Did you know there’s a region in the Czech Republic often called the Tuscany of Czechia? A South Moravia road trip is one of the best ways to explore it. Close to the Austrian border, rolling vineyards, historic towns, and natural landscapes continuously alternate. Along the way, you travel from charming wine villages like Mikulov, Pavlov and Znojmo to scenic hikes in the Pálava Hills and Podyjí National Park, ending your days with a glass of local Moravian wine on a terrace surrounded by vineyards.In this article, you’ll find my South Moravia itinerary and route through the region’s most beautiful places, including tips for hikes, wineries, boutique hotels, and unmissable stops along the way.
South Moravia is located in the southeastern part of the Czechia, close to the borders with Austria and Slovakia, and is known as the country’s premier wine region. Thanks to its rolling hills, endless vineyards, colourful wine villages, and quiet country roads, the region is often referred to as the Tuscany of Czechia and feels completely different from many other parts of the country.
What makes South Moravia so special is that it still feels surprisingly undiscovered. Instead of crowded tourist hotspots, you’ll find small wine towns, quiet country roads, local wineries, and viewpoints where you may have the place entirely to yourself. The diversity of South Moravia is another reason why it stands out. One day, you can wander through historic streets or taste wine in a centuries-old cellar, while just a few hours later you’re driving through vineyards or hiking in Podyjí National Park. Especially at sunset, when the hills turn golden and the terraces slowly fill up, the region takes on an almost Mediterranean atmosphere that you might not expect to find in the Czechia.
South Moravia was made for road trips. The distances between towns, villages, and natural attractions are short, making it easy to travel from a historic city centre to vineyard-covered hills and then continue on to a national park, all within a single day. Especially if you’re travelling with a rental car, you’ll have the freedom to set your own pace and deviate from a fixed schedule whenever you like. From cities such as Vienna and Brno, the region is easily accessible, making South Moravia an ideal destination for a road trip or a short stop during a journey through Central Europe.
For a South Moravia road trip, I recommend setting aside at least 4 to 5 days. A great starting point of your South Moravia itinerary is Brno, the largest city in the region, where you can stay for two nights to explore the city. Think historic sights, a growing culinary scene, and unique places such as the underground water reservoirs.
Read our complete guide to Brno here.
After that, you can continue your journey through the wine region of South Moravia. In theory, you could visit the region in 2 days and 1 night, but that feels quite rushed. It’s much more enjoyable to set aside at least 2 nights and 3 days, so you have enough time to visit different wine villages, go hiking in the Pálava Mountains and Podyjí National Park, and slowly enjoy wineries and viewpoints along the way.
If you have more time, that is definitely a plus. The relaxed pace, spontaneous stops along the way, and longer hikes are exactly what make South Moravia such a great road trip destination. The route is also flexible: you can start in Brno, but you could also choose to begin in Vienna and end your road trip in Brno. This itinerary is based on Brno as the starting point and Vienna as the endpoint. Enjoy my tips for exploring South Moravia.
A first stop you can make during your South Moravia road trip is the small village of Vrbice, located among rolling vineyards about an hour from Brno. Here you’ll find some of the most beautiful wine cellars, built in multiple levels into the green hills. Depending on the time of day, you can sit down on a terrace such as Kafe Sklep for a coffee, tea, or a glass of local Moravian wine.van de dag kun je plaatsnemen op een terrasje zoals bij Kafe Sklep, voor een kopje koffie, thee of glaasje lokale Moravische wijn.
From Vrbice, you can also take a short hike on a nice day to a viewpoint called Stezka nad vinohrady. Walking through fields and along vineyards, you’ll reach a spiral-shaped elevated platform with wide views over the surrounding landscape. Unfortunately, it was cloudy during our visit, but on a sunny day it must be absolutely stunning. The walk starts at the end of the village and takes about 20 minutes one way.
Another stop worth making if you are looking for scenic viewpoints during your South Moravia itinerary is the chapel of Hradištěk, also known as the Zimarky chapel viewpoint, near the village of Velké Bílovice. From here you overlook a typical Moravian landscape of vineyards, small villages, and the Nové Mlýny reservoir.
Tip: Park your car next to the chapel and take a nice walk through the surrounding area. You’ll pass endless vineyards along the way.
One of the most beautiful castles in South Moravia is without a doubt Lednice Castle. This neo-Gothic castle looks like it has come straight out of a fairytale, with elegant towers and a large complex of gardens. Together with the surrounding landscape, it forms part of the UNESCO World Heritage Lednice-Valtice Complex, also known as the Garden of Europe.
The history of the castle dates back to the 13th century, when a medieval fortress originally stood here. In the 17th and especially the 19th century, it was transformed into a summer residence for the noble Liechtenstein family, who developed the complex into the palace you see today. You can of course visit the castle itself, but the surrounding park is just as beautiful. Here you can walk along paths, pass ponds, or take a boat ride on the water.
A nice tip is to also visit the greenhouses, where you suddenly find yourself in a tropical world full of exotic plants, flowers, and trees.
Lunch tip: In the small streets behind the castle you’ll find several places to have lunch or a glass of wine, including Kavarna Knoll.
Mikulov is one of my favourite towns in South Moravia thanks to its lovely atmosphere, colourful facades, and squares filled with wine bars. This is also the town where you’ll want to stay overnight.
Mikulov lies directly on the Austrian border and is dominated by a large castle that towers above the town and overlooks the vineyard-covered hills. Make sure to arrive in time to wander around and enjoy a wine tasting or dinner at Vinařství Radosti. It’s also worth visiting the castle or one of the viewpoints for panoramic views over the Pálava region.
Alternative plan: If you only have 2 days for your trip, you can also choose to visit the village of Pavlov before heading to Mikulov and do a short hike in the area (see day 2). This will of course give you less time in Mikulov itself.
One of the best places to stay in Mikulov is Volarik, a modern hotel in the city centre and a perfect base for exploring the region. The hotel also has a wellness area where you can relax at the end of the day.
Check here for the latest prices and availability of Hotel Volarik in Mikulov. You can find more hotels in Mikulov here.
Today, during your South Moravia itinerary, it’s time for a hike in the region. One of the most beautiful areas is the Pálava region, around the village of Pavlov, about a 30-minute drive from Mikulov. This hilly nature area is known for its white limestone formations and scenic views.
The hiking routes range from short, easy paths to more challenging hikes up to viewpoints. A great option is the trail to the ruins of Děvičky, which takes about 1.5 hours one way. At the top, you’ll be rewarded with views over the Nové Mlýny reservoir, surrounding vineyards, and, on clear days, even parts of Austria.
Another great viewpoint is Sirotčí hrádek, about a 15-minute walk from the parking area. Here too, you’ll find wide views over the Pálava landscape and its distinctive limestone hills. I personally combined the Sirotčí hrádek viewpoint with part of the longer hike to Děvičky, and both can easily be done in one day.
If you don’t enjoy hiking or are short on time, you can also continue directly to Znojmo.
After your hike, you can visit Pavlov, located at the foot of the Pálava Hills. The village is known for its white houses, narrow streets, and views over the vineyards and Nové Mlýny reservoir.
One of the most photogenic spots is the street with traditional wine cellars, where white facades and colourful doors immediately show that this is a true wine village. Scattered throughout the village you’ll also find interesting stops such as the Archeopark Pavlov, where you can learn more about the prehistoric history of the region. There are also many wineries and local spots such as winery Plener, Marináda Viniční dům, wine bar Reisten, and the small bakery Šup do pece.
About 15 minutes from Pavlov, on the other side of the Nové Mlýny reservoir, you’ll find the modern Sonberk Winery, known for its minimalist architecture. With a glass of Moravian wine in hand, you can enjoy stunning views over a landscape of vineyards and water. Try to be here around sunset.
Continue your South Moravia road trip to Znojmo. This historic town is perfectly situated on a hill above the Dyje River and is known for its well-preserved medieval centre, narrow streets, underground wine cellars, and scenic viewpoints. The old town is compact and easy to explore on foot. You’ll pass churches, squares, and of course plenty of wine bars.
Curious about Znojmo? Have a look in my travel guide with the best things to do in Znojmo.
At the end of the afternoon or in the evening, you’ll want to visit Enotéka znojemských vín, a modern wine centre where you can taste hundreds of Moravian wines.
The concept is very accessible: you purchase a card and then choose from a wide selection of local wines from both small and well-known producers across the region. From just a sip to a half or full glass. Trust me, in a short time you’ll get a great impression of the diversity and quality of Moravian wine production here. On a nice evening, you can also sit outside on the terrace overlooking the surroundings or find a cosy spot inside the bar.
More hotels in Znojmo can be found here.
Start the day early with a beautiful view over Znojmo. One of the city’s most recognisable landmarks is the town hall, with its Gothic and Renaissance-style tower. You can climb the tower by ascending a fair number of steps to the top. From here, you are rewarded with a beautiful view over the city centre, surrounding hills, and the Dyje River. Highly recommended.
The surroundings of Znojmo are perfect for short hikes through Podyjí National Park, with viewpoints over the Dyje River and vineyards. A popular route is the circular hike to the Sealsfieldův kámen viewpoint. This hike is about 5 km and follows the green trail. From the viewpoint, you can see the meanders of the Dyje and the famous Šobes vineyard, one of the oldest wine-growing sites in the Czechia.
Another great option is the hike to the Vyhlídka Devět mlýnů viewpoint. This route is about 4 km and starts near Hnanice, where you can also park. Here too, you are rewarded with beautiful views over the river and the Šobes vineyard, but from a completely different perspective. If you don’t feel like hiking or have limited time, you can also head directly back to Vienna.
Looking for a nice lunch spot? Try Bistro Mikuláš. On sunny days, you can sit on the cosy terrace. The bistro works with seasonal dishes and local ingredients.
From Znojmo, it’s about a 1.5-hour drive back to Vienna, where you can catch a flight or continue your journey.
South Moravia is easy to reach. The best options are flying into Vienna, Bratislava, or Prague, and continuing your journey to Brno from there. From Vienna, it takes about two hours by train or car to reach South Moravia, while Bratislava is even closer. Although the region is accessible by public transport, I personally recommend renting a car.
Many of the most beautiful places, such as the vineyards around Mikulov, the castles of the Lednice-Valtice area, and the small wine towns along the wine routes, are spread across the region. With a rental car, you have the freedom to stop spontaneously at viewpoints, wineries, and villages that are often harder to reach by public transport
Looking for a rental car for your South Moravia road trip in the Czechia? With Discover Cars you can easily compare prices and options. It’s a convenient tool so you don’t need to open dozens of tabs to find the best deal. You often save money and can cancel for free up to 48 hours before pickup. Make sure to pick up your car in Vienna and return it there. Don’t forget to mention that you will cross the border into the Czechia and ask about toll roads, which can usually be arranged on-site or online.
South Moravia is a great destination year-round, but the most pleasant period runs from May to October. In spring, orchards and vineyards are in full bloom and temperatures are ideal for hiking and exploring towns and castles. In September, the vineyards turn golden and the wine villages become lively with harvest season celebrations and wine festivals, offering the best experience of the region’s wine culture. Temperatures are still pleasant, while it is generally less crowded than in peak summer months.
Did you enjoy reading this travel guide aboout a road trip through South Moravia in Cezchia? You will find more inspiration and tips in the next articles. And make sure to have a look at Brno City Tourism, South Moravia, and VisitCzechia, which helped compile this guide.
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Are you interested in the world? Do you want to learn more about a country and its culture? Let me take you on a journey with Passport the World.
As a travel reporter, producer and tour guide, I have been traveling around the world for the last 20 years, looking for the most scenic places and stories that are worth sharing. In Passport the World, I am guiding you along scenic and cultural places, cities, art, viewpoints, hiking trails and unique experiences. To help you get the most out of your travels or to just get to know a country and culture better!
Are you interested in the world? Do you want to learn more about a country and its culture? Let me take you on a journey with Passport the World.
As a travel reporter, producer and tour guide, I have been traveling around the world for the last 20 years, looking for the most scenic places and stories that are worth sharing. In Passport the World, I am guiding you along scenic and cultural places, cities, art, viewpoints, hiking trails and unique experiences. To help you get the most out of your travels or to just get to know a country and culture better!
