Brewery Tours in Czechia: Beer Culture and Planning

• Pilsner Urquell in Pilsen combines production areas, historic brewhouses, cellars and beer tasting.
• Tasting unfiltered beer at Pilsner Urquell is restricted to guests aged 18 and over.
• Prague’s Staropramen Visitor Centre presents the brewery’s history, dating back to 1869, through an interactive tour with a tasting.
• According to the visitor centre, the Staropramen tour lasts around 50 minutes.
• The choice of tour depends on whether production processes, brewery history or a short visit as part of a city itinerary is the priority.

The tour of the Pilsner Urquell Brewery begins with the history and ingredients of the beer. The programme includes production areas, a brewhouse, the bottling line and the historic cellars. Part of the tour focuses on the raw ingredients; unfiltered, unpasteurised Pilsner Urquell is served in the cellars. Tastings are restricted to adults aged 18 and over.

The brewery combines modern production with historic areas. It still stores some of its beer in the cellars using traditional methods. The visitor route moves between different parts of the site; sturdy, closed-toe shoes are suitable for the walk, and the cellars are kept at around five degrees Celsius. Since 13 April 2026, construction work has made the tour inaccessible to visitors with limited mobility. The brewery site in Pilsen can be combined with a visit to the old town. The official tour of the Pilsner Urquell Brewery provides details of the specific tour options.

The Staropramen Visitor Centre is located in the historic brewery complex in Prague’s Smíchov district. The interactive tour traces the brand’s history from its founding in 1869 to the present day and includes a tasting. The visitor centre lists the tour duration as 50 minutes. This makes it a better fit for a half-day of sightseeing than for an in-depth tour of production areas.

When planning a further city itinerary through Prague, Smíchov’s location is worth considering: a visit can be combined with other destinations in the western part of the city. On a longer trip around Czechia, Brno, Karlovy Vary, Český Krumlov, Kutná Hora and Hradec Králové offer other possibilities for stops. Which cities to include depends on the length of the trip, rail and road connections, and personal interests.

In Pilsen, the brewery tour covers several production and cellar areas; in Prague, the Staropramen Visitor Centre focuses on the brand’s history and a tasting. Visitors primarily interested in brewing and the facilities will find more production details in Pilsen. The Prague experience is shorter and easy to fit into a city tour. Czech beer culture also encompasses regional breweries and a variety of beer styles, beyond these well-known names.

A tour with a tasting can be combined with a meal or an evening out. When travelling between the brewery, railway station and accommodation, location and departure time are key; accommodation suited to your destination and day’s route can help avoid unnecessary cross-city journeys. A trip around Czechia can combine Pilsen and Prague with regional events, provided their dates and locations fit your stay.

If you take part in a tasting, make the journey home part of your plans. You can walk, use public transport or stay overnight near the venue. Anyone driving should avoid alcohol; for groups, it helps to agree on a return time in advance. A brewery tour also offers insights into brewing and history, even for travellers who do not drink beer.

Tour times, available languages, admission and booking terms vary by visitor centre and specific time slot. In Pilsen, the official tour also offers a multilingual audio guide if needed. Prague’s Staropramen Visitor Centre runs an interactive tour with a guided tasting. These practical differences can help you choose the experience that best suits your group and schedule.

What languages is the Pilsner audio guide available in?

The SmartGuide audio guide for the Pilsner Urquell tour is available in English, German and Spanish. It helps visitors learn about the production areas, historic cellars and beer-making process in a language that suits them.