20 Best Things to Do in Olomouc: What to See in Czechia’s Most Underrated City

Olomouc might just be the most underrated city in the Czech Republic. Everyone piles into Prague, Brno and Český Krumlov — and yet here, in the fertile lowlands of Haná in central Moravia, sits the country’s second-largest urban heritage zone after Prague, a UNESCO-listed monument, and a centre so packed with Baroque, churches and student life that it can feel like a smaller, quieter Vienna. If you’re wondering about the best things to do in Olomouc, the happy news is that you can see almost all of it on foot, and without the crowds.In this guide we’ve pulled together the 20 best things to do in Olomouc — from the unmissable Holy Trinity Column, through the astronomical clock, the cathedral and six Baroque fountains, to the pilgrimage hill of Svatý Kopeček, the zoo and, of course, the famously pungent Olomouc cheese. We’ve added how to get there, where to eat and drink, and how much a day will cost you. By the end you should be able to plan your own trip to Olomouc with confidence — and skip nothing that matters.

How to get to Olomouc and getting around

Olomouc sits on the main Prague–Ostrava railway line, which makes it one of the easiest Czech cities to reach. Direct fast trains and Pendolino services run from Prague in around 2 to 2.5 hours, from Ostrava in under an hour, and from Brno in about an hour and a half (with a change). It also works nicely as a stop on the way east towards Ostrava or Kraków. The train drops you at the main station, a short hop from the centre.By car it’s roughly 280 km from Prague via the D1 and D35 motorways (about 3 hours), and only some 80 km from Brno. Watch out for the paid parking zones in the centre — charges apply on weekdays from 8am to 6pm (a few dozen crowns an hour in the tightest central streets), while zones are often free at weekends. It’s more relaxed to leave the car in one of the multi-storey car parks or at a shopping centre on the edge of town and walk in.Around town, walking is a pleasure — you can cover the whole historic core in a single afternoon. For longer hops (the station, the zoo, the water park) there’s a dense network of trams and buses; a single ticket costs around 20 CZK (about €0.80). A direct line runs from the centre up to the zoo and Svatý Kopeček.

20 things to do in Olomouc

We’ve ordered these roughly the way you’d walk them — starting in the centre and working outwards. You’ll manage most of the first twelve in a single day on foot; save the rest (the zoo, Svatý Kopeček, Loštice) for a second day or a half-day.

1. The Holy Trinity Column (UNESCO)

The landmark of the Upper Square (Horní náměstí) and the single most famous sight in Olomouc. Three tiers crammed with statues, standing roughly 32 metres tall — the largest Baroque sculptural group in Central Europe. It was completed in 1754 and has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 2000. There’s even a small chapel inside. Don’t skip it after dark either — floodlit, it looks even better.

2. The Upper and Lower Squares

The heart of the city is a pair of linked squares. The Upper Square (Horní náměstí) is the grand one — the town hall, the column, fountains, and pastel townhouses lined with cafés and restaurants all around. The Lower Square (Dolní náměstí) is a touch quieter, with its Marian column and more fountains. In December the popular Christmas markets move in; in summer there are concerts and festivals.

3. The Olomouc astronomical clock

Set into the north wall of the town hall, this clock is nothing like the one in Prague. After it was damaged in the war, it was rebuilt in the 1950s in the socialist-realist style — so instead of saints you’ll see workers, scientists and athletes parading past, along with mosaics and a heliocentric dial. The figures come to life every day at noon. It’s one of very few clocks of this kind in the world, and well worth timing your visit for.

4. The six Baroque fountains

An Olomouc rarity you won’t find elsewhere: a set of six stone fountains with classical mythological themes dotted around the centre — plus the modern Arion Fountain with its tortoises. As you wander you’ll pass the Hercules, Caesar and Arion fountains on the Upper Square, and the Jupiter, Neptune and Mercury fountains around the Lower Square. Unlike townsfolk elsewhere, the citizens of Olomouc refused to scrap them in the Baroque era, so they survive to this day. Tracking them all down makes for a lovely stroll through the centre.

5. St Wenceslas Cathedral

A mighty neo-Gothic cathedral on Wenceslas Hill (Václavské návrší), with the tallest church tower in Moravia — over 100 metres high. Its origins go back to the 12th century, though it took its present shape in the 19th. Inside you’ll find richly decorated altars, stained glass, and a crypt housing the mausoleum of Olomouc’s bishops. Entry to the cathedral is usually free.

6. Wenceslas Hill and the Archdiocesan Museum

A calmer corner of the city around the cathedral, where the old Olomouc castle once stood. Right next door is the Archdiocesan Museum in the former bishop’s palace — sacred art, medieval manuscripts, paintings and the celebrated golden episcopal carriage. It’s one of the finest museum displays in the city. Admission is around 100 CZK (about €4); check current prices and opening hours (usually closed on Mondays) on the Olomouc Museum of Art website.

7. The Přemyslid (Zdík) Palace

Right by the cathedral stands one of Olomouc’s most precious — and most overlooked — treasures: a Romanesque bishop’s palace from the 12th century. Long called the Přemyslid Palace, it in fact belonged to the learned Bishop Jindřich Zdík and ranks among the most important Romanesque residential buildings in Central Europe. Its pride and joy are the richly carved paired Romanesque windows, like lace worked in stone. The palace forms part of the Archdiocesan Museum’s tour route and is usually open only in the summer season (roughly April to September), so check the dates in advance.

8. The Church of St Maurice and the tower view

A Gothic church a short walk from the Upper Square, known above all for two things: its monumental organ, among the largest in Central Europe, and its viewing tower. Climb the roughly 200 steps to the top and the whole centre spreads out below you — to our minds, the best view over Olomouc’s rooftops and spires. The tower is usually open in the warmer months.

9. The Chapel of St John Sarkander

An unassuming but striking chapel just off the centre, bound up with the dramatic story of the priest Jan Sarkander. It stands on the site of the former city prison, where he was tortured in 1620 and died without breaking the seal of confession. Its present neo-Baroque form dates from the early 20th century (1908 to 1912), and in 1995 it hosted the celebrations for Sarkander’s canonisation. Inside you’ll find decorated altars and the preserved torture chamber with its period rack. Entry is usually free.

10. The Olomouc Museum of Art

One of the largest galleries in the country, with a collection of tens of thousands of works — painting, sculpture, photography and applied art from the Middle Ages to the present. In summer there are sometimes installations by contemporary artists in front of the building or on the roof. The Archdiocesan Museum falls under the same institution, so a combined ticket is well worth it.

11. Villa Primavesi

If you have a soft spot for Art Nouveau, don’t miss Villa Primavesi, an elegant house built in 1905–1906 and now a national cultural monument. The Primavesi family were leading patrons of the arts, so the great names of the day worked on its decoration — among them the Viennese architect Josef Hoffmann and the painter Gustav Klimt. The sumptuous interiors can only be seen on a guided tour, while the adjoining garden is often open on its own during the day. Check the villa’s website for the current guided-tour times.

12. Fort Science (Pevnost poznání)

An interactive science centre in a former military store, ideal with children or when it’s raining. There are exhibitions on water, light, the human brain and the history of Olomouc’s fortifications — plenty of it hands-on — plus a digital planetarium. Admission runs to around 200 CZK (about €8), family tickets less; check current prices on the pevnostpoznani.cz website.

13. The Bezruč Gardens and rose garden

A green belt below the cathedral that ranks among the prettiest corners of the city. Here you’ll find a rose garden with more than a thousand varieties, the botanical garden’s greenhouses, and quiet paths along the old ramparts. Entry to both the park and the rose garden is free. In summer it’s the perfect spot to rest up after pounding the streets.

14. The Smetana Gardens and the Flora exhibition grounds

Olomouc’s largest city park, with a long avenue (the Rudolf Alley), a pond and tropical glasshouses. It adjoins the Flora exhibition grounds, which host big flower and gardening shows several times a year that draw visitors from all over the country. A great place for a picnic or a walk away from the tourist centre.

15. Svatý Kopeček (the Basilica of the Visitation)

About 5–8 km from the centre, a Baroque pilgrimage basilica crowns a hill with sweeping views over the countryside. It’s one of the most important pilgrimage sites in Moravia, and a trip out here pairs nicely with the zoo right next door. A direct public-transport line runs up from the centre. Entry to the basilica is free.

16. Olomouc Zoo

The zoo up at Svatý Kopeček, set in the woods, is home to over 350 animal species. Its big draws are a striking 32-metre viewing tower and a shark aquarium. The grounds are hilly and spread out, so allow half a day. A brilliant tip for families with children.

17. Hradisko Monastery

A vast Baroque complex on the edge of town, nicknamed the “Moravian Escorial”. Originally Benedictine, later Premonstratensian, the monastery dates back to the 11th century; today it houses a military hospital. Imposing from the outside, its frescoed interiors can be seen on organised tours — check the dates ahead. You can walk out here along the River Morava.

18. The Regional Museum

A classic regional museum on Republic Square, with displays on the city’s history, the natural world and notable figures of the Haná region. There’s usually an interactive programme for children and temporary exhibitions too. A good choice if you want to make sense of the context behind everything you’re seeing out in the city.

19. Olomouc’s fortifications and the Theresian Gate

In the 18th century Olomouc was one of the mightiest fortresses in the monarchy, and traces of its defences are still visible today. In the centre stands the Baroque Theresian Gate (Terezská brána) of 1752, while on the outskirts you’ll find individual forts — such as Fort XVII, home to the Museum of Olomouc’s Fortifications, or Fort Radíkov near Svatý Kopeček. A perfect half-day circuit for fans of military history.

20. Olomouc cheese, tvarůžky (and the museum in Loštice)

You can’t leave Olomouc without tasting the most famous — and most aromatic — of Czech cheeses. Olomouc cheese (tvarůžky) is a pungent, pale-yellow ripened cheese, very low in fat, with a smell that arrives well before the taste. You’ll find it in shops right in the centre, as well as breaded and fried, in savoury tarts, and even as ice cream. If you fall for it, the Olomouc Tvarůžky Museum sits beside the dairy in Loštice, a short way out of the city — admission around 85 CZK (about €3.50), family tickets cheaper. It combines well with a day of sightseeing in the surrounding area.

Olomouc cheese and where to eat and drink

Olomouc is a student city, so it’s dense with cafés, bistros and pubs at sensible prices. Start with the local classic — Olomouc cheese (tvarůžky). You can taste it almost everywhere: fried in a pub, in savoury flatbreads, or as a snack with beer. If you like cheeses with character you’ll be thrilled; if you don’t, at least brave it once.Among the restaurants, one name comes up again and again in Olomouc: Long Story Short — a bakery and café by day, a well-regarded restaurant by night (it’s among the best rated in the country). For honest Czech classics and house beer, head to the St Wenceslas Microbrewery; for Nepalese cooking, try Kathmandu on the Lower Square. For breakfast and coffee you might fall for Café na cucky, Kafe jak lusk, or the café inside Villa Primavesi.

Trips in the area

If you have more time, Olomouc makes a superb base for trips around Haná and central Moravia:

• Svatý Kopeček and the zoo — the pilgrimage basilica and the zoo, both reachable by public transport, easily a full day.
• Loštice — the Olomouc Tvarůžky Museum right at the dairy, about 30 km to the north.
• Bouzov Castle — a fairytale, romantic castle roughly 35 km from Olomouc, ideal with children.
• Velký Kosíř — the “Haná Mont Blanc”, with a lookout tower and views across the whole region.
• A boat trip on the River Morava — by pleasure boat from the centre; combine it with a walk out to Hradisko Monastery.

If you enjoy city breaks around Moravia, Olomouc pairs beautifully with Brno and Ostrava — both just a quick train ride away.

How much it costs (budget)

Olomouc is one of the more affordable Czech cities — plenty of the very best of it (the squares, the fountains, the column, the cathedral, the parks) is completely free. A rough daily budget per person:

Item	Roughly per day / person
Accommodation (guesthouse / hostel, per person)	500–1,000 CZK (€20–40)
Food (lunch at a bistro, dinner, coffee)	350–600 CZK (€14–24)
Public transport / parking	40–150 CZK (€2–6)
Admissions (1–2 museums, a tower)	150–400 CZK (€6–16)
Total	approx. 1,100–2,100 CZK (€45–85) / day

On a backpacker budget you can do Olomouc for under 1,000 CZK a day — sleep in a hostel, eat at student bistros and lean on everything that’s free. Admission prices and opening hours change, so treat these as a guide and check each site’s website before you go.

Where to next

• What to See in Brno (2026)
• What to See in Ostrava (2026)
• What to See in the Beskids (2026)

Frequently asked questions