Cesky Krumlov in 3D: A Town Inside a River Bend

In the south of Czechia, Český Krumlov coils inside a tight bend of the Vltava river, a perfectly preserved medieval town crowned by a sprawling Renaissance castle. Here's how to explore every corner of Krumlov in 3D with live Street View — right from your iPhone.

In the south of Czechia, Český Krumlov coils inside a tight bend of the Vltava river, a perfectly preserved medieval town crowned by a sprawling Renaissance castle.

But here's the catch: most people will never stand here in person. The flights, the crowds, the sheer distance — Krumlov stays firmly on the someday list. The good news is that you no longer have to wait for someday. You can explore Krumlov today, in full 3D with live Street View, right from your phone.

The town grew around its 13th-century castle and has kept its medieval street plan almost entirely intact. That history is exactly what makes it worth seeing up close — and worth scouting properly before you go.

What makes Krumlov special

A few sights define Krumlov, and you'll want to find each of them when you explore in 3D:

• Castle Tower — The castle's painted round tower, the tallest landmark and the best viewpoint over the town.

• Old Town Square — The cobbled main square ringed by pastel Gothic and Renaissance façades.

• Vltava Bend — The horseshoe river bend that wraps the red-roofed old town on three sides.

• The wider setting — half the magic of Krumlov is the landscape around it, which reads best from above in a 3D view.

Together, these sights give Krumlov its unmistakable character. Exploring in 3D lets you move between all of them in seconds — comparing the angles, judging the distances, and deciding which ones deserve the most of your time when you finally visit in person.

How to explore Krumlov in 3D with MAPAS

You don't need a plane ticket to walk these streets. Here's the fastest way to experience Krumlov from your sofa:

1. Open MAPAS and search for Krumlov, Czechia — the map drops you straight into the region.

1. Switch to 3D view and tilt the map so the terrain, buildings and landscape rise into relief around you.

1. Drop into Live Street View near Castle Tower, the view most visitors travel here for, and look around in every direction.

1. Fly across to Vltava Bend to see it from an angle few travellers ever reach on foot.

1. Turn on GPS navigation to trace the real walking route between the sights — so the day you arrive, you already know it by heart.

The best viewpoints to look for

When you're exploring in 3D, aim for these spots — they're the exact angles photographers wait all morning for:

• Castle Tower — 48.8106° N, 14.3153° E

• Old Town Square — 48.8108° N, 14.3153° E

• Vltava Bend — 48.8117° N, 14.3169° E

Line any of them up in 3D first, and you'll know precisely where to stand — and which hour of the day gives you the light — long before you travel.

Why see it in 3D before you go

Scouting a destination virtually isn't just fun — it saves real time and money. You'll spot which viewpoints are worth the climb, how the sights connect, and where the crowds gather, so your actual visit is spent seeing rather than searching. You arrive already oriented, instead of burning your first morning getting lost.

And if a trip to Krumlov isn't on the calendar yet, the 3D tour stands on its own — a genuine way to experience one of the world's most remarkable places from wherever you are.

Good to know

A few essentials before you dive in:

• Cost — MAPAS is free to download on the App Store, with no sign-up required to start exploring.
• Best for — trip planning, virtual travel, and scouting photo spots like Castle Tower before you commit to a route.
• Works on — iPhone and iPad, so you can plan on the couch and navigate on the road.
• Part of — our "Hidden Places You Must See" series, a growing collection of the world's most surreal destinations in 3D.

Plan the real trip (when you're ready)

Český Krumlov is about three hours from Prague. Stay overnight — the day-tour crowds thin by evening, leaving the lantern-lit lanes almost to yourself.

Whenever you do go, a little virtual scouting means you'll spend your time on the ground soaking it in rather than working out where to point the camera. Until then, the 3D version is open 24/7 — no crowds, no flights, no queue for the viewpoint.