Czech Republic

The Czech Republic is a relatively new country in Central Europe as it has only been around since 1993. The country itself is known for its castles and chateaux scattered skyline, long history and traditional food, all of which add to a fulfilling trip.

The Krkonoše is a mountain range that borders the north of the Czech Republic. The mountains have been described as being especially beautiful during the summer months due to their luscious vegetation and alpine meadows. There is an opportunity for people to explore this natural beauty for themselves at the Krkonoše National Park, allowing you to trek the trails and admire the waterfalls in the brisk weather.

In the Czech Republic you will not go hungry; many locals pride themselves of their cooking skills after this country has suffered four decades of communism. National food in the Czech Republic is based on pork or beef meat with a side of wheat or potato dumplings. Svíčková is a unique dish made up of sirloin prepared with vegetables, boiled with double cream and served with dumplings and cranberry sauce.

Czech Republic is an active country with its most popular sport being football. Followed by this ice hockey, volley-ball and tennis are also of great popularity. Why not try out kick-ball, an original Czech sport?

Top Destinations

Prague: Visit the country’s capital to be transported to a fairy-tale setting and see why it is nicknamed “the City of a Hundred Spires”. Explore the town on a walking tour, and see the old town square is classed as one of Europe’s most beautiful urban spaces and is a popular tourist attraction. Here you can listen to live music while buying goods from the market and admiring the 11^th century architecture. Prague’s castle is undoubtedly a must see, the picturesque site is the largest ancient castle in the world. Wander through the past and take a tour to be guaranteed brilliant views over Vltava River and to learn something new.

Karlovy Vary: Situated in the ancient land of Bohemia this fashionable city attracts visitors who are looking to try something new. The city is well known for its hot springs and with 13 main springs to choose from there is plenty of opportunity to learn more at a hot spring excursion. If you visit Hot Spring Colonnade you can even sample the tepid waters from their taps. If you fancy taking a break away from the spa town’s history then glisten amongst 2000 items at the Moser Glass Museum.

Cesky Krumlov: This small city is known to be a pocket sized Prague, with its popularity increasing with tourists. You won’t be short of culture here, as it is home to the Český Krumlov State Castle, a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Monument. There are multiple tours on offer for you to explore the beauty of this Renaissance building. A trip to the Egon Schiele Art Centrum is like a step back in time; here you can stand in the famous painter’s footsteps. Once you have fed your culture cravings trek, bike or ride up the unspoiled nature to the Kleť mountain - if you are lucky you can even catch a glimpse of the Alps.

Weather

Czech Republic is in a land locked geographical position meaning that its temperature difference between summer and winter is high.

January is usually the coldest month of the year reaching around 0°C but with chance of falling lower. Czech winters are usually accompanied with strong, cold winds and chance of snowfall. On average less than 40 days per year see snow however in the mountainous areas this can increase up to 120.

During the summer temperatures can reach around 20-25° and is in general quite dry. July is the warmest month with an average temperature of nearly 20°C.

The most popular time to go is around May and June due to its warm weather. If you are looking to escape the crowds then visit during the winter to admire the beautiful Czech architecture under a blanket of snow- just make sure you pack a coat!

For up to date weather in Czech Republic visit our partner site World Weather Online.

Culture

Typically in Czech culture the family is the most important thing and people are usually quite reserved to people they do not know so well.

The Czech Republic is a country with lots of mixed influences with only 81.2% of the population being Czech. Many people’s origins come from surrounding countries such as Poland, Germany, and Slovakia etc.

Czech is a Slavic language and up to 95% of the population speak Czech with some older people also speaking Russian and German. In tourist destinations young people, waiters and receptionists commonly speak English however it is still recommended to learn a few Czech phrases especially if you plan on visiting a small Czech town.

The most common religious orientation of the Czech’s is Christianity; commonly up to 39.2% of the population are Roman Catholics. Despite this there are a popular amount of Czech atheists with up to 39.8%.

Ideal for…?

The Czech Republic is a brilliant destination for anyone who shares a love of culture and beautiful architecture.

For a romantic city break then the fairy-tale city of Prague is perfect. Here, it is easy to spend the whole day sipping on coffee in the old town square admiring the beautiful city and with it’s cheap prices it’s hard not to. Prague has recently been labelled as a cheap holiday hotspot, so enjoy the city with a budget break with your mates!

In order to relax and escape the busy tourist destinations then the smaller towns in the Czech Republic is for you. Despite getting away from it all you cannot escape the Czech picturesque landscape and gothic architecture.