At a glance
- For half a day, focus on the old town and riverside. For a full day centered on beer, choose the Budvar tour; for one centered on the castle, choose Hluboká Castle. All three options can start at the main square.
- Start your visit at Přemysl Otakar II Square. Walk around the large square and first take in Samson’s Fountain and the colors of the pastel buildings.
- The Black Tower is especially rewarding on a clear day. After 225 steps, you’ll have views of the old-town rooftops and the flat landscapes of South Bohemia.
- Piarist Square and the old salt warehouse area are quieter than the main square. Walk from here toward the Malše River to get a sense of the city as a lived-in place, rather than just a tourist destination.
- The point where the Vltava and Malše rivers meet is a good place to be around sunset. Leave time to sit on a riverside bench so you can enjoy the city without rushing.
A walking route through the city
Choosing a route for half a day or a full day
Explore the old town on foot, then choose either the Budvar brewery or Hluboká Castle for the afternoon. Select a place name to open it directly in Google Maps.
Start at Přemysl Otakar II Square. See Samson’s Fountain and the arcaded buildings, then climb the Black Tower if the weather is clear. The tower has 225 steps, so if you have heavy luggage or knee trouble, the views from the square may be enough.
When getting off a bus or trolleybus, check the map for stops around Náměstí Přemysla Otakara II. Google Maps 길찾기
Walk from the Black Tower to Piarist Square. See the old salt warehouse and the stone lanes around the monastery, then follow the Malše River toward its meeting point with the Vltava. You can have lunch back at the main square or after your riverside walk.
It’s best to take your time and walk this stretch in about 20–30 minutes rather than taking a vehicle.
If beer is a main reason for your trip, make the Budvar brewery tour the day’s highlight. According to the official schedule, the English-language tour for individual visitors usually starts at 14:40 and lasts about 70–80 minutes. Check the language and time for your travel date before setting out. If the tour doesn’t work for you, opt for Budvar on tap and Czech food at a pub in town instead.
The published schedule says that route 2, between Družba IGY and Budvar, will not operate from April 13 to November 30, 2026. During this period, check the DPMCB route planner for an alternative before setting out. Google Maps 길찾기
Choose Hluboká Castle if you’d like to see its white exterior and gardens. Set aside half a day for the trip, a walk in the gardens, and an interior tour. Trying to fit an interior visit in the same afternoon as a regular Budvar tour leaves little room to relax once travel and waiting time are included.
Take regional transit to Hluboká Castle; a local transit ticket won’t cover this trip. The bus stops below the church in Hluboká nad Vltavou, about 800 m from the castle, so you’ll need to walk the rest of the way. Save the local stop name on your map and show it to the driver when buying your ticket. The train station is at least 3 km from the castle, so it requires a longer walk than the bus. Check IDOS for the stops and last return service before setting out. Google Maps 길찾기
If you still have energy after the castle or brewery, head back to the riverside confluence or Piarist Square. Instead of trying to check off more sights, sit and watch the light change by the water, or finish with a beer or a walk.
Before heading back to your accommodation or the station, check your route on your phone one more time.
A day when this city is a good fit
This trip is a good fit if you’re heading south from Prague and want to experience a quieter city, or if you’d like to compare Czech beer and medieval city scenery in one day. The four old-town sights are easy to link on foot. Hluboká Castle is an extension that requires a separate trip.
Local transit and how to plan your time
Local buses and trolleybuses offer a 30-minute ticket for 20 CZK, a 60-minute ticket for 30 CZK, and a 24-hour ticket for 115 CZK. You can transfer within the ticket’s time limit. Tap a contactless Visa or Mastercard, or a phone or watch using the same payment method, on the onboard reader to pay for a 60-minute ticket. No paper ticket is issued. Show the same payment method you used if your ticket is checked. If you’re traveling as a group, use the reader’s full ticket menu to select the number of passengers and ticket type, or have each person pay with their own card. There’s no need to tap again when you get off.
For half a day, the main square, Black Tower, Piarist Square, and riverside are enough. With a full day, add either a Budvar tour or Hluboká Castle in the afternoon. You’ll have a more enjoyable day if you don’t try to combine a brewery tour and a castle interior visit in one afternoon.
Walk around the city center to save on local transit. The Black Tower, brewery tour, and castle interior visit may each require an admission fee, and reservation rules vary with opening hours. Regional transit to Hluboká Castle has different fares and payment methods from local transit. First check the reservation and travel details for the one place you most want to see, then plan the rest of your route around it.
The Black Tower steps and wet cobblestones in the old town can be slippery. After drinking at the brewery or a pub, walk or take public transit back instead of riding a bike or scooter. Hluboká Castle is outside the local transit zone, so check your return service and the last departure before leaving, not after you arrive at the castle.
If plans change
Take your time walking under the arcades in the main square and around Piarist Square, then relax in a café or restaurant. Even without climbing the tower, you can still experience the city’s central sights.
Don’t make a difficult trip to the brewery just to fit it in. Have lunch and a beer in the old town, then take a longer riverside walk. Don’t force a tour into your plans if it would delay your onward trip to the next city.
Save the castle for another day rather than rushing out for a quick look at the exterior. You can complete that day’s walk from the square to Piarist Square and the river confluence.
Small tip
Choose one main focus for the day. If you’ve booked a Budvar brewery tour, save the castle for another day. If you want to tour the castle’s interior, swap the brewery tour for a beer in town to make the schedule much more relaxed.
Final check before departure
- If the weather is clear, visit the Black Tower first. If it’s raining, start with the square and an indoor meal.
- If you choose the Budvar tour, check the language and start time on the official booking page first.
- If you choose Hluboká Castle, save the regional transit options for both the trip there and back from IDOS.
- With contactless local transit payments, one person can’t simply tap one card to pay for several people. Use the passenger menu or have each person pay separately.
- If you plan to climb the Black Tower, bring water and comfortable shoes. Take your time on the steps when they’re wet.
Opening days and last entry times for the Black Tower, Budvar tours, and Hluboká Castle vary by season. Choose your travel date, then check each venue’s official visitor information and IDOS again.
Information checked: 2026-10-03