In South Bohemia there’s a hidden gem waiting impatiently for you to discover its captivating beauty – Tábor. It never occurred to me that I’d be writing these lines, but here we are. We go to Tábor regularly every year and with each visit I’m more and more taken with it. This medieval town hides a treasury of history, culture and picturesque scenery. If you’re wondering what to do in Tábor, come with us on a pleasant and entertaining trip!
Monuments and points of interest
Walking the picturesque lanes of Tábor’s historic centre, you feel as though you’re in Krumlov. Except not at all! The town’s preserved medieval architecture and charming square are simply fun. What’s very pleasant about Tábor is that everything is close by. Whether it’s raining or fine, there are always plenty of places to visit. The bored question “what is there to do in Tábor” won’t even cross your mind.
📌 Are you planning a trip to Tábor? Don’t waste time searching for places on a map. Download our map featuring40+ of the best spots and tips on what to do in Tábor. Everything is described in detail. Let’s go!
The Kotnov tower and the Bechyně gate
See Tábor from above – just as Budějovice has its landmark in the Black Tower, Tábor boasts the Kotnov tower, from which the town is laid out in front of you. The Bechyně gate is right below the Kotnov tower, so you’ll kill two birds with one stone.
Žižkovo náměstí
You won’t miss this square. Everything that happens in Tábor happens in the immediate vicinity of Žižkovo náměstí. You’ll find plenty of restaurants, museums and places to rest here.
Tábor Zoo
Within driving distance of the centre, by the Větrovy district, is Tábor Zoo. We’ve never been, but as a tip and a way to use your time it’s a fine option. More information here
The viewing tower of the deanery church
In summer you have a unique chance to see Tábor from a second high point. The 75-metre tower does have a lot of steps, but at the end you’ll see a lovely panorama of Tábor. Sadly no lift or cable car.
The underground passages
They’re part of the Hussite Museum and one of Tábor’s “must sees”.
The botanical garden
A green pearl in the heart of Tábor – quite a tempting invitation to the botanical gardens, where besides the iconic peacock you’ll find a rich collection of plants, a collection of growing trees, plenty of greenhouses and modern use of horticultural systems. I’m not a huge fan of botanical gardens, but if you want to shelter from the rain or use a free afternoon, you certainly won’t regret it! More information here
Raining? Never mind, there are still plenty of places to shelter. Rain – that little devil can thoroughly spoil any trip. Luckily Tábor is prepared for that too. What to do in Tábor when it rains? How about spending a rainy day enjoyably in one of the museums or cafés, of which the town has plenty?
The Hussite Museum
It certainly won’t be a spoiler that Jan Žižka isn’t from Tábor, but his legacy is visible at almost every step. Žižka is, after all, the town’s founder! The high point is the collection of exhibits in the Hussite Museum. Part of the museum are the underground passages, roughly 500 m long. You can see the complete exhibition here.
📌 Are you planning a trip to Tábor? Don’t waste time searching for places on a map. Download our map featuring40+ of the best spots and tips on what to do in Tábor. Everything is described in detail. Let’s go!
The Lego Museum
Even as a boy I loved this construction set, and I’m already looking forward to the day there’s a little Pišta and I get to spend hours with it again. The museum is great thanks to its extensive collection and the whole experience. More about the museum here.
The chocolate and marzipan museum
Who wouldn’t like to indulge – and besides that you’ll learn how coffee beans are grown and processed. All while eating chocolate until you burst. Besides chocolate you’ll also see how marzipan is made.
The Oskar Nedbal Theatre
Lately Zdeňa and I have spent one day a month at some cultural event, and once the choice fell on the Tábor theatre. We didn’t know what to expect, but the first impression on walking in was enchanting. Mainly thanks to how beautifully restored the theatre’s spaces are. The impression of the performance itself is completed by the stage, which for me is very nicely done.
A coffee culture that’s fun
Tábor really surprised me with the concentration of nice cafés in a small area! Lukáš Hejlík and his GMLH project did a great job mapping all these cafés and food places. What makes it even more pleasant is that every place offers you a different coffee experience. And believe us, every one was worth it. Lately I’ve been obsessed with filter coffee, and we found it almost everywhere. Below you’ll find at least a list of the cafés that grabbed us.
Kávová zastávka
“A calm café with speciality coffee in the centre of Tábor. We enjoy everything that’s good and well made.”
Moccacafé Tábor
Gelato you have to try!
Bistro Pražská
“We’re a largely self-service vegetarian and vegan restaurant in Tábor. The dining room also includes a health food shop. Every day we prepare one set menu plus two more dishes by weight, two soups, salads, burgers and flatbreads. We also deliver food around Tábor.”
Triko Tábor
An unplanned stop, since we’d originally been heading to Bistro Výkvět for Italian food. Sadly they don’t communicate well on Instagram, so we set off towards the O. Nedbal Theatre and along the way, opposite Moccacafé, this superb place appeared – Triko Tábor. Very friendly staff, an unusual setting where everyone sits at one wooden table, and the chance to choose from dozens of artisan products. Oh, and they cook very well too!
Jednota
“A café and bookshop with speciality coffee and good books from small publishers in the historic centre”
Where to go for good food in Tábor
MACE Restaurant Tábor by Martin Svatek
If you followed Zdeněk Pohlreich’s show Souboj restaurací, you may have had a look “right into the kitchen” at MACE. If you want a tasting menu experience, definitely come here!
Bistro Pražská
“We’re a largely self-service vegetarian and vegan restaurant in Tábor. The dining room also includes a health food shop. Every day we prepare one set menu plus two more dishes by weight, two soups, salads, burgers and flatbreads. We also deliver food around Tábor.”
Výkvět Bistro
A small, cosy bistro in the town centre.
Budvarka u Zlatého lva
And now something from a different barrel. Because we always try to show both worlds – the “good” and the “bad” – our fourth tip in this guide is the worst-rated restaurant on Google Maps.
Where to stay in Tábor
Hotel Palcát
Accommodation just a few steps from the centre. Renovated rooms, wellness and spa, generous breakfasts and a pleasant environment overall. It’s definitely worth spending a night at this hotel. Zdenča comes back regularly with her grandmother, who loves it here.
Hotel Dvořák
A congress and wellness hotel near the chocolate museum. You certainly won’t be missing from the middle of the action!
How to get to Tábor
This section will be very simple. Tábor has a great geographical position. You can reach it by every mode of transport except a plane, though including a boat on the river Lužnice. If you don’t want the hassle of parking, we’d recommend the train or bus. The bus and railway stations are right next to each other and within walking distance (10 minutes) of the town centre.
Where to park the car 🚗
You can park effectively anywhere. The town has plenty of parking zones and designated spaces ready. Right by the centre there are several paid car parks. If you want to park free of charge you have to visit Tábor on a Saturday afternoon or on Sunday (the parking zones are free then).
Other free car parks:
- The ice rink – Václava Soumara street
- The swimming pool – Kvapilova street
- The park-and-ride behind the railway station – Vodňanského street
Paid car parks can be found here
Culture in Tábor
Tábor isn’t a famous city of culture, but you can discover a very rich cultural programme here
What to visit around Tábor
The area around Tábor is rich in very interesting places worth visiting. Planning to spend several days and can’t think what to do in Tábor? Then read these tips too.
The Chýnov caves
18 km from Tábor is the Chýnov caves natural monument. You can reach the caves from Tábor by public transport. The cave was discovered during quarry work in 1863 and became the very first cave opened to the public in Czechia. The total length of the circuit is 1.4 km. Tours are guided, so you get the maximum possible experience.
The Obora brewery
For good beer, head to the Obora brewery! 10 kilometres from Tábor you’ll find a small family brewery that has been brewing its own beer since 2015 and uses its own hops and malt. If you’re interested in a tour you have to book. The brewery’s mission is very appealing – “Local, sustainable, homemade.”
The Klokoty pilgrimage church
A picturesque and all the more charming building – the pilgrimage church in Klokoty. A pleasant trip from Tábor that won’t disappoint.
On foot around Jordán
If you don’t want to leave Tábor’s gates, you can take a walk around Jordán. The walk is very pleasant – three quarters of it is on marked trails away from roads, the rest on a pavement alongside the road. Anyone can manage it. As a reward you can then visit one of the cafés.
The ruins of Kozí hrádek
As a pupil at Strmilov primary school I visited these ruins and it was great. Even now, when thanks to their virtual tour I can look at the ruins straight away. The ruins are among the most notable castles of the Tábor area, mainly thanks to Jan Hus’s stay here – you all know him, since we all enjoy the July public holiday.
The Stádlec chain bridge
You can reach the bridge either by car or on foot. On foot it’s 17 km from Tábor; alternatively you can drive to Opařany and walk to the bridge from there. That route is 3.5 km and is very pleasant. There are no refreshments at the bridge, though, so bring a snack and something to drink!
The Hýlačka lookout tower
3.5 kilometres on foot from Tábor you’ll find yourself in the village of Větrovy, where the 36-metre Hýlačka lookout tower rises. Thanks to a very appealing entry price – 20 CZK – you can enjoy 360-degree panoramic views.
A map with tips for your phone
📌 Are you planning a trip to Tábor? Don’t waste time searching for places on a map. Download our map featuring40+ of the best spots and tips on what to do in Tábor. Everything is described in detail. Let’s go!
