The South Bohemian countryside around Český Krumlov is worth exploring beyond the town itself.
České Budějovice, 30 minutes north by bus or train, is a proper regional city with a large historic square and the Budvar brewery — the original Budweiser, which has been making beer here since 1895. The brewery runs tours. Good for a half-day or combined with travel connections.
Třeboň, about an hour east, is a spa town surrounded by a network of medieval fish ponds still used for carp farming. The town is compact and well-preserved, with a castle and Renaissance arcades. The thermal spa facilities are a genuine draw, and the surrounding wetlands are good for birdwatching.
Šumava National Park begins just south and west of Český Krumlov. The park protects one of the largest and least-disturbed forest areas in Central Europe — spruce and beech forest, peat bogs, and river valleys. Good hiking and cycling. The Boubín primeval forest near Vimperk is one of the most significant old-growth forest remnants in the region.
Linz, just over the Austrian border, is about an hour by car or bus. It is a substantial city with a strong contemporary art scene (the Ars Electronica Centre and Lentos Kunstmuseum are both worth visiting), a pleasant old town, and decent connections onward into Austria.
