Ceské Budejovice

Ceské Budejovice is the largest city in Southern Bohemia and the area's center and transportation hub. Not nearly as charming as its smaller neighbors, the town still merits a few hours of exploration if you happen to have a stopover—and you probably will. The major attraction is the enormously proportioned main square named after King Premysl Otakar II and lined with arcaded houses. The well-preserved Gothic Dominican monastery and Church of the Virgin on Piaristické námestí make for interesting sightseeing. But the town's real claim to fame is its beer—the slightly sweetish Budvar, which can be found across the country and around the world (you may know it as Czechvar, as it's branded in the U.S. Unfortunately, you can't tour the Budvar brewery itself, but the beer easily found at pubs around town—simply look for the "Budvar" sign.