweries also offer a place to stay, often with the option of an adjoining beer spa for those really wanting to theme their entire stay in the city around its famous amber nectar. 

Courtyard by Marriott

Brewery & beer spa, hotel purkmistr.

As well as brewing some of Pilsen’s finest beer, Purkmistr brewery has an onsite hotel of 32 rooms with adjoining beer spa where you can bath in a concoction of hops and yeast while enjoying an unlimited supply of 12° Purkmistr beer.

Pivni Hotel

Located south of Pilsen in the picturesque town of Nepomuk, this beer-themed hotel attached to Zlatá Kráva brewery features 16 designer rooms – each named after their own beers – with their own beer tap (and 5 litres of complimentary ale). Their beer spa and wellness centre features a whirlpool, Finnish sauna and the opportunity to take a beer bath in the old cellar of the brewery. A unique experience.  

I visited the Pilsner Urquell Brewery as a guest of Visit Czech Republic and Visit Pilsen , however, all views expressed are my own.

Dave McClane

David McClane is a photographer and travel writer based in Leeds, UK. Since first picking up a camera on a yearlong journey through Central and South America in 2014/2015, He has carefully documented his travels through almost 50 countries.

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One response.

Who knew that Pilsner had such a fascinating history behind it? It’s like an ancient beer wizardry! Reading about the brewery’s archives and how they’ve kept records since forever made me wonder what juicy secrets they are capable of hiding. Maybe they have a secret stash of “beer alchemy” instructions that are guarded by beer-loving dragons? Lol.

And oh, that unfiltered, unpasteurized version of their beer sounds like a little piece of beer heaven! I can almost taste the crisp, golden goodness. It must have been an unforgettable experience! If only teleporting was a thing, I’d be there right now!

Cheers, Femi.

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The Pilsner Urquell Origins Tour

The Pilsner Urquell Origins Tour is one of the most important parts of Tapster training. This is where our Tapsters learn what it takes to harvest Saaz hops. And it’s harder than you think!

It all begins when the Tapsters come to the Czech village of Stekník, in Žatec, where Saaz hops begin their journey from tall green bines towards a glass of Pilsner Urquell.

Saaz hops are known as a ‘noble hop’ and are prized for their wonderful flavour and aroma. Beer lovers know their spicy, elegant, slightly citrusy fragrance and clean bitterness. But getting them to our brewery can be a challenge!

The hop harvest takes place during August and September. When the hops are ready, the harvesting machine runs up and down the rows, pulling the hops down into the back of the trailer. From here they go to the processing plant where the hop picker pulls off the flowers, separating them from the leaves and vines. Next these are slowly dried and packed, ready to go to the brewhouse.

Sure, we could do it all with machines, but we like to give Tapsters hands-on experience with our ingredients. They’re up for the challenge of picking all day in the summer heat, and they love seeing the hops close up and smelling the floral, citrusy aroma they recognise from Pilsner Urquell!

The acids and oils in the hop flower are the key ingredients for our beer. That’s why we add Saaz hops three times when we brew Pilsner Urquell – first to give the beer bitterness and then to add aroma.

But you didn’t have to read all of this to learn about Saaz hops. Just ask your Tapster!

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