Czech Republic

Why the Czech Republic

Less than two hours from Paris, the Czech Republic remains one of the great destinations in Central Europe too often reduced to Prague and its few nights of city break. This is a mistake: behind the golden capital lies a country of staggering wealth, dotted with medieval castles, Belle Époque spa towns, Moravian vineyards and bohemian countryside where time seems to stand still.

Prague itself deserves better than the usual flyover. Spared by the bombings of the Second World War, it preserves intact six centuries of superimposed architecture: Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque, Art Nouveau, Prague Cubism. Nowhere else in Europe can you find such a density of masterpieces in such a small radius as the historic center of the Old Town. At night, the city reveals another personality: craft beer bars buried in vaulted cellars, underground clubs in old warehouses, jazz concerts in seventeenth-century cellars.

But the real secret of the country is called Ceský Krumlov, the baroque Olomouc, Brno and its wine cellars, or the hot springs of Karlovy Vary where Goethe came to heal himself. Travelling to the Czech Republic means discovering that Central Europe has kept an authenticity that Western Europe has often lost.

When to go

The Czech Republic has a temperate continental climate: cold and dry winters, hot summers but not excessive. The best time for a tour is from May to June and from September to October, when the temperatures are mild (14-22°C in Prague), the light is beautiful and the crowds are still manageable.

Spring (April-June)Prague's parks come alive, café terraces open, Easter markets liven up the squares. May is the month of classical music festivals, including the prestigious Prague Spring International Music Festival. June offers the longest nights and ideal temperatures to walk around until midnight.

Summer (July-August)Prague is crowded and expensive, but the bohemian countryside and secondary towns are still pleasant. Ceský Krumlov, beautiful at this time, requires a reservation very early.

Fall (September-October): the most serene period, with golden lights on tiled roofs, the grape harvest in Moravia and a much lower attendance than in summer. The Signal Light Festival illuminates Prague in mid-October.

December: The Christmas markets in Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square are among the most beautiful in Central Europe. Count on people, but the atmosphere with lanterns and mulled wine is worth all the effort.

Winter (January-February): sometimes intense cold (-10°C on cold nights), but the museums are almost empty and prices are collapsing. For lovers of winter atmosphere and economical travel.

How much does it cost

The Czech Republic is one of the most accessible European destinations, with a cost of living around 19% lower than in France, and local beers are among the cheapest in Europe (less than €2 in local pubs).

Budget for an economical traveller: 60 euros per day in a hostel, meals on the go and public transport. Prague has an exemplary metro, tram and bus network, with a basic fare of around 1.60 CZK (0.07 euros) per trip.

Intermediate budget: 110 euros per day in a 3-star hotel, meals in a local restaurant and some entrance fees to sites (Prague Castle costs about 15 euros for all tickets). This budget covers a very comfortable stay.

Premium budget: 220 euros and more for boutique hotels (converted baroque palaces, boutique hotels in the historic centre), gourmet dinners and private excursions.

A return flight from Paris to Prague costs between 60 euros in low season (Ryanair, EasyJet) and 250 euros in high season on Air France. Organized tours start at 436 euros per person for 4 days, and an 11-day self-drive tour costs around 1,390 euros per person (base 2, excluding flights).

Where to go

The Czech Republic is divided into two major historical regions: Bohemia in the west, of which Prague is the jewel, and Moravia in the east, less known but just as rich.

Praguethere remains the foundational, unmissable stop: three to four days is a minimum to begin to grasp the depth of the city, between the castle and St. Vitus Cathedral at the top of the hill, the baroque labyrinth of Mala Strana below, and the Art Nouveau exuberance of the Old Town.

Ceský Krumlovis the pearl of South Bohemia: two days on site allow you to discover the Renaissance castle, canoe down the Vltava and get lost in its medieval streets without cars. The place can be saturated with tourists in July-August: prefer May-June or September.

Karlovy Varyis a natural part of any circuit that runs along the west of the country. A day or two to wander between its fin-de-siècle colonnades and taste the 12 hot springs (each with its own temperature and mineral composition) is enough to understand why the European aristocracy has been there since the eighteenth century.

Kutná Hora, 70 km east of Prague, can be visited during the day: St. Barbara's Cathedral and the Sedlec Osssuary form a fascinating Gothic diptych, one of the strangest in Christian Europe.

Brno, the capital of Moravia, surprises travellers who stop there: less touristy than Prague, it offers unbeatable value for money and a gastronomic and cultural scene that is particularly lively for its size.

Olomoucis the perfect complement to a Moravian-Bohemian tour. This university town has one of the most beautiful baroque ensembles in Central Europe, with its fountains and UNESCO-listed Trinity Column, in a calm that Prague no longer knows.

Our itineraries

In pictures

Practical advice

Formalities

No visa is required for French nationals: a valid national identity card or passport is sufficient for an unlimited stay as a citizen of the European Union. The Czech Republic has been in the Schengen area since 2007.

In terms of health, the up-to-date DTP is recommended. If you are planning hikes in the forest between May and October, vaccination against tick-borne encephalitis is recommended: the tick Ixodes ricinus is active in the wooded areas of Bohemia and Moravia. No malaria vaccine required.

Getting around

In Prague, public transport (3-line metro, tram, bus) covers the entire historic centre and beyond. A single ticket costs around 40 CZK (1.65 euro); day or 3-day passes are very cheap. The PID Lítačka app allows you to buy tickets directly on your smartphone.

Between cities, the Czech Railways (ČD) is efficient and punctual for connections between major cities (Prague-Brno in 2 hours 30 minutes, Prague-Karlovy Vary in 2 hours 15 minutes). RegioJet and FlixBus buses complete the offer on secondary routes.

For the countryside and castlesRemote, car rental is recommended. The roads are in excellent condition, clear signage, and easy parking outside Prague.

Culture and uses

The Czech Republic is a Central European country with its own codes. The Czech language is complex (Slavic language with special characters), but English is very well mastered by the younger generations, especially in Prague. Outside the big cities, German can be useful.

Tipping is not mandatory but appreciated: rounding up the bill, or leaving 10% in a restaurant, is the norm. In beer pubs, service is usually included.

Beer is a cultural institution: the Czech Republic is the country with the most beer drunk per capita in the world. The local pubs (hospoda) are the perfect place to meet the locals over an unfiltered Pilsner Urquell or Bernard. Tradition dictates that you never refill your glass yourself: wait for the waiter to come, and say "Pivo, prosím" (a beer, please).

Frequently asked questions