Leisure time

When it's time to unwind, Olomouc's gastronomic scene is a paradise for the palate, offering a tapestry of tastes from cozy cafes to bustling bars, perfect for every social gathering. For the active soul, the city's parks, gardens, and state-of-the-art sports facilities, including the comprehensive Academic Sports Centre, provide a bounty of activities to energize the body and mind.

Olomouc is a city that celebrates the leisurely pace of life amid the pursuit of knowledge, making it an ideal haven for those who wish to explore, learn, and indulge in the joys of living.

• Šantovka Premiere Cinemas
• Olomouc City Cinestar
• Metropol Cinema
• Cinemax Olympia Olomouc

• Moravian Theatre Olomouc
• Šantovka Theatre
• Na Cucky Theatre
• Tramtarie Theatre

• Regional museum in Olomouc
• Olomouc Archdiocesan Museum
• Museum of modern Art
• Museum of Olomouc Fortress

In the city, there is a seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Olomouc. It’s located in Wenceslas Square (“Václavské náměstí” in Czech), near the Saint Wenceslas Cathedral with the second-highest church tower in the Czech Republic. There is also a local parish in the cathedral. The highest church officials in the Olomouc Archdiocese used to live in the Archbishop's Palace. It’s open to the public, more information about guided tours can be found on this webpage.

A great example of late Gothic architecture in Moravia is the Church of St. Maurice. Besides the interior, you can also visit the sculpture Christ on the Mount of Olives, which is located on the southern side of the church. There is a local parish in the church, too.

The most famous religious building from the Baroque period in Olomouc is St. Michael’s Church with its three cupolas, symbolizing the Trinity. Near the church, the Chapel of St John Sarkander is located. It is dedicated to a Czech saint Jan Sarkander who lived and studied in Olomouc in the 17th century. Not far from the Lower Square, you can find the Church of St. Catherine, which was built in Gothic style. All these three religious buildings belong to the same parish.

The history of the city of Olomouc is connected with the presence of Jesuits. The Church of the Virgin Mary of the Snow, which belongs to the Jesuit Order, was built at the beginning of the 18th century. It’s a part of buildings once used by this Order, now many of them belong to Palacký University. The church is the seat of the Academic parish Olomouc, which is composed of students, academics, and other employees of the university.

There is another important church in the city, the Minor Basilica of the Visitation of the Virgin Mary. Although it’s not in the city centre, it can be considered as a dominant of Olomouc, because it’s located on the Holy Hill near the city and therefore it can be seen when you go towards Olomouc. More information about the church and parish can be found here.

On the Lower square, you can find the Church of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which belongs to the Capuchin Order. This church is one of the first religious buildings built in the city after the occupation of the city by the Swedish army during the Thirty Years' War. Here you can find a list of church services.

Mass in English

Church of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Kapucínská 115/2, 779 00 Olomouc, Czech Republic) hosts masses in English each Sunday at 12:21 (p.m.) which you can attend. If you were to have any further questions regarding the mass, you can contact Ján Čukáš (a priest leading the mass) at cukasjan@gmail.com. Here is the leaflet. Evangelicals, Catholics, Protestants, and all others are welcome.

There are several evangelical communities in Olomouc. The community of the Evangelical Church of Czech Brethren is located in the Evangelical church on Blahoslavova street. Another community of the Church of Czech Brethren can be found on Mariánská Street, church services take place every Sunday at 10:00 am.

One evangelical community is located in the part of Olomouc called Pavlovičky on Pavlovická Street. Its name is the Church of New Hope.

Although it doesn’t serve the original purpose any more, it’s important to mention also the Red Church. Built at the beginning of the 20th century, it was used by German Protestants until the end of World War II. Now it belongs to the Olomouc Research Library; lectures and exhibitions are held there. Updated information about these events you can find here.

There is also a Baptist Church in Olomouc, located on Třída Svornosti Street. Sunday services are translated into English and take place every Sunday at 9:30 am. More information you can find on this website or on Facebook page called Olomouc International Fellowship.

There is one Hussite Church in Olomouc, it’s located near the Heroes' Square (“Náměstí Hrdinů” in Czech). Although the Czechoslovak Hussite church was established just in the 20th century, it’s named after religious reformer Jan Hus, who lived in Prague and was burned at the stake in 1415. More information about the community of the church you can find here.

There is also one orthodox church in Olomouc. It’s located at Gorazd square (“Gorazdovo náměstí” in Czech), its name is the Church of St. Gorazd. Gorazd was one of the first bishops of the Orthodox Church in the Czech Lands and Slovakia, who died during World War II as a martyr. The Orthodox Church community in Olomouc is part of the Olomouc-Brno Eparchy of the Orthodox Church in the Czech Lands and Slovakia.

In addition to the listed churches and chapels, there are also some Christian associations focusing on religious activities in Olomouc that are intended for students. University Christian Fellowship or Student Christian Movement Olomouc can be mentioned. For Catholic students, there is a University Catholic Movement in the city.

On the site of the Jewish Centre you can find more information about regular services and prayers. There is also the possibility to order kosher catering, the community also offers apartment accommodation (up to 8 people).

There is a Muslim community in Olomouc called Al-Firdaus. On the website, you can find more information about Friday's prayers and community life, you can also book a study room there.

During one of the Friday evenings at the end of May or the beginning of June, you can visit churches and chapels throughout the Czech Republic and enjoy the atmosphere inside. Additionally, you can use the opportunity to take part in guided tours, listen to music or watch theatre performances. Programme, details and other information you can find on the website of the event. In 2023, the night of churches took place on 2 June.

Every September and October, the Autumn Festival of Religious Music takes place in different churches of Olomouc. You can enjoy beautiful architecture and hear famous songs of well known composers.

For those of you who like to party ´till the morning, Olomouc has two nightclubs with regular parties every week – Varna and Belmondo Club. There are also several smaller clubs from which we recommend Vertigo student club (from the name you can see that it was made especially for you, we recommend trying the “mad dog” drink or a Teleport).

But if you prefer to sit with your friends and discuss the theory of everything over a beer you won´t be disappointed.  Olomouc offers many and many and many pubs and cocktail bars which are usually opened every day, offer a wide variety of drinks and also several variants of beer from lagers to IPAs and APAs. Quite popular among the students are: Zkouška Pub, U Dvou strašidel, Šnyt Mikulda, Black stuff (Irish pub), Kozlovna, The Keep (medieval-styled cocktail bar), Citadela (historical shenk in a gothic house), several bars at Masné krámy or Giralldina (they have the biggest selection of rums). For those of you who prefer vine there are wine bars U Zlatého beránka, Na Břehu Rhony or Buble Wine bar.

Olomouc is also equipped with several tea houses and shisha bars for those of you who prefer debates in a calm environment with a cup of tea, for example, Hakuho, Dobrá čajovna or Assamica.

Several of these clubs organise concerts quite often most notably S-Klub, 15 Minut music club, Bounty Rock café or Jazz Tibet club. And if you are interested in classical music, Moravian Philharmonic Orchestra with its long history dating from 1945 and rich discography performs each week.

If you are a type that cannot sing but decides to show your musical untalent to your present surroundings every time you finish your fifth beer, then you should definitely visit the karaoke bar Bla Bla Bla at Dolní Náměstí.

Welcome to the Academic Sport Center (ASC), your gateway to a vibrant world of physical activities and fitness pursuits. Our center offers a diverse range of options tailored to your interests and preferences.

Seamless Registration: Enroll in any of our courses effortlessly using our user-friendly iSport system. More information about the registration, logging in, and payments.

Diverse Sports Offerings: From indoor cycling, swimming, and jiu-jitsu to the rhythmic allure of dance styles like Argentine tango, line dance, and Zumba, there's something for everyone. You can also delve into the art of archery through our specialized classes. Explore our full array of activities on our comprehensive webpage.

Academic Fitness: For those preferring self-guided workouts or seeking a fully equipped gym, Academic Fitness is your ideal choice. It caters to all levels of resistance training enthusiasts.

Relax in our Sauna: Adjacent to Academic Fitness, discover our rejuvenating sauna. Students and academic personnel benefit from exclusive discounts.

Specialized Facilities: ASC proudly hosts numerous gyms and specialized sports premises, ensuring you have access to the equipment required for your preferred sport or workout routine.

Exciting Events: Join our thrilling events such as the exhilarating five-day skiing experience at Zettersfeld and Hochstein or partake in "Rabštejnský Kocour," a cross-country race founded by Czech climbers in 1986. Register and enjoy these experiences alongside fellow students.

Equipment Support: We provide equipment for various physical activities, from snowshoes for winter hikes to a selection of skis for exhilarating winter rides.

Space for Trainers and Organizers: If you're a trainer or organizer seeking suitable premises for your activities, ASC offers customizable spaces tailored to your needs.

Collaboration Opportunities: If you hold professional education or certifications in select activities, collaborate with ASC and be duly recognized for your expertise and contributions.

For detailed information and more, visit the Academic Sport Center webpage.

Sharing bikes and scooters has become very popular recently. You can now download apps that will allow you to borrow bikes and scooters and move freely around the city or even ride to destinations outside of Olomouc. These destinations can include Poděbrady Lakes, Bouzov Castle, or Mariánské Údolí. The bikes and scooters are provided by Rekola, NextBike, Lime, Eagle, and Bolt.

However, be careful and look up the rules and regulations for using bikes and scooters, as there has been an increase in accidents recently, especially with scooters.

You can join the university sport centre close to the Neředín dormitories and the Faculty of Physical Culture called AC Baluo. It offers a variety of activities ranging from swimming over climbing on a sport climbing wall to lifting weights in a gym. Another quite popular fitness centrum is Omega Sport Centre which again offers a variety of gyms, wellness an even tennis.

There are also several workout courts around the city.

List of fitness Centres:

• Infitness Olomouc
• NUTREND World
• All Strength gym
• Legends Gym
• SG fitness Olomouc

In case you are more interested in relaxing spas, there are several places in Olomouc where you can relax to your heart´s content.  One of them is the Omega Sport Centre situated opposite the football stadium. They offer a variety of relaxing activities including a whirlpool, herbal or Finnish sauna, steam rooms and other means of relaxation. The next place where you can relax is Theresian Spa Hotel located at Palachovo náměstí. They also offer several types of saunas and also experience shower or whirlpool. Last but not least is Nutrend World.

Of the three, this one is further from the centre located at Chválkovice but is easily accessible by bus. It offers private spas and also ayurvedic massages or rituals cosmetics

If you are lucky and enjoy some sunny weather in Olomouc, you might be interested in going to the Olomouc Swimming Pool (both inside and outside pools are available) or check the Olomouc Aquapark which is easily accessible by trams direction to the final stop Nová Ulice. Another option is Poděbrady lakes where you can swim, sunbathe, get some beer or grilles meals and enjoy all the joys of lakes in the middle of meadows of Litovelské Pomoraví PLA.

If you are a passionate golfer, you have to check Golf resort Olomouc. It is located in Véska which is about 18 km from Olomouc and is accessible by bus. The golf course is in the middle of beautiful forests and, thanks to its location, offers stunning views of Olomouc and the surrounding towns and villages.

If you become part of our university community for the winter semester, you may like the idea of going skiing. For that, we can recommend you a very close skiing slope called Hlubočky which is easily accessible by train. However, you should know that since it is in the middle of Haná region, it is not too steep. Otherwise, you can always check many other slopes and skiing resorts in Jeseníky and Beskydy mountains!

• List of Moravian ski resorts

For those of you who like to risk your lives for no apparent reason other than getting a little adrenaline boost, there are also two indoor climbing gyms. The first one is Pajkland – an old-school boulder bar right next to the centre (300 m² climbing surface) – and the second one is Flash Wall which has 13 meters tall climbing wall (1200 m² climbing surface) and a boulder area but is a bit further from the centre.

Flash Wall is more suitable for beginners but there are also routes for much more experienced climbers, whether it is lead climbs or boulder routes. It also offers lead climbing courses to learn how to belay properly. 

Pajkland is suited for more advanced climbers because the routes here (even though often given quite a low grade) are pretty challenging. On the other hand, Pajkland offers a variety of boulders and bouldering structures, including cracks designed for crack climbing.