The region around České Budějovice spreads out into gorgeous countryside, natural beauty and cultural riches. Genuinely – within 20 km of the city there are two UNESCO sites. If you’re unsure what to visit around České Budějovice, you’ll be pleasantly surprised. One weekend certainly won’t be enough to explore the rich surroundings. Together with other members of this blog we’ve spent 10 years carefully tracking the best spots, and this list of unforgettable places to visit around České Budějovice is the result.
Hluboká nad Vltavou
Hluboká nad Vltavou is known for its majestic chateau, often compared to Windsor Castle in England. Hluboká chateau is surrounded by an extensive park and sits on a hill above the Vltava, offering impressive views over the surrounding countryside (when the weather’s good).
The chateau isn’t all Hluboká offers. Besides it you can enjoy the wellness at the 5**** Wellness Hotel Diamant (the best wellness for miles around, no argument), visit Ohrada Zoo, take a walk along the Vltava to the Baba viewpoint, which looks a lot like the Solenice horseshoe, or spend an afternoon on the square at the microbrewery and the little cafés.
A visit to Hluboká is ideally combined with a visit to České Budějovice, enjoying the 10 km walk along the path connecting the two.
Český Krumlov
Do you want, or perhaps long, to visit Český Krumlov, but besides the iconic chateau you don’t know what else you’d do in this gorgeous town? We have a clear answer on what to visit in Český Krumlov!
Right now is the moment for any keen visitor who wants to enjoy the town relatively to themselves without lanes crammed with tourists. We’ve written about it in detail in our article on what to visit in Český Krumlov.
Třeboň
The historic town of Třeboň is surrounded by many ponds and sits in the picturesque South Bohemian region. Třeboň chateau, the monastery, the carp and the picturesque square all invite cultural experiences. In summer especially the town genuinely comes alive. Třeboň is also popular for its spas – specifically Aurora and Bertiny lázně.
The surrounding countryside with dozens of ponds and cycle paths is an ideal place for active rest – you’re effectively always riding on the flat and doing several dozen kilometres in a day is no problem. The biggest benefit is that refreshments aren’t forgotten either! There are several stalls along the way – personally I’d recommend a hidden gem by the dam of the largest pond, Rožmberk: the Kocanda forest refreshment stand.
If you want a genuine walk around the World, head out on the roughly 12 km loop around Svět pond. As a reward you can then enjoy a treat in the centre of Třeboň.
Holašovice
This picturesque rural settlement is one of the gems of vernacular architecture and is on the UNESCO World Heritage list. Holašovice stands out for its preserved timbered houses, which form a unique ensemble of 19th-century folk building. Festivals and various events are held here regularly.
On top of that, the local representatives were active enough that, besides the buildings in the rural Baroque style, they also built a replica of Stonehenge here. It’s an interesting structure in the middle of the fields, and I have to say that although it may seem like kitsch, it’s really rather nice.
A miniature model of a South Bohemian village
In Plešovice, on the road to Český Krumlov, stop off at the miniature South Bohemian village, freely accessible and beautifully executed. It’s an interesting look at the Baroque style of many villages in the area. The miniature closely resembles Holašovice, though there are plenty of similar villages around. 🙂
The climb up Kleť
Among the places to visit around České Budějovice we obviously have to include Kleť. You won’t miss the region’s landmark, especially if you arrive on the motorway. You’ll get a view of the beautifully sunlit transmitter (when the sun’s out, that is) rising in the distance above the city. We wrote about the climb up Kleť in a previous article. If nothing else, definitely don’t hesitate to visit this transmitter and the stone lookout tower (the oldest stone lookout tower in Czechia). At the top you can reward yourself with something good; I’d recommend garlic soup and a beer, and then, in good visibility, take in the views of the Alpine peaks.
Nové Hrady
Nové Hrady is known for its unique chateau, which rises above the town. The Baroque chateau draws visitors with its gardens and rich art collection. The town itself offers picturesque lanes and an atmosphere rich in history. Zdenička has visited Nové Hrady repeatedly for the wellness and a pleasant weekend.
Outside the town you can visit Terčino údolí.
Rudolfov
As a proud footballer of SK Rudolfov, I can’t leave out a mention of this town. Coal was once mined here, which you can verify at the local mining museum. Besides the museum you can take a walk to the popular Mrhal pond. The pond is one of the few swimming spots close to Budějovice.
If the history of silver mining around Budějovice interests you more, you can book a tour of a roughly 200 m tunnel in the village of Úsilné. You do have to call well in advance, though.
The Branišov forest
A mysterious forest popular with mystery enthusiasts. A great battle is said to have taken place here during the Thirty Years’ War, and ghosts have supposedly been present ever since. The most horrifying tragedy is said to have happened under the previous regime, when the forest served as a military area. Legend has it that during a night-time changing of the guard, soldiers saw their colleague turn into a strange creature. They were so frightened that they started shooting at each other. The place is also popular with people taking their own lives. By day, though, it’s a very nice walk!
The ruins of Dívčí kámen
Castle ruins near a Celtic oppidum, combined with a gorgeous walk along the Vltava. The site is accessible to the public year-round from dawn to dusk. At the entrance you can buy small refreshments and, believe us, time passes veeery slowly here. Oh, and a small curiosity that may puzzle you: the grass is cut here by goats.
The Trocnov archaeological open-air museum
A newly restored complex in Jan Žižka’s birthplace. The open-air museum shows the customs and practices of the late 14th century. Its landmark is a fascinating and enormous statue of Jan Žižka gazing over the whole settlement. Walking round, I slightly missed the telling of the story Žižka undoubtedly has, but the atmosphere of the place makes up for all of it.
In summer the site often hosts events, so I’d recommend looking at muzeumcb.cz, where you’ll find out more about them.
Bechyně
The small town of Bechyně sits on the bank of the river Lužnice and stands out for its picturesque historic core. Its landmark is the Gothic castle of Bechyně, which offers a compelling look into the past. For lovers of monuments and quiet walks, Bechyně offers an authentic slice of the South Bohemian region. Karel and I once did a walk from Tábor to Bechyně and it really was a lovely hike.
I’d recommend going by car or bus, because the train connection is slow – though the journey is scenic.
Kratochvíle state chateau
Every time we drive to Šumava I’m fascinated by the size of the Kratochvíle chateau complex. The extensive gardens and the colour of the landscape are simply fantastic. The chateau is closed from January to April, but then opens for almost the whole year. In Hluboká’s shadow it’s a genuinely beautiful architectural phenomenon.
The Protivín crocodile zoo / farm
A really large number of crocodiles in one place. The zoo grew out of a private collection and gradually expanded to its current total of more than 100 crocodiles. Looking at crocodiles may seem deeply boring at first. On the contrary: you can take part in regular feedings or look inside the crocodile museum. You probably haven’t seen a white crocodile before, have you?
Entry is a bit pricier, but it’s worth it. Whether you’re arriving in Budějovice from the north or have more time, the visit will please you.
A secret tip on what to visit around České Budějovice
Sunset over Temelín
This is a beautiful experience worth watching in good weather. On the way back from Hluboká you can drive out for the sunset. I kept this place secret for a long time, because hardly anyone knows about it. Since you’re clearly interested in the very best places to visit around České Budějovice, here’s the exact location.
Where to stay around České Budějovice
The best base for you will be České Budějovice itself, where you’ll find plenty of lovely small hotels and guesthouses. You can start the day with breakfast in one of the cafés or with freshly baked bread from one of the local bakeries. You won’t go wrong spending the night in one of the surrounding towns either. You’ll have especially lovely nights in Český Krumlov, Hluboká nad Vltavou, Nové Hrady or the Bechyně mentioned above.
Zdeňa and I, for instance, spent our first night as a couple in Český Krumlov, and to this day we keep up an anniversary tradition of going back to Krumlov to stay at Hotel Largo.
Don’t forget to read our guide to České Budějovice, where we mention more than 60 tips on what to enjoy in the city. And if you don’t want to read but want the map straight on your phone, you have that option!
