Czech Republic Travel Guide

The Czech Republic geographically lies at the heart of Europe, which is probably why it’s popular on the backpacking and touring trails. Then again, when it comes to art, architecture, and music, the country excels in the range of sights and events on offer.

The Czech Republic is also known as Czechia. Up to 1993, it was known as Czechoslovakia when it was in a union with neighbouring country Slovakia.

This post is a Czech Republic travel guide that focuses on the essentials required for a trip there. First up, where to go.

DESTINATIONS

Capital city, Prague, is one of the most visited cities in Europe. I have written a post on how to do Prague in 2 days.

CZECH REPUBLIC TRAVEL GUIDE

Visa:

As the Czech Republic is an EU and Schengen country, EU citizens do not require a visa to visit. Citizens of a number of countries including the US can enter the Czech Republic visa free for stays of up to 90 days. Check with your local Czech Republic embassy for further information.

Geography:

Czech Republic is a landlocked country with mountain ranges marking the borders with neighbouring Germany, Poland, Slovakia and Austria.

Best time to visit:

I visited in late March yet Prague was crowded but Olomouc and Kutna Hora were crowd-free. I can’t imagine how busy Prague would be in the summer months of June to August.

Weatherwise, for mild temperatures greater than 10°C the late April to September period is best.

Language:

Czech. As Czech is a Slavic language some words will look a little like their Croatian counterparts. I noticed that there was a high level of fluency of English among those in their 20s and 30s.

Currency:

Koruna (CZK)

Time zone:

Central European Time (CET) and Central European Summer Time (CEST). In other words, same as most of continental Europe.

Dialling code:

+420

Plugs:

The standard continental European type which is the two round pin plug/socket of 220V-240V.

Food:

I really enjoyed the hearty goulash-type cuisine of meat and dumplings. Beef and pork are popular meats used.

Drink:

Beer, beer, more beer, a little wine and spirits. There is more beer consumed per capita in the Czech Republic than anywhere else in the world. Wine is produced in the Moravia region.

The Czech Republic produces a number of spirits that are used as post-dinner digestive aids. Becherovka is the best known brand.

Is the Czech Rep safe:

I witnessed a lot of drunkenness in Prague, including on the train from Berlin to Prague. Where there is alcohol there is disorder, particularly when the alcohol is so cheap. I cannot abide drunken rowdiness whether I’m travelling solo or in a group.

On the other hand, the Czech police have a low tolerance for this behaviour and deal with it swiftly and efficiently. As soon as our train from Berlin entered the Czech Republic the police boarded during an unscheduled stop and removed the problematic passengers.

I experienced no safety or drunkenness problems in other destinations in the Czech Republic.

TRANSPORT

Getting to the Czech Republic:

The country is easily reached by bus and train. As mentioned above, I travelled to Prague main train station (Praha hlavni nadrazi) from Berlin Hauptbahnhof with Czech railways. As well as the drunkenness, the train was overcrowded and my large bag disappeared in Dresden although I managed to retrieve it eventually.

For buses from the Czech Republic to neighbouring countries check out the Flixbus website.

As for air transport, the Czech Republic is well served by flag carriers and low-cost airlines such as Ryanair and Easyjet. The main airports are Prague, Brno, Ostrava and Pardubice.

Getting around Czech Rep:

I used the comprehensive rail network to travel around the Czech Republic. Some of the train stations have exquisite murals so you get to view a gallery for the price of your ticket.