Immediately I need to convey you my information to issues to do in Olomouc, Czech Republic. This under-the-radar metropolis in Central Europe is a good place to find. As lovely as Prague however with out the vacationer crowds, it presents guests all the things from beautiful squares to lovely structure and charming streets. I’m right here in Moravia on a hosted journey with the Czech Tourism Authority, and I’m excited to share my discoveries with you.
Issues to Do in Olomouc
I’ve been wanting to go to Olomouc for years. I studied overseas in Prague, and everybody instructed me to go to this metropolis. I by no means made it, and I’ve all the time regretted it.
However now I’m again within the Czech Republic to talk at a journey running a blog convention in Brno. There’s a post-conference journey to Olomouc sponsored by the tourism board, and I’ve signed as much as go. I can’t wait to find what the town has to supply.
1. Keep at a Fashionable Lodge
After taking a bus from Brno to Olomouc, my group checks into our rooms on the HERBARIUM boutique lodge. It’s positioned on a quiet aspect road simply outdoors the outdated city. The foyer is lush with greenery, and the rooms sport botanical names.
I head as much as mine and uncover a sublime area with fairly floral carpet and all the things I must have a cushty keep within the metropolis.
2. Take a Strolling Tour of Olomouc
From the lodge my group heads into the town. Our tour information takes us across the outdated city, beginning with the campus of Palacky College, which was established in 1573.
Olomouc has been known as the “Czech Oxford” due to its lovely collegiate buildings and huge pupil inhabitants. We discover a few of the buildings, ducking into fairly courtyards as we go.
From the college we stroll down primary streets like Denisova and get misplaced in historic aspect streets (which finally ends up being certainly one of my favourite issues to do in Olomouc).
3. See the Higher Sq. and Decrease Sq.
Finally we discover ourselves within the Higher Sq. and Decrease Sq. (Horni and Dolni). The previous is without doubt one of the most lovely metropolis squares I’ve ever seen.
It has all the things from a historic city corridor with a clock tower, to palaces and fountains galore (there are 6 well-known Baroque fountains in Olomouc). Like Prague, there’s even an astronomical clock.
Extra magnificent is the 18th-century Holy Trinity Column. This essential plague memorial was consecrated in a ceremony attended by Empress Maria Theresa.
It options the most important group of Baroque statues in a single sculptural monument in Central Europe, and it’s on the UNESCO World Heritage Listing.
The Decrease Sq. has two Baroque fountains (the Neptune and Jupiter fountains), an 18th-century Marian plague column, and colourful historic palaces throughout. Mozart even stayed in one of many homes right here when he visited Olomouc.
4. Eat on the Greatest Eating places in Olomouc
Within the night, we head off to dinner to expertise one other of my favourite issues to do in Olomouc: eat. We’re eating at Entree Restaurant, one of many top-rated eating places within the metropolis.
We get pleasure from a tasting menu consisting of all the things from trout ceviche to Thai gazpacho and calamari with ras el hanout spices. The open kitchen and stylish eating room make for nice ambiance as we dine.
Elsewhere within the metropolis, we get pleasure from dinner on the fashionable Eatery & Bakery within the Lengthy Story Quick hostel. It’s a buzzing area with a number of ethereal eating rooms. We tuck into modern delicacies made with native Moravian produce for dinner.
We additionally get pleasure from a lunch at Bistro Paulus, a Twenty first-century canteen created by Michelin-starred chef Roman Paulus. Whereas right here, we’re fortunate sufficient to be served by the person himself.
As we take our trays down the road, we order all the things from gnocchi to burgers and salads. The desserts are virtually too fairly to eat, however we relish each chew.
We have now lunch at Bistro Helen sooner or later, too. It’s a classy modern cafe in a shopping center in Olomouc, and it serves a spread of rotating worldwide dishes.
The colourful desserts within the show case look so temping we are able to’t assist ordering a collection of them after ending our primary programs.
As if the eating places aren’t sufficient, we head to a cooking demonstration to see how conventional Czech meals are ready. Every thing from ovocne knedliky (fruit dumplings) to soup made with native tvaruzky cheese involves the desk for us to attempt.
5. See the Well-known Church buildings in Olomouc
One other of one of the best issues to do in Olomouc is see the town’s many church buildings. The outdated city is bursting with Baroque and Gothic numbers, and we get pleasure from popping over to see their beautiful facades and discover a number of interiors.
A very powerful church in Olomouc is Saint Wenceslas Cathedral. I go to sooner or later throughout my free time, and I uncover a surprising Gothic church with the very best spire in Moravia. Constructed within the thirteenth and 14th centuries, it’s an inspiring sight to behold.
One other nice one is St Michael’s Church, which has a surprising Baroque inside. Our tour information takes us right here, and I really like wanting up on the ceiling and all its ornamental domes.
Different highlights embrace the Chapel of St John Sarkander and the Church of the Virgin Mary of the Snow. The previous is a Baroque quantity with wealthy sculptural ornament and the latter is a college church constructed by Jesuits within the early 18th century.
6. Experience a Beer Bike
One other enjoyable factor to do in Olomouc is trip a beer bike by means of the town. My group boards one run by Oloslap in Decrease Sq. and peddles off to discover the outdated city.
Sadly there’s no beer (apparently because of a mix-up), however we nonetheless get pleasure from seeing the cathedral, absorbing the greenery in Bezrucovy Sady Park, and taking within the Archbishop’s Palace, one of the vital essential buildings in Olomouc.
We even cycle by means of Higher Sq. and get a photograph of the beer bike in entrance of the astronomical clock.
7. Examine Out the Bars in Olomouc
Talking of beer, one other of one of the best issues to do in Olomouc is try the bars.
Our beer bike information reveals us a secret bar in Decrease Sq. referred to as Olodvorek. Tucked away in a historic courtyard, this out of doors area has quirky decor and a venue for leisure.
One other evening my group heads off to do a wine and chocolate tasting at U Zlateho Beranka. Moravia is known for its wine, and this bar does a particular pairing of 8 wines with Czech-made sweets. It’s a singular solution to expertise native foods and drinks.
On the extra conventional finish of the spectrum, we go to a basic Czech pub one afternoon. Svatovaclavsky Pivovar greets us with checkered tablecloths and a country environment.
It’s a microbrewery, and we tuck into particular pineapple beers. They’re a enjoyable twist on the basic Czech beer expertise.
Much more enjoyable is the downstairs space, the place there’s an precise beer spa the place guests can bathe in beer. For actual.
8. Go to the Cafes in Olomouc
If beer isn’t your cup of tea, top-of-the-line issues to do in Olomouc is go to the cafes. This being a pupil metropolis, there are many good ones dotted all through the middle.
We go to 1 referred to as Espresso Library on the college. It has a enjoyable environment and a younger crowd.
We additionally sip teas and coffees at Konvikt Bistro & Bar, a recent cafe within the outdated city. It has a formidable creative ceiling and funky old-meets-new decor.
Elsewhere, we pop into Sophie’s Cafe to see the comfy area and be tempted by the baked items. We additionally try the cafe on the Lengthy Story Quick hostel, which is ready in a surprising historic constructing.
9. Go on a Carriage Experience
Simply outdoors the town middle, one other enjoyable factor to do in Olomouc is go on a carriage trip.
The Litovelske Pomoravi protected panorama space is within the floodplain of the Morava River simply north of the town. There the Lovecka Chata guesthouse and farm presents guests rides of their horse-drawn wagons.
We arrive on the farm and are greeted with slivovice and native bread and cheese. From there we board a coated wagon for a trip by means of the world.
The horses pull us into a giant meadow stuffed with purple crocuses, and thru woodland areas full of deciduous timber. It’s an amazing escape from the town.
10. Tour the TVARG Brewery
Again to beer, one other factor to do in Olomouc is tour the TVARG brewery. Positioned simply outdoors the town within the city of Velka Bystrice, this pint-size spot welcomes my group with beer and native meals, together with tvaruzky cheese.
We watch a video in regards to the brewery, then go on a tour of the ability. We’re in a position to pattern beer straight from the supply, together with a singular pumpkin spice ale. It’s a enjoyable expertise.
After the tour we get hands-on and discover ways to pour Czech beer from a faucet. Our teacher makes certain we put a correct head on it within the native trend.
On the finish we get to pattern a pairing of stout with Jameson whiskey. It’s an effective way to high off the night.
11. Get Misplaced within the Outdated City
As I discussed earlier than, my favourite factor to do in Olomouc is get misplaced within the outdated city. We have now some free time on our journey, and I spend as a lot of it as I can wandering by means of the cobbled streets and absorbing the pastel facades and Baroque magnificence.
Greatest Issues to Do in Olomouc
I hope you’ve loved this information to one of the best issues to do in Olomouc. This under-the-radar metropolis within the Czech Republic is value a particular journey, and I’m certain you’ll get pleasure from it as a lot as I did in case you go. Pleased travels!
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