České Budějovice.
Your next chapter?

Overview

České Budějovice (also known as Budweis in German and English) is in South Bohemia, in the Czech Republic. The town has since grown into the metropolitan centre. It is the largest town in South Bohemia region and it has approximately 96,000 inhabitants.

The picturesque village of Holašovice, 16 km west of České Budějovice, has a well-preserved folk Baroque centre and is a UNESCO site.

Understand

This South Bohemian metropolis was founded in 1265 by the Czech King Přemysl Otakar II on the confluence of the Vltava and Malše rivers. The Square of Přemysl Otakar II is 133 m by 137 m, and is one of the largest squares in Bohemia. It has arcades and a range of Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque burgher's houses. The other important town monuments include the Town Hall, the Samson's fountain and the 72-metre-high Black Tower which provides a beautiful view of the town and surroundings.

The town is an excellent place to visit if you want to escape the large numbers of tourists in Prague or nearby Český Krumlov. Its well-developed transport links make it the perfect base from which to explore the surrounding region. There are many historic towns and villages nearby, numerous hiking trails, and a vast cycle path network. The most famous cycle path is No. 12 which connects České Budějovice and Hluboká nad Vltavou.

České Budějovice Tourist Information Center. Provides promotion and presentation materials, a map and plan of the town České Budějovice and its environs. Tourist and topographic information, a calendar of cultural and social events. Sale of tourist literature, maps, souvenirs and Cbsystem tickets. It provides guide and accommodation services.

Get in

České Budějovice a nice place to stay: its good connections with the surrounding region make it an excellent place from which to explore South Bohemia. The buses and trains run on time and are cheap and relatively easy to understand. The bus station is on the roof of Mercury Centrum and tickets are bought on the bus. Train tickets can be bought before boarding.

Buses leave frequently from "Na Knížecí" and "Roztyly" bus stations in Prague to here. The trip takes approximately 2–3 hours. The bus junction in České Budějovice is at the "Mercury Centrum", a two-storey shopping mall with the bus station on the roof, just outside the city center. It is just across the street from the train station.

Shuttle bus transfer Budweis-shuttle operate comfortable daily bus service between České Budějovice and the following cities: Prague (1½ hr, 1,000 Kč): From Austria: Salzburg (3 hr, 1,100 Kč), Vienna (3 hr, 1,100 Kč), Linz (1½ hr, 450 Kč), Hallstatt (2½ hr, 1100 Kč). From other countries: Munich, Germany (4 hr, 1,600 Kč), and Bratislava, Slovakia.

From Prague, train is probably better than bus, as it is often more comfortable, faster, sometimes even cheaper and goes from centre to centre. Trains connect from Prague to here at least once every hour. The trip from Prague takes 1½-2 hr.

There are three types of train: rychlík (R), express (Ex) and pendolino (IC), R is the slowest (tour takes 2 hr.), Ex is faster (around 1¾ hr). and IC is the fastest and most modern train type that started operating on the railway in summer 2025 after extensive renovations of the railway line, travel with it takes 1½ hr. Other useful destinations reachable by direct train are Český Krumlov, Jindřichův Hradec, Tábor, Brno, Třebíč, Plzeň and Linz in Austria (connections to Salzburg, Vienna and other cities in Austria). Timetables and tickets at the Czech Railways website.

By car The road from Prague is not very good, the Southern-Bohemian part of it is a new dual carriage highway (D3), but most of the Central-Bohemian part is a heavily congested two-lane road. Avoid travelling on this road on Friday and Sunday evenings. You have to pay for parking in the wider centre of the city, with the amount depending on the part of the city. There are parking machines on the street - you have to enter your license plate number when buying a parking ticket. There is an P+R parking available with a bus stop frequently serviced by the city's public transport.

Get around

On foot The historical centre of the city is completely walkable, but it is also possible to walk from the more distant parts of the city, even though it is likely to take more time.

By bicycle The city is somewhat bicycle-friendly with many bicycle paths. You can rent the bike at the railway station or some hotel if you want it for a long term, but if you want it just for trips across the city, it is probably better to use bike-sharing app Rekola. The best maps for cycling are OsmAnd or Mapy.cz in outdoor mode.

By bus There is an extensive network of public buses and trolleybuses that run quite frequently during the day. You can also buy a 24-hour ticket for 115 Kč or even a 168-hour ticket for 300 Kč.

There are ticket machines on the stops, allowing you to buy paper tickets for coins or (some machines only) by a payment card. A more convenient way to pay for the ride is by using the payment terminals present in all buses (and trolleybuses) – you pick a ticket type on a touch screen and then hold your payment card against it. The terminal will not give you a ticket, but if a ticket inspector inspects you, they'll just load your card into the system and see, that you have a ticket active.

Ticket inspectors are common, so it is better to have a valid a ticket. You have to validate your ticket in the bus. People aged 70 and over travel for free, so do children under 6.

By taxi The world-wide app Taxify is working in České Budějovice. The biggest legacy taxi company is Taxi Budějovice, 0042014014.

By car Common traffic jams and difficult parking zones make getting around by car a poor means of transport across the city.

See

Přemysl Otakar II Square. The immense square in the middle of the town. Historical landmarks here include St. Nicholas Cathedral, the Black Tower, Samson's Fountain and the distinct yellow-coloured Včela Palace.In the middle of the square there is one of the symbol of the town, the Baroque Samson’s Fountain. It was created in the years 1721-1726 by Zachariáš Horn and the statues were created by Josef Dietrich. On the top is a statue of the biblical hero Samson.The Erratic Boulder is not far from the Samson’s fountain, marked with a cross. It used to have an execution scaffold, and legend says that anybody who crosses the Erratic Boulder after 22:00 will not find his way home and will wander the city until the morning.

The Town Hall. The building with three towers was built in the Renaissance style in 1555. Today it is an elegant Baroque building from 1727-1730 built by A.E. Martinelli. It is decorated by Dietrich’s statues allegories of Justice, Courage, Wisdom and Caution and symbols of the Town and Bohemia.

St. Nicholas Cathedral. Built as a Gothic building in the 13th century. However, it burned down in the 17th century and today’s appearance is Baroque. There are three statues at the frontage: St. Wenceslas, St. Nicholas and St. Auratian. The interior of the church is very simple. The most important part is the main altar from the 18th century.

the Black Tower. The main dominant of České Budějovice, a 72-m-high renaissance tower that was completed in 1577 and there are six bells in the tower, the largest of which is called Bumerin.

The Remains of the fortification. The Iron Maiden and Rabenštejnská Tower, parts of the old fortifications and the last remaining part of the fortifications of the middle-age Budějovice. The Iron Maiden dating back to the 14th century. It is named after the instrument of torture, which was located inside.

Do

Pivovar Budějovický Budvar. Karoliny Světlé 4. Take a tour of the town's largest brewery and home of "Budweiser" brand beer sold in most of Europe. Make sure to call several days in advance to schedule a tour, or if that's not possible, tours for visitors without reservations take place each day at 14:00. Visitors aged 18 or over are also able to visit the beer-tasting cellar. This is not the same as the "Budweiser" beer sold in the United States and Canada; due to trademark disputes over the name with US-based Anheuser-Busch, this is sold in the Americas under the "Budvar" or "Czechvar" name.

Museum of the Horse-drawn Railway. The museum is in the horse railway station. It is the first railway station in continental Europe.

The South Bohemian Museum. It has a rich collection relating to the history and nature of South Bohemia. Natural history collections of primeval South Bohemia, history of the Middle Ages, and arts of the 17th and 18th century.

Alš South-Bohemian Gallery. It belongs to the five largest institutions of its kind in the Czech Republic. A permanent exhibition South Bohemian Gothic paintings on wood and sculpture 13–16th century. Flemish and Dutch paintings of the 17th century. Part of the exhibits are housed in Wortner House in České Budějovice.

Zoo Ohrada. It is located near Hluboká nad Vltavou and České Budějovice, which is the capital of the region, lies 8 km away. The zoo can be reached very easily by train, bus or car and it is open daily all year.

DiscGolf at Stromovka Park. Like golf (with 18 holes), but you play with a frisbee.

Múzy na vodě, traditional festival which can be seen at the confluence of the Vltava and Malše Rivers, every year at the beginning July. Bread Basket (original name Země Živitelka), international agricultural fair. One of the most popular agricultural fairs in Czechia. The Bread Basket offers: renewal and rural development technology, plant and animal production, agricultural technology, food production, forestry and water system, gardening and breeding, services for agriculture, other. Ema Destinnová – musical festival is a series of concerts of classical music taking place during August and September. The festival is organised in the centre of town and in churches, theatres. Traditional Christmas Markets take over the main square from the beginning of period Advent. There are free concerts and performances, warming foods and traditional crafts ranging from blacksmith-work to the finest beeswax and honey products and a lot more.

Buy

Naměstí Přemysla Otakara II. Wander around the large old town square and surrounding streets to find many specialised stores (i.e. butcher, produce, tea & spices, fabric and so on).

Lannova Tr. A pedestrianised street leading from the train station to the old town. Has various shops along its length, including a Billa supermarket and department store.

Mercury Centrum. A two-storey shopping mall that shares space with the town's main bus terminal.

IGY Centrum. A shopping mall which also contains a pool and fitness centre (includes gym, squash, solarium, sauna, etc.) that is about 20 min by foot from the train station and is next to the Hotel Clarion Congress České Budějovice.

Eat

Vypečený okno. Meaning "a little bakery in a window", you can buy various baked goods here. Be sure to try the Zelňák (cabbage pita).

Praži Café. Espresso bar with interior and patio.

Plachý Café. A coffee shop with an interesting name. It means "shy coffee" in Czech.

Kavarna VLNNA. A cafe right by the river. You can rent a paddleboat at the cafe to paddle in the two rivers in České Budějovice.

Masné krámy. Famous local restaurant, formerly a butcher’s market. It was founded in 1364. It is your best chance to try the traditional food of region.

Budvarka. a really nice little beer hall just off the main town square. It is owned by Budvar and has four of their beers on draft. The food includes lots of traditional Czech dishes and is cheap and very nice.

Vendetta. An excellent value bar/restaurant on the main square and very nice freshly made pizzas.

Restaurace Karla IV.. A stylish Czech restaurant with large choice and the interior is decorated with Middle Ages legends.

Green House. Healthy bio cuisine including vegetarian dishes, vegetable salads and soups.

Bar Lanovka. There is a climbing wall and popular healthy restaurant.

Soupculture. A soup restaurant where you can eat the edible soup container afterwards.

ZMRZ.LI. Meaning "they froze", this ice cream shop has many flavours of scoop ice cream.

Drink

Knock back a pitcher of Budweiser beer, as this is after all, its hometown (see also Pivovar Budějovický Budvar above). The best option to experience this is to visit one of the pubs operated by the brewery itself as there you can find the widest selection of beers including any specials. Masné krámy and Malý Pivovar are located in the old city centre near the main square. Pick one of these without doubt, the other choice: Budvarka pub is in the brewery complex, further from the city centre to the north.

Singer. Irish-style pub. The name is derived from old school Singer sewing machines on the tables inside.

Potrefená husa. A branch of another Czech brewery Staropramen franchise pubs. Select the place on the roof top terrace during the hot summer days to sip the beer or cocktail while look over the river Malse to Stromovka recreational park.

HochŠpalíček. Bar with a terrace that overlooks the bridge and the Vltava river.

Solnice. A restaurant with its own brewery.

In the main square Přemysla Otakara II. There are a lot of pubs and visitors from which can choose, e.g., B26, and Fantom.

You can get free Wi-Fi internet connection in almost all places listed below as one of the local ISPs provides the internet connection almost everywhere.

Kotva. Café sharing the building with a small cinema.

Cafe au chat noir. Small cafe right on the main square near with awesome views on what's happening on the square as it is on the first floor (don't give up and walk through the stores on the ground floor to the stairs if you want to enter).

Cafe Placidus. odern café with Davidoff coffee and wide selection of cakes and other desserts.

Manon. Café on the west side of the main square with highly decorated interior purely in black & white tones. Good coffee, views of the square, but a bit lack of atmosphere.

Café Plaza. "New kid on the block" right next to the city hall. One of the pluses here are particularly quite late opening hours every day.

Café la Storia. Café in one of the oldest buildings in the city near city walls. In the hot summer day don't sit outside, but try to find your chair inside in small yard between the buildings where you can avoid the sun and where the temperature stays always comfortable. Take one of the Lavazza coffee magazines to learn something new.

Café Ionia. Small place with a bar, two tables outside during the summer and less frequent coffee brand which also gives a name to this place.

Rolo and Café. If you want cake then head here! There is one opposite the train station, another on the main square and another just off the main square on the way to Tesco.

Modrý dveře. Trendy styled pub/restaurant with occasional live jazz music.

Velbloud. Small alternative music club near city centre. The program contains mainly rock, punk & alternative, but it is regularly mixed with other modern styles.

Horká vana. Café and club in modern space. It organizes regular performances every month.

SUD. Small theatre which is very popular among university students.

Sleep

Hotel Budweis. This hotel has 60 rooms (including one suite), very near the Vltava River.

Grand Hotel Zvon. Offers a range of rooms, including family rooms and triple rooms.