Czechia is a land of castles, spa towns and remarkably preserved old centres. Prague has Charles Bridge, the castle district and the Old Town Square with its astronomical clock, while Český Krumlov wraps around a bend in the Vltava beneath a painted castle. Kutná Hora has a Gothic cathedral and the bone-decorated Sedlec Ossuary, and Karlovy Vary is a grand nineteenth-century spa town.
Beer is part of daily life, from Pilsner in Plzeň to tiny microbreweries, and food is hearty: roast pork, dumplings and svíčková. Trains and buses make day trips from Prague easy. May, June and September are the best months, with pleasant weather and fewer crowds; midsummer is busy in Prague, and December brings Christmas markets.
Best time to visit Czechia
May, June, September.
Places to visit in Czechia
Prague: A beautifully preserved city of Gothic spires, baroque churches and bridges, crowned by an immense castle.
Český Krumlov: A small Renaissance town curled around a river bend, beneath one of Central Europe's largest castle complexes.
Kutná Hora: A former silver-mining town with a Gothic cathedral and a chapel decorated with human bones.
Karlovy Vary: A historic spa town of pastel hotels and colonnades, where visitors sip mineral water from hot springs.
Essentials
Currency: Czech Koruna (CZK)
Language: Czech; English common in Prague
Plugs: Type C / E, 230 V
Driving: Right side
Time zone: UTC+1
Tipping: Round up or leave about 10%
Getting around: Good trains and buses; Prague is best on foot and by tram
Entry: Check the official rules for your passport before booking