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Historic square facades lit at dusk with cobblestones

Czechia travel guide

A landlocked heart of Europe for castle towns, beer halls and slow city walks

Best: Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep

Photo: skitz_cz / Pixabay

Capital
Prague
Languages
Czech, Slovak
Currency
Czech koruna
Time zone
UTC+01:00
Plugs
Type C, E · 230 V
Driving
On the right
Emergency
112
Entry
EU and Schengen area

Why visit Czechia

Czechia suits travellers who want historic cities, countryside towns and a strong beer culture without a coastline in sight. Prague, Brno, Plzeň, Olomouc and Karlovy Vary all peak from June to September, with September and August the best overall months to visit. Winters are cold and the landlocked country has no beaches, so plan for indoor sights and warm layers outside summer.

  • A landlocked country of castles and cities

    Czechia packs 10903655 people into 78865 square kilometres, with Prague, the capital, home to nearly 1397880 residents. The country has no coastline, so its draw is cities, hills and historic towns instead of beaches.

  • Prague beyond the crowds

    Prague is the main draw, but Brno, the second city with 402739 people, offers a quieter base with its own old town and university life. Both cities list September, August and July among their best months to visit.

  • Spa towns inland

    Karlovy Vary, a spa town of 49073 people, sits away from the capital and keeps the same summer-into-autumn sweet spot, with June through September rated its best months.

  • A reliable summer-to-autumn window

    Across the whole country, September, August, June and July come out as the best months to travel. Prague, Brno, Plzeň, Olomouc and Karlovy Vary all share this same stretch, making it easy to plan a multi-city trip without worrying about mismatched seasons.

  • Compact distances, varied stops

    With a total area of 78865 square kilometres, Czechia is small enough to combine several cities in one trip. Plzeň, with about 187928 people, and Olomouc, with roughly 103063, both add smaller-scale alternatives to Prague and Brno within the same travel season.

Is Czechia right for you?

Great for

  • City-break travellers who want Prague's historic centre without a coastline
  • Summer visitors who like warm days: July highs average 26.2°C
  • Travellers who enjoy mild, sunny shoulder seasons: September gets 9.1 sun hours a day with only 8.5 rain days
  • Inland-Europe road trips linking Prague, Brno, Plzeň and Olomouc
  • Spa and wellness travellers heading to Karlovy Vary

Less ideal for

  • Beach holidaymakers, since Czechia is landlocked with no coastal cities
  • Travellers who dislike grey winters: December to February highs stay below 7°C with under 6 sun hours a day
  • Sun-seekers visiting outside June to September, when sun hours drop below 7 a day

Czechia right now: October

5.9/10
Avg high
15°C
Avg low
7°C
Rain days
11

Averages for Prague.

Weather by month

Based on Prague's data, May through September bring highs of 20-26°C and 9-12 sun hours a day, with September standing out for warm 21°C afternoons and fewer rain days. January, February and December are toughest, with highs of just 4-7°C, lows near or below freezing, and barely 4-6 sun hours a day.

Average highs and lows in Prague by month January: high 4°C, low -2°C , 12 rain days . February: high 7°C, low -1°C , 10 rain days . March: high 10°C, low 1°C , 10 rain days . April: high 15°C, low 4°C , 10 rain days . May: high 20°C, low 9°C , 12 rain days . June: high 25°C, low 14°C , 12 rain days . July: high 26°C, low 16°C , 11 rain days . August: high 26°C, low 16°C , 11 rain days . September: high 21°C, low 11°C , 9 rain days . October: high 15°C, low 7°C , 11 rain days . November: high 9°C, low 2°C , 10 rain days . December: high 5°C, low 0°C , 11 rain days . 4°C -2°C JAN 12d 7°C -1°C FEB 10d 10°C 1°C MAR 10d 15°C 4°C APR 10d 20°C 9°C MAY 12d 25°C 14°C JUN 12d 26°C 16°C JUL 11d 26°C 16°C AUG 11d 21°C 11°C SEP 9d 15°C 7°C OCT 11d 9°C 2°C NOV 10d 5°C 0°C DEC 11d
Best months Other months (low–high) Nd = rain days

Prague · averages 2015–2024

Best time to visit Czechia: month-by-month weather →

Sample itineraries

7 days

Prague, Plzeň and Karlovy Vary in a week

  1. Day 1–4

    Prague

    Spend four days in the capital, with a population of 1397880, exploring the castle district, the old town squares and the bridges over the Vltava. July, August and September are the best months here.

  2. Day 5

    Karlovy Vary

    Walk the spa colonnades of this small spa town. June through September are its best months, with warmer days for strolling along the river promenade.

  3. Day 6–7

    Plzeň

    Finish in Plzeň, home to well-known breweries and a historic centre. May, June, August and September are the listed best months for a visit.

10 days

Czechia in ten days: five cities

  1. Day 1–3

    Prague

    Start in the capital, population 1397880, taking time for the castle, Charles Bridge and the Jewish Quarter. Best months are May, July, August and September.

  2. Day 4–5

    Plzeň

    Head to Plzeň for its brewing history and compact old town. The listed best months are May, June, August and September.

  3. Day 6

    Karlovy Vary

    Spend a day among the spa colonnades of this town, with best months from June to September for walking the riverside paths.

  4. Day 7–8

    Brno

    Move to Brno, the country's second-largest city with a population of 402739, and explore its villas, squares and underground passages. Best months are June, July, August and September.

  5. Day 9–10

    Olomouc

    End in Olomouc, population 103063, known for its historic square and astronomical clock. The best months listed are June, July, August and September.

Food to try in Czechia

Svíčková na smetaně

Beef sirloin in a creamy vegetable sauce, served with bread dumplings, cranberries and whipped cream. It is a classic Sunday or celebration lunch, and many Czech pubs offer it as a lunch special.

Vepřo knedlo zelo

Roast pork with dumplings and stewed cabbage, often called the national dish. You find it on menus in traditional pubs across the country, usually at lunchtime.

Guláš

A thick, paprika-spiced beef or pork stew, served with dumplings or bread. It is common pub food and goes well with a glass of beer, especially in colder weather.

Smažený sýr

A thick slice of cheese, breaded and deep-fried, served with tartar sauce and fries or potatoes. It is a cheap pub meal and a popular late-night snack.

Czech lager (pivo)

Czechia is the home of pale Pilsner-style lager, first brewed in Plzeň. Beer is part of daily life, and every town has pubs serving local lager on tap.

Becherovka

A herbal liqueur from the spa town of Karlovy Vary, with notes of cinnamon and aniseed. Czechs often drink it as a digestif after a heavy meal.

Know before you go

  • Plugs and voltage: Czechia uses plug types C and E. The voltage is 230 V. Check that your chargers and devices work at 230 V, and bring an adapter if your plugs are a different type.
  • Driving side: Traffic drives on the right in Czechia. If you usually drive on the left, take extra care at junctions and roundabouts during your first days.
  • Emergency number: Call 112 for emergencies in Czechia. Save it in your phone before you travel so you have it ready when you need it.
  • Currency: The currency is the Czech koruna. Plan how you will pay before you arrive, for example with a card or by getting koruna.
  • Language: The languages listed for Czechia are Czech and Slovak. Learning a few basic Czech words, such as hello and thank you, can help in everyday situations.
  • Time zone and calling code: Czechia is on UTC+1. The international calling code is +420. Add it before local numbers when you call from a foreign phone.

Czechia: frequently asked questions

Is Czechia good to visit in August?

Yes. August scores 7.9 out of 10 and counts as one of the best months. Prague highs reach 26°C with lows near 15.7°C. There is some rain, around 81 mm over 10.6 days, but sun hours stay high at 10.8, so it balances out as a strong summer month.

When is the best time to visit Czechia?

The best months are September, August, June and July, based on the scores. September tops the list with a score of 8.2, thanks to warm days (21.1°C high) and drier weather than summer, with only 56 mm of rain over 8.5 days.

Is Prague cold in January?

Yes. January is the coldest month, with a high of just 3.8°C and a low of -1.8°C in Prague. It also has only 4 sun hours a day and 11.9 rain or snow days, giving it the lowest score of the year at 1.6.

What is the weather like in Czechia in October?

October is cooler and mixed, scoring 5.9 and rated 'ok'. Prague highs drop to 15.3°C and lows to 7.2°C. Rain falls on 10.7 days with 53 mm total, and sunshine falls to 6.4 hours a day as autumn sets in.

Does Czechia use the euro?

No. Czechia's currency is the Czech koruna, not the euro. The country is in the UTC+01:00 time zone, and plugs are type C and E at 230 V, so travellers from outside Europe will likely need an adapter.

What is the emergency number in Czechia?

The emergency number in Czechia is 112. This works nationwide, including in Prague, Brno, Plzeň, Olomouc and Karlovy Vary, and connects to police, fire and medical services.

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