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Things To Do In Olomouc, Czech Republic


If you are planning a vacation to the Czech Republic and looking for a few day trips from Prague I suggest the small town of Olomouc, Czech Republic.

While Prague has a lot to offer to travelers seeking out culture and history at every turn one of the best reasons to travel to Prague is a chance to explore other areas of the region.

The vast number of incredible day trips you can take from Prague will blow your mind!   Some of the best places to visit in the Czech Republic are outside of Prague.  

A day trip from Prague will give you a brand new perspective on the country and you can explore castles, charming historic towns, larger-than-life cathedrals and so much more.

I fell in love with Olomouc, Czech Republic and I am sure you will also!

Olomouc is a major city in Moravia and it is the sixth-largest city in the country and the most important city in the Haná region of Moravia.

Until the mid-17th century, Olomouc could be considered one of Moravia’s capital cities (together with Brno).

The city attracts both domestic and foreign tourists because of its UNESCO World Heritage site the Holy Trinity Column.  Olomouc Is one of the most underrated cities in the Czech Republic.

If you like visiting charming historic cities and don’t like the kind of crowds then Olomouc is the perfect destination for you.

Where is Olomouc, Czech Republic

Olomouc is situated between Brno and Ostrava. Considered to be the second most attractive and touristy city in the country after Prague.

Located on the Moravia River and is one of the most charming and beautiful cities I’ve ever explored.  The city is lined with cobblestoned streets, majestic cathedrals, and grand palaces that will leave you in awe and wonder.

Olomouc is a masterpiece of old Medieval architecture. Svatý Kopeček, Saint Maurice Church, the City’s Clock tower, Saint Wenceslas Cathedral are among the main landmarks and the most important places to visit during your day trip from Prague.

Olomouc deserves at least a day or more so if you have the time I suggest staying longer so you can really immerse yourself in the Czech culture.

While Olomouc City is completely unknown and only about 2 hours from Prague it is worth the train ride to explore.

I don’t think the people of Olomouc really understand what they have and how they wake up to one of the most beautiful and majestic cities I’ve ever seen.

Olomouc has been labeled as the most beautiful city in the Czech Republic and the number one hidden gem of Europe by Lonely Planet.

Why Take a Day Trip to Olomouc?

 

The beautiful architecture, quaint cafes, and the slow vibe of a small town, because it has not yet been discovered by tourists, made me feel as if I had hit the lottery. 

I found myself walking down side streets taking photos of the stunning buildings, I stopped at a cafe to read a book and I caught up on writing while sipping on Mimosas and just enjoying hanging out with myself.

I had fallen in love with the small town of Olomouc from the traditional Czech food, history, architecture to the lovely people that made me feel right at home.

Olomouc offers the perfect combination of relaxation, entertainment and it’s an easy day trip from Prague. 

How to Get From Prague to Olomouc

By Car

Olomouc is the perfect alternative to trendy, overcrowded Prague, and its only two hours away from Prague by express train which is 156 miles east of Prague.  

You have two options if you are driving to Olomouc which is to take the D1 freeway down to Brno and then continue up again to Olomouc.

The second option is the northern route, via the E442 from Hradec Králové. The roads are narrower and you need to allow extra time for passing through towns.

If you are going to drive and you are not in a hurry this route is stunning with picturesque views of the countryside that is great for a photo op. 

There are also some interesting places to stop along the way including

By Train

Olomouc is on the main international train line from Prague to Poland and Slovakia. The fastest trains (SC Pendolino) make the trip in 2 hours. Prices and departure times are detailed in the online timetables.

By Bus

Buses from Prague to Olomouc follow the freeway all the way down to Brno before coming back up again to Olomouc. The fastest buses take around 3 hours 45 minutes. 

Things To Do In Olomouc, Czech Republic

1. Astronomical Clock (Orloj)

There are only two astronomical clocks in the Czech Republic and one of them calls Olomouc home.  It is a larger-than-life clock with all of these dials and colors. 

I wasn’t sure what to make of the clock but after talking with a few of the townspeople I came to the conclusion Some people love it, some hate it and most think it’s quirky.

The clock is part of the town hall building on Horní náměstí (Upper Square).  As in any proper astrological clock, there’s a wheel marked with the names of 365 saints (one for every day of the year), so you’ll always know whose special day it is.

This clock comes with a Moscow-inspired bonus — small red bands splice in the birthdays of Communist leaders, too, such as Lenin, Stalin, and St. Toman.

2. Olomouc Baroque Festival

Olomouc Baroque Festival is regularly the most anticipated cultural event in Olomouc during the summertime.  You will enjoy excerpts from Baroque opera, rich costumes, and an impressive stage.

On Sunday, the last performance of the year will take place at W. A. Mozarts opera Apollo set Hyacinthus.

3. Archdiocesan Museum

The museum has been awarded, as the only site in the Czech Republic, the prestigious European Heritage Label. 

The permanent exhibition of the museum introduces its visitors to the spiritual culture of the Olomouc Archdiocese, including liturgical objects and garments, artistic craftsmanship oriental carvings, and artworks from ivory, porcelain, and ceramics.

4. Churches and St. Wenceslas Cathedral

The streets of Olomouc are lined with beautiful churches which is a testament to the city’s long history as a bastion of the Catholic church.

As Moravia’s capital until the 17th century, the most important religious buildings of the land were built in Olomouc.

The monumental cathedral from the 12th century is the most renowned Olomouc church.  An originally Romanesque building, it has been completely remade in Gothic style.

The cathedral and its immediate environs, which includes a prince’s palace serving today as the Archdiocesan Museum, make up one of the most beautiful sites in Olomouc.

Explore the ancient Olomouc Castle at the must-see Archdiocesan Museum and the 900-year-old St. Wenceslas Cathedral (Dóm Svatého Václava) which dominates the city skyline with the tallest spire in Moravia (second tallest in the country).

4. Olomouc University

Palacký University in Olomouc was established in 1573, which makes it the second oldest university in the Czech Republic.

The University offers degrees in law, music, fine arts, languages, education, environmental sciences, philosophy, theology, and medicine. 

Olomouc is no different than any other college town, as it is lined with cafés and bars, and plenty of cultural activity.

5. Sculpture in Olomouc

The city of Olomouc has beautiful sculptures sitting in the public square. The Holy Trinity Column on the main square (Horní náměstí) and is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. 

The Holy Trinity Column is a sight to behold!

The Holy Trinity Column sits in the square and it was erected between 1713 and 1715 to thank God for ending the plague.   

It stands 105 feet and is the largest free-standing Baroque sculpture in Central Europe.

Olomouc has six Baroque fountains that are scattered around its two main squares have been joined by a seventh modern fountain on Horní náměstí (Upper Square), which has become the favorite of both locals and tourist.

6. Bouzov Castle

Bouzov Castle is one of the most beautiful castles in the Czech Republic, and it has been a favorite place for filmmakers for many years now.

Bouzov belonged to the Teutonic Order, an order of religious knights, and nowadays offers several types of tours exploring various aspects of Bouzov’s history and the castle life in general.

7. Javoricko Caves

They are considered to be the most beautiful cave complex in the Czech Republic.  The imagination of visitors comes alive with a view of the mysterious lower chamber. 

The cave labyrinth is woven by passages connected to a not yet fully explored chasm, which falls to a depth of 65 yards.

8. Brewery Albert

Brewery Albert is a family-owned brewery, where beer of top quality is rewed for guests of the brewery.  The light lager Albert is produced in two versions. 

The beer gained its name after the industrialist Albert Klein from nearby Sobotin.

9. Upper Square (Horní náměstí)

Olomouc has two squares, Upper Square and Lower Square, and they are connected to each other. There is so much to see in Upper Square that I suggest slowly walking and taking in the city and all of the culture.

Holiest Place in the Country

The Minor Basilica of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, or shortly Basilica of Our Lady is located about 5 km from the city of Olomouc, on the top of the Holy Hill, Svatý Kopeček.

The Baroque pilgrimage church with a two-tower frontage is a distinctive landmark of the landscape around Olomouc.

Adjoining the church building, there are side wings with an attic carrying statues of 12 apostles and two saints – Saint Sebastian and Saint Roch. Behind the church, there are a cloister and the Chapel of the Virgin Mary.

The ceiling of the single-naved interior is vaulted over by a massive dome. The nave is flanked by side chapels.

This monumental church was promoted by Pope John Paul II. to Minor Basilica in May 1995, when he visited the church.

Where to Stay in Olomouc, Czech Republic

I have never stayed at a hostel nor have I ever had the desire to stay at a hostel because I had all of these preconceived notions about hostels being dirty and creepy-looking folk laying right beside you.

Apparently, Long Story Short Hostel is single-handedly changing the narrative on what it means to stay in a hostel.

Long Story Short Hostel is not your typical hostel and the last thing you will question is your safety and cleanliness. 

Long Story Short is a luxury hostel with beautiful contemporary designed furnishings that serves fresh food made from local ingredients and will have you posting every cocktail and meal on Instagram and Facebook.

This property is not just a hostel but it’s equivalent to a 4 or even 5-star hotel in any European city.

The name of the hostel is derived from the rich history of the building as the hostel takes up the entire first floor of an actual fortress from the 17th century, known as Podkova.

The owner Eva Dlabalová is the brainchild behind this mindblowing luxury hostel.  Eva created the hostel from scratch and turned the old 17th-century building into contemporary luxury accommodations for modern travelers.

The majority of furnishings are all custom-made from the beds, mirrors, lamps, shelves, and even bathroom fixtures.

There is a total of 56 beds varying from dorm rooms, private rooms, and even a wedding suite. 

If you decide to stay in a dorm room no worries you will have access to top-notch bathrooms while guests staying in the private rooms have their own private bathrooms.

I stayed in one of the private rooms and omg! I am so planning my return trip!

The arched doorways look different from every perspective with the influx of natural light that comes through the hallways and guest rooms.

The main room of Long Story Short serves as the reception, common room, and cafe is all located in what I would call the heartbeat of the hostel.

The hostel has a U-shaped layout that coils around the building’s central courtyard.

The charming cafe serves delicious and healthy meals all day. But at the end of the day, it’s the people that make any place good or bad and in this case, Eva and her staff are amazing and I cannot think of one thing I would change. 

Long Story Short is reason enough to venture off from Prague and this will be the best day trip ever.

There are plenty of places to sit, read a book, sip a coffee, or gather with new travelers you meet along the way.

Long Story Short also has a prime location near the center of town and there is also a great terrace with a beer tent to hang out on during warm summer nights.  Check Prices Here!

Lastly, Eva (forced me) to try a Czech Delicacy which is known as the smelliest cheese in the Czech Republic!

The syrečky cheese — which is aged under hunks of meat and is engrained in the region’s identity that when the European Union tried to forbid the product, the Czech government negotiated for special permission to continue to rot their milk in the time-honored Olomouc tradition.

Eva swears this cheese is so yummy and addictive.  While I did taste it, I don’t think I will be on Amazon trying to figure out how to ship it back to the states.

Remember it is reputedly the smelliest cheese in the Czech Republic.

Long Story Short Hostel

Click Below To Watch On One of The Best Day Trips From Prague!

Where To Eat in Olomouc

Entrée Restaurant has been proclaimed the Best Restaurant in 2018 in the Czech Republic thanks to its young and creative chef, Premek Forejt, who has gained experience in a Michelin restaurant L’Autre Pied in London.

The dominant feature of the restaurant is the open kitchen, which follows the tradition of the building which served as a theater. 

Guests can enjoy not only modern cuisine and original design inspired by nature itself, but also the front seat to the best cooking performances by master chefs.

Entrée the epitome of fine dining and can hold its own to any Michelin Starr restaurant in Europe. 

The restaurant has stunning interiors, polite and courteous staff, and a wine list to die for are just a few reasons why Entree should be on your “to-do” list.

Dining area at Entree

The food was inventive, beautiful, and delicious and will surely get you out of your comfort zone! Entrée Restaurant is one the best in the entire Czech Republic and definitely the best one in Olomouc by a mile!

This place is breathtaking and just incredibly perfect!

If you are in the Czech Republic and have a day free, this restaurant and city are worth visiting. You won’t regret it!

The menu is divided into 4 parts – garden, water, land, and sky, and draws mainly on fresh and seasonal ingredients.

The garden has purely vegetarian meals, the water is represented by fish and seafood meals, and the land offers quality meats and heavenly desserts.

12 Best Things to Do in Olomouc (Czech Republic)

  • Holy Trinity Column, Olomouc:
  • St. Wenceslas’ Cathedral, Olomouc:
  • Hradisko Monastery, Olomouc:
  • Olomouc Town Hall:
  • Astronomical Clock, Olomouc:
  • Arion Fountain, Olomouc:
  • Kroměříž Castle and Gardens:
  • View from St. Moritz:
  • Helfštýn Castle:
  • Svatý Kopeček:
  • Archdiocesan Museum:
  • Bouzov Castle:

Ready to plan your trip, grab my FREE  Vacation Planner to help you plan your trip in the time it takes to watch your favorite TV show!

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Have you taken day trips from Prague? I would love to hear your thoughts so leave me a comment on FacebookTwitter, or Instagram.

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