At this time I wish to deliver 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 gives guests every little thing 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 informed me to go to this metropolis. I by no means made it, and I’ve at all times 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 town has to supply.
1. Keep at a Trendy Lodge
After taking a bus from Brno to Olomouc, my group checks into our rooms on the HERBARIUM boutique resort. It’s situated on a quiet facet avenue simply outdoors the outdated city.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 chic house with fairly floral carpet and every little thing I must have a snug keep within the metropolis.
2. Take a Strolling Tour of Olomouc
From the resort my group heads into 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 Our tour information takes us across the outdated city, beginning with the campus of Palacky College, which was established in 1573.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 enormous pupil inhabitants. We discover a number of the buildings, ducking into fairly courtyards as we go.
From the college we stroll down important streets like Denisova and get misplaced in historic facet streets (which finally ends up being considered one of my favourite issues to do in Olomouc).
3. See the Higher Sq. and Decrease Sq.
Ultimately we discover ourselves within the Higher Sq. and Decrease Sq. (Horni and Dolni). The previous is among the most lovely metropolis squares I’ve ever seen.
It has every little thing 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 necessary plague memorial was consecrated in a ceremony attended by Empress Maria Theresa.
It options the biggest group of Baroque statues in a single sculptural monument in Central Europe, and it’s on the UNESCO World Heritage Checklist.
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 Finest 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 every little thing 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 house 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 every little thing from gnocchi to burgers and salads. The desserts are nearly too fairly to eat, however we relish each chew.
We now have lunch at Bistro Helen someday, too. It’s a trendy 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 choice of them after ending our important programs.
As if the eating places aren’t sufficient, we head to a cooking demonstration to see how conventional Czech meals are ready. Every little 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 the very best issues to do in Olomouc is see 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.
An important church in Olomouc is Saint Wenceslas Cathedral. I go to someday throughout my free time, and I uncover a shocking 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 shocking Baroque inside. Our tour information takes us right here, and I really like trying 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. Trip a Beer Bike
One other enjoyable factor to do in Olomouc is experience a beer bike by means of 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 on account 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 necessary 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. Verify Out the Bars in Olomouc
Talking of beer, one other of the very best issues to do in Olomouc is try the bars.
Our beer bike information exhibits us a secret bar in Decrease Sq. known as Olodvorek. Tucked away in a historic courtyard, this out of doors house 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 legendary for its wine, and this bar does a particular pairing of 8 wines with Czech-made goodies. It’s a singular approach to expertise native foods and drinks.
On the extra conventional finish of the spectrum, we go to a traditional Czech pub one afternoon. Svatovaclavsky Pivovar greets us with checkered tablecloths and a country ambiance.
It’s a microbrewery, and we tuck into particular pineapple beers. They’re a enjoyable twist on the traditional 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, among the finest 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 known as Espresso Library on the college. It has a enjoyable ambiance and a younger crowd.
We additionally sip teas and coffees at Konvikt Bistro & Bar, a recent cafe within the outdated city. It has a powerful inventive ceiling and funky old-meets-new decor.
Elsewhere, we pop into Sophie’s Cafe to see the comfy house and be tempted by the baked items. We additionally try the cafe on the Lengthy Story Quick hostel, which is about in a shocking historic constructing.
9. Go on a Carriage Trip
Simply outdoors town middle, one other enjoyable factor to do in Olomouc is go on a carriage experience.
The Litovelske Pomoravi protected panorama space is within the floodplain of the Morava River simply north of town. There the Lovecka Chata guesthouse and farm gives 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 lined wagon for a experience by means of the realm.
The horses pull us into an enormous meadow filled with purple crocuses, and thru woodland areas filled with deciduous timber. It’s an incredible escape from town.
10. Tour the TVARG Brewery
Again to beer, one other factor to do in Olomouc is tour the TVARG brewery. Situated simply outdoors 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 concerning 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 learn to pour Czech beer from a faucet. Our teacher makes certain we put a correct head on it within the native style.
On the finish we get to pattern a pairing of stout with Jameson whiskey. It’s a good 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 now have 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.
Finest Issues to Do in Olomouc
I hope you’ve loved this information to the very 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 for those who go. Joyful travels!
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