Travelling to the Czech Republic is known for its wide variety of tourist attractions and historical places. Prague is one of the most popular cities, with Prague Castle, Charles Bridge, and St. Vitus Cathedra attracting many travelers. Other cities such as Cesky Krumlov, Karlovy Vary, and Plzeň also boast beautiful architecture and a historical atmosphere. You can enjoy a rich culture in many aspects, including music, art, and beer. When planning your trip, take a look at the local culture and events calendar and have fun!
1. Czech Republic Quick Facts
Language Czech
Religion Catholic
Currency Koruna (haléř)
Visa Free 90 day visa for 60 nationalities, Shengen Area rules apply
Power Plugs 230 V 50 Hz (C,E Type)
Capital Prague
ATM
ATM are located in central banks, shopping centres and metro stations. Usually accept international cards such as Visa, Plus, MasterCard or Cirrus.
Use card
Generally accepted. However, be aware that many markets and local restaurants only accept cash.
Credit card payments are becoming more common and are accepted in large shopping centres, central restaurants, and hotels in large cities, including Prague. However, they are not yet accepted in small grocery stores, street stalls, some restaurants, and gift shops, so it’s a good idea to check availability in advance or have the necessary cash on hand.
APP
Google Maps
IDOS: Detailed information on trains and buses in the Czech Republic, also available in English.
MAPY: Maps of the Czech Republic. The application does not yet have an English service, but recently launched an English service on its website
2. Packing for your trip
Air plain Ticket
Dollar Flight Club has made it easier and cheaper to buy flights to the Airport.
SIM card
Airalo is the world’s first eSIM store that solves the pain of high roaming bills by giving you access to 200+ eSIMs (digital SIM cards) globally at affordable prices.
New member one-time use 15% discount coupon
10% discount coupon for multiple use by all members.
Pacsafe Pro safe 800 Luggage Lock
Good protection against snatchers or impulse thieves.
Universal Power Adapter
One of the most essential but most forgotten items in your travel gear? A power adapter!
Travel insurance
Prepare for risky situations Travel insurance can be a big help in the event of an emergency
GoPro HERO11
If you want to capture your own memories of your travels, GoPro is the way to go. It’s small, has great image quality, and is easy to carry around
3. Transportation
Litacka transport card
This is a general transport card that allows you to travel on all public transport in Prague, including buses, trams and the metro.
Litacka card holders can also use it in Prague and central Bohemia.
You can also purchase transport tickets from yellow ticket machines on site.
30 minutes CZK 30
90 minutes CZK 40
24 hours CZK 120
72 hours CZK 330
*You should always carry a valid ticket with you when travelling on public transport, as you may be stopped by a ticket inspector, and you will be fined up to CZK 1,500 for not having a valid ticket. Foreigners are particularly targeted and must purchase a ticket before boarding, and even if a ticket is purchased but not ticketed, it is considered free travel and must be ticketed at all times. Ticket inspectors will display golden and red badges and identification cards, and will issue bills or receipts when collecting fines.
*Metro, trams and buses are well connected and share tickets.
Taxis
Most taxis operate on a call-and-response basis, but you can ask for a regular taxi at the hotel reception if you need one. Taxis waiting in front of hotels tend to be more expensive. Be wary of taxis waiting in the city center as they can sometimes overcharge, and if you must use one, it’s best to tell the driver where you’re going and agree on a price before you get in.
Rent a Car
If you’re renting a car, you’ll need to use a car park, which can be a problem in the downtown area. The price of parking varies depending on the car park, the weekend and the area, but on-street parking in the city center costs around CZK 60 on weekdays. In Prague, the city center is divided into two parking zones: blue solid lines for residents and white solid lines for public parking.
Trains
Eurail Passes are accepted by train, and the main station, located in the city center, near the National Museum, is the hub for international trains and has a tourist information centre, coin-operated lockers and luggage storage, and is connected to the metro line C (Hlavni Nadrazi station).
4.Safety
The Czech Republic has experienced relatively few refugee flows compared to the rest of Europe, the terrorism threat is not considered as high as in Western Europe, and overall security is good. However, you should be aware of pickpockets in tourist cities, including Prague. In particular, you should be wary of pickpockets at major tourist attractions such as the Charles Bridge and Old Town Square, as well as in restaurants, department stores, subways, trains, stops, and stations that are crowded with tourists. For example, on trains, people may steal bags that you leave on the train while you go to the loo or organised your luggage, and in restaurants and cafes, people may take bags that you leave on or under chairs, so you need to be extra careful with your belongings. It’s also a good idea to keep valuables in your hotel’s safety box and only carry enough money for the day.
It is also advisable to be cautious when travelling outside of the main tourist areas of the city at night, and to avoid visiting off-the-beaten-path neighborhood if possible. In addition to the outskirts, the parks around Prague’s main railway station have a large number of homeless people, so be careful when walking through the area.
Useful phone numbers for tourists
Police 112,
Fire report 112
5. Climate
The climate throughout the Czech Republic is largely continental and mild.Summers are warm to hot, but extreme heat is very rare. Winters are generally cloudy and cold, and can sometimes be bitterly cold when cold winds blow in from Russia .
Winter in Prague is January-February, with average lows of -3 °C (27 °F) to -1 °C (30 °F) and highs of 1 °C (30 °F) to 5 °C (41 °F) in December-February.Summer July and August average lows of 16 °C (61 °F) to 18 °C (64 °F) and highs of 26 °C (79 °F), rarely rising above that. In the south, in the Cesky Krumlov region, the weather is milder, although rain is common.
6. price
Transport, accommodation, food and other aspects of life are significantly cheaper than in the rest of Western Europe.
Petrol (1 litre) : CZK 43
McDonald’s combo meal : CZK 160
Water (1.5 litres) : CZK 14
Milk (1 litre): CZK 23
7. Travel precautions
Foreigners are advised to ask for a receipt and keep track of the amount, as some restaurants may not give a receipt and arbitrarily include a tip or give less change.
Tap water is hygienic and safe to drink in the Czech Republic. It is common for Czechs to drink directly from the tap.
Outside of tourist areas, you may occasionally come across toilets with gender markings only in Czech. Men are labelled M, or muži, and women are labelled Ž, or ženy, or D, or dámy. Unisex toilets with no labeling are also common, so don’t panic.
8. Etiquette & Service Tip
The standard way to address a server in a restaurant is with a smile, eye contact, and a slight nod of the head. A slight lift of the hand at eye level is also acceptable. Never shout or use hand gestures to call someone. Be patient.
Tip
After your meal, ask for a receipt at the table and tip within 10 per cent of the price stamped on the receipt, with a zero or five at the end. For example, if the bill is Kč425, expect to pay between Kč460 and Kč465 including tip.
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10. Holidays
The following are the national public holidays for 2024:
1 Jan Mon New Year’s Day
29 Mar Fri Good Friday
1 Apr Mon Easter Monday
1 May Wed May Day
8 May Wed Liberation Day
5 Jul Fri St Cyril and St Methodius Day
6 Jul Sat Jan Hus Day
28 Sep Sat Statehood Day
28 Oct Mon Independence Day
17 Nov Sun Freedom and Democracy Day
24 Dec Tue Christmas Eve
25 Dec Wed Christmas Day
26 Dec Thu 2nd Day of Christmas
2025 National Public Holidays:
Wednesday, 1 January : New Year’s Day
Friday, 18 April : Good Friday
Monday, 21 April : Easter Monday
Thursday, 1 May : May Day
Thursday, 8 May : Liberation Day
Saturday, 5 July: St Cyril and St Methodius Day
Sunday, 6 July: Jan Hus Day
Sunday, 28 September : Statehood Day
Tuesday, 28 October : Independence Day
Monday, 17 November : Freedom and Democracy Day
Wednesday, 24 December: Christmas Eve
Thursday, 25 December: Christmas Day
Friday, 26 December: 2nd Day of Christmas