The South Bohemian (Jihocesky) region represents, geographically, quite closed unit. Core of the unit is the South Bohemian basin. The southwest borders with Sumava, northwest borders with Brdy, north with Central Bohemian granite Highlands, east with Bohemia-Moravian Highlands and to the southeast it borders with Novohradske Mountains. The South Bohemian basin consists of two smaller basins called Ceskobudejovicka and Trebonska. South and west borders of the region also create the state borders with Austria and Federal Republic of Germany.

The region also borders with Pilsen and Central Bohemian regions and with Vysocina region. The region spreads on the area of 10,055 km2, which is 12.8 % of the Czech Republic overall area. One third of the area is covered with forests, 4 % is covered with water areas. Majority of the region is situated 400 - 600 meters above the sea level, which results in a little more inclement climatic conditions. The highest point of the region is the Sumava peak called Plechy (1 378 meters above the sea level); the lowest point (330 meters above the seal level) is the surface of the dam called Orlicka prehrada in Pisek Township. Area of the region belongs to the upper and middle Vltava river basin with the affluent Otava, Luznice, Malse, Blanice and many others. In the past, more than 7,000 ponds were built here. Their overall area today reaches more than 30,000 hectares. The largest fishponds are Rozmberk with 490 hectares, Bezdrev with 450 hectares and Horusice fishpond with 415 hectares. These are also the largest fishponds in the Czech Republic. Also, there were other water schemes built in the region, as the dam Lipno (the largest water area in the Czech Republic with 4 870 hectares), Orlik with many recreation areas and Rimov, which supplies most of the region with water. During last couple years a new water reservoir was built in Hnevkovice, as a result of building the nuclear power plant in Temelin.

The South Bohemian region is not an area rich for raw materials and there are almost no sources of energy materials. Very important wealth of the region lies in the large forests, especially in Sumava and Novohradske Mountains. These forests are mainly coniferous, spruce and beech. The raw materials found here are sand and gravel sand, brick-clay, stone and glass sand. Among other important materials are turf and, in some parts of the region, also limestone, infusorial earth, granite, gneiss and graphite.