Olomouc Day Trip from Prague | Travel Guide 2026

Rick Steves once called Olomouc his favourite Czech city after Prague, and the recommendation stuck. Travellers who make the journey east discover something Prague can't offer — a university city of genuine grandeur with almost no international tourism. The square is enormous, the Baroque fountains are UNESCO-listed, the astronomical clock is stranger than Prague's, and you can sit in a café on the main plaza without a single tour group in sight.

Olomouc was the historic capital of Moravia and, for centuries, rivalled Prague in political and cultural significance. It still has the architecture to prove it, though the crowds went elsewhere. That's exactly the point.

What to See

Horní Náměstí and the Holy Trinity Column

Horní náměstí (Upper Square) is one of the largest town squares in the Czech Republic. At its centre stands the Holy Trinity Column — a 35-metre Baroque plague column listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2000. The column took 38 years to build (1716 to 1754) and contains a chapel inside its base. The sculptural complexity — saints, angels, clouds — ranks it among the finest Baroque monuments in Central Europe.

The square is surrounded by pastel-coloured burgher houses and features six Baroque fountains, each depicting a different mythological figure: Hercules, Mercury, Triton, Neptune, Jupiter and Caesar. All six were built in the 17th and 18th centuries as the city's water supply — functional infrastructure made beautiful.

Insider detail: Olomouc's astronomical clock is embedded in the wall of the Town Hall on Horní náměstí. Unlike Prague's medieval clock, this one was rebuilt in the 1950s in Socialist Realist style — instead of apostles and saints, the figures represent workers, scientists and athletes. It is wonderfully bizarre and completely unique. The clock performs at noon.

St. Wenceslas Cathedral

Katedrála sv. Václava dominates the skyline with its 100-metre Neo-Gothic spire — the tallest church tower in Moravia. The cathedral has Romanesque foundations, Gothic structure and a 19th-century tower. Inside, the crypt preserves Romanesque stonework from the original 12th-century church.

The cathedral is where Bohemian kings were traditionally crowned during the Moravian chapters of their reign. Several are buried in the crypt.

Archdiocesan Museum

The Archdiocesan Museum (Arcidiecézní muzeum) occupies the former Premonstratensian monastery at Denisova street. Designed by Czech architect Josef Pleskot, the museum blends medieval stone walls with contemporary glass and steel in one of the country's finest museum conversions. The collections span 1,000 years of Moravian religious art — Romanesque sculpture, Gothic panel paintings and Baroque liturgical objects.

Insider detail: The museum's courtyard offers an unexpected view: a section of the original Romanesque palace wall, excavated and left exposed under a glass walkway. You're standing above 12th-century stonework that was underground until the renovation uncovered it.

Olomouc Tvarůžky and Food Culture

You cannot visit Olomouc without encountering tvarůžky — the local ripened cheese that Olomouc is famous for throughout the Czech Republic. It is small, pungent, and an acquired taste that most Czechs either love or avoid. Tvarůžky are served fried, baked, marinated or simply with bread and onion. The Tvarůžky Museum on Horní náměstí offers tastings.

Beyond the cheese, Olomouc's restaurant scene punches above its weight. The university student population (roughly 25,000 students at Palacký University) keeps prices low and quality competitive. Lunch menus run 130 to 180 CZK — noticeably cheaper than Prague.

How to Get There from Prague

By train: Direct trains from Praha hlavní nádraží (Prague Main Station) to Olomouc take 2 hours to 2 hours 20 minutes. Czech Railways (České dráhy) and RegioJet both operate the route. Trains run roughly every hour. One-way tickets cost 200 to 400 CZK depending on operator and advance booking.

By bus: FlixBus and RegioJet run Prague to Olomouc in about 3 hours. Slightly cheaper than trains but less comfortable for a day trip.

By car: 280 km on the D1 motorway, approximately 2.5 to 3 hours depending on traffic. The D1 between Prague and Brno is notorious for roadworks and congestion — train is usually faster and less stressful.

Insider detail: Book RegioJet train tickets in advance online — their Standard Plus class includes free coffee, newspapers and power outlets at the seat for roughly the same price as Czech Railways' standard class. The yellow RegioJet trains are modern and comfortable.

How Much Time to Spend

A full day is ideal. Arrive by 10 AM, explore the main square and Holy Trinity Column, visit the cathedral, lunch at a local restaurant, spend an hour in the Archdiocesan Museum, walk the parks along the fortress walls, and catch a late afternoon train back to Prague. You'll be back by 8 PM.

A half-day is possible but rushed — you'd see the square and cathedral but miss the museum and the city's quieter neighbourhoods.

Where to Eat

Moravská restaurace on Horní náměstí serves traditional Moravian dishes — roast duck with red cabbage, svíčková, and of course tvarůžky prepared multiple ways. Sit at the outdoor terrace for square views.

Café Mahler commemorates the composer Gustav Mahler, who studied at the Olomouc conservatory. Good coffee, strudel and a refined atmosphere in a historic building on the square.

For beer, Svatováclavský pivovar (St. Wenceslas Brewery) is a microbrewery and restaurant near the cathedral producing unfiltered Czech lager. The beer is fresh, the food is solid, and the terrace overlooks the cathedral park.

Is It Worth the Trip?

For visitors who have already seen Prague's highlights and want to experience a different side of Czech culture, Olomouc is one of the best options. It offers the architectural grandeur of a former capital without the tourist density. The train journey is comfortable, the city is compact enough to explore on foot, and the price of everything — meals, museums, transport — is lower than Prague.

Olomouc works especially well for travellers interested in Baroque architecture, religious art, or simply discovering a beautiful European city that most international visitors overlook.

We don't currently run a scheduled tour to Olomouc, but we can arrange a custom day trip with private transport and an English-speaking guide. Contact us through our tours page to discuss options. Just your group, no strangers.

While in Prague, experience our Medieval Dinner Show — fire dancers, unlimited mead and a 15th-century cellar atmosphere. And for a comprehensive Prague day, our All Prague in One Day tour covers everything from Old Town to Prague Castle with a private guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to get from Prague to Olomouc?

About 2 hours by direct train, 3 hours by bus, and 2.5 to 3 hours by car on the D1 motorway. Train is the most convenient option for a day trip.

Is Olomouc worth a day trip from Prague?

If you've seen Prague's main attractions and want a city with similar grandeur but almost no tourists, absolutely. The UNESCO-listed Holy Trinity Column, the university atmosphere and significantly lower prices make it a rewarding alternative.

What is Olomouc famous for?

The UNESCO-listed Holy Trinity Column, the six Baroque fountains, the Socialist Realist astronomical clock, tvaruzky cheese and its historic role as the capital of Moravia. The Archdiocesan Museum is one of the best small museums in the Czech Republic.

Can I combine Olomouc with other destinations?

Olomouc is roughly midway between Prague and Krakow, so it works as a stop on a longer Central European itinerary. It's also about an hour from Brno and 1.5 hours from the Moravian wine region around Mikulov.

Olomouc Day Trip from Prague — The Czech City Rick Steves Loves