The old town preserves interesting Medieval and Baroque architecture around the large town square, including the old town hall with murals and bronze gargoyles, and the town tower "Černá věž" ("Black Tower"). In the new town the Belle Epoque Austro-Hungarian train station is notable. The most valuable historical building in České Budějovice is Dominican convent with gothic church Presentation of Virgin Mary on Piaristic square.

The ruins of the home castle of the Czech national hero Jan Žižka, Trocnov, are located some ten kilometres southeast from the town. A bit further away (cca 30km), the enchanting time of Český Krumlov is another compulsory stop for the visitor of South Bohemia. It was added in 1992 to UNESCO's World Heritage list.