Mini Travel Series: Part 1 – A Fun Visit to Pardubice

A Fun Visit to PardubiceHorse Races, Sweet Gingerbread, and Castle Adventures

Written by Amrita

Hi everyone, I’m Amrita, and I’m starting a mini-series where I’ll share some of the coolest places to visit in the Czech Republic—all in one day! Let’s kick things off with my recent trip to Pardubice. Now, you might not know much about this place (I didn’t either), but I’m here to tell you it’s more than just gingerbread, horse races, and explosives (yep, you read that right).

Let’s start with the gingerbread. You haven’t truly experienced Pardubice until you’ve had its famous gingerbread. I wandered into a bakery, and let me tell you, the smell hit me like a sugar bomb. Pardubice is seriously called the “gingerbread town” for a reason. I was convinced I had walked into a gingerbread wonderland. Honestly, if you looked hard enough, you could probably start a gingerbread museum here. It’s that good.

Now, the Velká Pardubická steeplechase. If you’re not familiar, it’s a big deal here. Imagine horses galloping, leaping over fences, splashing through water, and making you wonder if you’re living life all wrong because you’ve never jumped over a fence in slow motion. I didn’t visit on race day (obviously, I didn’t plan well), but you could still feel the excitement in the air. I walked past the racecourse, dreaming of being on horseback—until I remembered I can barely stay on a bicycle without running into a tree.

Since it was Christmas time, I couldn’t miss out on the town’s Christmas market. Picture twinkling lights, cozy stalls selling all kinds of treats and crafts, and the scent of mulled wine in the air. It was like stepping into a holiday dream. Nothing says “Christmas magic” like a festive market filled with gingerbread and hot drinks to warm you up.

Then, I decided to play tourist and check out some of the city’s landmarks. The Pardubice Castle is straight-up medieval, and beautiful I also made my way to Pernštýn Square and the Church of St. Bartholomew, which was right near the main station. Speaking of the station, did I mention Pardubice is just about an hour and 10 minutes from Prague? Trains are super frequent too, like every 15 to 30 minutes. It’s a pretty easy trip if you’re a last-minute planner (like me).

Oh, and I couldn’t miss State Castle Kunětická hora —which is about 9 km outside the city. Unfortunately, it was closed but the views? Stunning. Check before visiting if it is open which normally is from April to October. Pardubice is mostly flat, so this hill is a pretty big deal. I climbed up and felt on top of the world. Well, for a second, before I realized I had to walk back down.

In conclusion, Pardubice was totally worth it. The gingerbread, the horses, the castles—it was like stepping into a quirky, charming adventure. If you’re ever near Prague, don’t miss this gem of a city. Just… maybe plan your visit around race day and check if the castles are open.