Although most people that visit Czechia (Czech Republic) head straight for Prague, the country has so much more to offer including the wonderful medieval towns and fairytale castles of South Bohemia, with the crown jewel of the region being the enchanting town of Cesky Krumlov. But there’s so much more to see in this region, including the country’s third most visited castle with definite fairytale vibes, the ruins of a large medieval castle ruin, and a unique UNESCO south bohemian village. We thoroughly enjoyed our time in this beautiful part of the world and have no doubt that you will too. Below we present our 4-day itinerary in Czechia’s South Bohemia to help you get the most out of your time in the area.
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You might also be interested in these pages:
4-Day Itinerary in South Bohemia
Best Things to See and Do in Cesky Krumlov
Best Day Trips from Cesky Krumlov
Orientation – Where is South Bohemia
South Bohemia is a region in southwestern Czechia (Czech Republic), sharing borders with northern Austria and southeastern Germany. The region is shaped by the Vltava River and filled with picturesque towns (including two that have found themselves on the UNESCO heritage site list), beautiful countryside, neo-Gothic chateaux, and medieval castles. Aside from Cesky Krumlov, most of the region is unexplored by tourists.
How South Bohemia looks today is in large part thanks to the Rožemberk family, which ruled the area between the 14th and 17th centuries. They built most of the castles, canals and towns that are today the main tourist attractions. The region was heavily populated by Ethnic Germans from the 12th century onward until they were expelled to Austria and Germany following WW2.
Where to Stay in South Bohemia
Given the close proximity of all the towns and attractions we will present below, we suggest that you choose and stick to one home base for the duration of your stay in South Bohemia. The choice essentially comes down to Cesky Krumlov (the region’s most charming town) or Ceske Budejovice (the region’s largest town and capital). We would recommend staying in Cesky Krumlov, which is listed as a UNESCO heritage site and where there is so much more to do. The main drawback to staying in Cesky Krumlov is if you want to do day trips to explore the surrounding region without a car, as the city isn’t well connected with most of the other sites and attractions we describe below via public transit – Ceske Budejovice could be the better choice in that scenario.
Although Ceksy Krumlov is generally more packed with tourists, many of them are daytrippers from Prague, and as such you will be able to enjoy the town’s charming atmosphere in a more relaxed setting during the mornings and evenings. There are many accommodation options to choose from in Cesky Krumlov, and there is no real wrong area to stay in considering how small the city is (the entire town can easily be covered on foot) and there are no particularly loud or noisy areas at night.
If you are still looking for a place to stay, we highly recommend Pension Fortna, located right along the river with great views of the historic town and St Vitus Church (the picture was taken from our room window).
4-day Itinerary in Czechia’s South Bohemia
One important consideration when visiting Czechia outside of the high summer season (July/August) is that most museums and castles are closed on Mondays (and some still are closed on Mondays during the summer). Although you will most likely be able to visit the castle grounds and gardens, no guided tours of the interior will be offered.
If you haven’t booked your rental vehicle yet, we highly recommend using Discover Cars to get the best rates on your rental in Scotland.
If you would like to have cellular/wireless data while driving abroad for up-to-date navigation information, we highly recommend Airalo, the world’s first and largest eSIM store. They have plans for 200+ countries and regions worldwide. With Airalo eSIMs, you can get connected the moment you land at your destination and avoid data roaming charges.
The following itinerary assumes you will be based in Cesky Krumlov for the duration of your stay in South Bohemia, as at least two full days will be spent exploring the town, and two days will be dedicated to day trips outside the town.
Day 1: Wander the streets of Cesky Krumlov’s Old Town
To properly get situated in Cesky Krumlov, we recommend that you take a look at our Best Things to See and Do in Cesky Krumlov guide, which contains significantly more information on how to get around the town.
Honestly, the most fun we had in Cesky Krumlov was aimlessly wandering through the various cobblestone streets of the old historic town. Its center is formed by Svornosti Square, where you’ll find the town hall from 1597, created by a merger of three Gothic houses with arcades and whose façade was merged with a Renaissance attic.
Beyond the city square, the main streets with shops and restaurants are Siroka, Soukenická and Horni, but several side streets and alleyways are definitely worthy of a detour.
Back in the Latrán district near the Castle, most of the shops and restaurants are packed along Latrán Street, but again several side streets and alleyways are worth venturing off the beaten path.
Day 2: Visit Cesky Krumlov Castle
The town’s cityscape is dominated by its imposing 13th-century castle, which is one of the largest castle complexes in Europe, and the second largest in Czechia. It is composed of over forty buildings, with several interior courtyards and an impressively large castle garden at the western end of the Castle. Apart from exploring the various cobblestone streets in the historic old town, the Castle is really the top thing to see in Ceský Krumlov.
You can explore all the castle grounds, courtyards, and gardens for free. If you want to see some of the inside rooms, the baroque theatre, or climb the tower, you will have to take one of the paid guided tours of the castle.
For more information on the different guided tours offered, and the bears that live in the castle moat, be sure to check out our Cesky Krumlov guide. For more information on some of the viewpoints from the castle (see pictures below), be sure to check out our guide on the Best Cesky Krumlov Viewpoints and Photo Spots.
Day 3: Day trip to Hluboka Castle and Ceske Budejovice
We are combining Hluboka Castle and Ceske Budejovice in a single day trip because they are only 10 km from one another, and in theory, you shouldn’t need more than 2-3 hours in each place. We recommend starting with Castle first as it will be less busy early in the morning (it’s the third most visited castle in Czechia), whereas Ceske Budejovice rarely gets annoyingly crowded.
The Impressive Hluboká nad Vlatou Castle
Hluboká Castle definitely feels like a fairytale castle and is without a doubt one of Czechia’s most beautiful ones – it’s also the country’s third most visited castle. Originally built in the 13th century in a Gothic style, the castle has gone through several renovations since, receiving its final Windsor Castle-inspired face-lift in the 19th century. The castle is located 11 km northwest of Ceské Budejovice (13 min drive) and 34 km north of Ceský Krumlov (32 min drive).
You can visit the castle’s exterior, interior courtyard and gardens for free. To see the inside rooms, there are several different tours to choose from, including one that provides you with stunning views of the surrounding countryside from the castle tower.
For more information on Hluboká nad Vlatou Castle, be sure to check out our Hluboká nad Vltavou Castle Travel Guide.
Historic old town of Ceske Budejovice
The capital city of Czechia’s South Bohemia Region is about 25km north of Cesky Krumlov. Today, Ceske Budejovice has a population of roughly 100,000 people and is the country’s 7th largest city. Although the modern part of the city is quite sprawling, all the main sites of interest and attractions are located in the old historic center, which can easily be visited on foot.
The old town square, officially known as Premysl Otakar II Square, is no doubt the piece de résitance of the city’s historic center, which happens to be the second biggest town square in the country and one of the largest squares in Europe. Surrounding the square are 48 arcaded buildings, with a variety of Renaissance and Baroque styles. Located in the center of the square you will find the Samson Fountain – which depicts the biblical character Samson holding the mouth of a lion open, from which water spouts.
Once you leave the town square, there’s plenty of exploring left to do including along riverside paths with views of the Dominican Monastery, and through cute pastel-coloured cobblestone streets. If you are a fan of beer, another reason to visit this town is because it is home to the Budweiser Budvar Brewery, founded in 1885.
For more information on Ceske Budejovice, be sure to check out our guide on the Top Things to See and Do in Ceske Budejovice.
Day 4: Day trip to Holasovice Historic Village and Divci Kamen Castle Ruins
We are combining Holasovice Historic Village and Divci Kamen Castle Ruins in a single day trip because they are only 15 km from one another, and in theory, you shouldn’t need more than 2-3 hours in each place (Holasovice can, in particular, be visited more quickly). We don’t think there is an ideal order in which to visit them, since neither gets really busy. Holasovice has a few restaurants that are great for lunch, whereas Divci Kamen Castle has a park with several picnic tables, ideal for a picnic.
The Castle ruins of Dívcí Kámen
Hrad Dívcí Kámen (also known as “Maiden’s Stone”) is a stunning medieval castle ruin set atop a scenic hilltop in South Bohemia, located only 18 km from Ceske Krumlov. Dívcí Kámen is a castle from the 14th century and is one of the largest and best-preserved medieval monuments in the Czech Republic. It was abandoned early in the 16th century and has been left to decay ever since (until the government intervened to preserve what’s left of the site).
It was a particularly atmospheric site in the dense fog that surrounded the castle during our morning visit. Few people seem to know about it or they don’t want to hike the easy 2km trail to reach the castle from the parking lot, but we saw very other people during our visit. During a brief time, we even had the entire castle site to ourselves!
The castle ruins of Dívcí Kámen are not a particularly large site, but you can easily get lost in your thoughts here imagining how the castle might have looked in its heyday. And since it’s neither too big nor too busy, it’s tempting to explore every nook and cranny around the site.
Although the ruins themselves are quite spectacular, the short forest walk/hike required to get is also very pleasant through tree-covered trails. You can also reach the castle as an out-and-back, and turn it into a loop trail by coming back along a different path that doesn’t add much time to the walk.
If you would like more information on Dívcí Kámen and why it makes such a great day trip option from Cesky Krumlov, be sure to check out our Dívcí Kámen Castle Ruins Travel Guide page.
The UNESCO historic village of Holašovice
Located only 24 km north of Cesky Krumlov, Holašovice is one of two UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Czechia’s South Bohemia region (the other being Cesky Krumlov). It is an exceptionally well-preserved example of a traditional central European village of 23 farm buildings. The building’s decorations are in a style known as South Bohemian “Folk Baroque” – an architectural style typical for the villages in Central Europe (and particularly in South Bohemia), which emerged in the 1820s and reached its height in the 1860s.
After the displacement of German residents at the end of the Second World War, many farms in the village were deserted and fell into disrepair and Holašovice was left mostly abandoned. Under the Czech post-war Communist regime, the village was a desolate place. Thankfully the village was restored and repopulated once more in the 1990s – and today has a population of about 140 people. The village layout and the style of the buildings are both so unique and well-preserved that it was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1998.
The village is not particularly large and can be explored rather quickly, but we have no doubt that you will be charmed by this village and will definitely want to take your time exploring the various different building facades. There are also a few pleasant restaurants with outdoor seating to help you prolong your stay and enjoy the scenery.
For more information on Holašovice Historic Village and why it makes such a great day trip option from Cesky Krumlov, be sure to check out our Holašovice Historic Village Travel Guide.
Additional Ideas
Cesky Krumlov
Depending on how you organize your days and at which time you get started, you might also have time for these other activities in Cesky Krumlov:
River rafting. Want a break from the sightseeing and the crowds? One fun activity to do in Cesky Krumlov is to do some mellow rafting down the Vltava River that crisscrosses the city. There are several rafting options to choose from, including a wooden raft with a skipper at the helm, or your own personal raft or canoe.
Stations of the Cross Hill. If you would like to get a different view of Cesky Krumlov from above the city, this short 30-minute uphill walk from the historic town center takes you to a chapel atop the Stations of the Cross Hill. The walk first takes you through a small and more modern neighbourhood of Cesky Krumlov before crossing a few fields on your way to the top of the hill.
Rozmberk Castle
Considered one of the oldest castles in Bohemia, Rožmberk Castle stands on a promontory carved out on three sides by the river Vltava. It’s located 26 km south of Cesky Krumlov, near the border with Austria. The castle was founded in the first half of the 13th century by the Vitek family. Like many castles in South Bohemia, it changed family hands several times over the decades. The castle received its current look in the mid-19th century, with a remodel in the Romantic Neo-Gothic style. Even before the castle became the property of the state after WWII, the last family owners, the Buqouy family (who were Czech nobles of French origin), transformed it into a museum open to the public in the middle of the 19th century and was one of the first-ever museums in Bohemia.
The small town of Rožmberk nad Vltavou, albeit small, is also pleasant to stroll through, particularly along the river.
Guided tours of the castle interior are offered from early May until late October (closed on Mondays). More details can be found on the castle website.
Preparing a trip to Czechia?
You might be interested in these Czechia pages:
4-Day Itinerary in South Bohemia
Best Things to See and Do in Cesky Krumlov
Best Day Trips from Cesky Krumlov
We also highly recommend these guidebooks:
Rick Steves’ Prague & the Czech Republic
Lonely Planet’s Prague & Czechia
Photography Gear
If you like our photography, you might be interested in some of the gear we use to shoot our travel and hiking destinations.
Camera Body – Nikon Z 6ii Fx-series Mirrorless Body
Main Lens – NIKON 24-120mm F/4G ED VR AF-S
Zoom Lens – Sigma 745-306 150-600mm f/5-6.3
Polarizing filters – Urth Circular Polarizing (CPL)
Camera Tripod – K&F Concept 64-inch Camera Tripod
Mini-tripod – Lammcou Flexible Camera Tripod
Camera/hiking backpack – Vanguard Alta Rise 48 Backpack
Universal Travel Adapter – VYLEE Universal International Power Travel Plug
Other Travel Essentials
Travel Insurance
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e-Sim cards
Airalo is the world’s first and largest eSIM store with eSIM plans for 200+ countries and regions worldwide. With Airalo eSIMs, travellers can get connected the moment they land at their destination and avoid nasty data roaming charges
eSIMS are a sustainable alternative to single-use SIM cards – they are 100% digital, require less energy to produce and be re-used rather than disposed of.
Car Rentals
Discover Cars is our go-to website for car rentals. We almost always find our preferred rate there.
Transfer from Airport
Welcome Pickups is our favourite private transfer service, which you can pre-book at a fixed price. Currently available in 220 cities all over the world (mostly in Europe, but with several major cities in Asia, the Middle East and the US).
Kiwitaxi is another private transfer service – we haven’t tried it yet, but it’s currently available in a few more countries (102 as of 2024).
Hotels and Accommodations (coming soon)
Photography Prints
If you found this blog useful, you can help support our blog by purchasing low-cost digital prints. Printed physical prints are also available for purchase.
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Well, that wraps it up! We hope you enjoyed our 4-day Itinerary in Czechia’s South Bohemia Travel Guide and that it will prove useful for planning your trip to this beautiful area of the world.
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