The Best Things to Do in Olomouc: Discover Czechia’s Hidden Gem

As I opened my eyes, waking up from a sound and restful sleep after a very long day spent on planes and buses, I felt how comfortable the bed actually was. I was excited for the day, firstly to enjoy a cup of coffee, have breakfast and then, head out to discover all the amazing things to do in Olomouc I had on my itinerary.

I pulled the duvet away and felt the warmth of the room. It was such a nice change from my old, cold house which takes ages to warm up in the morning. As I touched the floor with my bare feet, I noticed that it was heated. That’s lovely, I thought. I went to the window and pulled back the curtain with one sharp move, to reveal a magical view. Overnight, yesterday’s spring-like landscape had transformed to a blanket of white. The snow had covered everything in sight. I could see the trees bending their branches under the heavy layer of snow, with the tower of the Cathedral rising over their bare tops under the clear blue sky. Welcome to Olomouc, step into the fairy tale!

About Olomouc

Olomouc is a former capital of Moravia, and one of the most important cities in the country. It’s a relatively small city with a lot of history, superb Baroque and Renaissance architecture, great food and plenty of great beer. It’s the Czech Republic after all, so expect beer to be good, inexpensive, and you’ll find it everywhere you go.

I didn’t expect to find so many unique things to do in Olomouc. If I knew how much I’d like the city, I would have definitely booked a longer stay. One of the things that I loved most about Olomouc is that because it is off the beaten path, it doesn’t have the suffocating crowds of Prague. If you don’t like large groups of tourists and want an authentic experience, then you should definitely visit Olomouc too!

Is Olomouc Worth Visiting?

Olomouc is often overlooked in favour of its more famous neighbours such as Brno or Ostrava. But you should know that Olomouc is definitely worth visiting, especially if you want to get away from the crowds of Prague, and enjoy the Czech hospitality in a very local way.

I had such an amazing time visiting Olomouc, experiencing for the first time so many unique activities. I ate incredible food at restaurants that could have easily been worthy of Michelin stars, I’ve seen unique monuments and experienced the warm hospitality of the locals, I indulged in cakes and fair trade coffee, and I rested at night in the most incredible hostel I have ever stayed at.

Olomouc is a destination that you should add to your Moravia itinerary, especially if you like going off the beaten path. Below I will tell you what I got up to in the city and all the incredible things I’ve done and seen in Olomouc.

How to Get to Olomouc

Olomouc is very well connected both by train and bus from Prague and Brno. I flew to Vienna from London, and then took a direct Flixbus from the main bus station to Olomouc.

The nearest airport to Olomouc is Brno, one hour away, with direct flights from London, via Ryanair. Vienna Airport is two hours away.

Another option is renting a car in Vienna or Prague with Auto Europe, one of the world’s leading car rental brokers, providing affordable car hire all over the world. You can compare the best offers in the Czech Republic or other top destinations around the globe and get a good deal on a car rental.

If you are doing a road trip around Moravia, then you should know that Olomouc is very well connected by high speed motorway from the main nearby cities in the Czech Republic, Poland, Austria, and Slovakia.

The Best Things to Do in Olomouc

When I visited Olomouc I didn’t realise that I would end up writing such a long article about my trip. But I simply can’t leave anything out, as my experience in the city was incredible. Every time I would say “oh wow, this is definitely the highlight of the trip”, I would see another fantastic place or experience. I hope this travel guide to Olomouc will help you decide on the best activities to add to your itinerary, and I’d love to know your own opinion after you visit the city, in the comment section at the end of this article.

Visit St Wenceslas Cathedral

I started my first day in Olomouc with a visit to St Wenceslas Cathedral, a symbol of the town. The construction of the Cathedral started in the 12th century, and after it was finished it became the seat of the bishop. The Cathedral has suffered several fires over the years, and it was rebuilt in the Gothic style that we can see today. Over the years more and more Gothic elements were added to both the interior and exterior. The façade of the Cathedral was redecorated in a Classicist style after the building was hit by lightning, in the 19^th century.

One interesting thing about the Cathedral is that its spire is the tallest in the entire Moravia, standing at 100,65 metres tall. The Cathedral has three towers, but it’s just the side one that is the tallest.

See the Premyslid Castle

The castle of Olomouc is near St Wenceslas Cathedral, but during my visit to the city it was closed. However, it can be admired from the park outside, from where I observed the different architectural styles.

One of the stories about the Premyslid castle is related to Mozart. When he was a child, he got sick in Olomouc, and was transferred to the house of the Chapter Provost, on the castle grounds. Once he started to get better, it is said that he composed Symphony No. 6 in F major here. From the park outside the castle, you can spot the window of the room in which Mozart stayed.

Walk Around the University Quarters

Olomouc is home to the second largest university in the Czech Republic, with 25% of its population being students. This makes the city very lively, with plenty of cafes, bars and restaurants which come alive as night-time draws in.

I found it intriguing that I could just go and visit the university’s quarters, without anyone stopping me. The architecture of the halls is stunning, with old frescoes covering the walls and ceilings. I explored the courtyards openings with beautiful views over the Bezručovy Sady park, and checked out the cakes at the Coffee Library.

See St Michael’s Church and Its Underground Chapel

St Michael is one of the most beautiful churches in Olomouc, a must visit. It’s also the place where I almost spent my last night in Olomouc, because without realising it was almost closing time, I had gone to see the underground chapel, and someone locked the door behind me. Luckily, on my way there I passed a young boy, who came to my rescue.

Getting back to the church, it was built on an old mediaeval chapel, in the 12^th century. The church was reconstructed in a Baroque style between 1673-1686, after a fire destroyed the original architecture. In the 19^th century, more Neo-Baroque elements were added, creating the stunning interiors that we can see today.

I was in awe of the frescoes on the three cupolas of the church, painted in such vibrant colours, descending towards marble columns topped with golden arches and decorated with life size statues of saints. Everywhere I looked, there was beauty.   

As I mentioned above, the church has an underground chapel that reveals the original mediaeval foundation of the building.

Climb the City Hall’s Tower

The City Hall is the most emblematic building in the Upper Square of Olomouc. It has been an administrative building for over 600 years, and it still functions as the mayor’s office.

On the eastern side of the building there is an interesting Gothic window with stained glass. It belongs to the Chapel of St Jerome, which was built in 1488. I was lucky to have visited the chapel just after climbing the 75 metres tall tower.

The tower is open every day between 11am and 3pm, when the weather allows it. The panorama from the top of the tower over the city is so pretty, with a 360 degree view stretching to the tallest mountains in the distance.

In the past, the tower was home to the local watchman, whose role was to warn the residents of fires and other dangers. He was supposed to signal every hour with his trumpet, no matter if day or night. At the top of the tower there is a small museum reproducing the watchman’s room.  

See the Communist Astronomical Clock

There are quite a few mediaeval astronomical clocks in Europe, the most famous one being in Prague. But there is only one communist astronomical clock, located in Olomouc, on the façade of the Town Hall.  

Originally, the clock was built in the 15^th century and it was similar with the other ones in Europe. Over the course of history, the clock has been modified into different architectural styles: Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque. However, in 1955, after the second world war, the clock was re-designed in its current style, socialist realism, by Karel Svolinsky and his wife Marie.

The bottom of the clock, instead of showing a calendar with holidays and names of saints, it displays important days in the communist regime, including the birthdays of Joseph Stalin and Klement Gottward.

The Astronomical Clock in Olomouc only rings once a day, at noon. The mechanism starts with a cockerel announcing the time, setting in motion the figures representing working class people moving on a folk tune. The entire display lasts for seven minutes.    

Admire the Holy Trinity Column

The Holy Trinity Column is the only Unesco heritage site in Olomouc and it’s a must see. Not just while passing by, but really stop and admire all the architectural elements that made Unesco declare this monument a world heritage.

The Holy Trinity Column is the largest baroque sculptural group in Central Europe. It is the work of Václav Render, a stonemason very well known in Moravia due to his atelier. He dreamed of building his own unusual monument to celebrate the Christian faith and thank God for ending the plague in Moravia. It was to be built in the Upper Square of Olomouc. Because of who he was and because he said he would fund the project with his own money, it was approved by the local council. Unfortunately, he died before seeing his work completed, in 1733. In 1744, the council decided to finish the structure themselves because the locals were unhappy with the large stone in the middle of the square, and so, it was finally completed in 1754.

The decorations on the column, which represent religious figures, were created by the Moravian artist Ondřej Zahner.

The column was inaugurated by none other than Maria Theresa and Francis de Lorraine, her husband.

The Holy Trinity is not just a column but also a small chapel, so small that it only has space for one priest. When sermons were held here, the acoustics of the chapel made it easy for the priest to be heard by most of the people gathered in the Upper Square.

Walk Inside An Invisible Church

Among the many intriguing places in Olomouc, I found traces of an old church. It is located in the Dolní Náměstí, one of the two main squares in Olomouc. This strange tracing on the pavement marks the archaeological remains of this tiny church, which was found during the reconstruction of this area in 2011. 

What is very interesting about this spot is that it shows remains of not just one but three different foundations, built one over another: a 12^th century Romanesque church, a Gothic church from the first half of the 13^th century, and a church with a chapel from the 16^th century.

The remains were covered with the new pavement, but the shape of the church was traced on the cobbles, so you can actually walk inside this now invisible church.

A Monastery or a Hospital?

Hradisko Monastery was once part of the pilgrimage route from the centre of Olomouc to the Monastery in Svatý Kopeček. Today, this beautiful Central European Baroque building is home to the Olomouc Military hospital and it is open for visits on heritage days. However, if you want to see it from the outside, nobody will stop you from going and admiring its architecture and interior courtyard.

I saw Hradisko Monastery from a taxi, with a lovely driver who drove me around the building, then went inside the courtyard, and waited for me while I took photos.

See the 1890s Maltsters’ Villas

Just outside the old city walls of Olomouc I found the beautiful villas that once belonged to the members of the Maltsters’ Association. The malthouses started to flourish at the end of the 19^th century in Olomouc, developing in the city until the trade was abruptly stopped by the second world war.

Due to the success of the trade, a series of villas have been built by the Austrian architect Jacob Gartner for the members of the association. One villa, belonging to the former president of the association, Eduard Hamburger, has been transformed into a museum, but at the time I visited it was temporarily closed to the public. However, I could still see the German Renaissance mixed with Baroque architecture style on the façade of the building.

The rest of the villas are private property, but again, you can still admire their architecture from the outside.    

Find the Quirkiest Street in Olomouc

Olomouc is full of surprises, and you don’t have to walk too far to find them. A few minutes away from the Lower Square I found a very peculiar street, as if it was a scene out of a sci-fi movie. Firstly, I found out that people who live on the street are a very tight knit community, coming together to decorate it during celebrations such as Christmas or Easter. But this is not all. As you walk down the street you will come face to face with a rather large alien-looking creature with a long beak, in front of Bistro66. If you raise your gaze up, you will definitely spot the stainless steel Xenomorphs creation of the local artist Jan Dostál.

The street is home to other works of art, displaying different perspectives of local artists. During my visit a new installation was just up, representing two long naked figures suspended by umbrellas, above the middle of the street. On Šemberova street, instead of religious figures enclosed in glass boxes on the facade of the buildings, you will see more aliens and bizarre creatures. It’s definitely a must see when you are visiting Olomouc. Click here for the exact location.

Check Out the Street Art

Olomouc has its fair share of street art as well. There are several pieces scattered around town, each with its own story. One of the most intriguing ones I found was the “Free Lafayette” mural on the old brewery building in Olomouc. The story is that the French General Lafayette was imprisoned in Olomouc in 1794, in the Jesuit Barracks. He tried to escape, but was caught and imprisoned again until 1797, when Napoleon signed the peace treaty between France and Austria.

Whilst the old building of the brewery might look like a prison, it is and never was. The place where Lafayette was imprisoned is the now Military Administrative Archive building, in Freedom Square. So this mural was created on the wrong building.

Another fun street art piece is on Denisova street, and it represents a giant portrait of King Edward VII of England holding a selfie stick in his hand. You can find a map with all the notable pieces by clicking here.

Visit Vila Primavesi

Vila Primavesi is a great example of Art Nouveau architecture in Olomouc, and makes a wonderful visit if you are an art lover. And the reason why will surprise you, and it’s probably not what you think of.

Vila Primavesi was built in 1905-1906 in a Viennese modernist style by two renowned Austrian architects: Franz von Krauss and Josef Tolk. The hallway of the villa was inspired by an English style, with a wooden staircase leading to the first floor, and a large fireplace.

The Primavesi couple was friends with many artists of the time, who helped them decorate the villa. One of their closest friends was no other than Gustav Klimt, who often spent time here. At one point in time, Vila Primavesi had the largest collection of Klimt in the world under one roof. Unfortunately many of the paintings have been lost during the two world wars and now all the art on the walls are reproductions. The furniture however, is original.

One interesting story that I’ve been told whilst visiting the Villa, shows the ingenuity of the Primavesi family. Now, there are quite a few members of the family around the world, but none of them owns the Villa. One of the grandsons, when he came to visit, recalled how his father, after he ran away from the war, in order to support his family, opened a cemetery. It was the only business that could never go out of business.

The villa has been built above the city walls and has wonderful views over the park below. It is now a cultural monument, with a café on site, as well as a tower that is currently under renovations and which will be transformed into a special room that will be available to book for night stays.  

Indulge In a Beer Spa Treatment

Who would have thought that soaking in 32 litres of beer was such a relaxing experience? If you are looking for a unique thing to do in Olomouc, then you must book a session at the beer spa.  

I have always wanted to try the beer spa, and I finally did it in Olomouc. I never knew what exactly it involved and what it’s in the tubs, until I asked the lovely attendant who took care of me during my rejuvenating treatment.

Svatováclavské pivní lázně is an intimate space underneath the brewery with the same name. The cute wooden tubs are filled with beer, hops, and essential oils that leave your skin as soft as a baby’s. The experience won’t be complete without a couple of pints of lager, which I enjoyed whilst soaking in the hoppy beer.

After the beer bath, which lasts for 40 minutes, I moved to the sauna, used the stone foot massager, and then took a few minutes to enjoy the relaxation room where I almost fell asleep. You can book this amazing experience too by clicking here.

Have a Half and Half

Řezané Pivo is a very pretty beer, which is in itself a great reason to order it. It consists of lager and black beer layered carefully, to create a perfectly delimited two colours in the glass. In fact, if you take in consideration the beer head, there are three colours in the glass. 

Taste the Olomoucké Tvarůžky

Olomoucké tvarůžky is the most famous gastronomic speciality of Olomouc. It is often referred to as the stinky cheese of Olomouc but to be fair, I didn’t think it was that smelly. Olomoucké tvarůžky is produced only in the village of Loštice , where there is also a museum highlighting the history of the cheese.

The cheese is so loved in Olomouc that it has its own festival, which I missed, as I visited the city two weeks before it started.

I liked the tvarůžky cheese and its salty taste. The cheese was served sprinkled with paprika and caraway seeds, alongside butter, rustic bread, and fresh onions. To eat it, you have to spread the butter on the bread, add the cheese, and then top it with raw onions. It’s delicious!

Dine at the Incredible Entrée Restaurant

If there was a Michelin starred restaurant in Olomouc, Entrée would be it! I was actually surprised that it does not already have at least one star, as every dish I tasted was a journey of flavours, celebrating the seasonal produce in stories on each plate.

The tasting menu came with eight different dishes, paired with local Czech wines. The menu changes each season, so if you visit Olomouc a second time you can indulge in this fantastic restaurant again and again.

Firstly, the design of the restaurant is really quite special. As I stepped into the bright space with floor to ceiling windows, I noticed that most of the walls and columns were a living garden, covered with plants. The lights had pots with real plants hanging from them. Even the bathroom ceiling was camouflaged with the greenest, healthiest moss. In summer, they grow their own herbs on the outdoor terrace.  

The tasting menu was a proper feast. Each dish was crafted to please the senses: beautiful presentations, an array of different textures and incredible flavours. Lunch started with an amuse bouche consisting of a butter emulsion served with bread, to open up the taste buds. The first dish of the tasting menu was a beef consommé with lovage and horseradish served in the cutest tea cup with a golden spoon. It was followed by a fantastic take on the Jerusalem artichoke cooked in different ways, alongside chicken heart and liquorice. This was an exquisite dish with very bold textures and a deep jus that brought all the elements on the plate together. I was a bit weary of the next course, the bean soup, as I do not like beans. However, this dish didn’t taste like beans at all, which I found astonishing. Cooked alongside sausage, miso, and marjoram, the bean soup turned out to be one of my favourite courses of the day. Before the transition to the main courses, we were offered a palette cleanser in the shape of a Mangalitsa pork chop with kimchi and coriander mayo. It was so good that we all went silent and just enjoyed the burst of flavour our taste buds were treated to.

The first main course was the sea bass with smoked eel, brassica and lemon, a very fresh dish with a sweet and tangy overall flavour. The next palette cleanser was a goat cheese mousse with blackberry gel and fresh mango, served alongside buckwheat crackers brought inside a cute tiny flower pot. The star of the dinner was the duck, cooked to perfection in two ways, served with slices of beetroot, black pudding, chokeberries gel, on a bed of puree topped with duck jus and the most incredible herby oil that balanced the overall sweetness of the dish.

The menu ended with a very light dessert, a lime tart with basil and kaffir lime, surrounded by a delicate meringue.

Enjoy a Wine and Chocolate Pairing

One of the most unique things that I have done in Olomouc was a wine and chocolate pairing at a small wine bar, in the University quarters. I was warmly welcomed by Jana, the owner, who prepared a cosy table by the bar for me. While I went downstairs to check out the cellar, she brought different types of chocolate to the table, alongside five different wines.

For a larger group, I highly recommend doing this experience in the cellar. The space is small but so authentic, with exposed brick walls, wooden tables and chairs, a gated area guarding the most precious wines, dimmed lights, and cork decorations.

We started the degustation with pure cocoa beans and a 2021 Moravian Sobíšky Domina red wine. The bitterness of the cocoa balanced the high acidity of the wine, which in return, tamed the bitter taste of the chocolate. We continued with more high quality beans and a selection of both local and international wines. The last pairing was a commercial chocolate with a sweet Czech Marsovice Cabernet Sauvignon.

The aim of pairing wine and chocolate is to understand how many things these two products have in common, and how they enhance each other’s flavour complexity. It’s an experience that I highly recommend if you are a foodie and want to surprise your taste buds with something different.

The evening aged like a fine wine, with good conversation flowing with every glass. Jana was a proper entertainer, sharing now only her vast knowledge about wine but also her life story and the community she lives in, in a nearby village. She showed me a book with the evolution of the village in the past century, showcasing the traditional costumes, the local crafts and typical events.  

If you want to try the wine and chocolate pairing, you must look for Jana at her wine bar, Vinný šenk U Zlatého beránka. Click here for directions.  

Take a Day Trip to Svatý Kopeček

Svatý Kopeček is also known as the Holy Hill. It makes a wonderful day or half a day trip from Olomouc. Located less than half an hour drive away from Olomouc, this peaceful place is a popular pilgrimage destination because of the majestic Church of the Visitation of the Virgin Mary.

I was so lucky to be shown around the church by a priest, who told me about the history of the place, as well as their mission in the community. The first chapel was built on this Holy Hill between 1629-1632, by a wealthy local wine merchant who was shown the place by Virgin Mary in a dream. The chapel was burned down by the Swedish troops 30 years on, and a new monastery was built in its place by the Premonstratensians. Over the years the monastery expanded and was decorated with more and more stunning sculptures and frescoes. Many big artists of the time such as the Swiss sculptor Baldassarre Fontana, the Austrian artist Jan Steger, the Moravian baroque painter Jan Kristof Handke.

The church was visited in 1995 by Pope John Paul II who increased the ranking from a church to a minor basilica. The museum of the church has a very interesting collection of religious objects, sculptures, and pilgrimage information. One of the major pieces of the museum is a large early 18^th  century Pieta statue created by Jiří Antonín Heinz, a carver from the small town of Uničov, near Olomouc.

The interior of the church is just breathtaking. The ceilings are covered with frescoes, the wall decorated with life-size statues, and the pillars covered with elegant marble. The top of the columns and the under arches have golden decorations shaped like leaves and flowers. The cupola is a work of art, a symbolic representation of four continents and six stories in the Old Testament in the Bible.

The Premonstratensians have opened on the premises accommodation for the needy, people who are homeless and can’t afford a home of their own, as well as a hospice. They also run different courses and events. I was there just before Easter, and they were preparing an egg painting workshop. I was shown how they also adapted the interior of the monastery, to keep the original architecture and design but bring it into the 21^st century. For example, the plugs are not on the walls but inside the floor, covered with pieces of wood that resemble the parquet. The small cupboards in the walls hidden behind elegant doors have been transformed into modern kitchens with dishwashers and coffee machines.  

The surroundings of the Holy Hill are very serene, the church being surrounded by 42 acres of woodland.     

Stay In the Most Luxurious Hostel

If you see the photo above, would you think it was taken in a hostel? Long Story Short is a high end hostel in the heart of Olomouc, next to St Wenceslas Cathedral. The hostel is inside a historical building, the Baroque Locatelli bastion which was used as the Military bakery.

I had a private room which was as big as an apartment, with a separate toilet and shower areas, and well-delimited sleeping and living quarters. I loved the heated floors and the giant bathtub in the middle of the room. The attention to details was second to none, including salts and bath bombs for the most relaxing bath time. The bed was so comfortable, and provided me with a great sleep after a long day of travel, before I arrived in Olomouc.

Breakfast was lovely as well, with a continental selection including homemade hummus, alongside coffee and juice. I liked that there was always a sweet option as well, a delicious loaf cake.

The hostel has its own restaurant, the Eatery & Bakery, that serves contemporary food created with seasonal local ingredients from Moravia. I had dinner here one evening and the dishes were outstanding, from the cauliflower soup which tasted like a warm hug at the end of a cold day, to the rich deer backstrap with the most flavoursome rosehip sauce.

You can check the reviews of Long Story Short Hotels on TripAdvisor, or click here for the latest rates directly on Booking.com 

For more articles about the Czech Republic check out my recommendations below:

• How to spend a perfect day in Brno
• Going to the spa in Marianske Lazne
• Visiting the Easter Markets in Prague

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Disclaimer: Some of the links on this website are “affiliate links.” This means that if you click on the link and do a purchase, I will receive an affiliate commission at no extra cost for you. This helps me keep my website running and continue to share my travelling knowledge with you. I thank you for booking your flights or hotels using the links on my website. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers.

Please note that was invited to discover Olomouc by the tourism board, and all the experiences have been complimentary. However, I am having full control of the content of this article. All the opinions and thoughts in this article are genuine and have no external influence.