Czech Republic is by far my favourite country. The fairy castles, the architecture, the people, just every thing about the Czech Republic I find magical. The Czech Republic became one of the most popular travel destinations in Europe recently, Prague is the most popular destination there but there are other amazing places to visit there. The Czech Republic's culture, castles & chateaux, folklore and tradition will make you fall in love with the country. Everyone I know that visited the Czech Republic have fallen in love with it.
Reminder: The currency of the Czech Republic is Koruna and not Euro.
10 Top Things To Know Before Traveling To The Czech Republic
1. The Currency
Euro is not the currency used in Czech, they use Koruna, so make sure to exchange some cash even if you are planning to use your card, but in case you need cash; you cannot use Euros. €1 is equivalent to 25 CZK (2021), and 1$ is equivalent to 21 CZK (2022).
2. Avoid The "Wikipedia" Tour
Doing a guided tour in the Czech Republic is a great way to get to know the country and the culture and also to meet people. Avoid the "Wikipedia" tour, by that I mean the boring tours where they just state boring facts and show you the building on your right and gives a long story and then show you the building on your left and continue with the long story. These tours are boring and you not get to know the country that way because you can simply Google all those things.
I did two walking tours, both were different but were great! Both of my tour guides told stories that I couldn't Google that only locals know, and showed me places that I didn't know about. You need a local perspective to the cities you are visiting! I booked my tours through GetYourGuide.
3. Do Not Exchange Money On The Streets
I can't believe I have to mention this, but people still do it! Do not exchange money from random people on the streets, you will get better conversion rate from your bank so you can withdraw money from an ATM, or you can go to an exchange office and do it there.
4. Don't Stay In The City Centres
As a tourist; visiting the city centre is great, but don't just stay there, go explore other locations, the locals stay away from the city centres. When I was in Prague, I was hanging out in the city centre a lot, and then I discovered my favourite neighbourhood the called Malá Strana, it was not as crowded as the city centre and it was the most beautiful neighbourhood I saw, it was calm and locals were just living their day-to-day life without tourists around.
5. Plan Less, Enjoy More
My trip to the Czech Republic did not go to plan at all, and I was sad about it at first, all my plans were ruined or canceled from day 1, but then it ended up being the best trip I ever went on because I was flexible. I met amazing people and hung out with them and we did a lot of spontaneous stuff, but it was the most memorable trip and the most enjoyable.
6. Eat Czech Food
Trying local dishes is one of the best things about traveling, and Czech food is amazing! You do not want to miss it, and you will find a lot of dished that you will like.
7. Public Transport Is Well Connected
Public transport in Czech is well connected as well as affordable, so you do not need to worry about moving around in Czech. You can buy your public transport tickets can be bought at most newspaper stands and all metro stations.
8. You Can Walk Everywhere
Most landmarks are within walking distance, I explored Prague on foot and didn't use any mode of transport expect from and to the airport. So wear comfy shoes!
9. It's Not Just Prague
There is more to the Czech Republic than Prague, places like Český Krumlov, Brno, Karlovy Vary, and more are not to be missed. The Czech Republic is a beautiful country so explore as much as you can.
10. Learn The Language
English is widely spoken in the Czech Republic, but do try and learn a few words/sentences in Czech. Locals appreciate the effort so do learn some basics.
Cultural Do's & Don'ts
5 Do's
Know the country's name: the country is called Czech Republic or you can call it Czechia, but do not call it Czechoslovakia or even Chechnya (This is a completely different country).
Always tip: tipping in the Czech Republic is expected, about 10% is acceptable, and keep in mind that if you are paying using your card; you need to remind them to add the tip before they run your card and instruct them on how much you want to tip.
Be humble: the Czech's value humility and modesty, so do not be arrogant.
Have lunch: lunch is the main meal in Czech, so do not miss it.
Avoid Monday: most museums are closed on Mondays, so if you are planning a trip to the Czech Republic, avoid Mondays.
5 Don'ts
Don't miss the culture: the Czech Republic has a rich culture and you do not want to miss, also locals love it when you show interest in their culture.
Don't call it Eastern Europe: Czech is in Central Europe and not in Eastern Europe, so do not get confused, because locals will let you know if you make that mistake.
Shouting: do not talk loudly in the streets of Czech, do not shout and talk quietly and calmly.
Special requests in restaurants: do not make a special request when eating at a restaurant because it is not that common, so don't do it.
Be arrogant: be humble and modest, the Czech's don't like arrogance.
What To Do Before Travelling To The Czech Republic
🪪 Get Your Visa
Easily get your visa with iVisa which is simple and much less complicated than dealing with foreign governments. All documents are reviewed by a team of immigration experts. Their staff is well-trained and offers years of experience.
→ Go to iVisa
✈️ Book Tickets
Book your flights seamlessly with WayAway. Compare prices, find the best deals, and jet off to The Czech Republic with ease! — Get 10% off WayAway Plus membership with this code → TP-385219.
→ Go to WayAway
📱 Buy A Travel SIM-Card
Stay connected easily with Airalo SIM-card. Activate one before your trip and enjoy hassle-free communication during your time in The Czech Republic!
→ Go to Airalo
🔒 Choose Insurance
Ensure peace of mind during your trip to The Czech Republic by having comprehensive coverage against any unforeseen circumstances.
→ Go to VisitorsCoverage
How To Get To The Czech Republic
It is easy to get to the Czech Republic as Václav Havel International Airport a.k.a. Prague’s airport is a well connected airport. The Czech Republic has other international airports Such as Leoš Janáček Airport Ostrava which has a railway connection and it is the only airport in The Czech Republic with a railway connection. There are other airports such as Brno–Tuřany Airport, Karlovy Vary Airport, and Pardubice Airport.
You can also reach Prague or any other city in The Czech Republic by train from cities such as Berlin, Budapest or Vienna, and buses can be found as well from other cities to Prague.
I like to use Omio to find either trains or buses whenever I am travelling in Europe. If you are looking for cheap flights to get to Prague and The Czech Republic, then your best option would be to use WayAway.
How To Move Around The Czech Republic
The Czech Republic especially Prague has great and affordable transportations spread across the city, you can take the tram, the metro, or the bus. Tickets need to be purchased according to the length of the journey, If you are staying in Prague for a few days; then a 3-day ticket is the best option, it costs 310 CZK or €11.5. If you will be using transportation just once then a 30 minute ticket is great and it costs 24 CZK or €0.90.
You can skip the transportation and explore Prague on foot, this is what I did and it was easy as most places are located near each other. You can also use Lime scooters to explore the city, this will be a fun way to do so.
I did a walking tour with a local that took 1.5 hours, and it was one of the best things! I really enjoyed it and it was really fun exploring Prague while being with a local that would tell you all these small details that you probably wouldn’t hear about. I booked this tour through GetYourGuide, and I highly recommend you start your trip to Prague with this tour, it’s a great starter. You can check the availability of that tour below 👇🏻
You can book trains and buses through Omio to move from one city to the other, which as I mentioned before is my favourite app to use whenever I am travelling in Europe, and I have used it multiple times when I was in The Czech Republic.
Best Time To Visit The Czech Republic
The best time to visit the Czech Republic is between April and October, at that time the weather is nice, but be aware that it will be crowded during that time.
Accommodations In The Czech Republic
The Czech Republic offers accommodation for different budgets, so it will be easy to find a hotel, a hostel, or an Airbnb that suits your budget. The best area in Prague is Prague 1.
You can book your accommodation through Booking.com, which is the one I use the most, or if you wan to stay in a hostel you can book through HostelWorld. You can also use Agoda, Trivago, or Vrbo to book your accommodations. I know most people have a favourite website or app to use, so just choose what you prefer best.
Comments