We recommend visiting the Czech Republic in mid-April to early June, or from late September to mid-October. May and September are peak season, as many European tourists flock to Central Europe, due to long weekends, and because it’s a bit too cool to swim in many popular resort areas further south. Czech Christmas markets are also charming and winters are relatively dry, making December a decent time to visit, despite cold, fog, and occasional snow. Spring can be quite rainy, although Prague is relatively dry, as it’s in the rain shadow of the Sudetes mountains that form the border with Germany. Summer can be quite hot, with highs generally in the upper 70s and air conditioning rare. For more information, see our blog post on what to pack for Prague.

The Czech Republic experiences all four seasons quite dramatically. In winter (late November/December - February/March) it can get very cold. In Prague the temperature usually never gets below -20C/-4F but in the countryside, temperatures as low as -30C/-22F are not uncommon. Usually the weather in Prague hovers around 0C/32F however, and there is occasional snow. Spring (mid March - June) is a very pleasant time to visit, with temperatures typically between 15C/60F and 20C/68F. During summer (June - August) it can be quite hot and in high summer it often gets over 30C/90F. Fall (September - mid November) sees temperatures similar to springtime, dipping lower towards the end of autumn. Read more advice on what to pack for Prague.

A classic Czech meal will consist of a soup followed by a meat-and-carbs dish, usually pork, beef or chicken in a sauce of some kind with either potatoes or dumplings. Schnitzels are popular and usually served with boiled potatoes or potato salad. Roast duck accompanied with red cabbage and dumplings is one of our favorites. In the last decade, Czech food has experienced a renaissance and foreign-trained chefs are rediscovering recipes and reimagining the classics in more delicate and waistline-friendly forms.

Beer snacks are popular, often fried, or consisting of various soft cheeses. Trdelnik, a pastry cooked on a spit and similar to the Hungarian chimney cake, is popular with tourists but not authentically Czech. There are plenty of Czech cakes and other desserts to try though. Read our Czech Food Primer for more details and recommendations on where to try some of the best Czech cuisine in Prague.

Czech beers are among the best in the world, with Pilsner Urquell one of the most popular beers in the country and neighboring Germany, alongside the original Budweiser, brewed in the town of Ceske Budejovice. We can even provide tours of various famous breweries and wineries, such as in Prague’s Strahov monastery, and even reservations at Prague’s beer spa! There's a lively microbrewery scene in the Czech Republic too.

Czech wine (mostly from the south-eastern region of Moravia) has made significant strides in improvement in the past three decades too and can hold its own when it comes to whites, and the more expensive reds are often found as wine pairings to red meat dishes.

Becherovka, an herbal bitters produced in Karlovy Vary, is a popular way to end a meal, while slivovice, powerful plum brandy, is popular all around, and often homemade. The strong local absinthe also has a devoted following. Czech tap water is excellent, although restaurants in touristy areas may only offer expensive bottled water, adamantly refusing to serve you tap water or at best serving filtered tap water for a fee. If you prefer soft drinks, homemade lemonades, with flavours like elderflower, ginger, sea buckthorn or seasonal fruits are widely available as an alternative to international brands.

The Czechs have yet to (and may never depending on how things progress with the Euro) move away from their own currency, the Czech Koruna, or Czech Crown. Prices are usually displayed as, for example, 99,00Kč = 99 Czech Crowns. Some establishments may accept Euros but there is no legal obligation for them to do so and large Euro notes (over €50) are unlikely to be accepted. Also bear in mind that the exchange rate that will be used will definitely not be in your favor.

The Czech Republic's public holidays are on set days every year (apart from Easter Monday and Good Friday) so when they fall on a weekend, workers don't get a replacement day off. The public holidays are:

January 1st (New Year's Day), Good Friday, Easter Monday, May 1st (Labor Day), May 8th (Day of Liberation from Fascism), July 5th (Day of Slavic Missionaries), July 6th (Jan Hus), September 28th (St. Wenceslaus), October 28th (Independence Day), November 17th (Struggle for Freedom and Democracy), December 24th (Christmas Eve, although shops remain open until midday), December 25th (Christmas Day), December 26th (St. Stephen's Day).
On all holidays but Christmas and Easter you can expect shops and restaurants to be open as well as most tourist attractions. When the 5th and 6th of July fall on weekdays, it seems like the whole country goes on vacation for the week and the residential parts of the city may seem deserted.

As a rule, the Czech Republic is very safe. In fact it's comfortably in the top 10 safest countries in the world according to the 2019 World Peace Index (the US is #128). As with any big city, be on the lookout for pickpockets in Prague's subway stations, streetcars, and Old Town.

Czech towns and cities, even Prague, are very walkable. Prague's public transport system works well, the metro and the streetcars are a good way to get from the old town to surrounding areas. One of Europe’s busiest subway systems, the Prague Metro has many stations with unusual designs. Most central stations feature walls covered in colorful anodized aluminum plates. The Czech train system works well, and we provide tickets with express, sometimes high-speed trains, within the Czech Republic and to its neighbors. Train stations are generally very central, with some exceptions, like in Cesky Krumlov. There are also comfortable long distance bus options available on some routes where trains aren't available.

We recommend against car rental for multi-country itineraries because rental agencies charge steep one way fees and most European capital cities aren't car-friendly. It's often quicker and cheaper to take the train. If you're just exploring the Czech Republic and starting and ending your trip in Prague however, a rental can be an inexpensive way to get around, once you leave the capital. In Prague a car is not needed at all. Czech expressways are modern, but rural roads can be bumpy and narrow. The Czech Republic has a zero tolerance policy for drunk driving, with steep fines for drivers with any detectable blood alcohol level.

Visitors from all EU and EEA countries, as well as Australia, Canada, New Zealand, USA and nearly 60 other countries, can stay for up to 90 days in the countries of the Schengen Area without a visa. Visitors from the UK are an exception and get 180 days. Visitors from Singapore can stay for up to 30 days without a visa.

If you have a passport issued by any other country you will need to arrange a visa before you arrive. We are not able to make these arrangements for you.