The Moravian Karst without a car in 2026: by train and bus from Brno and Prague

You can reach the Moravian Karst comfortably without a car — just take the train to Blansko and then bus no. 226 to Skalní Mlýn (about 10 minutes). Route no. 232 runs from Blansko to the Macocha Abyss and Balcarka Cave. From Brno, the whole journey takes under an hour; from Prague, allow for a change in Brno and a total journey time of around 3.5 hours. Once you’re in the region itself, a combination of the tourist train, cable car and other bus routes will get you everywhere — you really don’t need a car here.

QUICK LINKS 🚆 From Brno · 🚄 From Prague · 🚌 Getting around the region · ❓ FAQ

From Brno

Trains between Brno main station and Blansko run frequently — services depart roughly every half hour, and the journey takes around 20–25 minutes (the fastest services take about 18 minutes). The line was modernised in 2022, so reliability and frequency are both good — there’s no need to plan hours ahead.

At Blansko station, change onto bus no. 226, which takes 10 minutes to reach Skalní Mlýn — the starting point for the Punkva Caves (Punkevní jeskyně), Kateřinská Cave and the cable car up to the Macocha Abyss. The bus station is only about 100 metres from the railway station, so the change is quick and easy. Several services run year-round on weekdays, while at weekends it mostly operates during the main season.

For the Macocha Abyss or Balcarka Cave, take route no. 232 from Blansko to the stop Vilémovice, Macocha rozc., or Ostrov u Macochy, Balcarka. It runs throughout the week, all year round.

Total journey time from Brno: roughly 45–60 minutes including the change.

From Prague

From Prague, take a fast train (railjet or EuroCity) to Brno — services run roughly every hour. In Brno, change onto a train heading to Blansko and continue as described above. The total journey works out at roughly 3 to 3.5 hours, depending on your connections.

Getting around the region itself

Once you’re at Skalní Mlýn, you won’t need a car again:

• Tourist train to the Punkva Caves (110 CZK (approx. €4.4) one way / 150 CZK (approx. €6) return) — this is an approximate conversion, and exchange rates do fluctuate
• Cable car between the Punkva Caves and the Upper Bridge over the Macocha Abyss (120 CZK (approx. €4.8) one way / 160 CZK (approx. €6.4) return, not running in January and February)
• On foot — Pustý žleb valley (Sloup–Skalní Mlýn) is walkable along its full length, even with a pushchair, so no car or bus is needed at all

For journeys between more distant spots (Sloup, Jedovnice), other IDS JMK routes are available — check current timetables at idsjmk.cz.

What changed in 2026: the Krasobus brand has been discontinued, but route no. 226 to Skalní Mlýn continues to run as a regular IDS JMK service. The timetable changes from month to month, so check idsjmk.cz before you travel.

Frequently asked questions

Is it realistic to visit several caves in one day without a car? Yes, but bear in mind that travelling between more distant caves (such as the Sloup-Šošůvka Caves) will take longer than by car. For a single day without a car, we recommend combining the Punkva Caves with the Macocha Abyss, and possibly Kateřinská Cave too — see our one-day itinerary.

How much does the return trip from Brno cost? Both the train and bus are part of the IDS JMK network. The simplest option is a one-day ticket covering all zones for 250 CZK (approx. €10) (230 CZK (approx. €9.2) in the POSEIDON app). At weekends and on public holidays it’s valid for up to 5 people, of whom at most 2 can be over 15, so it’s especially good value for families.

Does public transport run outside the main season? Partly. Route 232 to the Macocha Abyss and Balcarka Cave runs all year round. Route 226 to Skalní Mlýn has several services year-round on weekdays, but at weekends it mostly operates during the main season. So do check the timetable in advance if you’re travelling in winter.

Part of our series A week in the Moravian Karst: a complete 7-day itinerary. See also How to get to the Moravian Karst and The Moravian Karst in one day. Sources: IDS JMK, Czech Railways — Blansko, Czech Cave Administration — transport. Timetables are subject to change — please check current connections at idsjmk.cz before you travel.