The Czech Republic lies in the middle of Europa and is known for Franz Kafka and Václav Havel. Despite its small size Czechia has countless sights that are worth a visit. Furthermore its history is fascinating and not to mention its cuisine. Why you should go to Czechia? We will give you ten reasons!
1. Prague
Prague, City of a Hundred Spires, a UNESCO monument and one of the most beautiful cities in the world. The unique historic centre together with Prague Castle, Charles Bridge and many churches, palaces and gardens are majestic. Prague has a bit of everything: historical monuments, admirable architecture, a wide range of restaurants and cosy bars as well as vast gardens and parks. The Czech capital is a place to immerse yourself in history; wander through medieval streets, admire baroque façades, find hidden synagogues and indulge in a coffee in one of the stylish cafés which have been here for more than a hundred years.
2. Location
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europa, surrounded by the countries Germany, Poland, Slovakia and Austria. Because of its central location in the middle of Europa the country is a perfect destination for a roundtrip by car or train. Czech Republic is about 900 km from Brussels and in less than 90 minutes by plane you will arrive in Prague. Several airlines fly to the Czech capital, such as Brussels Airlines, CzechAirlines and Ryanair, and travelling by train is also possible. For next year it will be even possible to take a night train.
3. 14 UNESCO sights
There are about a thousand UNESCO monuments in the whole world and you can find 14 of them in the Czech Republic. Apart from the historical centre of Prague, Český Krumlov, Kutná Hora and Telč the list also includes the functionalist Villa Tugendhat in Brno designed by the architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe. The impressive chateau Litomyšl is also listed on the UNESCO list and is absolutely worth a visit, just like the pilgrimage Church of St John of Nepomuk in Žďár nad Sázavou which is appreciated because of its mysticism and unique architecture. In 2019 the National Stud Farm in Kladruby nad Labem and the Krušnohoří Mining Region were the new additions to the UNESCO heritage list in the country.
4. Thousands of castles
Impregnable fortresses, defiant forts, fairy-tale chateaux and whimsical summer palaces in expansive landscaped parks. You can easily call Czechia a country of castles and chateaus, in fact there are more than two thousand of them! The unique monuments in baroque, renaissance or gothic style are widely spread in the country and most of them have a fantastic location in forests, on hills and along meandering rivers. To learn more about their history many castles are open for visitors, with tours livened up by guides in historical costume, period music and dance, swordsmen and falconers. For an ultimate experience you must overnight in a castle.
5. Affordable destination
The Czech Republic, when compared with other European countries, is an affordable destination. You can find a nice accommodation for about 50 euros and for a dinner including drinks you will spend about 15 euros. Public transport in particular is attractively priced, with a three day ticket in Prague costing about 12 euros and a train ride from Prague to Brno about 8 euros. Do you fancy winter sport? In Czechia there are several ski resorts that offer a cheaper range of ski passes, ski rental and ski lessons compared to the Alps.
6. Various nature
Explore caves and rock cities, climb to the tops of mountains and observation points, enjoy beautiful scenery and visit the charming national parks. The Czech Republic is an amazing place for nature lovers, and the Czech countryside offers an amplitude of experiences in the summer; water sports, climbing, hiking and cycling. The country is endowed with nature reserves and has four national parks including the fairy-tale landscape of the Bohemian Switzerland National Park and the Giant Mountains where you can go hiking to the Labe spring. Cyclists can set off through the scenic countryside along the wine trails of South Moravia, or through the deep forests of Šumava.
7. Spa culture
The Czech Republic has a rich spa tradition. Over the years Czech spa towns have welcomed many international tourists because of the beneficial water sources. The charming spa towns have beautiful colonnades, parks and attractive accommodations offering spa treatments. Some of the spa towns are world famous, for example as Karlovy Vary in West Bohemia. The city has stunning architecture, a rich cultural life and the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival takes place here every year. Teplice is the oldest spa in Bohemia and has hot healing springs whilst Velké Losiny and Jeseník are spa towns in Moravia, the eastern region of Czechia. The local thermal springs and their clean air are the best places for breathing problems and to treat neurological conditions. Whether you are interested in medical spa treatments or just simply want to relax and regain energy a visit to a Czech spa is the right place.
8. Czech beer
The term Czech beer resonates far beyond the borders of the Czech Republic. And for beer connoisseurs, it is synonymous with the best lagers in the world. After all, which beer connoisseur would not be aware of such brands as Pilsner Urquell from Plzeň and Budweiser from České Budějovice, Kozel, produced near Prague, or Krušovice from Central Bohemia. Beer is quite simply put a traditional alcoholic beverage in the Czech Republic, found ubiquitously. There are more than 400 breweries here, some large scale which export beer worldwide, others small with strong family traditions and a varied menu. Enjoy a good pint of beer in authentic Czech pubs, renowned restaurants, or go on tour directly to one of the breweries. And for those who want to enjoy this golden drink while engaging all their senses, the Czech Republic even offers several beer spas.
9. Moravian wine
When you say wine, the Czech Republic might not be the first country to come to mind, but that’s a shame. Wine growing and wine production have a centuries-old tradition here and in recent decades Czech and Moravian winemakers have continued ancient traditions, and wines produced in the Czech Republic are served in even the most famous Michelin-starred restaurants in world capitals. Most of the vineyards can be found in South-Moravia, in a region where tradition and folklore are still alive and are firmly connected with wine production. Every autumn a harvest vintage is held in the small towns of this picturesque region. If you wish to explore the picturesque vineyard landscape, cellars, wine villages, castles and historic towns such as Mikulov, Znojmo or Lednice, you can take one of the many wine hiking trails or bike trails. Even if your journey does not take you to south Moravia, do not despair. You can also find vineyards located directly in Prague or just outside of Prague in the towns of Mělník or Litoměřice.
10. Rock towns
Massive sandstone towers, walls and rocky boulders, standing alone and forming groups with narrow walkways, ravines and trails – these are rock towns. In the Czech Republic you can find various rock towns in particular in Bohemia. The ruins of old castles, rocky viewpoints and the nature trails in them are a popular destination for all nature lovers, mountaineers, romantics, and families with children. One of the most popular destinations is Bohemian Paradise, an UNESCO Geopark with the famous rock towns HruboskalskéRocks and Prachov Rocks. They offer fantastic views of the surrounding area and challenging trails. Of course, you shouldn’t forget about the famous Adršpach Rock Town in the north of Bohemia.
For more information about the Czech Republic have a look at www.visitczechrepublic.com
