Czech Republic

Czech Public Holidays 2026 and 2027 + School Holidays

Czechia has 13 public holidays a year, and every one of them is a paid day off. This page lists the 2026 and 2027 dates with weekdays, the school holidays set by the Ministry of Education, and the days on which large shops must close.

30 Most Famous Czechs: Artists, Scientists and Inventors

Czechia gave the world soft contact lenses, the four blood groups, the laws of inheritance and the word robot. These are the 30 most famous Czechs, from Mucha and Mendel to Comenius and Capek, with what each one is actually known for.

Renting a Car in Czechia in 2026: 34 Important Tips

Renting a car in Czechia in 2026 takes a valid licence, a card for the deposit and a driver aged 18 to 21 depending on the company, and it is the easiest way to reach the castles, spa towns and national parks beyond the train lines. Vignette prices, driving rules and fees checked in September 2026.

17 Best Castles in Czechia, With 2026 Ticket Prices

Seventeen Czech castles worth a route, five of them UNESCO-listed, with 2026 koruna ticket prices, the Monday closures and which tour route actually reaches the room you came for.

Driving in Czechia: Vignette, Speed Limits and Car Hire Rules

Czechia's motorway toll is a digital vignette tied to your number plate, with no windscreen sticker since 2021. Prices start at 230 Kč for one day, and winter tyres are compulsory from 1 November to 31 March.

Prices in Czechia 2026: Is It Expensive and What Things Cost

Czechia is not expensive: a mid-range day costs about 2,800 Kč (€117) per person in Prague and a fifth less elsewhere. Here is what food, beer, transport, hotels and attractions actually cost in koruna in 2026.

Festivals in Czechia 2026-2027: Dates and Where to Go

The festivals in Czechia worth planning a 2026-2027 trip around run from the Pálava Wine Harvest Festival in Mikulov (11-13 September 2026) to Brutal Assault at Josefov Fortress (4-7 August 2027), with the Karlovy Vary film festival and Colours of Ostrava in July 2027 as the largest draws.

Beaches in Czechia: 8 Best Swimming Lakes and River Lidos

Czechia is landlocked, so every beach in the country sits on a lake, a reservoir, a flooded quarry or a river lido rather than the sea. The sandiest are Lhota, Mácha's Lake, Lipno, Hostivař, Komárovský rybník, Žluté lázně, Smíchovská náplavka and Kamencové jezero.

21 Interesting Facts About Czechia: Beer, Castles and Robots

Czechia is landlocked, drinks more beer per head than any country on earth at 121 litres a year, gave English the word robot, and holds 17 UNESCO World Heritage sites. Here are 21 facts about the country, each checked against an official source.

Getting Around Czechia: Trains, Buses, Trams and Car Hire

Use trains and coaches between Czech cities, trams and the metro inside them, and hire a car only for the villages and castles neither reaches. Nothing in Czechia is more than about four hours from Prague.

12 Things to Do in Ceske Budejovice, With 2026 Prices

Two days is enough for Ceske Budejovice: the Budvar brewery, the arcaded main square, the Black Tower and a river boat, plus Hluboka castle and UNESCO-listed Holasovice. With 2026 koruna prices and opening days.

Best Hotels in Prague: Where to Stay by Neighbourhood

For a first visit to Prague, book a hotel in Old Town or the Lesser Town; New Town is the practical, well-connected base. This guide ranks the neighbourhoods, compares 28 hotels in one table and groups the picks by luxury, mid-range and budget.

Best Restaurants in Prague: Where to Eat by Area and Budget

Prague's strongest restaurants fall into 3 groups: modern Czech kitchens, serious steakhouses and cheap pubs and canteens. This guide sorts 14 of them by neighbourhood and price band, from Kantýna's butcher counter to Michelin-starred La Degustation, with the dishes to order and when to book.

20 Things to Do in Ostrava: Blast Furnaces, Mines and Music

Ostrava is Czechia's third city and the only one whose main sight is a steelworks you can climb. Here are 20 things to do, from the blast furnaces of Dolni Vitkovice and the Landek mining museum to the burning Ema slag heap and Stodolni Street.

Things to Do in Český Krumlov: Castle, Theatre and the Vltava

Český Krumlov takes one full day, and staying a night is what makes it worth the trip. Here is which of the seven castle tickets to buy, what the Baroque Theatre needs and how to get there from Prague.

Best Museums in Prague: 23 Picks, Priced for 2026

Twenty-three Prague museums checked against their own sites in September 2026, with 2026 koruna prices, closing days and the two that moved or shut. The Army Museum Zizkov is free all year.

14 Things to Do in Plzen, the Home of Pilsner Beer

Plzen is where pilsner was invented in 1842, and the brewery, the Brewery Museum and 20 km of medieval tunnels sit within a few streets of each other. Here are 14 things to do, with 2026 koruna prices.

Things to Do in Prague: What to See and How Many Days

Three days is the right length for Prague: the Old Town and Josefov, then Prague Castle and the Lesser Town, then Vyšehrad or a day trip. Here is what to see, what it costs and how to get around.

14 Things to Do in Olomouc, Moravia’s Overlooked City

Olomouc has the country's second largest heritage centre after Prague, a UNESCO Baroque column, seven fountains and an astronomical clock rebuilt with factory workers instead of saints. 14 things to do.

Things to Do in Liberec, Czechia: Ještěd, Zoo and 2-Day Plan

Liberec needs two days: one for the town hall, museums and zoo, one for Ještěd and the Jizera Mountains. The Ještěd cable car has been out of service since 2021, so plan to walk or take the chairlift.

Things to Do in Karlovy Vary: Springs, Colonnades and Spas

Karlovy Vary needs one day: walk the colonnades, drink from the 13 springs with a porcelain spa cup, ride the funicular to the Diana tower. The town has been UNESCO-listed since 2021.

12 Things to Do in Telc, Czechia’s UNESCO Square Town

Telc is a one-day town around one UNESCO-listed square of arcaded Renaissance houses, plus a chateau, a church tower and a CZK 10 lookout in the woods. With 2026 koruna prices and opening days.

14 Things to Do in Brno, Czechia’s Second City

Brno needs two days and one advance booking: Villa Tugendhat sells out in minutes, while Spilberk Castle, the St James ossuary and the labyrinth under Zelny trh take walk-ups. With 2026 koruna prices.

16 Best Bars in Prague, Checked and Priced for 2026

Sixteen Prague bars, each checked against its own site in September 2026: cocktail cellars in the Old Town, nightly jazz clubs, tank-beer pubs and clubs that run to 5am, with 2026 koruna prices.

Where to Go in Czechia: 16 Places to Visit, Ranked

Go to Prague first, then Cesky Krumlov and Kutna Hora, and add Brno and Olomouc if you have a week. Sixteen Czech destinations ranked by what a visitor gets out of them, with 2026 koruna prices.

Prague Christmas Markets 2023-2024: Dates, Location, Attractions

Prague's Christmas markets in 2023 offer diverse and enchanting experiences. The Old Town Square Christmas Market, open from December 2 to January 6, is the largest and most vibrant, featuring over 100 wooden huts selling Czech handicrafts and sweets. It's set amidst historic architecture, including the Old Town Hall and the Church of St. Nicholas. A highlight is the grand Christmas tree, accompanied by festive music and performances.

Prague City Pass or Prague Card: Which Is Worth It in 2026

Prague Card and Prague City Pass are two different products in 2026: Prague Card is the physical version of Prague CoolPass, while Prague City Pass is a separate 1,800 Kč card covering Prague Castle and the Jewish Quarter.

Jewish Quarter of Prague (Josefov): Sites, Tickets and Tips

Josefov is the Jewish Quarter of Prague: 4 Jewish Museum synagogues, the Old Jewish Cemetery and the Old-New Synagogue within a few streets of Old Town Square. One Jewish Town ticket covers every open site, a visit takes 2 to 3 hours, and the sites close on Saturdays and Jewish holidays.

Traditional Czech Food in Prague: 14 Dishes + a Food Tour

Traditional Czech food in Prague means hearty dishes such as svíčková, guláš and vepřo knedlo zelo, and a guided food tour is the quickest way to taste several of them in one afternoon, which is why my mom and I booked the Eating Prague food tour.