South Bohemia offers nearly 10,000 kilometres of designated cycling routes and more than a hundred suggested cycling tours. The network runs through fishpond landscapes, along rivers and past historic sights. Those who prefer to explore the region on foot will find more than 5,000 kilometres of marked hiking trails. There is also a dense network of marked cycling routes—two different ways to discover the landscape.

Getting around by bike, train and on foot

Train journeys can also be combined with cycling: trains offer bicycle transport. Check the relevant conditions before your trip. Special rules apply in Šumava National Park. Away from roads, cycling is permitted there only in built-up areas and on marked cycle paths. Rafting is permitted on sections of the Vydra, Otava and Vltava rivers; before an outing, check visitor rules and restrictions on the rivers.

The national park itself offers self-guided trails for children and adults. Worksheets supplement them with activities, maps, photos and illustrations. The selection of trails and the availability of visitor centres may change, so check current options in advance. Other active holiday options in the region include water sports, golf, skiing and adventure sports.

Villages, castles and history

Holašovice is a South Bohemian village listed by UNESCO. Twenty-three farmsteads surround the rectangular village green; the village also has a chapel, a forge, a cross and a fishpond. The folk buildings preserve the South Bohemian Folk Baroque style of the 18th and 19th centuries. The site can thus be appreciated through its buildings and shared village space, rather than through a single structure.

At Hluboká Castle, the tour of the state rooms takes visitors through the piano nobile, salons, dining rooms and library, and on to the private rooms of Princess Eleonora and an arms exhibition. In suitable weather, the castle tower offers views over the surrounding landscape.

The UNESCO-listed historic centre of Český Krumlov lies on both banks of the Vltava, below a castle whose foundation dates back to the 13th century. Founded in 1420, Tábor is an important site in Hussite history. In Bechyně, meanwhile, ceramics have a long tradition; the town is also home to one of Europe’s oldest ceramic schools. These places offer different ways to explore history: from a village layout to a town centre shaped by the Middle Ages and a living craft tradition.

From Jindřichův Hradec, narrow-gauge train journeys run through the South Bohemian countryside. Timetables may change, so check them before travelling. These train rides complement the cycling routes and hiking trails with another way to experience the landscape, without requiring any particular mode of transport for the whole trip.

Waterscapes and regional cuisine

The Lipno Reservoir offers opportunities for water sports, fishing, swimming and cycling; winter sports are available at the Lipno Ski Resort. There are opportunities for recreational and sport fishing around České Budějovice–Hluboká. The long tradition of fishing and fish farming also shapes South Bohemian cuisine: carp and other fish from the region’s hundreds of ponds, including trout and zander, are prepared in many different ways.

At Mrhal Pond near Rudolfov, fishing is permitted along most stretches of the shore. There is also a beach, a wooden jetty and refreshments. Facilities and fish stocks may change; check current conditions before your visit.

Six routes on the South Bohemian Beer Trails cross the region and include breweries in Hluboká nad Vltavou, Týn nad Vltavou, Dražíč and Dolní Bukovsko. Practical availability may vary, so check before planning a brewery visit. Together with the historic sites, cycling and hiking trails, and waterside activities, these attractions show South Bohemia as a destination with a variety of highlights—from culture and crafts to outdoor activities and regional fish cuisine.

Discover more destinations: Český Krumlov District, Tábor District, Strakonice District, Písek District, Prachatice District, Jindřichův Hradec District, České Budějovice District, Prague

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