Home · Blog · What to See in Olomouc: From Upper Square to Svatý Kopeček
What to See in Olomouc: From Upper Square to Svatý Kopeček
A one-day route through Olomouc: the Holy Trinity Column, the astronomical clock, mythological fountains, the fortress and Svatý Kopeček. Plus local food, fall events and the historic center as a game.
What to see in Olomouc when you only have a day? Start on Horní náměstí (Upper Square) at the Holy Trinity Column, stand by the astronomical clock at noon, follow the fountains down to Dolní náměstí (Lower Square) and head up to Svatý Kopeček (Holy Hill) in the afternoon. You can tour Olomouc in a single day. With extra time, add the fortress, the museums or a river cruise.
Olomouc at a Glance
You can walk this route without a car, and the stops flow naturally into one another. Mornings belong to the squares, afternoons to the greenery above town.
If you only want the essentials, stick to this order:
- Upper Square with the Holy Trinity Column and the town hall with its astronomical clock
- fountains scattered across the historic center
- Lower Square with the Neptune Fountain
- the Olomouc Fortress Museum in the Crown Fortress
- Svatý Kopeček with its pilgrimage church and zoo
Holy Trinity Column
The city’s jewel is the 32-meter baroque Holy Trinity Column, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
It has graced Upper Square for more than 250 years. Walk all the way around it; it looks a little different from every side, and only up close do you see how much sculptural work went into it.
Don’t rush. The column is the best starting point for the whole walk: the town hall and the first fountains are in sight, and finding your way around downtown is easy from here.
Town Hall with the Astronomical Clock
Nearby stands the town hall, originally Gothic and later remodeled in Renaissance style, with a lookout tower and an astronomical clock.
The clock puts on its show every day at noon sharp. Arrive a few minutes early so you’re up front, not behind a crowd holding phones over their heads.
The Olomouc astronomical clock differs from the one in Prague more than you’d expect. Its heliocentric gearwork was rebuilt in 1955 in the style of socialist realism.
That contrast between the old town hall and the postwar decoration is exactly what makes it worth stopping and looking closely, not just snapping a photo and moving on.
Fountains Downtown
Almost everywhere you turn in the historic center, you’ll find fountains inspired by stories from ancient mythology.
Upper Square has three of them: the fountain of Caesar, the city’s legendary founder, the Hercules Fountain and the modern Arion Fountain. The Caesar Fountain is a good reminder of how eagerly the city once built its own legend.
The hunt continues beyond the square. The Mercury Fountain stands on 8. května Street, and náměstí Republiky (Republic Square) has the Triton Fountain.
With kids, turn it into a little contest: whoever first guesses which god or hero a fountain belongs to picks the lunch spot. It works every time, even on tired feet.
Lower Square
Lower Square is home to the Jupiter Fountain and Olomouc’s oldest fountain, the Neptune Fountain from 1683.
It’s as good for a coffee break as it is for a photo with a fountain in front and burghers’ houses behind it. From here you can easily head back to the town hall or keep going in search of military history.
Fortress and Museums
In the Crown Fortress complex, you can visit the Olomouc Fortress Museum, where military history fans learn how the Olomouc fortress was built.
Families with kids head to the Pevnost poznání (Fortress of Knowledge) science center. On a rainy afternoon, it’s a safe bet.
The Archdiocesan Museum is one of the places visitors to Olomouc shouldn’t skip. Villa Primavesi is open on guided tours, so check the dates in advance.
You can also see the city from the water on a sightseeing cruise on the Morava River. Downtown looks completely different from down there.
Svatý Kopeček
Right next to the city, the Premonstratensian Hradisko Monastery and the pilgrimage Church of the Visitation of the Virgin Mary on Svatý Kopeček make for a great trip.
Svatý Kopeček is also home to a zoo, so the afternoon keeps parents and kids entertained.
Save the hill for the end of the day. After a walk through cobbled downtown, the greenery around the pilgrimage church is a welcome change, and kids can finally burn off the energy they kept in check at the monuments all morning.
Downtown as a Game
You can explore the sights from this guide with something other than a paper map. Treasure Hunt Olomouc leads teams through the historic center with tablets or phones running our GPS app.
The on-screen map shows all the treasures, and each team picks its own order. The questions relate to the spot where you’re standing, so you’ll look at the column, the town hall and the fountains more closely than on an ordinary walk.
Each of our games keeps a team busy for 2 to 3 hours. It’s a good way to get kids downtown who wouldn’t sit through a classic tour, or to liven up an afternoon with a group of friends.
For a different take on Olomouc’s history, read our Přemyslovec article. Bringing colleagues to Olomouc? Check out team building in Olomouc.
Haná Cuisine
Traditional Haná cuisine is served at restaurants taking part in the Ochutnejte Hanou (Taste Haná) project.
If you want tvarůžky cheese on a grand scale, mark a spring date. The Olomouc tvarůžky festival is announced for April 17 and 18, 2027.
When to Come
Downtown is worth a visit any time, but fall and early winter add a program of their own.
The St. Martin’s Day celebrations are announced for November 11, 2026. Olomouc Christmas runs from November 22 to December 23, 2026.
Before your trip, check the current schedule in the city’s events calendar; times for individual program items are updated as they’re confirmed.
Start the morning at the column on Upper Square, stand by the astronomical clock at noon and head up to Svatý Kopeček in the afternoon. If you’d rather explore downtown with a mission instead of a map, launch Treasure Hunt Olomouc: the treasure map on your tablet or phone guides you to the same places you’ve just read about, each with a question that makes you look a little closer. It’s a great fit for families with kids, groups of friends and anyone visiting Olomouc for the first time.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should you see in Olomouc in one day?
Upper Square with the Holy Trinity Column and the town hall with its astronomical clock, the fountains in the historic center, Lower Square and, in the afternoon, Svatý Kopeček with its zoo.
When does the Olomouc astronomical clock perform?
The astronomical clock on the Olomouc town hall puts on its show every day at noon sharp.
Is the Holy Trinity Column in Olomouc a UNESCO site?
Yes, the Holy Trinity Column on Upper Square is on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
How long does Treasure Hunt Olomouc take?
The game fits comfortably into one afternoon. You see the treasures on a map on your tablet or phone, and in Treasure Hunt you choose the order yourselves.
Where is the oldest fountain in Olomouc?
Olomouc’s oldest fountain, the Neptune Fountain, stands on Lower Square.
Treasure Hunt Olomouc
Our instructors run the game with tablets, or you start it yourselves on your phones. Tell us the number of people and the date, we will get back to you the same day.
Summary
- A one-day Olomouc route starts at the Holy Trinity Column on Upper Square, continues to the astronomical clock at noon and the fountains, then reaches Svatý Kopeček.
- The 32-meter baroque Holy Trinity Column on Upper Square is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and has stood there for more than 250 years.
- The Olomouc astronomical clock performs daily at noon, and its gearwork was rebuilt in 1955 in the style of socialist realism.
- Olomouc's oldest fountain is the Neptune Fountain from 1683 on Lower Square, while Upper Square has the Caesar, Hercules and Arion fountains.
- Treasure Hunt Olomouc guides teams through the historic center with a GPS app on tablets or phones, and each game takes 2 to 3 hours.
Want to walk this route with your team as a game? Write to us or call and we will set it up for your date.
