Czech Republic

Traveling

Entry requirements

Passport and visa service: Entry formalities, on Czech.cz, the national website of the Czech Republic
Countries with Visa Waiver Regime with Czech Republic based on bilateral treaties, on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Diplomatic representations: See the list of Czech embassies abroad provided by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Organizing your trip

Means of transport recommended in town

Recommendation: There are many taxi operators in czech cities. But Prague's taxis belong to the most expensive taxi within european capital cities. And foreigners may pay much more than the normal price, if they don't take care. For these reasons, it is better to take a public transport (bus, subway, tram, rail etc). The subway in Prague (the only one in the Czech republic) operates more than 30 years and is still expanding.
Maps of urban networks: Prague's urban networks - Subway and Tram
Prague's urban networks - Subway and Bus

Means of transport recommended in the rest of the country

Recommendation: When travelling through the Czech Republic, it is recommanded to take trains or bus. Frequency as well as price conditions are very advantageous. During the night, for more security, it is better to take Eurocity or Intercity trains, with Policemen on board.
Czech Airlines propose also domestic flights between the main cities of the country.

For more information, visit the Idnes.cz, the national timetable information system.
Rail companies: Czech railways

Airlines

Name	Type	Domestic flights	International flights
Czech Airlines	traditional	yes	yes
Ryanair	low cost	no	no
EasyJet	low cost	no	no
Smart Wings	low cost	no	no

Traveling by yourself

Recommendation: Can be useful to travel in the country. The network of highways is growing each year, joining the biggest cities. Signalization is quite good.
But you should take care. Czech drivers do not care about traffic rules; they do not respect speed limits although they may obtain the significant penalties. In the biggest cities traffic jams occur regularly in the morning and in the late afternoon; in Prague it is during the whole day.
Road maps: Roads and Motorways
Taxes Road
Other maps
Find an itinerary: www.mapy.cz

Visiting

Different forms of tourism

Historical: Prague, Kutna Hora, Cesky Krumlov, Telc, Tabor, Kromeriz etc.
Cultural: There are many museum and galleries in the Czech republic (700 nationwide) with huge amount various cultural products. Some of them are listed on UNESCO Cultural world heritage (Prague, Kutna Hora, Cesky Krumlov, Telc, Tabor, Kromeriz, Slavonice).
Nature: The Czech Republic is also rich on natural parks and protected areas, caves, and Zoological gardens.
Religious: Almost each village has some religious building or other monument.
Thermal: Czech Republic is also famous for its spa areas. The colonnades of Karlovy Vary and the splendid spa buildings in Mariánské Lázne are world-famous.
Beach: The beaches are only at the dams and lakes (Lipno, Slapy, Orlik, Vranov).
Winter sports: Krkonose (Spindleruv Mlyn, Harrachov), Jeseniky (Ramzova, Ovcarna), Beskydy mountains (Bila, Ostravice). For more information, click here.
Outdoor activities: Sport is very popular in the Czech republic – especially ice-hockey, football, and Golf.
Shopping: The most popular souvenirs are products of Czech skilful craftsman, in particular glass, porcelain, and ceramics. Throughout Prague will you see nicely decorated and illuminated shops with Bohemian glass and porcelain. There are also many shops with handmade ceramics, where you can also buy handmade clothes and fashion accessories. Another major treasure of the Czech Republic is the semi-precious Czech garnet (also known as Bohemian ruby).

Top 10 highlights of the capital city
Prague Castle
Charles Bridge
Jewish Town
The old town
National Museum, in the New Town
The Lesser Quarter
Prague Fountains
Petrin Observation Tower
Zizkov Tower

Top 10 highlights of the country
Prague
Kutna Hora
Cesky Krumlov
Telc
Tabor
Kromeriz
Slavonice
Krkonose
Jeseniky
Beskydy

Tourism organizations: Czech Tourism
Czech Tourism agencies abroad
Prague Information Service
Tourist server of the Czech republic

Living conditions

Health and safety

Health precautions: Any vaccination is obligatory.
Vaccination against encephalitis from ticks is recommended for journeys in the wild.
International hospitals: Top Moravia Health (only in czech), International Clinic - Prague, GHC Healthcare, Canafian Medical Care
For further information on sanitary conditions: Ministry of Health (only in czech)
Country's pages on the website of WHO
For further information on safety conditions: Czech.cz, the national website of the Czech Republic
The pages dedicated to the country on the site of the Canadian Foreign Office
The Current Travel arming proposed by the American State Department

Emergency numbers

Integrated emergency system (police, ambulance, fire)

112

Time difference and climate

Time and time difference: It is %T:%M %A in Prague (GMT+1 in winter, GMT+2 in summer)
Summer time period: Summer time period from April to October

Map of the time zone

Fuseau(x) horaire

Type of climate: The climate is mild but variable locally and throughout the year. It is characterized by a cold winter (from January to March) and warm summer (from June to August).The temperature falls bellow 0°C in winter and can be in excess of 30°C in summer.

For further information: Czech Hydrometeorological Institute

Average annual temperatures and rainfall

Climate

Eating

Culinary specialties

Czech cuisine is marked by a strong emphasis on meat dishes. Pork is quite common, and beef and chicken are also popular. Goose, duck, rabbit and wild game are also served. Fish is rare, with the occasional exception of fresh trout and carp, which are served at Christmas.
The most famous dishes are:

For more information, click here.

Drinks

Aside from Slivovitz (brandy produced from plums), Czech beer and wine, Czechs also produce two uniquely Czech liquors, Fernet Stock and Becherovka. Kofola is a non-alcoholic Czech soft drink somewhat similar in look and taste to Coca-Cola

Dietary taboos

None

Paying

Domestic currency: Czech Crown
ISO Code: CZK
To obtain domestic currency: Easily, and every in towns : in the banks, in the exchange offices, from the ATM.
Possible means of payment: In cash, via credit cards

Speaking

Official language: Czech, which belongs to the group of Slavic languages, and as a West Slavic languages, it is very similar to Slovak.
Other languages spoken: English, German
Business language: English
Getting some knowledge: Look at the Basic phrases propose on Czech.cz, the official website of the Czech Republic
Free translation tools: Slovnick - Multilingual Dictionary