Czech Republic Travel Guide

Prague

The Czech Republic's capital and international showpiece, Prague is one of the most popular destinations in Eastern Europe. Its attraction lies in the physical beauty of the city with 600 years of architecture amazingly untouched by war. The center has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site and it demands to be explored on foot, an entire outdoor museum of history and a haphazard mixture of splendid architecture.

In the 14th century Prague enjoyed a reputation of being one of the most important cities in Europe, but after the Second World War it disappeared completely behind the Iron Curtain. Since the 1989 Velvet Revolution and the end of Communism, Prague has thrown off the years of repression with alacrity and is returning to its earlier grandeur, enticing tourists with its fairytale quality and romantic atmosphere. In recent years Prague has also become a popular weekend destination for stag and hen party groups, attracted by the lively nightlife, world-famous beer and low prices.

The historical center of the city is compact and its attractions are all within easy reach. The core comprises the Castle District (Hradèany) west of the River Vltava, and the Old and New town (Staré Mesto and Nové Mesto) to the east, joined by the famous Charles Bridge. The Castle District situated on the hill overlooking the city incorporates the main attractions, including the Castle itself and the Cathedral. The Old Town is a maze of alleyways, cobbled streets and passages winding their way towards the beautiful Old Town Square, Staromestské Namestí. Josefov Ghetto, the old Jewish Quarter, is enclosed within the old town. The New Town, in contrast, is modern and has been laid out in wide boulevards, most famously Wenceslas Square, the fashionable shopping boulevard leading up to the foot of the grand National Gallery.

The city's cultural scene also features high on the list of things to do in Prague, with classical music concerts, opera and ballet, as well as the many art galleries around the city. It is constantly adding small new museums to its summertime list, often strange but curiously interesting. This beautiful city, a 'symphony in stone', built along the river and on the surrounding hills, has never ceased to capture the hearts and imagination of visitors, painters, photographers and poets.

Read more about Prague »

Karlovy Vary

The town of Karlovy Vary, also known as Karlsbad or Carlsbad, is the most famous of the Czech Republic's many spa resort towns. It is a pretty Victorian place with elegant boulevards, elaborate colonnades and brightly colored buildings lining the picturesque river valley, and the surrounding forested hillsides are a peaceful and therapeutic place in which to walk.

The main focus of the town is health, and at the center of attention are the 12 hot springs containing a mineral content rich in restorative and healing properties. The mineral drinking fountains in the colonnades were once the haunt of the European aristocracy, and today the local people gather to fill their drinking cups, sipping and strolling in the fresh air, encouraging the water to work its magic on their digestive tracts or metabolic disorders. If that doesn't work the locally made Becherovka liqueur is hailed as the 13th spring.

Although most of the spa pools and sanatoriums are reserved for people undergoing treatment, visitors can still swim in the heated pool above the Thermal Sanatorium. There is plenty of excellent accommodation, unique souvenirs from the area and a myriad of relaxing opportunities to be found.

Ceský Krumlov

This small medieval town in Southern Bohemia is one of the most picturesque in the country, nestled in the S-bend of the River Vltava and dominated by the fairytale Chateau on the ridge overlooking the town. Ceský Krumlov has remained unchanged in appearance since the 18th century and it is a delight to wander through the traffic-free old town with its cobbled lanes, ramshackle red-tiled roofs and lopsided colorful houses providing many picture postcard opportunities.

The Castle on the hill, greatly enriched by the Italian Renaissance style, has fine views of the town setting with covered walkways, courtyards and terraced gardens where theater and music productions are held. Since the town was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1992, the summer months have become somewhat crowded. It is no longer a sleepy secret but a buzzing tourist haven with many good restaurants and bars.

The city's setting is picturesque, and the surrounding countryside is full of activities like horseback riding, tubing, whitewater rafting, hiking, rock climbing, fishing and mountain biking. There are many interesting sites for day trips from Ceský Krumlov as well, including Ro~mberk Castle, the small town of Èeské Budìjovice, and the monastery at Zlata Koruna.

Kutna Hora

In the 14th century, Kutna Hora was the second biggest town in Bohemia after Prague due to the discovery of silver. Today visitors come to appreciate the history of a once-booming town where the Royal Mint was founded, and to marvel at the architecture of the Historic Town Center, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The city is considered small by modern standards, and its greatest monument is the exquisite church of Santa Barbara, built to rival Prague's St Vitus Cathedral, a pinnacled Gothic achievement financed by the miners and dedicated to their patron saint, Barbara.

Although the town is small, there are a number of shops, cafes, and bars that make it an interesting place to visit. Among Kutna Hora's many churches and attractions is the Hrádek Mining Museum, popular for its medieval mineshaft tours, and the macabre but fascinating Kostnice Ossuary, a bizarre attraction decorated with the bones of about 40,000 people.

Pilsen

In Tokyo you drink sake and in Moscow you drink vodka, but in Pilsen (known locally as Plzen) you drink beer. This small town in Bohemia claims to be the birthplace of beer, with a tradition going back centuries. The town was founded in 1295 and granted coveted brewing rights, spawning more than 200 microbreweries that developed the famous Pilsner brewing methods that create some of the best beer in the world even today. The Pilsner Urquell Brewery offers tours, and is still Pilsen's main attraction.

Aside from its beer, Pilsen tends to be overlooked as a travel destination, but visitors will enjoy exploring a variety of museums dedicated to everything from ethnography and history to ghosts and puppets. The town itself is pleasant to walk through and has some beautiful buildings to see, including the 16th-century Town Hall, the Cathedral of St Bartholomew, and the Great Synagogue.

Just as you'd expect in a town famous for its beer, Pilsen has a lot to offer in restaurants and pubs. There are many places to try local Czech cuisine, and bars serve coveted unfiltered beers, which are considered far superior to the filtered exports.

Prague

The Czech Republic's capital and international showpiece, Prague is one of the most popular destinations in Eastern Europe. Its attraction lies in the physical beauty of the city with 600 years of architecture amazingly untouched by war. The center has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site and it demands to be explored on foot, an entire outdoor museum of history and a haphazard mixture of splendid architecture.

In the 14th century Prague enjoyed a reputation of being one of the most important cities in Europe, but after the Second World War it disappeared completely behind the Iron Curtain. Since the 1989 Velvet Revolution and the end of Communism, Prague has thrown off the years of repression with alacrity and is returning to its earlier grandeur, enticing tourists with its fairytale quality and romantic atmosphere. In recent years Prague has also become a popular weekend destination for stag and hen party groups, attracted by the lively nightlife, world-famous beer and low prices.

The historical center of the city is compact and its attractions are all within easy reach. The core comprises the Castle District (Hradèany) west of the River Vltava, and the Old and New town (Staré Mesto and Nové Mesto) to the east, joined by the famous Charles Bridge. The Castle District situated on the hill overlooking the city incorporates the main attractions, including the Castle itself and the Cathedral. The Old Town is a maze of alleyways, cobbled streets and passages winding their way towards the beautiful Old Town Square, Staromestské Namestí. Josefov Ghetto, the old Jewish Quarter, is enclosed within the old town. The New Town, in contrast, is modern and has been laid out in wide boulevards, most famously Wenceslas Square, the fashionable shopping boulevard leading up to the foot of the grand National Gallery.

The city's cultural scene also features high on the list of things to do in Prague, with classical music concerts, opera and ballet, as well as the many art galleries around the city. It is constantly adding small new museums to its summertime list, often strange but curiously interesting. This beautiful city, a 'symphony in stone', built along the river and on the surrounding hills, has never ceased to capture the hearts and imagination of visitors, painters, photographers and poets.

Read more about Prague »

Karlovy Vary

The town of Karlovy Vary, also known as Karlsbad or Carlsbad, is the most famous of the Czech Republic's many spa resort towns. It is a pretty Victorian place with elegant boulevards, elaborate colonnades and brightly colored buildings lining the picturesque river valley, and the surrounding forested hillsides are a peaceful and therapeutic place in which to walk.

The main focus of the town is health, and at the center of attention are the 12 hot springs containing a mineral content rich in restorative and healing properties. The mineral drinking fountains in the colonnades were once the haunt of the European aristocracy, and today the local people gather to fill their drinking cups, sipping and strolling in the fresh air, encouraging the water to work its magic on their digestive tracts or metabolic disorders. If that doesn't work the locally made Becherovka liqueur is hailed as the 13th spring.

Although most of the spa pools and sanatoriums are reserved for people undergoing treatment, visitors can still swim in the heated pool above the Thermal Sanatorium. There is plenty of excellent accommodation, unique souvenirs from the area and a myriad of relaxing opportunities to be found.

Ceský Krumlov

This small medieval town in Southern Bohemia is one of the most picturesque in the country, nestled in the S-bend of the River Vltava and dominated by the fairytale Chateau on the ridge overlooking the town. Ceský Krumlov has remained unchanged in appearance since the 18th century and it is a delight to wander through the traffic-free old town with its cobbled lanes, ramshackle red-tiled roofs and lopsided colorful houses providing many picture postcard opportunities.

The Castle on the hill, greatly enriched by the Italian Renaissance style, has fine views of the town setting with covered walkways, courtyards and terraced gardens where theater and music productions are held. Since the town was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1992, the summer months have become somewhat crowded. It is no longer a sleepy secret but a buzzing tourist haven with many good restaurants and bars.

The city's setting is picturesque, and the surrounding countryside is full of activities like horseback riding, tubing, whitewater rafting, hiking, rock climbing, fishing and mountain biking. There are many interesting sites for day trips from Ceský Krumlov as well, including Ro~mberk Castle, the small town of Èeské Budìjovice, and the monastery at Zlata Koruna.

Kutna Hora

In the 14th century, Kutna Hora was the second biggest town in Bohemia after Prague due to the discovery of silver. Today visitors come to appreciate the history of a once-booming town where the Royal Mint was founded, and to marvel at the architecture of the Historic Town Center, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The city is considered small by modern standards, and its greatest monument is the exquisite church of Santa Barbara, built to rival Prague's St Vitus Cathedral, a pinnacled Gothic achievement financed by the miners and dedicated to their patron saint, Barbara.

Although the town is small, there are a number of shops, cafes, and bars that make it an interesting place to visit. Among Kutna Hora's many churches and attractions is the Hrádek Mining Museum, popular for its medieval mineshaft tours, and the macabre but fascinating Kostnice Ossuary, a bizarre attraction decorated with the bones of about 40,000 people.

Pilsen

In Tokyo you drink sake and in Moscow you drink vodka, but in Pilsen (known locally as Plzen) you drink beer. This small town in Bohemia claims to be the birthplace of beer, with a tradition going back centuries. The town was founded in 1295 and granted coveted brewing rights, spawning more than 200 microbreweries that developed the famous Pilsner brewing methods that create some of the best beer in the world even today. The Pilsner Urquell Brewery offers tours, and is still Pilsen's main attraction.

Aside from its beer, Pilsen tends to be overlooked as a travel destination, but visitors will enjoy exploring a variety of museums dedicated to everything from ethnography and history to ghosts and puppets. The town itself is pleasant to walk through and has some beautiful buildings to see, including the 16th-century Town Hall, the Cathedral of St Bartholomew, and the Great Synagogue.

Just as you'd expect in a town famous for its beer, Pilsen has a lot to offer in restaurants and pubs. There are many places to try local Czech cuisine, and bars serve coveted unfiltered beers, which are considered far superior to the filtered exports.

Prague

The Czech Republic's capital and international showpiece, Prague is one of the most popular destinations in Eastern Europe. Its attraction lies in the physical beauty of the city with 600 years of architecture amazingly untouched by war. The center has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site and it demands to be explored on foot, an entire outdoor museum of history and a haphazard mixture of splendid architecture.

In the 14th century Prague enjoyed a reputation of being one of the most important cities in Europe, but after the Second World War it disappeared completely behind the Iron Curtain. Since the 1989 Velvet Revolution and the end of Communism, Prague has thrown off the years of repression with alacrity and is returning to its earlier grandeur, enticing tourists with its fairytale quality and romantic atmosphere. In recent years Prague has also become a popular weekend destination for stag and hen party groups, attracted by the lively nightlife, world-famous beer and low prices.

The historical center of the city is compact and its attractions are all within easy reach. The core comprises the Castle District (Hradèany) west of the River Vltava, and the Old and New town (Staré Mesto and Nové Mesto) to the east, joined by the famous Charles Bridge. The Castle District situated on the hill overlooking the city incorporates the main attractions, including the Castle itself and the Cathedral. The Old Town is a maze of alleyways, cobbled streets and passages winding their way towards the beautiful Old Town Square, Staromestské Namestí. Josefov Ghetto, the old Jewish Quarter, is enclosed within the old town. The New Town, in contrast, is modern and has been laid out in wide boulevards, most famously Wenceslas Square, the fashionable shopping boulevard leading up to the foot of the grand National Gallery.

The city's cultural scene also features high on the list of things to do in Prague, with classical music concerts, opera and ballet, as well as the many art galleries around the city. It is constantly adding small new museums to its summertime list, often strange but curiously interesting. This beautiful city, a 'symphony in stone', built along the river and on the surrounding hills, has never ceased to capture the hearts and imagination of visitors, painters, photographers and poets.

Read more about Prague »

Karlovy Vary

The town of Karlovy Vary, also known as Karlsbad or Carlsbad, is the most famous of the Czech Republic's many spa resort towns. It is a pretty Victorian place with elegant boulevards, elaborate colonnades and brightly colored buildings lining the picturesque river valley, and the surrounding forested hillsides are a peaceful and therapeutic place in which to walk.

The main focus of the town is health, and at the center of attention are the 12 hot springs containing a mineral content rich in restorative and healing properties. The mineral drinking fountains in the colonnades were once the haunt of the European aristocracy, and today the local people gather to fill their drinking cups, sipping and strolling in the fresh air, encouraging the water to work its magic on their digestive tracts or metabolic disorders. If that doesn't work the locally made Becherovka liqueur is hailed as the 13th spring.

Although most of the spa pools and sanatoriums are reserved for people undergoing treatment, visitors can still swim in the heated pool above the Thermal Sanatorium. There is plenty of excellent accommodation, unique souvenirs from the area and a myriad of relaxing opportunities to be found.

Ceský Krumlov

This small medieval town in Southern Bohemia is one of the most picturesque in the country, nestled in the S-bend of the River Vltava and dominated by the fairytale Chateau on the ridge overlooking the town. Ceský Krumlov has remained unchanged in appearance since the 18th century and it is a delight to wander through the traffic-free old town with its cobbled lanes, ramshackle red-tiled roofs and lopsided colorful houses providing many picture postcard opportunities.

The Castle on the hill, greatly enriched by the Italian Renaissance style, has fine views of the town setting with covered walkways, courtyards and terraced gardens where theater and music productions are held. Since the town was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1992, the summer months have become somewhat crowded. It is no longer a sleepy secret but a buzzing tourist haven with many good restaurants and bars.

The city's setting is picturesque, and the surrounding countryside is full of activities like horseback riding, tubing, whitewater rafting, hiking, rock climbing, fishing and mountain biking. There are many interesting sites for day trips from Ceský Krumlov as well, including Ro~mberk Castle, the small town of Èeské Budìjovice, and the monastery at Zlata Koruna.

Kutna Hora

In the 14th century, Kutna Hora was the second biggest town in Bohemia after Prague due to the discovery of silver. Today visitors come to appreciate the history of a once-booming town where the Royal Mint was founded, and to marvel at the architecture of the Historic Town Center, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The city is considered small by modern standards, and its greatest monument is the exquisite church of Santa Barbara, built to rival Prague's St Vitus Cathedral, a pinnacled Gothic achievement financed by the miners and dedicated to their patron saint, Barbara.

Although the town is small, there are a number of shops, cafes, and bars that make it an interesting place to visit. Among Kutna Hora's many churches and attractions is the Hrádek Mining Museum, popular for its medieval mineshaft tours, and the macabre but fascinating Kostnice Ossuary, a bizarre attraction decorated with the bones of about 40,000 people.

Pilsen

In Tokyo you drink sake and in Moscow you drink vodka, but in Pilsen (known locally as Plzen) you drink beer. This small town in Bohemia claims to be the birthplace of beer, with a tradition going back centuries. The town was founded in 1295 and granted coveted brewing rights, spawning more than 200 microbreweries that developed the famous Pilsner brewing methods that create some of the best beer in the world even today. The Pilsner Urquell Brewery offers tours, and is still Pilsen's main attraction.

Aside from its beer, Pilsen tends to be overlooked as a travel destination, but visitors will enjoy exploring a variety of museums dedicated to everything from ethnography and history to ghosts and puppets. The town itself is pleasant to walk through and has some beautiful buildings to see, including the 16th-century Town Hall, the Cathedral of St Bartholomew, and the Great Synagogue.

Just as you'd expect in a town famous for its beer, Pilsen has a lot to offer in restaurants and pubs. There are many places to try local Czech cuisine, and bars serve coveted unfiltered beers, which are considered far superior to the filtered exports.

Prague

The Czech Republic's capital and international showpiece, Prague is one of the most popular destinations in Eastern Europe. Its attraction lies in the physical beauty of the city with 600 years of architecture amazingly untouched by war. The center has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site and it demands to be explored on foot, an entire outdoor museum of history and a haphazard mixture of splendid architecture.

In the 14th century Prague enjoyed a reputation of being one of the most important cities in Europe, but after the Second World War it disappeared completely behind the Iron Curtain. Since the 1989 Velvet Revolution and the end of Communism, Prague has thrown off the years of repression with alacrity and is returning to its earlier grandeur, enticing tourists with its fairytale quality and romantic atmosphere. In recent years Prague has also become a popular weekend destination for stag and hen party groups, attracted by the lively nightlife, world-famous beer and low prices.

The historical center of the city is compact and its attractions are all within easy reach. The core comprises the Castle District (Hradèany) west of the River Vltava, and the Old and New town (Staré Mesto and Nové Mesto) to the east, joined by the famous Charles Bridge. The Castle District situated on the hill overlooking the city incorporates the main attractions, including the Castle itself and the Cathedral. The Old Town is a maze of alleyways, cobbled streets and passages winding their way towards the beautiful Old Town Square, Staromestské Namestí. Josefov Ghetto, the old Jewish Quarter, is enclosed within the old town. The New Town, in contrast, is modern and has been laid out in wide boulevards, most famously Wenceslas Square, the fashionable shopping boulevard leading up to the foot of the grand National Gallery.

The city's cultural scene also features high on the list of things to do in Prague, with classical music concerts, opera and ballet, as well as the many art galleries around the city. It is constantly adding small new museums to its summertime list, often strange but curiously interesting. This beautiful city, a 'symphony in stone', built along the river and on the surrounding hills, has never ceased to capture the hearts and imagination of visitors, painters, photographers and poets.

Read more about Prague »

Karlovy Vary

The town of Karlovy Vary, also known as Karlsbad or Carlsbad, is the most famous of the Czech Republic's many spa resort towns. It is a pretty Victorian place with elegant boulevards, elaborate colonnades and brightly colored buildings lining the picturesque river valley, and the surrounding forested hillsides are a peaceful and therapeutic place in which to walk.

The main focus of the town is health, and at the center of attention are the 12 hot springs containing a mineral content rich in restorative and healing properties. The mineral drinking fountains in the colonnades were once the haunt of the European aristocracy, and today the local people gather to fill their drinking cups, sipping and strolling in the fresh air, encouraging the water to work its magic on their digestive tracts or metabolic disorders. If that doesn't work the locally made Becherovka liqueur is hailed as the 13th spring.

Although most of the spa pools and sanatoriums are reserved for people undergoing treatment, visitors can still swim in the heated pool above the Thermal Sanatorium. There is plenty of excellent accommodation, unique souvenirs from the area and a myriad of relaxing opportunities to be found.

Ceský Krumlov

This small medieval town in Southern Bohemia is one of the most picturesque in the country, nestled in the S-bend of the River Vltava and dominated by the fairytale Chateau on the ridge overlooking the town. Ceský Krumlov has remained unchanged in appearance since the 18th century and it is a delight to wander through the traffic-free old town with its cobbled lanes, ramshackle red-tiled roofs and lopsided colorful houses providing many picture postcard opportunities.

The Castle on the hill, greatly enriched by the Italian Renaissance style, has fine views of the town setting with covered walkways, courtyards and terraced gardens where theater and music productions are held. Since the town was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1992, the summer months have become somewhat crowded. It is no longer a sleepy secret but a buzzing tourist haven with many good restaurants and bars.

The city's setting is picturesque, and the surrounding countryside is full of activities like horseback riding, tubing, whitewater rafting, hiking, rock climbing, fishing and mountain biking. There are many interesting sites for day trips from Ceský Krumlov as well, including Ro~mberk Castle, the small town of Èeské Budìjovice, and the monastery at Zlata Koruna.

Kutna Hora

In the 14th century, Kutna Hora was the second biggest town in Bohemia after Prague due to the discovery of silver. Today visitors come to appreciate the history of a once-booming town where the Royal Mint was founded, and to marvel at the architecture of the Historic Town Center, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The city is considered small by modern standards, and its greatest monument is the exquisite church of Santa Barbara, built to rival Prague's St Vitus Cathedral, a pinnacled Gothic achievement financed by the miners and dedicated to their patron saint, Barbara.

Although the town is small, there are a number of shops, cafes, and bars that make it an interesting place to visit. Among Kutna Hora's many churches and attractions is the Hrádek Mining Museum, popular for its medieval mineshaft tours, and the macabre but fascinating Kostnice Ossuary, a bizarre attraction decorated with the bones of about 40,000 people.

Pilsen

In Tokyo you drink sake and in Moscow you drink vodka, but in Pilsen (known locally as Plzen) you drink beer. This small town in Bohemia claims to be the birthplace of beer, with a tradition going back centuries. The town was founded in 1295 and granted coveted brewing rights, spawning more than 200 microbreweries that developed the famous Pilsner brewing methods that create some of the best beer in the world even today. The Pilsner Urquell Brewery offers tours, and is still Pilsen's main attraction.

Aside from its beer, Pilsen tends to be overlooked as a travel destination, but visitors will enjoy exploring a variety of museums dedicated to everything from ethnography and history to ghosts and puppets. The town itself is pleasant to walk through and has some beautiful buildings to see, including the 16th-century Town Hall, the Cathedral of St Bartholomew, and the Great Synagogue.

Just as you'd expect in a town famous for its beer, Pilsen has a lot to offer in restaurants and pubs. There are many places to try local Czech cuisine, and bars serve coveted unfiltered beers, which are considered far superior to the filtered exports.