Where to Go on Holiday in Vysočina: 15 Best Places (2026)

Vysočina Czech Republic is probably the quietest region in the country, where you won’t be squeezed into crowds of tourists and can take a deep breath. It is an absolute paradise for mushroom picking, while also hiding two remarkable UNESCO sites, so both lovers of deep forests and admirers of stunning historic architecture will be happy here. The magical town of Telč and its surroundings are only the beginning: this vast region offers an enormous number of fascinating places I’m going to tell you more about today.

You’ll find everything here, from deep river canyons and mysterious castles to adorable historic towns that you’ll fall in love with instantly. Travellers particularly appreciate this corner of the country for its unspoilt nature and the fact that even in August you can find trails where you’ll come across more mushrooms than people.

TL;DR

• Two UNESCO sites: Fairytale Renaissance Telč and fascinating Třebíč, with its Jewish Quarter and basilica, are guaranteed to impress every visitor.
• Tips for families with children: The region is ideal for little travellers, with the Šikland western town, mysterious Jihlava underground and an adorable zoo all waiting to be discovered.
• When to go: You’ll experience the most beautiful colours and greatest peace and quiet in May, June and September, while autumn tempts you with fantastic mushroom finds.
• Important swimming warning: Popular Sykovec pond is drained for the entire 2026 season because of extensive silt removal, so you’ll need to choose another spot for swimming and water activities.
• Where to swim: This year, the cleanest water in the region is reported at Koněšínská Beach on the Dalešice Reservoir. The vast Velké Dářko near Žďár nad Sázavou is also very popular.
• Ideal length of stay: The region is much larger than it looks on a map, so I recommend allowing at least four or five days and always planning trips around specific subregions.

🧭 The full destination guide: Czechia — guide and what to see

When to Visit Vysočina Czech Republic

Experienced travellers will confirm that you can visit Vysočina practically all year round, as every season has its own distinctive and unmistakable charm. If you want to enjoy the most beautiful nature trips without crowds, go in May or June, when everything is in bloom and the landscape is dressed in fresh green. September is another excellent choice, offering stable weather and wonderfully pleasant temperatures for exploring sights all day. Late summer is also when some of the most interesting cultural events take place, including the popular Swing pod Zelenou horou festival.

July and August are naturally the main tourist season, which means a few more visitors but also the certainty that all attractions are operating at full capacity. Only during the summer holidays do cruise boats on the Dalešice Reservoir run every day, and all the children’s entertainment centres and historic underground sites are fully open. Vysočina is also renowned as a mushroom-picking region, so from August to October you can fill your baskets with excellent boletes in the deep spruce forests.

Winter in this region mainly attracts lovers of active outdoor pursuits in fresh, snowy air. Nové Město na Moravě and its famous Vysočina Arena offer hundreds of kilometres of perfectly groomed cross-country skiing trails winding over the most beautiful hills. And believe me, the sight of the snow-covered pilgrimage church on Zelená hora is one of the most romantic scenes in the entire country.

When planning your itinerary, always remember that this picturesque region is genuinely vast, and journeys between individual sights can take a lot of time. From the Pelhřimov area to the Žďár area, it can easily be 100 kilometres. It is therefore well worth planning trips around smaller subregions, so you don’t spend half your long-awaited holiday sitting in a car. Ideally, choose one base in the south around Telč or Třebíč and another in the north, in the Žďár Highlands.

Where to Stay in Vysočina Czech Republic

Choosing the right accommodation can take your entire holiday to another level, and Vysočina offers a wonderfully varied range of options. You’ll find luxurious boutique hotels in historic town centres, comfortable family resorts in the middle of deep forests and highly unusual places you’ll still be talking about years from now. Below is my selection of the best-rated places, based on genuine traveller reviews.

Telč and surroundings (the ideal base for the southern part of the region):

• Hotel Telč: A beautiful boutique hotel in the heart of town, right by the entrance to the square. Guests particularly praise the luxurious breakfasts and incredible attention to detail, although parking needs to be arranged at a nearby, more distant car park for a small fee.
• Hospodářský dvůr Bohuslavice: A perfect choice for families with children, as this large farm has an extensive mini-zoo full of adorable animals you can watch straight from the restaurant. The accommodation is somewhat simpler, but the spotless surroundings and the chance to sleep on a heated stove more than make up for it.
• Penzion Mlýn Třeštice: A beautifully restored historic mill near Telč, surrounded by meadows and ponds. Visitors love the perfect peace and quiet for morning walks, lovely spacious apartments and very pleasant sauna.

Třebíč, Jihlava and Dalešice:

• Hotel Joseph 1699: An intimate hotel set right in the wonderful atmosphere of Třebíč’s Jewish Quarter. From €115 per night for two, you get a beautiful room with breakfast, a sauna and, apparently, a welcome glass of excellent homemade walnut brandy from the owners.
• Hotel Tři Knížata: A renovated historic house right on Jihlava’s main square, renowned for its excellent restaurant. Travellers particularly enjoy the generous breakfasts and free parking, safely tucked away in the courtyard behind the hotel.
• Poetický hotel: Unique accommodation in the Dalešice Brewery, where the legendary Czech film Cutting It Short was filmed. A two-night relaxation package for two costs €210, and the chance to sit with a drink in the historic cobbled courtyard is priceless.
• Glamping Tři oříšky: A luxurious tiny caravan for two hidden in a private orchard near Horní Lažany. A weekend stay with a generous breakfast basket costs €250, and guests can’t get enough of the heated hot tub and panoramic sauna.

Žďár Highlands and Posázaví (ideal for the north of the region):

• OREA Resort Devět Skal: A huge and very popular mountain resort in Milovy, made for family holidays. It has a heated indoor pool and excellent children’s playroom, although reviews suggest that some older parts of the building could use a little modernisation.
• Hotel Sněžné: A gorgeous modern wellness hotel in the picturesque village of Sněžné, offering relaxation packages from €165. Guests highlight the excellent Finnish sauna, hot tub and professional massages, which are just what you need after a full day of hiking.
• Ubytování na Zámku Žďár: If you’re looking for something truly unique, you can sleep right in the Baroque complex of the Kinský family near Zelená hora. There’s even a three-storey Baroque tower with a spiral staircase, guaranteeing an unforgettable experience.
• Penzion U České koruny: Accommodation with a remarkable story in Lipnice nad Sázavou. It is run by the great-grandson of the famous writer Jaroslav Hašek, who lived in this house and finished his famous novel about the Good Soldier Švejk here.

15 Best Places in Vysočina Czech Republic

These are the places in Vysočina that are genuinely worth visiting. I’ll show you where to go for the most beautiful Renaissance architecture, where to find the deepest forests for perfect relaxation and which historic sights are worth travelling halfway across the country to see.

1. Telč

Telč is the absolute flagship of the region and the first place most people think of when they hear the word Vysočina. Its magical Renaissance square, with arcades and incredibly colourful gables on the burgher houses, is probably the most photogenic in the entire country, especially if you get up early and enjoy it in the quiet of the morning. You can wander here for hours and still keep discovering fascinating new details on the historic façades. If you’d like to explore the town with children, take the pleasant walk to the nearby Oslednice lookout tower; you’ll pass three lovely playgrounds along the way.

From the square, you can walk straight to the beautiful chateau, which has recently undergone extensive restoration and now offers six interesting tour routes. The biggest draw is the grand Renaissance halls for €10, but if you’re looking for something a little more mysterious and cheaper, the chateau’s underground rooms are a great choice at just €4. The chateau is also surrounded by picturesque ponds, with a lovely, peaceful romantic walk along their banks offering the best views of the town’s towers.

💡 Tip: If you’re planning a trip at the very end of summer, mark Sunday 30 August and 27 September 2026 in your calendar, when admission to selected chateau tours is completely free. Children under five also always enter free of charge, so your family budget won’t take an unnecessary hit.

2. Třebíč

Třebíč is a true world rarity, as it is the only town in the country with a UNESCO site recognised for both its Jewish and Christian history. Locals are immensely proud of the beautiful and majestic Basilica of St Procopius, which rises proudly above the river and creates the town’s unmistakable skyline. Directly below it, the completely preserved Jewish Quarter stretches along the riverbank, with 123 historic houses and narrow, winding lanes where you’ll feel as if you’ve stepped into an entirely different century.

While walking through the Jewish Quarter, don’t miss the Rear Synagogue and, above all, the adjacent Seligmann Bauer House. It shows what a Jewish home of the period really looked like, including a small shop on the ground floor, which many travellers find an even more powerful experience than the synagogue itself. If bad weather catches you on your trip, the modern Alternátor science centre for €8 is a great fallback, with lots of physics experiments for children and adults to try. Just pay close attention to the opening hours: Alternátor closes at 3 p.m. on weekdays and weekends alike.

3. Žďár nad Sázavou and Zelená hora

When people mention Žďár nad Sázavou, every architecture lover immediately thinks of the brilliant builder Jan Blažej Santini-Aichel. His masterpiece, the Pilgrimage Church of St John of Nepomuk on Zelená hora, is a UNESCO site, and its mystical five-pointed-star geometry fascinates architects from around the world. A basic tour of this Baroque-Gothic gem costs €6 for an adult and is worth every cent, because you won’t see an interplay of light like this in many places.

Just below the hill lies the extensive grounds of Žďár Chateau, hiding the highly modern and interactive Museum of the New Generation, costing €11. For families with children, there is a special audio guide narrated by a little girl and a monk, making history entertaining even for the youngest explorers. You can also download the fun Hidden Stories mobile game completely free; it takes you along a four-kilometre route following Santini’s footsteps. And if you’re looking for a truly romantic experience, book the special evening tour of Zelená hora, held every Saturday after evening Mass from May to September.

4. Pernštejn Castle

Pernštejn Castle is one of the best-preserved and most impressive Gothic castles in Europe, and it boasts never having been conquered. This so-called Marble Castle stands on a high rock in the middle of deep forests. Although administratively it sits right on the border and already falls within the South Moravian Region, it is an integral part of the Crown of Vysočina from a tourism perspective. The basic tour, tracing the castle’s history from the Gothic period to the twentieth century, costs €10 and takes just over an hour. Be prepared for a roughly 15-minute uphill hike from the car park.

Young visitors will also love the special theatrical tour called The White Lady Has Gone Missing. This lovely children’s tour costs €9 for an adult, while children under five again enter completely free. If you don’t feel like walking through the interiors and listening to lengthy explanations, I recommend at least paying the reduced €2.50 admission to the courtyard. From there, you can enter the beautifully restored aristocratic garden, which is incredibly photogenic and has plenty of peaceful places to relax.

5. Žďár Highlands and Velké Dářko

The Žďár Highlands are the quietest mountains in the country, where gentle wooded hills and fascinating gneiss rock formations replace sharp peaks. The most popular trip is the easy hike to the rocky summit of Devět skal, which, at 836 metres above sea level, is the second-highest point in the Bohemian-Moravian Highlands. There is no paid lookout tower waiting for you here; instead, you can enjoy beautiful views over the countryside directly from the summit rocks, completely free of charge. Another major natural attraction is Čtyři palice, where you can admire massive rock blocks rising high above the surrounding trees.

After a pleasant walk through the forest, most visitors head to Velké Dářko, nicknamed the sea of Vysočina because of its impressive area of more than 200 hectares. You’ll find sandy beaches with a very gradual entry into the water, a pedal boat and paddleboard rental service, as well as a pleasant campsite. The regional health authority reports that the water is suitable for swimming, but because of the peat subsoil it tends to be browner, with visibility of only around 30 centimetres. Families with children should also watch out for the southeastern shore, where a very popular and well-known naturist beach is located.

💡 Tip: Many older guidebooks say that the popular Pípalka steel lookout tower stands near Devět skal in the Žďár Highlands. That isn’t true: this tall steel tower is actually on Křemešník near Pelhřimov, so don’t travel to the northern part of the region looking for it.

6. Dalešice Reservoir

This deep reservoir, which flooded the narrow valley of the Jihlava River, is often and very aptly nicknamed the Moravian fjord. Its steep, wooded banks and clean water invite you to relax, while the regional health authority confirmed this year that Koněšínská Beach has the cleanest water in the entire region, with excellent visibility. The best view of the reservoir is from the deck of the Horácko sightseeing boat, which offers a long scenic cruise for €16. These popular cruises run daily during the holidays from 4 July 2026, but remember to bring cash, as cards cannot be used on the boat.

During the cruise, you certainly won’t miss impressive Wilson Rock, a 45-metre-high stone wall rising vertically above the water. As soon as you disembark, it would be a crime not to visit the famous Dalešice Brewery, where director Jiří Menzel filmed his legendary movie Cutting It Short. Today, it houses a lovely museum of Austro-Hungarian brewing, and you can enjoy an excellent lunch in the local restaurant. Travellers particularly praise the crispy potato pancakes and fried cheese, perfectly complemented by a taste of fresh unpasteurised lager.

7. Jihlava

The regional capital, Jihlava, can boast not only the country’s second-largest historic square but, above all, a truly unique system of underground passages. At 25 kilometres long, it is the second-largest underground system in the country, and its main attraction is the famous glowing corridor, whose walls are covered with a special phosphorescent coating that magically glows green when the lights are switched off. The basic tour costs €5 for an adult and €3 for children. Just remember to pack sweatshirts for the whole family, as it is rather uncomfortably cold down there all year round.

After exploring the mysterious underground, families most often head to the charming zoo in a beautiful wooded valley by the Jihlávka stream. It is, incidentally, the highest-altitude zoo in the Czech Republic, and a full-day ticket this year costs €8 for an adult and €6 for a child. The grounds are wonderfully compact and have no exhausting hills, so you can easily walk around even with smaller children. A major renovation of the snow leopard pavilion is currently under way, but you can still see all the other big cats the zoo specialises in at their best.

8. Lipnice nad Sázavou

Lipnice nad Sázavou is a small, unassuming town with a remarkable history, dominated by a majestic Gothic castle visible from far away. A tour of the castle interiors and mysterious cellars costs €7, and literature lovers will be pleased to know that the writer Jaroslav Hašek lived and died here. At the foot of the castle, the U České koruny pub is still open and is now run by the writer’s great-grandson; Hašek finished his Good Soldier Švejk here. Stopping for lunch is an absolute must for fans of Czech literature.

A true unique attraction is hidden just outside town, in deep flooded granite quarries, reached by a very pleasant forest walk. Local sculptor Radomír Dvořák carved a huge land-art work called the National Monument of Eavesdropping directly into the rock walls. You can see it for free on a six-kilometre circuit. It includes the enormous Bretschneider’s Ear, a wonderfully witty reference to the famous, ever-present informer from Hašek’s legendary novel. Children are usually absolutely thrilled by these giant sculptures in the rocks.

9. Pelhřimov: City of Records

Most people associate the picturesque town of Pelhřimov mainly with the famous Museum of Records and Curiosities, housed directly in the historic Jihlava Gate. You’ll find hundreds of incredible exhibits here, from miniature objects to giant sculptures, and the €14 combined ticket also covers the nearby Golden Czech Hands exhibition. It boasts a unique collection of more than 90 enormous objects made exclusively from ordinary kitchen matches. It is definitely worth buying tickets online in advance: entering the special code VSTUPENKA20 gives you a pleasant 20% discount.

💡 Tip: If you visit Pelhřimov on your birthday, showing proof of identity gets you completely free admission to the entire museum, which is an exceptionally lovely gesture from the operators.

From Pelhřimov, be sure to continue to the nearby wooded Křemešník hill, where you’ll find a pilgrimage church and a children’s rope centre. This is where you’ll find the 52-metre-high Pípalka steel lookout tower we mentioned earlier. Climbing its 200 steps costs just €1, and in good weather you’ll be rewarded with a breathtaking panoramic view across much of the beautiful Vysočina region.

10. Stvořidla and Posázaví

For incurable romantics and lovers of the tramping tradition, the wildest section of the Sázava River is an absolute must. Here, the river pushes through a narrow, boulder-filled channel with rapids, while nearby lies the legendary Sun Cove, where writer Jaroslav Foglar used to camp with his scouts. Don’t expect modern tourist infrastructure or refreshment stands; it is simply a quiet meadow with a scout memorial mound, but it has an incredibly powerful and nostalgic atmosphere.

Foglar’s legacy also comes alive at nearby Ledeč nad Sázavou Castle, home to a lovely museum dedicated to the famous author and his life-sized Rapid Arrows characters. The great news for the 2026 season is that Ledeč Castle is open daily throughout the summer, including Mondays, so you can visit whenever you like without worrying about closed doors. To reach the rapids themselves, I recommend taking the romantic train known as the Posázavský Pacific, whose route follows the river’s bends and has a stop just a few steps from the water.

11. Jaroměřice nad Rokytnou

If you love lavish Baroque splendour, one of Europe’s largest chateau complexes will completely captivate you. Jaroměřice nad Rokytnou Chateau is rightly nicknamed the Moravian Versailles, and its grand count’s apartment filled with period furniture can be visited for €9. The building is also surrounded by an amazing French garden that flows seamlessly into an extensive English park. It practically begs you to take long romantic walks, and families with pushchairs will appreciate its level paths.

During the first half of August, the entire chateau garden turns into one enormous and exceptionally elegant cultural centre filled with beautiful music. The famous Peter Dvorský International Music Festival takes place here from 1 to 8 August 2026. The opening opera gala concert in the nearby Church of St Margaret is perhaps the most beautiful and emotional evening experience in the whole region for couples. Tickets for the best concerts, however, sell out incredibly quickly.

12. Doubrava Valley

This wonderful nature reserve near Chotěboř is often jokingly called the Czech Grand Canyon, although it is considerably greener and much friendlier. The wild Doubrava stream has cut through the hard rocks here, creating a magical wooded gorge full of small waterfalls and rushing rapids. Fortunately, there is no paid entrance gate: you can walk the entire five-kilometre educational trail completely free of charge as part of a beautiful, mildly adventurous afternoon outing.

The route runs from Horní Mlýn to the settlement of Bílek, with fascinating places such as the narrow Točitý vír and the steep Sokolohrad viewpoint along the way. I strongly recommend setting out downstream from Horní Mlýn, as the most dramatic rocky section, complete with support chains, will then be a spectacular finale. With small children, take great care after rain, as wet rocks and tree roots can be dangerously slippery. Leave the pushchair at home and use a good child carrier instead.

13. Roštejn Castle

The Roštejn hunting castle hidden in the forests near Telč is, according to enthusiastic parent reviews, probably the most rewarding castle destination in the whole region. For families with children, it is probably the best and most interactive castle in the wider area, offering the fantastic self-guided Route B for a flat €4. You can explore this natural history exhibition entirely at your own pace, children can touch many of the displays and nobody rushes you into the next room.

The castle management takes great care to ensure that young visitors don’t get bored and is constantly preparing new, entertaining seasonal activities, such as a treasure hunt with Terka the squirrel. From summer 2026, brave detectives can also try a brand-new mystery game called The Case of the Missing Key, which takes you into the tall castle tower.

💡 Tip: Take care when planning your journey, as the road near the village of Růžená is closed during the current season and the castle can only be reached via a marked diversion through neighbouring Třeštice.

14. Šiklův mlýn and Draxmoor

For families with children aged four to 12, the Šikland complex near Zvole nad Pernštejnem guarantees a full day of enthusiastic fun, although it is of course a purely commercial and fairly busy park. It is the largest western town in the country, with a full-day ticket costing €20 in the height of summer. The great advantage is that all children under 100 centimetres tall enter completely free, while on Mondays, when there is no accompanying programme, admission costs just €6.

The complex also includes the nearby haunted Draxmoor chateau in Dolní Rožínka, which tests the courage of young visitors over three floors. It contains countless interactive ghosts and a 3D retro cinema, but it can occasionally be too frightening for the very youngest children. Parents therefore appreciate that Friday tours are deliberately made less scary, so even more timid children who might otherwise burst into tears in the dark cellar can enjoy them.

15. Náměšť nad Oslavou

We’ll end our journey in Náměšť nad Oslavou, dominated by a beautiful Renaissance chateau with a unique and extremely valuable collection of historic tapestries. Alongside its grand representative rooms, the chateau also offers a special Royal and Children’s Apartment for €8 per adult and €2.50 per child, designed specifically for curious families. Just below the chateau, you can cross the Oslava River over a beautiful Baroque bridge decorated with statues, affectionately known by locals as the little Charles Bridge.

While you’re in this part of the region, be sure not to miss the nearby Mohelno Serpentine Steppe National Nature Reserve. This fascinating miniature desert, incredibly hot under the summer sun, offers absolutely breathtaking views of the Jihlava River’s deep meander and reveals another, much wilder side of beautiful Vysočina.

💡 Secret tip: If you’re interested in more recent and somewhat darker history, head to nearby Polná. The local Jewish museum in the synagogue explores the Hilsner Affair and the trial in detail, a case that T. G. Masaryk himself became involved in. It is an incredibly powerful experience that you won’t read much about in ordinary guidebooks.

Vysočina with Kids: The Best Family-Friendly Tips

If you’re considering a family trip to Vysočina Czech Republic, I can reassure you wholeheartedly that it is one of the most family-friendly regions around. No one will glare at you if your children get a little loud in the forest, and the local attractions are perfectly set up for family outings. Let’s take a look at the best things to do, organised according to the needs families most often have.

Swimming with Kids: Velké Dářko and Pilák

On hot summer days, everyone looks for a pleasant way to cool off, and the Pilák recreation area near Žďár offers exactly that, with its huge playground and pedal-boat rental. Parents also speak highly of the nearby Velké Dářko, where you’ll find beautiful sandy beaches and an exceptionally gradual entry into the water that is ideal for toddlers. According to the health authorities, the water is safe here; just expect it to have a browner colour and poorer visibility because of the peat.

This year, however, be sure to avoid Trnávka Reservoir and Kachlička Pond, where swimming is strictly prohibited because of dangerous toxins produced by blue-green algae. And remember this absolutely essential piece of information for the 2026 season: the popular Sykovec Pond has been drained for the entire summer of 2026 while a major, multimillion-koruna desilting project is being carried out on the dam, so definitely don’t head there with your swimsuits this year. The cleanest water in the entire region is reportedly at Koněšín Beach on Dalešice Reservoir, which is well worth the drive.

Animals and the Wild West: The Zoo, Šikland and Draxmoor

When castles and chateaux stop holding your children’s attention, it’s time to bring out the big guns: animals and some proper action. Compact and very well laid-out, Jihlava Zoo, with admission costing €8, is an absolute safe bet for families because it has no exhausting hills and plenty of fascinating big cats and other large predators for children to see.

If you have little cowboys at home, you mustn’t miss the Šikland mentioned above, where action-packed Wild West and Native American shows take place every summer day in a huge amphitheatre, with the main show always starting at 1:30 p.m. Older and braver children can then take on the haunted Draxmoor chateau. As we mentioned earlier, if your children are more easily frightened, it’s best to plan your visit to Draxmoor for a Friday, when specially adapted tours are held and the scares are much gentler.

When It Rains: Alternátor, Underground Tunnels and Indoor Playgrounds

Unfortunately, it does rain in Vysočina from time to time, but luckily there are plenty of excellent rainy-day options where you can easily spend half a day indoors with the kids. Třebíč’s Alternátor is a fantastic, hands-on science centre full of physics experiments that will especially delight curious school-age children; just remember that it closes as early as 3 p.m.

Another excellent refuge from the rain is Jihlava’s vast historic underground, where the magically glowing passage is sure to captivate children. And when you simply need somewhere for the kids to run around and burn off their excess energy, the huge Robinson entertainment centre in Jihlava is ideal. It is considered the largest indoor playground in the entire region, and an all-day ticket costs €11. Parents also speak highly of the smaller, multi-level Hopík play centre in Žďár nad Sázavou, where you can enjoy a coffee while the children play safely.

Exploring Vysočina with a Stroller

Travelling with a stroller can sometimes be a bit of a challenge in nature, but Vysočina offers plenty of surprisingly smooth and easy terrain. A true classic is the fully wheelchair-accessible educational trail around Zelená hora and Konventský Pond in Žďár nad Sázavou. It is just under three kilometres long and offers wonderful views. If you’re looking for a longer route for inline skates or children’s balance bikes, try the excellent, almost six-kilometre asphalt Pilák Circuit right by the nearby reservoir.

With a slightly more rugged stroller, you can also manage the ten-kilometre forest loop around Velké Dářko without difficulty; there are only a few awkward roots along the way. The park-like Libuše Valley in Třebíč also promises a beautiful, relaxing walk and is officially recommended by the local information centre. In Telč, meanwhile, you can take a very comfortable route from the Na Korábě car park all the way to the wooden Oslednice lookout tower. Along the way, you’ll pass three different children’s playgrounds, so boredom is definitely not a concern.

Where to Eat in Vysočina

Vysočina is known for its wonderfully honest and hearty home cooking, which reliably satisfies your hunger after every demanding day out. Lukáš and I are especially fond of the generous, perfectly crispy potato pancakes often called cmunda here; virtually every proper local pub makes them exceptionally well. If you happen to visit during the right mushroom-foraging season, I definitely recommend trying smaženice, a fresh mushroom scramble, because the local version smells of the forest and is simply irresistible.

The sweet finale you simply have to try in Vysočina is a huge serving of yeasted blueberry dumplings, which most of the better guesthouses generously sprinkle with grated quark and pour over with a good helping of melted butter. Excellent local beer is also an essential part of a good meal here, whether you choose the famous Dalešice beer from the film Cutting It Short or enjoy the excellent Poutník from Pelhřimov in the evening. With your beer, be sure to order pickled Hermelín cheese or local aged syrečky cheese; people here know exactly how to season them.

The region is, of course, historically associated with deep forests and gamekeeping, so menus often feature roast game or lavish traditional butchery feasts. The Hospoda u České koruny in Lipnice nad Sázavou even attracts guests with traditional Švejk-style roast pork and enormous portions of meatloaf that would supposedly have delighted the famous Good Soldier Švejk himself. If you want to be sure of honest local quality on your travels, look for the yellow VYSOČINA regional product logo in shops and restaurants, which guarantees the origin of the ingredients.

Practical Tips: Getting Around and Planning

The busy D1 motorway runs right through the region, so getting around is actually fairly simple and straightforward. The best exits for exploring the area are near Humpolec, Jihlava and Velké Meziříčí, from where you can reach practically any major attraction within thirty to forty-five minutes. A car is absolutely essential for the freedom to explore the countryside, although larger towns such as Žďár nad Sázavou and Havlíčkův Brod have very good train connections from major cities across the country.

If you love slow travel and the romance of railway journeys, be sure to ride the legendary Posázava Pacific, which takes you right to the wonderful rapids at Stvořidla. I strongly recommend once again that you plan your outings carefully by individual smaller areas. Jihlava District and Pelhřimov District are still a fair distance apart, and travelling from Třebíč to Devět skal can easily take an hour and a half, so it would be a great shame to spend a relaxing holiday anxiously driving from place to place. Before swimming in natural bodies of water, always check the latest water-quality information on the official website of the regional public health authority, as conditions can change quickly from week to week.

Where to Go Next

If you still can’t get enough of the beauty of this country and are looking for more inspiration for weekend trips, be sure to check out these tried-and-tested articles:

• Telč: 8 Tips for Exploring Vysočina’s Renaissance Gem
• 20 Ideas for a Holiday in Czechia
• What to See in Litomyšl
• Brno: What to See and Top Attractions

Frequently Asked Questions

To finish, I’ve collected the most common questions people ask about holidays in Vysočina and added some quick answers. I hope these brief tips make planning easier and help you get the most out of your holiday.

More from Czechia

Full guide →

Day trips · most readMikulov, Czech Republic: 10 Best Things to Do and See

What to seeBest Thermal Spas in the Czech Republic: 12 Tips for Warm Water in 2026When to goBrno Christmas Markets 2026 – Tree Lighting, Opening Hours & ProgrammeFoodPrague, Czech Republic: 10 Best Things to Do and See with a ToddlerWhere to stayPrague, Czech Republic: 10 Best Family Hotels for Your Stay with Children

🧭The full Czechia travel guide103 guides→