Prague to South Bohemia road trip: lakes, castles and quiet roads
Most visitors who rent a car in Prague head north to Dresden or west to Pilsen. South Bohemia stays quietly underrated — and that is exactly why it rewards the effort. Two hours on the D3 motorway puts you in a different world: broad fishponds, Gothic-revival castle towers reflected in still water, and a spa town where not much seems to have changed since the 16th century.
This guide covers the most satisfying South Bohemia day trip from Prague: Hluboká nad Vltavou Castle on the way, then Třeboň as the main destination. Both can be done in a single day from Prague; an overnight in Třeboň gives you a slower, better version of the trip.
The route: Prague to South Bohemia by car
Take the D3/E55 motorway south from Prague. The road is fast, well-maintained, and runs through the Central Bohemian highlands before dropping into the wide agricultural plain of South Bohemia. There are no toll booths to deal with — the Czech vignette covers all motorways and is included in your CarLove rental at no extra charge.
Recommended itinerary: exit at Hluboká nad Vltavou (about 1 h 45 min, exit 97) to visit the castle (1.5–2 hours), then continue 12 km to Třeboň for the old town, fishponds and brewery (2–3 hours). An optional loop back via České Budějovice, 20 minutes south of Třeboň, works well for lunch or coffee.
Hluboká nad Vltavou — Czech Windsor
The first stop on the way south is Hluboká Castle, perched on a cliff above the Vltava river. The current building is neo-Gothic, completed in the 1840s for the Schwarzenberg family, who were inspired by Windsor Castle in England. The comparison is apt: white towers, crenellated battlements, and formal English-style gardens leading down to the river.
The castle interior is open for tours (check current opening times online). Even if you skip the interior, the exterior and grounds alone make the stop worthwhile — the castle photographs beautifully from the road approaching from the north. Parking is on the plateau above the town, paid, with a short walk to the main gate. Allow 1.5–2 hours for the exterior, gardens, and one interior tour. The small town below has cafés and a local brewery tap.
Třeboň — medieval town, fishponds and spa
Třeboň is the centrepiece of the trip. This small medieval town sits in the middle of the Třeboňsko Protected Landscape Area, a flat wetland basin covering 700 km² of ponds, peat bogs, and oak forests. The fishpond system here was built in the 15th–16th centuries by the Rožmberk lords and today produces the majority of Czech freshwater fish — most famously the carp served at Christmas dinner across the country.
The old town and town walls. Třeboň is one of the best-preserved walled towns in Bohemia. The Třeboň Gate (Třeboňská brána) dates to the 14th century. Walking the perimeter of the walls takes about 30 minutes and gives good views of the surrounding ponds.
Rožmberk Castle. The castle above the main square is the seat of the ancient Rožmberk family (later Schwarzenbergs). The interior tour covers the original Renaissance rooms with their original furnishings — one of the most intact interiors in South Bohemia.
The fishponds. The largest, Svět pond (400 hectares), comes right up to the edge of town. A walking path circles the pond, about 7 km for the full loop, and in summer the eastern shore has a small beach. The scale of the ponds — vast, glassy, absolutely flat — is unlike anything near Prague.
Bertiny lázně thermal spa. Třeboň has been a spa town since the 19th century, with peat-based treatments unique to this region. The complex offers day-use access to the pools — ideal if you plan an overnight.
The Regent Brewery — oldest in Bohemia
Třeboň's Regent Brewery has been brewing since 1379, making it one of the oldest continuously operating breweries in Central Europe. The main beers are Bohemian lager-style, but the unpasteurised Bohemia Regent Premium, poured directly from the tank at the brewery pub, is something different from anything you'll find in Prague.
The brewery runs guided tours (advance booking recommended in summer) that include the malting house, fermentation cellars, and a tasting. Even without a tour, the pub in the brewery courtyard is the best place in town for lunch. Address: Třída Svobody 1, Třeboň.
Practical tips for the trip
That puts you at Hluboká Castle by 11:00 for a 1.5-hour visit, into Třeboň by 12:30, and back in Prague by 19:00 with time to spare.
The Regent Brewery's guided tours get busy in high season; booking in advance secures your slot, though the courtyard pub is open to everyone without a booking.
The old town is largely pedestrian-only, so leave the car in the main lot on Hradební street and walk in.
The eastern shore of Svět pond has a small beach, and the walking path around it makes a pleasant break between the castle and the brewery.
The Bertiny lázně thermal spa offers day-use access to its peat-based treatments, and an overnight turns a rushed day trip into a proper break.
Which CarLove car for South Bohemia?
South Bohemia is flat, so ground clearance is not an issue, and the D3 motorway is smooth. What matters is comfort for two hours each way and boot space for anything you might pick up — local honey, bottles of Regent beer, pottery from the market. The Renault Austral is the ideal choice for couples or business travellers: quiet on the motorway, automatic transmission, efficient hybrid engine. For families, the Renault Espace gives everyone room to spread out. If you want something more compact for easy parking in Třeboň's narrow streets, the Hyundai Tucson AT is the right size.