Olomouc, Czechia: travel guide
Moravian university city of baroque fountains and a UNESCO plague column
A student city holding Czechia's second-oldest university — the UNESCO-listed Holy Trinity Column stands on the Upper Square, beside an astronomical clock the postwar years rebuilt in full Socialist Realist style.
About Olomouc
Olomouc is a university city in central Moravia, with a compact historic centre, baroque fountains and a youthful café culture. It receives far fewer visitors than Prague, and gains a relaxed, walkable character from that.
The Upper Square is the heart of the city, with the town hall and its astronomical clock, rebuilt in Socialist Realist style, and the Holy Trinity Column, a UNESCO-listed baroque monument. Nearby, St Wenceslas Cathedral and the Archdiocesan Museum add to the heritage, and the Holy Mountain, Svatý Kopeček, offers a basilica and a zoo outside the city. The local speciality is a pungent cheese called tvarůžky.
Olomouc suits a slow city break. Spring and autumn are comfortable, and the squares are at their best in warm weather.
Summary adapted from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA.
- Country
- Czechia
- Currency
- CZK
- Time zone
- Europe/Prague
- Nearest airport
- BRQ
Last updated
Top places to visit in Olomouc
Holy Trinity Column (UNESCO)
Baroque plague column · 4.7 rating · about 0.5 h · check the fee at the gate
The largest Baroque plague column in Central Europe and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, built 1716–1754. Standing 35 metres tall in the centre of Upper Square, it is smothered with gilded Baroque sculpture: 18 saints on the column base, a…
Olomouc Town Hall & Astronomical Clock
town hall and astronomical clock · 4.5 rating · about 0.8 h · check the fee at the gate
A fine Gothic civic building with a 75-metre tower. Famous for its unique Communist-era Astronomical Clock — the original medieval clock was damaged in 1945 and replaced in 1955 with a Soviet-influenced version depicting workers,…
Olomouc Upper Square
central-square · 4.6 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate
Vast central square dominated by the UNESCO Holy Trinity Column, the historic town hall with astronomical clock, and three of the city's six Baroque fountains.
Olomouc Zoo Holy Mountain
hilltop-zoo · 4.6 rating · about 3 h · check the fee at the gate
Hilltop zoo on Holy Mountain housing 1,800 animals from 350 species in spacious naturalistic enclosures, with the historic pilgrimage basilica next door.
St Wenceslas Cathedral Olomouc
gothic-cathedral · 4.6 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate
Gothic cathedral with the second-tallest church tower in Czechia at 100.65m, housing royal tombs and the Premyslid Palace ruins in its crypt.
Olomouc Baroque Fountains
fountain-trail · 4.5 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate
Set of six Baroque fountains scattered across the old town depicting Hercules, Caesar, Jupiter, Mercury, Neptune, and the Tritons.
Olomouc Archdiocesan Museum
sacred-art · 4.5 rating · about 2 h · check the fee at the gate
Major museum in the former bishop's palace showcasing sacred art from the Romanesque era through the Baroque period, with the Premyslid Palace ruins beneath.
Bezruc Park Olomouc
riverside-park · 4.5 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate
Long landscaped park along the old city walls following the Morava River, with walking paths, mature trees, and views of the historic fortifications.
Olomouc Botanical Gardens
botanical-garden · 4.5 rating · about 1.5 h · check the fee at the gate
Riverside botanical gardens and rosarium with thousands of rose varieties, themed plant collections, and tropical greenhouses.
Saint Maurice Church Olomouc
gothic-church · 4.5 rating · about 0.8 h · check the fee at the gate
Late-Gothic church housing one of the largest organs in Central Europe (10,000 pipes), with a famous summer organ festival drawing virtuosos worldwide.
Premysl Palace Olomouc
romanesque-palace · 4.4 rating · about 0.8 h · check the fee at the gate
Romanesque palace ruins where Czech king Wenceslas III was murdered in 1306, ending the Premyslid dynasty and reshaping Central European history.
Saint Michael Church Olomouc
baroque-church · 4.4 rating · about 0.5 h · check the fee at the gate
Baroque church with a distinctive three-cupola design by Giovanni Pietro Tencalla, with a commanding hilltop position and ornate Italian-influenced interior.
Things to do
- Olomouc Baroque Fountain & Holy Trinity Self-Guided Tour Cultural · 2.5 h
Where to stay in Olomouc
Hotels
- Pension Na Hradě Olomouc 3-star · CZK 1,800 to CZK 4,200 per night
- Hotel Clarion Congress Olomouc 4-star · CZK 3,200 to CZK 8,000 per night
Where to eat
- Restaurace Moritz Czech, Moravian, Craft Beer · about CZK 350 per person
Getting to Olomouc
Nearest airport: Brno (BRQ), about 64 km away in a straight line. The road or rail journey is longer.
Getting around
- Tram
- Walking