Czech Republic travel advice

Planning your trip

Prague is a great base for your visit to Czechia — we can arrange for you to spend time exploring the city as well as taking trips out into the countryside or along the Vltava River. We’ll work with you to create your ideal trip, including local insights, compelling experiences, and exceptional hotels.

Language

The vast majority of the population speaks Czech, and in some regions you’ll also find Slovak and Polish. About a quarter of the country is fluent in English, mostly younger Czechs and those who work in the tourism industry.

Food & drink

Czech cuisine is a hearty affair. Both soup and dumplings (knedlíky) play a starring role alongside slow-cooked meats. The long winters mean there’s an emphasis on mushrooms and root vegetables like carrots and potatoes. The richness is often balanced with tangy counterpoints like pickles, sour cream, and vinegar. The Habsburg Empire brought in Germanic and Hungarian influences and today you can find Czech takes on dishes like goulash, schnitzel, and sauerkraut.

Czechia is renowned for its plenitude of beers — the country is usually cited as having the highest beer consumption per capita. There are more than 40 breweries and brew pubs in Prague alone, including U Fleků, which dates back to 1499. Plum brandy (slivovice) and the herbal liqueur Becherovka are both widely consumed as well, often after meals.

Festivals & public holidays

The list of official Czechia vacations reflects both the country’s strong Catholic tradition and the political tumult of the modern era. In addition to Christmas and Easter, you’ll also find Saint Wenceslas Day (a celebration of Bohemia’s patron saint) and Jan Hus Day (remembering a 15th-century Czech theologian). The Struggle for Freedom and Democracy Day marks the anniversary of the day in 1939 when Nazis stormed the University of Prague and executed nine student leaders, as well as deporting more than 1,200 students to concentration camps.

• New Year's Day & Restoration Day of the Independent Czechia State — 1st Jan
• Good Friday — March or April
• Easter — March or April
• Easter Monday — March or April
• Labour Day — 1st May
• Victory Day — 8th May
• Saints Cyril and Methodius Day — 5th July
• Jan Hus Day — 6th July
• Saint Wenceslas Day — 28th September
• Independent Czechoslovak State Day — 28th October
• Struggle for Freedom and Democracy Day — 17 November
• Christmas Eve — 24th December
• Christmas Day — 25th December
• 2nd Day of Christmas — 26th December

Tipping

Though Czechia is a member of the European Union, the country still uses the koruna rather than the euro. Credit cards are accepted at most businesses, though we still suggest carrying cash for tipping and for small shops — ATMs are easy to find across the country.

Tipping isn’t an important part of the culture here. Leaving 5-10% is normal at a restaurant, but tips aren’t expected anywhere else.

Communications

The country code for Czechia is 420 and there are no regional or area codes. There are three mobile operators — O2, T-Mobile, and Vodafone. You can purchase SIM cards when you arrive or ask your provider about roaming and data plans.

Wi-Fi is common throughout the country and often available for free within restaurants, cafes, and some public parks.

Travel Advice

Our certified country specialists can advise on any safety concerns you may have. For current information, please refer to the State Department website.

When to go to Czechia (Czech Republic)

You'll find temperature and rainfall information, together with a month-by-month guide on visiting, on our guide for when to go to Czechia (Czech Republic).

More Information

• Flight Time
  9 hours 35 minutes (New York to Prague)

• Time Zone
  UTC +2