Karlštejn

All of the tourists aside, the 🌍 Karlštejn castle itself is really impressive. Once you arrive at the castle you can enter within the walls for free but access to the inside of the castle requires paying for a guided tour (220 Kč). There are several tours in different languages during the day. Call in advance to determine the exact times. There is also a 70-minute tour option that visits other rooms, including the Chapel of the Holy Cross, but remember to make a reservation. You can buy tickets online.

Unless you are particularly interested in Ancient Holy Roman Empire history you may want to take only the 50-minute tour, or limit yourself to walking on the castle parapets, enjoying the view and reading the outdoor information boards with the castle's history. This will give you more time for hiking to 🌍 Svatý Jan Pod Skalou which is a bit more authentic Czech experience.

The castle is closed on all Mondays, even during the high season.

The name of this monastery translates to "Saint John under the rock", which is quite an apt description for the monastery. The monastery was built on a natural spring at the base of a 100 m sheer cliff (the cliff being crowned with a large cross). Prior to the monastery being built a "saintly" hermit took up residence in a deep cave next to the spring where he "fought great battles with satanic spirits." The monastery is open daily, donations are requested at the door (but not obligatory). Don't miss the little door directly opposite from the main entrance, this is the entrance to the 'holy' cave. The cave contains five large rooms, all of which have been modified for religious purposes. One part becoming a crypt, another having a large altar, others for saintly relics, etc. Before entering pick up one of the laminated explanation papers laid out on the pews next to the door. They are done in all of the major European languages and explain what each room in the cave was use for. Outside the monastery if you look around you'll find the natural spring located in a small grotto just around the corner from the Monastery entrance. The spring water is drinkable and quite tasty.

🌍 Solvayovy lomy (Solvay quarry). The former quarry nearby transformed into a museum. During weekends from spring to fall, the narrow-gauge railway is also in operation, along with small buffet in a tram. 

A trip to Karlštejn starts with a trip to the castle, which was the seat of Holy Roman Emperor Charles IV. The 50-minute tour is delightful, and well worth the time. There is a lovely and picturesque hike available to the Svatý Jan Pod Skalou monastery through the Český Kras protected area (Bohemian Karst or Czech Karst in English). While at times rugged (it actually is 12 km, and not the 8 km marked), it is more than doable for those who are in good shape and have the proper equipment. It begins at the castle walls (look for the red markings near the trailhead at the castle walls).

A caveat: the hike is likely to be too challenging if you are not in good physical condition and lack proper hiking shoes. Specifically, the path meanders through forest, stream, several steep uphills, some slippery rocks and tricky downhills. There are numerous locations during the hike where you have no cellular service.

Another thing to remember is that the path markings while clear after some experience reading them, first appear rudimentary, so always follow the red markings on the trees. The green trail marks also are fine--they track the red markings until approximately 1km before the monastery, and there is a clear sign marking the turnoff to the monastery.

Once you arrive at the monastery (which closes at 16:₩0), you have the choice to take another hike to the town of Srbsko or to Beroun, where you catch the train back to Prague. The hike from the monastery to Srbsko actually is 8km, and not 5km, as indicated. The yellow signs purportedly indicating the path to Srbsko are nearly impossible to find. For the hike from the monastery to Beroun train station just follow the same red marks, it's 5.5 km and easy to find. There are two train stations in Beroun. The red marks lead you to the right one to take the train back to Prague. Alternatively, if you call a taxi from the local restaurant in Svatý Jan Pod Skalou (75 m from the monastery, on the right), this is a 12-km hike, punctuated by round-trip train rides and taxis. If you choose to hike to Srbsko, be prepared for an all-day, 20-km hike. If you do decide to hike to Srbsko (and assuming you can find the yellow signs), the Srbsko train station is directly across the blue bridge. There is no place to purchase tickets. Those can be purchased on the train, however. The town of Beroun is closer to the monastery and larger; tickets can be bought at the train station here.

Some of the best rock climbing near Prague is in Srbsko and Svatý Jan Pod Skalou.

For the more adventurous, there are also several open pit limestone quarries, reachable by foot in about 3/4h from the castle. Entry is officially prohibited to public, but viewing is normally possible from the footpaths. 🌍 Velká Amerika (Big America) (Just on the side of the nearby road, parking spaces available.)  and 🌍 Malá Amerika (Little America)  are the most impressive/visited ones. The pits are partially filled up with water, but swimming there can be risky - both due to dangers and possible fines. The pits are connected by a extensive system of shafts and galleries, but most of them are locked. However the owner company organizes official tours of the tunnels during weekends.