Money and payments
Cards and cash
These ATMs do not charge a fee for withdrawing money with an international debit card:
Tipping
Tipping in tourist restaurants is a standard 10%, and is not normally added to the bill.
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Europe · Central EuropeOutline guideCountry in Central Europe
Photo: Dudva, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
The Czech Republic (Czech: Česká republika), or Czechia (Česko) is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is not a large country but has a rich and eventful history, including incidents and people like Saint Wenceslas, Jan Hus, the Thirty-years War, Operation Anthropoid and the dissolution of Czechoslovakia. Czechs, Germans, Slovaks, Italian stonemasons and stucco workers, French tradesmen, and deserters from Napoleon's army have lived and worked here, all influencing one another. For centuries they jointly cultivated their land, creating works that grace this small country with hundreds of ancient castles, monasteries and stately mansions, and entire towns that give the impression of being comprehensive artefacts. The Czech Republic contains a vast number of architectural treasures and has beautiful forests and mountains to match.
Answers to what travellers most often look up about Czechia.
Cards and cash
These ATMs do not charge a fee for withdrawing money with an international debit card:
Tipping
Tipping in tourist restaurants is a standard 10%, and is not normally added to the bill.
4G (LTE) is available in the huge majority of the country, including the countryside, with much 5G coverage primarily in urban areas and corridors.
Tap water is safe to drink.
Grocery stores do not sell over-the-counter drugs, such as aspirin. You will need to go to a pharmacy (lékárna), which is usually open M-F 08:00-19:00.
The Czech Republic, along with its neighbours Slovakia, Austria, Poland and Hungary, is part of Central Europe." Get on their good side by answering "Central Europe", not Eastern!
Covered in the guide
Attractions, food, stays and travel essentials, with ratings, reviews, opening hours and directions.
the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic with an extensive and beautiful historic centre
the largest city in Moravia and its former capital, it offers several excellent museums, a large historical centre, and the second-largest ossuary in Europe after the Paris catacombs
attractive large city in South Bohemia famous for its "Budweiser" beer; known in German as Budweis
beautiful old town in South Bohemia with the country's second biggest castle
historic (and biggest Czech) spa resort, especially popular with German and Russian tour groups; known as Carlsbad in German
historical town with famous Saint Barbara cathedral, old silver mines and the Chapel of All Saints, which is decorated with thousands of human bones
riverside university town with a thousand-year history and the second-largest historical centre in the Czech Republic
a vibrant local subculture and long history of coal mining and heavy industry
A region of towering rock formations and isolated castles located north-east of Prague. The gateway city of Jičín is an interesting destination in its own right, but Turnov is closer to most of the castles and rock formations. The twin towers of the ruined castle Trosky are a symbol of the area and can be climbed for the views
and the holy cave monastery: Hiking trip to the famous castle and an off-the-beaten-track monastery
The highest mountains in the Czech Republic along the Polish border. Most popular Czech skiing resorts are here, such as Špindlerův Mlýn.
A beautiful small town in East Bohemia. The Renaissance main square and chateau are among the Czech Republic's prettiest and the town has been home to many important and influential artists, including composer Bedřich Smetana, sculptor Olbram Zoubek and painter Josef Váchal. There are two international opera festivals at the chateau each year.
A spa town in Western Bohemia.
Some of the best vineyards in the Czech Republic and totally off the well-beaten tourist path
Cross country skiing resort. The race of Tour de Ski takes place here.
Terezín is a town in the Czech Republic with around 3,000 inhabitants. It is mainly known for its fortress, and for the Theresienstadt concentration camp; see Holocaust remembrance.
Places in Czechia on the World Heritage List.
Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Other Regions of Europe
Listed 2007
Old Town
Listed 1992
Villa Tugendhat
Listed 2001
Holašovice
Listed 1998
The Great Spa Towns of Europe
Listed 2021
Holy Trinity Column in Olomouc
Listed 2000
Pilgrimage Church of Saint John of Nepomuk
Listed 1994
Lednice-Valtice Cultural Landscape
Listed 1996
Litomyšl Chateau
Listed 1999
Ore Mountain Mining Region
Listed 2019
Žatec and the Landscape of Saaz Hops
Listed 2023
Jewish Quarter and St Procopius' Basilica in Třebíč
Listed 2003
List from Wikidata (CC0). Photos from Wikimedia Commons.
The central part of the Czech Republic with the capital Prague.
Famous for Pilsen beer and spa towns.
Fascinating landscapes as well as picturesque castles.
The highest Czech mountain range, the Krkonoše, and a couple of historic sights.
Picturesque historic towns (including two UNESCO sights) in a peaceful landscape with hundreds of fish ponds. On the border with Germany is the largest national park in the Czech Republic.
Between Bohemia and Moravia, this small region is surprisingly rich in culture and history, with three UNESCO world heritage sights.
The big industrial city Ostrava and UNESCO historic city Olomouc, along with some pretty mountain areas.
Agricultural region with vineyards and the "capital" of Moravia Brno.
Public transport and paid services in Czechia.
By bus
A cheap and excellent means of travelling between Prague and other major cities are the buses from FlixBus, RegioJet, Leo Express and Student Agency.
By train
Trains in Czech Republic are operated mostly by state-owned company České Dráhy (Czech Railways).
By car
Czech drivers may seem aggressive sometimes, especially in Prague, but it is far from the "madness" found in some southern European countries.
By taxi
Ride-hailing is available in Czech Republic and the following are the most anticipated providers:
Apps for booking a taxi or a ride in Czechia.
Finding apps for Czechia…
Other ways to travel:By bicycleOn footBy thumb
Operators checked against their official websites in October 2026; services that have stopped running are not listed. Logos and Wikipedia links: Wikidata (CC0)
Choose an airport to see hotels, stations, taxi ranks and car rental desks around it.
Prague · International · PRG
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Calculated from climate averages: mild daytime highs and lower rainfall. It does not account for festivals, crowds or prices.
Average conditions in Prague
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg. high | 1° | 3° | 8° | 14° | 19° | 23° | 26° | 25° | 20° | 14° | 7° | 2° |
| Avg. low | -5° | -4° | -1° | 3° | 8° | 12° | 14° | 14° | 9° | 4° | 0° | -3° |
| Rainfall (mm) | 42 | 32 | 39 | 36 | 69 | 78 | 79 | 81 | 53 | 46 | 43 | 41 |
| Humidity | 93% | 89% | 83% | 76% | 73% | 68% | 64% | 65% | 72% | 82% | 90% | 93% |
Choose your passport and destination to see whether you need a visa.
Budget
$70
Per person, per day
Mid-range
$180
Per person, per day
Luxury
$475
Per person, per day
| Budget | Mid-range | Luxury | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation | $35 | $100 | $275 |
| Food and drink | $15 | $40 | $95 |
| Local transport | $10 | $15 | $40 |
| Activities | $10 | $25 | $65 |
Estimate from World Bank price levels (2025). Actual costs vary by city and season. World Bank
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We do not label countries as safe or unsafe. Below is the official advice from two governments, with the date it was last updated. Always read the full advice before you travel.
US Department of State
Level 1 of 4Exercise normal precautions
Exercise normal precautionin Czechia. Czechia is generally a safe destination for travelers. Travelers should remain vigilant against petty crime, such as pickpocketing and other minor theft, especially in tourist areas and on public transportation. Follow local laws and guidance from Czech authorities during your stay. Review our travel guidance for the Czech Republic to learn how to prepare for a safe trip.
UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
No advice against travel. Read the full advice before you go.
Before you travel No travel can be guaranteed safe. Read all the advice in this guide. You may also find it helpful to: see general advice for women travellers read our guide on disability and travel abroad see general advice for LGBT+ travellers read about safety for solo and independent travel see advice on volunteering and adventure travel abroad Travel insurance If you choose to travel, research your destinations and get appropriate travel insurance. Insurance should cover your itinerary, planned activities and expenses in an emergency. About FCDO travel advice The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) provides advice about risks of travel to help you make informed decisions. Find out more about FCDO travel advice. Get travel advice updates Sign up to get email notifications when this advice is updated. Follow FCDO: travel advice on X travel advice on Facebook Travel Aware on Instagram
Stories, itineraries and practical advice for travelling in Czechia.
InspirationDiscover the best Christmas markets in Europe, comparing opening dates, hotel costs, train connections and the mug deposit system across top cities.
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Travel tipsThe railway system of the Czech Republic is relatively fast, reliable and very dense. In comparison to Western Europe, train travel is inexpensive and Czech trains are therefore very popular across all social classes.
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Food & drinkAs wine is usually regarded as the most sophisticated of alcoholic beverages, wine tourism or enotourism is highly developed in many regions around the world, and it can be as simple as hopping on a wine shuttle in Napa…
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Culture & historyFrom the end of World War II in 1945 until the Eastern European revolutions of 1989, Europe was divided between two political blocs: east and west. The border was figuratively called the Iron Curtain.
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ItinerariesThe Amber Road (German: Bernsteinstraße, Italian: Via dell Ambra) is an ancient trade route which connects the Baltic Sea with the Adriatic Sea.
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ItinerariesThe European Route of Industrial Heritage is a tourism information network for industrial tourism in Europe.
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