8 Things to Do in Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic

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To some, Ceske Budejovice is nothing more than a necessary stop en route to the ultra picturesque town of Cesky Krumlov. I know I mistakenly thought that way before I took the time to visit during my last Czech Republic trip. In actual fact though, there are quite a few places to visit in Ceske Budejovice that warrant some of your time. Within the city’s compact Old Town, you’re bound to find a nice variety of things to do in Ceske Budejovice. To help you get the ball rolling, here are 8 things that I think you won’t want to miss in this South Bohemian city.

1. Admire Přemysl Otakar II Square

There’s really no better place to start a visit to Ceske Budejovice than with its central main square. Named after the city’s founder King Otakar II, Přemysl Otakar II Square is unusual in that it’s a huge wide-open square with car-parks right around it. When it comes to sightseeing in Ceske Budejovice, this square is where it all starts for multiple reasons. Simplest of all is that it lies in the dead centre of the city’s Old Town making it a convenient place to find.

Next is the fact that many of the city’s major landmarks are found on or near this square, so you really don’t have to wander far. We’ll get to the more major ones in a tick, but Samson’s Fountain deserves a quick mention. Right in the middle of the square, this 18th century fountain of the biblical figure Samson has become quite an icon of the city.

Close by you’ll actually find a stone marker that shows where the city’s gallows once stood. On a lighter note though, there are also all the beautiful buildings that surround the edges of the square, many with their own distinct design.

2. Take in Ceske Budejovice Town Hall

Certainly the most impressive of the buildings that line the main square of Ceske Budejovice is the striking Town Hall. Tucked away in one of the corners of the square, the Town Hall charms with its elaborate blue Baroque facade that dates from 1730.

With heraldry on the facade and dragon gargoyles, it would be easy to miss the four allegorical statues on top of the building that represent Justice, Courage, Wisdom and Prudence. The Town Hall is also where you’ll hear the regular sound of chimes coming from its central tower. If you want to see the actual inside of the Town Hall beyond the Tourist Information Centre, you’ll need to book a guided tour.

3. Climb up Black Tower

The other important landmark to visit right by the Přemysl Otakar II Square is the Black Tower. Directly next to the Church of St Nicholas, this grey stone tower was once a belfry and watchtower. Dating from 1577, it stands 72 metres high and affords those who climb up a prime view of Ceske Budejovice in all directions.

In particular, the view down to the main square really helps put it in perspective, especially with a backdrop of trees and then green countryside beyond. I was rather relieved that the town was open when I visited in April, since many towers were still not open at that time of year. Certainly worth the climb up.

4. Walk along Krajinska Street

Off each side of the city’s main square, long streets stretch out towards the modern city around the Old Town. While I encourage you to go explore many of these streets with your one day in Ceske Budejovice, a great place to start is with Krajinska Street.

Not only is there a great variety of buildings along here, including the art nouveau palace that now hosts a bank, but also the signature Czech portico arcades. You don’t need to walk through the arcade as the streets rarely have cars, but they lend the city a bit more medieval character. Once you’ve walked Krajinska, take whichever side street takes your fancy and explore!

5. Seek out Old Town Architecture

Even though the Ceske Budejovice Old Town isn’t huge, it still manages to hide away some neat spots within its web of streets. It’s really by stumbling about on foot that you’ll find all these great nooks and crannies.

For instance, one of my favourite spots was Panska Street seen above, because of its unlikely colour palette. It’s not often you see a row of traditional houses in pinks, bright yellow and lime green, but it’s exactly the burst of colour to make somewhere like this memorable.

6. See the Sights by the Riverfronts

Sitting at the confluence of the Vltava and Malse rivers, Ceske Budejovice’s riverfront may be its most underrated feature. While a small stream borders the north and east sides of the Old Town, you have some prime riverfront views to the south and west. This part of the city only gets better as the day goes on, with the afternoon light giving the historic buildings a nice glow as the water reflects them.

One landmark by the river that’s hard to miss is the large Dominican Monastery looming behind the old stone wall. There’s even a floating bar and cafe on the far side from the Old Town that gives this whole space such a welcome vibe.

7. Find the Rabenštejn Tower

Back in the northern end of the Old Town, try to find your way to the Rabenštejn Tower. This narrow white tower is one of several preserved towers from the city’s old fortifications. Although they’re not so visible now, Ceske Budejovice of the 14th century was also defended by city walls. Besides being in a pleasant part of the city, the tower also hosts a small museum with a focus on weaponry.

8. Have a Beer and Some Czech Food

The only way to properly end a day in Ceske Budejovice is with a hearty meal of Czech food and a beer. Ceske Budejovice has a close relationship with beer, which I explain below, so it feels only proper to indulge in a local beer or two. As for food, if you like roast meat and bread dumplings you’re in for a treat.

Masne Kramy, once a meat marketplace, is one of the city’s most popular and lively restaurants. This restaurant is huge so even when it’s busy you should be able to find a place. Another of the many brewpubs in the city that is good value is Krajinská 27.

Again, good quality Czech food and beer that is super affordable and filling. If it weren’t a sure-fire way to put on weight I’d eat at these places again and again. At the total other end of the spectrum health-wise is Fer Cafe, where you can get nice vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free food with your coffee.

Other Sights in Ceske Budejovice

Clearly, with this short list I haven’t told you about every single sight to see in Ceske Budejovice. I’m just sharing the spots that I think are worth mentioning from the places I saw. I don’t think my visit was fully comprehensive, as I know full well I missed several of the city museums.

Then there’s the fact that for many, Ceske Budejovice is better known by the name Budweis, home to Budweiser beer. While people visit the city to see the Budweiser Budvar Brewery, it didn’t feel necessary having already been to one Czech brewery already.

If you spend more than one day in Ceske Budejovice, it’s well considering making a day trip out to Hluboka Castle. Just don’t make the same mistake I did!

Related: A Failed Attempt to Visit Hluboka Castle, Czech Republic

Visiting Ceske Budejovice

As a destination, I’d have to say that Ceske Budejovice is a pretty easy one to visit. You have hourly direct trains to and from Prague, plus Cesky Krumlov right nearby. There are also direct trains to Pilsen if you’re looking to do a tour of Czech’s brewery cities. Just know that it’s about a 15-20 minute walk from the train station and bus station to the centre of the Old Town.

You should also find that Ceske Budejovice has quite a good range of places to stay, with many of them squarely in the city’s Old Town. Or you could just make a stop there for the day as you pass through the Czech Republic. Plus there’s always the option of visiting as part of a day trip to Cesky Krumlov. As I said, pretty easy.

Which things to do in Ceske Budejovice most interest you? Have you visited before and have more places you’d recommend? Please share your thoughts in the comments below.

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