From exploring UNESCO World Heritage Sites to viewing stunning natural landscapes, South Bohemia offers fascinating activities for a Czech vacation. Visit ancient castles, fairytale villages and time-honored breweries. Enjoy outdoor pursuits such as biking, hiking, fishing and kayaking. South Bohemia sits at the southern edge of the Czech Republic, where it shares a border with Austria and Germany.
At the geographic heart of the region is České Budějovice, a city famous for its Baroque, Gothic and Renaissance cityscape. It is the birthplace of Budweiser Budvar. Find myriad historic and picturesque towns a short drive from here.
Wander the UNESCO-protected Old Town of Český Krumlov, take a guided tour of its 13th-century castle and sample beer at a nearly 400-year-old brewery. Admire the Baroque farmhouses centered on a village green in Holašovice. Come to Hluboká nad Vltavou, the home of a resplendent neo-Gothic castle built by Bohemian kings.
Ancient history spreads throughout South Bohemia, including at the Hussite-established town of Tábor. See a very old bridge and learn about the region’s mining heritage in Pelhřimov and Písek. Gaze in awe at Jindrichuv Hradec’s lakeside châteaus and relax in Třeboň’s rejuvenating spas.
Throughout the year, South Bohemia’s countryside attracts lovers of outdoor adventures. Find biking, hiking and skiing trails at Šumava National Park on the Czech-German border. Walk amid beech forests to remote hamlets in Blansky Les nature reserve.
During the summer, enjoy sailing, swimming and windsurfing at the beach resorts on Lipno Dam. The canals, lakes and ponds of Třeboňsko are ideal for fishing. The area is crisscrossed with numerous well-maintained trails. Cruise past towns and villages while kayaking, boating or tubing on the Vltava River, which flows the length of the region.
Reach South Bohemia’s cities, towns and villages easily via public buses and trains departing from Prague. Trains also travel between České Budějovice and Linz, Austria. Good times to visit are for regional celebrations such as July’s Blueberry Fest in Borovany and August’s Wood Festival in Volary.