Roavina

Country guide

Czechia

A photograph of Czechia
Photograph · Diego Delso · CC BY-SA 4.0

Czechia is landlocked and hilly, 78,871 km² bordered by Germany to the west, Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the southeast and Austria to the south, under a mostly temperate continental climate. Prague is the capital and the largest city, and it is the name most readers arrive with; Brno, Ostrava, Plzeň and Liberec are the other urban centres. The country answers to three names — Czechia, the Czech Republic, and historically Bohemia, the duchy founded in the late 9th century that was recognised as an Imperial Estate of the Holy Roman Empire in 1002 and became a kingdom in 1198.

Reviewed by Elena Voss · Roavina Travel Editor

Cities

Every city catalogued in this country so far, ranked by how much there is to see.

Practical information

Language spoken
Czech
National practical orientation; regional and minority languages may also be used
Dialling code
+420
International calling code; local area and mobile prefixes still apply
Currency
Czech koruna (CZK)
Use the official local currency; card acceptance varies by place
Emergency number
112
Use only for an emergency; tourist assistance may use a separate number
Plug type
Type C and E · 230 V
Check that chargers support the recorded voltage before using an adapter
Tap water
Not recorded
No verified nationwide visitor statement was recorded

Planning a visit

  1. January: seasonal closure recorded
  2. February: seasonal closure recorded
  3. March: seasonal closure recorded
  4. April: seasonal closure recorded
  5. May: no seasonality data recorded
  6. June: no seasonality data recorded
  7. July: no seasonality data recorded
  8. August: no seasonality data recorded
  9. September: no seasonality data recorded — this month
  10. October: seasonal closure recorded
  11. November: seasonal closure recorded
  12. December: seasonal closure recorded

Top things to see

Ranked by importance — sitelinks, pageviews and heritage status, not editor preference.

  1. Charles Bridge Charles Bridge
    02 40 min

    Charles Bridge

    Karlův most

    Charles Bridge carries walkers across the Vltava between the Old Town and Malá Strana, and it has done so in the same stone since the beginning of the fifteenth century.

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
    • Prague
  2. Old Town Hall with Astronomical Clock Old Town Hall with Astronomical Clock
    03 1 hr 30 min

    Old Town Hall with Astronomical Clock

    Staroměstská radnice

    The Old Town Hall is the seat Prague's Old Town won for itself in 1338, when the estates obtained King John of Bohemia's approval to establish an administration of their own, and Prague City Tourism calls it the oldest institution…

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
    • Prague
  3. Vyšehrad Vyšehrad
    04 2 hr 30 min

    Vyšehrad

    Vyšehrad is a walled hilltop above the right bank of the Vltava, about three kilometres upstream of Charles Bridge, and it is the one major Prague sight that costs nothing to enter.

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
    • Prague
  4. Václavské náměstí Václavské náměstí
    05 1 hour

    Václavské náměstí

    Wenceslas Square is a historic boulevard and public space in Prague's New Town, established in the fourteenth century during the reign of Charles IV. Despite its name, it functions as a long rectangular boulevard rather than a conventional square.

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
    • Prague
  5. Clementinum Clementinum
    06 45 min

    Clementinum

    Klementinum

    The Clementinum is a historic complex in Prague's Old Town, one of the largest building complexes in Europe. It originated as a Jesuit college founded in 1556 and later merged with Charles University.

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
    • Prague
  6. Old-New Synagogue Old-New Synagogue
    07 30 min

    Old-New Synagogue

    Staronová synagoga

    The Old-New Synagogue stands on Červená street in Josefov, the former Jewish Town of Prague, and it is the oldest surviving synagogue in Europe as well as the oldest site in the quarter.

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
    • Prague
  7. John Lennon Wall John Lennon Wall
    08 45 min

    John Lennon Wall

    Lennonova zeď

    The Lennon Wall is a continuously evolving graffiti-covered wall in Prague's Malá Strana district.

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
    • Prague
  8. St Nicholas Church, Malá Strana St Nicholas Church, Malá Strana
    09 45 min

    St Nicholas Church, Malá Strana

    svatý Mikuláš

    St. Nicholas Church (svatý Mikuláš) stands as a prominent Baroque church in Prague, Czech Republic. The structure represents a significant example of Central European ecclesiastical architecture from the late Baroque period.

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
    • Prague
  9. Žižkov Television Tower Žižkov Television Tower
    10 45 min

    Žižkov Television Tower

    Žižkovský vysílač

    The Žižkov Television Tower is a distinctive telecommunications and observation tower located in the Žižkov district of Prague. Known locally as Žižkovský vysílač, this structure serves as both a functional broadcasting facility and a major city viewpoint.

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
    • Prague
  10. Prague Astronomical Clock Prague Astronomical Clock
    11 1 hour

    Prague Astronomical Clock

    Staroměstský orloj

    The Astronomical Clock, the orloj, is mounted on the southern side of the Old Town Hall tower on Old Town Square, and it is a working machine rather than an exhibit behind glass.

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
    • Prague
  11. Church of Our Lady before Týn Church of Our Lady before Týn
    12 30 min

    Church of Our Lady before Týn

    Matka Boží před Týnem

    The Church of Our Lady before Týn is the parish church of Prague's Old Town, and the parish that owns it says plainly what it is not: not an ordinary public space, not a market, not a square and not…

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
    • Prague
  12. Wallenstein Palace Wallenstein Palace
    13 45 min

    Wallenstein Palace

    Valdštejnský palác

    Wallenstein Palace is a Baroque palace complex in Prague's Malá Strana district. Built in the 1620s for Albrecht von Wallenstein, it served as his Prague residence.

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
    • Prague
  13. Old Royal Palace Old Royal Palace
    14 45 min

    Old Royal Palace

    Starý královský palác

    The Old Royal Palace is a historic structure within Prague Castle, the Czech Republic's most visited monument. Dating to medieval times with later Gothic and Renaissance modifications, it served as the seat of Bohemian kings and emperors.

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
    • Prague
  14. Queen Anne's Summer Palace Queen Anne's Summer Palace
    15 45 min

    Queen Anne's Summer Palace

    Letohrádek královny Anny

    Queen Anne's Summer Palace, known locally as Letohrádek královny Anny, is a Renaissance pleasure palace located in the Royal Garden of Prague Castle.

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
    • Prague
  15. Břevnov Monastery Břevnov Monastery
    16 45 min

    Břevnov Monastery

    Břevnovský klášter

    Břevnov Monastery is a Benedictine monastery in Prague 6 and one of the oldest monastic foundations in Bohemia. Its origins reach back to 993, when the monastery was founded by Saint Adalbert and Duke Boleslaus II.

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
    • Prague
  16. Troja Palace Troja Palace
    17 45 min

    Troja Palace

    Troja

    Troja Palace is a Baroque palace located in the Troja district of Prague, Czech Republic. It stands as a significant architectural landmark on the banks of the Vltava River.

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
    • Prague
  17. Schwarzenberg Palace Schwarzenberg Palace
    18 45 min

    Schwarzenberg Palace

    Schwarzenberský palác

    Schwarzenberg Palace is a Renaissance palace in Prague, Czech Republic. It stands on Hradčanské náměstí near Prague Castle. The local name is Schwarzenberský palác. The building features distinctive sgraffito decoration on its facade, creating a striking black-and-white geometric pattern.

    • High
    • Historic monument
    • Prague
  18. Sternberg Palace Sternberg Palace
    19 45 min

    Sternberg Palace

    Šternberský palác

    Sternberg Palace is a Baroque palace in Prague, Czech Republic. It stands near Prague Castle in the Hradčany district. The building serves as a significant cultural institution within the historic urban fabric of the city.

    • High
    • Historic monument
    • Prague

Source: OpenStreetMap contributors, Wikidata ·

Common questions

How long should a first trip to Czechia be?

Six to eight days can divide time between Prague and one extension such as Brno, Olomouc, Český Krumlov, or Kutná Hora. Český Krumlov benefits from an overnight, whereas Kutná Hora is a practical day trip.

What entry documents are needed for Czechia?

Czechia is in the Schengen Area, but the required documents depend on nationality. Check the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or official VisitCzechia entry guidance for the current visa and passport rule.

What is the best way to travel around Czechia?

Václav Havel Airport is the main gateway, and a dense rail network plus intercity buses links the country. Urban tickets may require validation, while long-distance tickets can be service-specific, so treat them as separate products.

When is a practical time to visit Czechia?

April to June and September to October are broad city-and-rail planning windows. Rural castles may follow seasonal schedules, so verify those dates before building a route around them.

What money and payment basics apply in Czechia?

Czechia uses the Czech koruna (CZK), not the euro. Keep some koruna for smaller transactions and confirm that card terminals charge CZK rather than offering an unexamined conversion.

What practical safety details should I save for Czechia?

In Czechia, 112 reaches the emergency services. The grid delivers 230 V through Type C and E sockets. Water potability has no recorded value in this guide; verify it with the local authority for the place being visited.