Travel tips to European Countries: Czech Republic

About the county

Czech Republic is located in Central Europe bordering Poland to the north, Germany to the northwest and west, Austria to the south, and Slovakia to the east. The capital of Czech Republic is Prague which is also the biggest city of Czech Republic and a popular tourist destination.

Czech Republic became a member of European Union in May, 2004. Czech Republic was earlier a part of Czechoslovakia which was dissolved in January, 1993 and was split into what is now called Czech and Slovak Republics. Brno, Ostrava, Plzeň, Olomouc, , České Budějovice, Zlín, Hradec Králové, Ústí nad Labem, Pardubice and Karlovy Vary are the other important cities of Czech Republic.

Czech Republic is divided into two parts based on geographical and cultural classification. They are Bohemia and Moravia. Bohemian cities and towns are popular for their spas and wine vineyards. It is also home to many castles which are open for visitors. One of the other tourism attractions is the availability of hundreds of miles of marked trails for hiking, cycling and skiing.

Best Time To Visit

April to June (spring)

Population & Languages

The population of Czech Republic is roughly 10.2 million and the official language being spoken is Czech.

Electricity

The voltage is 230 V and the frequency is 50 Hz. The type of plug used is Round pin plug and receptacle with male grounding pin

Geographic Location

It is located in Central Europe bordering Poland to the north, Germany to the northwest and west, Austria to the south, and Slovakia to the east. It is basically a landlocked country strategically located on some of the most important land routes in Europe.

Climate

The climate of Czech Republic can be termed as Temperate with hot summers and cold overcast winters. It also gets snow. Most of the rain comes down in summer. Due to different altitudes the variation of temperatures is diverse. The temperatures are relatively low at high altitudes and more precipitation. The temperatures average only -0.4°C at high altitude areas whereas the temperatures can average as high as 10°C in low altitude areas.

Local Customs

Dressing should be conservative and casual except at formal dinners or good hotels or restaurants. Tipping is usually 5 to 10 percent in restaurant, hotels and taxis.

Attractions

• Charles Bridge (Karluv Most) – Getting up early to cross Prague’s Charles Bridge at dawn. This is one of the most popular tourist spots of the city and should not be missed.
• Drinking silvovice at an all-night bonfire party on the Day of the Witches
• The Castle District (Hradèany) – It has some of the best churches and museums. It also has some beautiful gardens, fortifications and state apartments also.
• St Vitus Cathedral – It is located in the Castle District, the prominent feature of this cathedral is the spires which soar high in the sky. It is also country’s largest church with great architecture.
• Old Town Square (Staromĕstské Námestí) – It is the most vibrant square of Prague with many historical structures. It also hosts various markets every year like yearly Christmas market.
• The Jewish Museum – It is the largest Jewish Museum in Central Europe with a vast collection of Judaic art works.
• Hiking through the crenellated sandstone pinnacles of the Adrspach-Teplice Rocks
• Vyšehrad – Is a great hill fort built on a rock above the river.
• Catching a classical music concert in the underground caves of the Moravian Karst
  

Try local delicacies:

Eat smazeny kvatak s bramborem (cauliflower fried in breadcrumbs, served with boiled potatoes and tartar sauce): svikova na smetane (beef in cream sauce with dumplings and lemon or cranberries)

You should also try Budvar (the original version of Budweiser and one of the most famous of the Czech Republic’s famous beers) or absinthe (very green –very mean)

Further Pleasures:

To read: Milan Kundera’s The Book of Laughter and Forgetting, in which the absurdity of the communist era is deftly woven with themes of love, memory and music: or Bruce Chatwin’s Utz , a novella about porcelain and alchemy set in Prague’s Jewish quarter

To listen: Dvorak, everyone’s favourite Czech classical composer: or The Plastic People of the Universe, the Psychedilic but oppressed heroes of the Prague Spring

To watch: Divided We Fall, Jan Hrebejk’s uneasily funny film about a Czech couple who hide a Jewish man in their apartment during the Nazi occupation:  Jan Sverak’s Kolya, about an aging Czech musician who has to care for a small Russian boy.

Travel

By Air – The national airline of Czech Republic is Czech Airlines. There are many other small and popular international airlines operating from Czech Republic. The major airport is Prague Ruzyne International Airport (PRG). The airport is located approximately 10 miles north west of Prague .

By Rail – The country is part of the extensive network of trains connecting the European cities. If you are coming from Western Europe the most convenient connections are via Berlin, Frankfurt, Munich, Vienna, and Zurich to Prague.

Duty Free Items

1.    800 cigarettes or 400 cigarillos or 200 cigars or 1kg tobacco for EU countries.

2.    200 cigarettes or 100 cigarillos or 50 cigars or 250g tobacco for Non-EU countries.

3.    10 liter of spirits with alcohol content over 22%, or 20 liter of alcoholic beverages with alcohol volume less than 22%, or 90 liter of wine or 60 liter of sparkling wine, or 110 liter of beer for EU countries.

4.    1 liter spirits or 2 liter wine for Non-EU countries.

5.    50g perfume or 250ml eau de toilette

6.    Food, fruits, medications and flowers for personal use

7.    Gifts up to €175

Prohibited Items

Un-canned goods, meat or dairy products, Narcotics, firearms, ammunition, weapons, eggs, plants, endangered species, fireworks and alcoholic beverages that contain more than sixty per cent alcohol.