Czech Republic travel guide: when to go, where to go and how to plan it

November 8, 2026 · 8 min read

The Czech Republic, also called Czechia, has one of the best-preserved historic centres in Europe and prices that are still gentler than its western neighbours. Prague is the headline: a skyline of spires above a river, a castle on the hill and a thousand years of architecture in walking distance. But the country rewards you for leaving the capital, with fairytale towns, castles on rock outcrops, wine villages in Moravia and some of the best beer on the planet.

It is compact and easy to cover by train and bus, and good value for a group. This guide covers when to go, where to go, an eight-day route and what to decide before you book.

Capital: Prague
Currency: Czech koruna (Kč)
Languages: Czech
Plugs: Type C and E, 230 V
Driving: On the right
Time zone: UTC+1, UTC+2 in summer
Best time to go: April to June and September to October
Daily budget: About US$80–150 a person a day, mid-range, 2026

When to go

Spring (April to June) is mild and fresh. Parks and beer gardens open, the crowds are manageable until June and the river valleys turn green. Easter markets appear in Prague's squares. Late May and June are warm, with long evenings, and Prague is at its busiest from then until September.

Summer (July and August) is hot in the cities, sometimes above 30 °C, with thunderstorms. Prague is crowded, especially around the Old Town Square and Charles Bridge, so go early in the morning or after dinner. It is a good season for outdoor swimming and hiking in the Bohemian Paradise and Bohemian Switzerland, and for open-air festivals.

Autumn (September and October) is probably the best time: warm days, clear air, golden forests and wine harvest festivals in southern Moravia, with fewer visitors and lower prices. For more on travelling off-peak, see shoulder-season travel.

Winter (November to March) is cold and often grey, with snow most winters in the hills. Prague and Brno hold Christmas markets from late November, with mulled wine and fried treats, and the cities are beautiful under snow. Christmas Eve and Christmas Day close most things, and the New Year weeks are busy. Skiing is available in the Krkonoše mountains on the northern border.

Where to go

Prague

Cross Charles Bridge early, walk up to the castle and the cathedral of St Vitus, wander the Old Town and the astronomical clock, then spend an evening in the Jewish Quarter and another in a pub in Vinohrady. Stay at least three days, and four if you want time for the quieter districts across the river. For a day-by-day plan, see the 3-day Prague itinerary.

Kutná Hora

An hour east of Prague by train, a former silver-mining town with a huge Gothic cathedral and a small ossuary decorated with human bones, which is stranger than it sounds. An easy day trip.

Plzeň

The home of pilsner beer, which was first brewed here in 1842. Tour the brewery and its cold cellars, then eat in the old town. It is about an hour and a half from Prague by train, and fits a day or a night.

Český Krumlov

A small medieval town curled around a loop of the Vltava river, with a castle above it and a tower that you can climb for the view. It is one of the most beautiful towns in Central Europe, and one of the most visited, so stay the night and walk the streets early and late. Two days is a good length, including a float down the river in summer.

Karlovy Vary

A spa town in a wooded valley in the west, with grand colonnades, hot springs you can sip from small cups, and pastel buildings. It is calm in the off-season and suits a relaxed day or two.

Bohemian Switzerland and the Saxon border

North of Prague, sandstone rock towers, gorges and forest trails, with the Pravčická Gate, Europe's largest natural sandstone arch, as the highlight. It is best with a car or by train to Hřensko, and good for a day of hiking.

Brno

The country's second city is a university town with a calm, unfussy centre, good coffee, a hill castle and a lively bar scene. It is the base for the wine villages and the castle gardens of south Moravia. Two days.

Olomouc and the Moravian wine country

A smaller city with a baroque centre, a great plague column and fewer crowds than Prague. South of Brno, cellars in the villages around Mikulov offer tastings in the wine country. Both suit a longer trip.

An 8-day itinerary

Days 1–4: Prague. Spend one day on the castle and Lesser Town, one on the Old Town and the Jewish Quarter, one on a day trip to Kutná Hora, and one for a slow wander and a long dinner.

Days 5–6: Český Krumlov. About three hours from Prague by bus or by train with a change. Walk the old town in the evening, climb the castle tower in the morning and take a short paddle on the river if the weather suits.

Days 7–8: Brno. Most of a day to travel, by train via České Budějovice. Spend one day in Brno itself and the evening in a wine bar. From Brno it is about an hour and a half by train to Vienna, or about two and a half to three hours back to Prague, so you can fly home from either.

With more time, add Plzeň on the way to Český Krumlov, or the wine villages south of Brno.

Getting around

Trains link Prague with the main towns, run by the national operator and a couple of private companies. They are comfortable and cheap, but slower than in Western Europe, and on a few routes the bus is faster. Book the long-distance trains ahead, as seats on popular routes fill at weekends. Regional trains reach most places, and the bus network fills the gaps.

In Prague, trams, metro and buses are cheap, frequent and run all night on key routes. Validate paper tickets where required, and expect inspectors. The centre is walkable. For general advice on moving through the continent, see train travel in Europe.

Taxis can overcharge tourists on the street, so use a ride-hailing app or a taxi with a clear meter, and agree the price before you start if you can.

Driving helps for castles, the countryside and the wine country. Motorways need a toll sticker or digital vignette, which rental cars normally carry, so check at pick-up. The Czech Republic has a zero-tolerance rule on alcohol for drivers. Our guide to renting a car abroad covers what to ask. In Prague, don't drive.

Money and costs

The Czech Republic is in the EU but uses its own currency, the koruna, and not the euro. Cards and contactless payments are accepted widely in cities, but carry some koruna for small pubs, village shops and public toilets. Withdraw from a bank ATM, and if a machine asks whether to charge you in your home currency or in koruna, choose koruna, as the home-currency rate is poor. Avoid the exchange booths in the tourist centre of Prague, whose rates are often much worse than they look.

Tipping is expected in restaurants and pubs: round up, or add around 10% for good service, and say the total when you pay.

Food and drink cost little by European standards. A lunch menu, a half-litre of beer, a bakery pastry or a train ticket will not trouble your budget, while hotels in central Prague, especially at Christmas and in summer, cost the most. Rough daily costs a person, in 2026:

Budget: about US$45–75, with hostels, pub lunches and regional trains.
Mid-range: about US$80–150, with hotels or apartments, restaurant dinners and some tours.
Comfortable: US$200 and up, with good hotels, long dinners and a private driver for day trips.

Planning the Czech Republic as a group

The Czech Republic suits a group trip because costs are low and rooms and apartments are large and plentiful, so a group can have more comfort for the money.

Stays. Prague has large apartments in historic buildings that sleep six or eight, often cheaper per person than hotel rooms. Choose one near a tram line, as the Old Town cobbles are hard on suitcases. In Český Krumlov, book early, as the central rooms are few. See where to stay with a group.

Beer halls and tables. Pubs have long shared tables that suit a group, and a table for a dozen is not a problem in the beer halls. For restaurants, reserve at weekends and in summer. Large groups can sample dishes from the regional menus: goulash, roast pork and dumplings, and fried cheese.

Trains and buses. Buying tickets for the whole group at once is simplest, and the operators' own apps are easy to use. Agree who carries the tickets, and check the platform in advance, as the stations are big.

Costs. Rounds of beer, taxis and entrance tickets are paid by whoever is at the till. Log them as you go, so nobody remembers a pub round at the airport.

Before you go

Entry rules: check the official government site of the Czech Republic and your own government's travel advice before you book. The Czech Republic is in the Schengen area, so the rules depend on your passport.
Travel insurance that covers medical costs and cancellations.
Connectivity: an eSIM or a local SIM works well, and travellers from the EU can use their home plan. Wifi is common in cafés and hotels.
A plug adapter for Type C or E if you are coming from outside continental Europe.
Health: no special vaccines are usually needed; ask a travel clinic. If you will walk in forests in warm months, ask about tick-borne encephalitis, which occurs in parts of the country.
Customs: greet people when you enter a shop or restaurant, take off your shoes if you are asked at a private home, and keep your belongings close in crowds, as pickpockets work the tourist areas of Prague.

What to pack

Comfortable shoes with grip matter most, because the old towns are cobbled and the streets in Prague climb. Bring layers for changeable weather, a light waterproof and an umbrella, and a warm coat, hat and gloves if you visit from November to March.

For summer, add sunscreen, a hat and a swimsuit for the rivers. A small day bag with a zip keeps your things safe in crowds, and a few koruna coins are useful for toilets. For hiking in Bohemian Switzerland, bring walking shoes, a refillable bottle and snacks.