Czechia
Central European trips built around Prague's old town, medieval castles, beer culture, and hiking in the Giant Mountains and national parks.
Czechia, also called the Czech Republic, is a landlocked country in Central Europe with Germany to the west, Austria to the south, Poland to the northeast and Slovakia to the southeast. Its capital and largest city is Prague, where castles, churches and the old town draw most visitors. Outside the capital, the country has three historical lands: Bohemia in the west, Moravia in the east and Czech Silesia in the northeast.
Prague pairs well with one or two other regions. Bohemia has Karlštejn Castle and the town of Český Krumlov, and the Giant Mountains, where Sněžka, at 1,603 meters, is the highest point. Moravia has the Moravian Karst, the largest karst area in the country. Summers are warm, winters are cold and snowy, and September is usually still warm and dry. A trip of one to two weeks lets you split time between the capital and the countryside.
Five things to know before Czechia
- Carry ID and expect checks from Germany and Austria
Germany and Austria notified temporary controls on land borders with Czechia until 15 March 2027, per the European Commission. Carry a passport or ID card; non-EU visitors also register in the EES at their first Schengen entry. EES explained
- Pay in koruna and skip street exchange
Czechia uses the koruna. The UK government advises changing money at a bank or currency exchange rather than on the street, where notes are often counterfeit, and taking care at cash machines. Money
- Buy an e-vignette before you drive on motorways
Cars need an electronic vignette on Czech motorways, bought on the official eDalnice site. It is tied to your number plate, so enter it carefully. eDalnice
- Carry your passport in town
The UK government says carrying ID is a legal requirement in Czechia and that police normally accept a passport scan. Hotels ask for photo ID at check-in, and pickpockets work the tram and metro routes to Prague Castle. Prague
- Add one regional stop to Prague
Kutná Hora suits a day from Prague, Plzeň is the beer city, and Karlovy Vary is the spa town. Český Krumlov rewards a night, because day visitors fill the lanes at midday. Český Krumlov
Czechia travel guides
Practical guides from writers who live there.
The castle, the old town and where to base yourself.
Read the guideKutná HoraThe Sedlec ossuary and St Barbara’s Church.
Read the guidePlzeňThe Pilsner Urquell tour and the beer city’s old town.
Read the guideKarlovy VaryColonnades, spa houses and where to stay.
Read the guideČeský KrumlovWhy it rewards a night and how to see it without crowds.
Read the guideBrnoMoravia’s capital, its cafés and nearby wine villages.
Read the guideVisa checkerEntry rules by passport, checked against official pages.
Read the guideEES at the borderFingerprints and a photo on your first Schengen entry.
Read the guide
Hostel beds, cheap eats, buses and free sights.
- Bed a night
- CZK 700
- Food
- CZK 600
- Transport
- CZK 120
- Sights
- Free
A 3-star room, casual restaurants, public transport and one paid sight a day.
- Bed a night
- CZK 1,800
- Food
- CZK 1,200
- Transport
- CZK 350
- Sights
- CZK 450
A 4-star room, good restaurants, taxis and a guided tour.
- Bed a night
- CZK 3,000
- Food
- CZK 2,200
- Transport
- CZK 1,200
- Sights
- CZK 1,200
When to go
- Rainy days
- Snowy days
- Best
- JanuaryPartly cloudy12 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh3°Low-2°Cold, quietJanuaryPartly cloudy
- High
- 3°
- Low
- -2°
- Precipitation
- 41 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 1
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, quiet
- FebruaryPartly cloudy11 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh6°Low-1°Cold, quietFebruaryPartly cloudy
- High
- 6°
- Low
- -1°
- Precipitation
- 42 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 1
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, quiet
- MarchPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh10°Low2°Cool, early springMarchPartly cloudy
- High
- 10°
- Low
- 2°
- Precipitation
- 37 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, early spring
- AprilPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh14°Low5°Mild, blossomAprilPartly cloudy
- High
- 14°
- Low
- 5°
- Precipitation
- 45 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, blossom
- MayPartly cloudy12 rainy daysHigh18°Low8°Warm, greenMayPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 18°
- Low
- 8°
- Precipitation
- 71 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, green
- JuneRain12 rainy daysHigh24°Low14°Warm, long daysJuneRain
Best
- High
- 24°
- Low
- 14°
- Precipitation
- 93 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, long days
- JulyRain13 rainy daysHigh25°Low15°Warm, busyJulyRain
- High
- 25°
- Low
- 15°
- Precipitation
- 78 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, busy
- AugustPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh25°Low16°Warm, busyAugustPartly cloudy
- High
- 25°
- Low
- 16°
- Precipitation
- 88 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, busy
- SeptemberPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh21°Low12°Mild, quieterSeptemberPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 21°
- Low
- 12°
- Precipitation
- 63 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, quieter
- OctoberPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh15°Low8°Crisp, autumnOctoberPartly cloudy
- High
- 15°
- Low
- 8°
- Precipitation
- 52 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Crisp, autumn
- NovemberPartly cloudy10 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh8°Low3°Cold, grayNovemberPartly cloudy
- High
- 8°
- Low
- 3°
- Precipitation
- 44 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 1
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, gray
- DecemberPartly cloudy11 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh5°Low0°Christmas marketsDecemberPartly cloudy
- High
- 5°
- Low
- 0°
- Precipitation
- 48 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 1
- Days with storms
- 0
Christmas markets
Average daily high and low in Prague, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Czechia
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
6
- Feels like
- 4°
- Humidity
- 69%
- Wind
- 9 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 8%
Czechia
10:13 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today7°5°8%Monday: Rain. High 7°, Low 5°. Chance of rain 8%.
- Tue7°4°3%Tuesday: Rain. High 7°, Low 4°. Chance of rain 3%.
- Wed9°2°0%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 9°, Low 2°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Thu7°1°0%Thursday: Clear. High 7°, Low 1°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Fri9°0°0%Friday: Clear. High 9°, Low 0°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Sat7°-1°3%Saturday: Fog. High 7°, Low -1°. Chance of rain 3%.
- Sun5°-1°3%Sunday: Fog. High 5°, Low -1°. Chance of rain 3%.
Updated 07:23 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 21.82 CZK
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Festivals by month
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- MayPrague Spring International Music FestivalPragueCzech Beer FestivalPrague
- JunIgnis BrunensisBrno
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
On tour in Czechia: Sabaton The Legendary Tour Part 2 Prague, May 2, 2027 · Rod Stewart The Final Encore Prague, Jun 24, 2027 · Nickelback Everything Under the Sun Tour 2027 Prague, Jun 26, 2027
Before you go to Czechia
Czechia FAQ
Do I need a visa for Czechia?
Not for short stays on most Western passports: US, UK, Canadian and Australian citizens get 90 days in any 180 across the Schengen area. You register in the EES at the border, and the EU states: "ETIAS is currently not in operation and no applications for travel authorisations are collected at this point." Check the visa checker for your passport.
Are there border checks when I enter Czechia from Germany or Austria?
Possibly. The European Commission lists temporary controls by Germany and Austria on their land borders with Czechia from 16 September 2026 to 15 March 2027, so carry a passport or ID card on trains and roads and allow extra time.
Can I use euros in Prague?
The currency is the koruna, so plan to pay in koruna by card or with cash from a bank ATM. If a shop does take euros, ask for the rate first, and change money at a bank or exchange office rather than on the street.
How many days do I need in Prague?
Three days covers the castle, the old town and Malá Strana. Add a day each for Kutná Hora, Plzeň or Karlovy Vary, or a night in Český Krumlov.
When is the best time to visit Czechia?
May, June and September. December is busy but festive with Christmas markets, and summer brings the biggest crowds to Prague.