Essential Czech Republic Travel Tips – 2024 Guide

Landlocked at the heart of Central Europe, the Czech Republic is a hidden treasure of tourism experience. Explore the beauty of Gothic architecture and remarkable Bohemian history while also embracing the warm social atmosphere with varieties of traditional beers. If Czech is your next destination to visit, here are a few travel tips that you might need:

1. Is It Czechia, Czech Republic, Checho, Chechnya, or What?

Interestingly, some tourists are confused about the actual name of this country. It could be embarrassing, especially if you are talking to locals. The official name is the Czech Republic, but most people call it Czech for short. Czechia is also an option, but it is rare to use, and many locals dislike this nickname.

Do not ever get confused with Chechnya, which is a Russian region. Czechoslovakia is also invalid because that country peacefully separated a long time ago into the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Some Europeans may refer to Czech as Bohemia because the country was the place where the Kingdom of Bohemia. While the kingdom no longer exists, the Bohemian culture is still prevalent in Europe, mainly Czech.

2. It’s Nice to Mingle with the Locals

Czechs are generally hospitable, but most are a little reserved at first. Lack of expression is common, but they will show warmth and enthusiasm over time. These people are proud of their culture and history, so respect that. It will also be helpful to learn a few phrases in their language despite many being fluent in English. 

It may take time to break the ice with the locals, but worth it. Czech people are mostly well-informed and open-minded about various topics. Thus, conversations with them may give you refreshing insights. Even better, you might get recommendations of hidden gems and tasty foods that most tourists don’t know about.

3. Scams and Pickpockets Are Everywhere – Watch Out!

While most locals are nice, scammers and pickpockets are not rare, especially in tourist spots. Be careful with your belongings, especially your wallet. Avoid putting them in easily accessible places, such as your back pocket or the outer pouch of your backpack. Here are some types of scammers that are most common in Czech:

• People pretending to be public transportation staff trying to sell you fake or overpriced tickets.
• Fake policies ask for your passport and then demand money if you want it returned.
• Con artists posing as lost tourists or friendly locals trying to have conversations and steal things when you are distracted.
• Taxi drivers use rigged meters or make excuses to take longer routes.
• Sellers overcharging or giving fewer changes.

4. Bring the Right Money

Cards might be acceptable in large-scale businesses in Czech, but it is still not a common method of financial transactions. Many small businesses are still relying so much on cash payments. Thus, you must bring along some anywhere you go. Bear in mind that while it is in the European Union, Czech is one of the few countries that does not use the Euro as its official currency. What they have is the Czech Crown or Koruna (CZK).

Digital money is more rarely acceptable in Czech as locals consider it unsafe and inconvenient. However, having a travel money card from digital banks like Revolut and Wise can still benefit you. Withdrawing money from ATMs conventionally might cost transaction fees, but you can cut that out by using travel money cards. Considering how prevalent the pickpockets are, it is much safer to have little cash around and withdraw money more often than to withdraw once in large amounts. 

5. Make Time for the Hidden Gems 

Czech is rich in culture and history, which leaves the country with many attractive places that are off-radar from most tourists. You can find these places by doing elaborate research online or getting direct recommendations from locals. Not only beautiful, but these places are much less crowded, thus giving you more freedom to explore.

In the Bohemian region, you will find many castles and châteaus that are well-preserved and open to tourists. Moravia and Silesia also offer many hidden attractions, especially if you love cultural exploration and historical sites. These places are your best bet to catch a vibe of Gothic and Renaissance architecture outside the Prague Oldtown.

6. Know Your Beers

Beer is more than a part of Czech, but it is also a national heritage. Most locals are proud of the country’s long history of brewing and consuming beers since the 10th century. Up until today, Czechia is still the largest beer consumer per capita in the world, with approximately 140 liters of beer per person drunk per year. 

There are many kinds of beers in the country. The popular ones are pilsners, dark lagers, and wheat beers. There are also specialty beers brewed only for special occasions or unique ingredients. According to the culture, locals usually serve beers with traditional dishes to snack on. It is also common for people to use beer in cooking.

Before drinking any beer, make sure to check its alcohol content. The same types of beers may contain different levels of alcohol. In a country with avid beer drinkers, locals tend to have a higher tolerance than tourists. If you are not careful with what you consume, chances are you might pass out very quickly.

7. The Foods Are Worth Tasting

Czech cuisine has simple yet hearty characteristics rooted deeply in its agricultural heritage. Festive meals usually start with soup, which Czech has plenty of variations of. One of the most popular ones is Goulash.

It is a cultural pride of Czechians to cook meat with beer. Besides the varieties of beer to use, these people also use various meats. You will find more than just beef, chicken, and pork there. Venison, rabbit, and game are also popular delicacies there.

The country is also a big fan of pastries and sweets where most of the sweetness comes from sweet cheese, honey, and native fruits such as plums, berries, apples, and apricots.

Bonus: For Most Convenience and Cost-Efficiency, Have A Virtual CZ National Number from MySecondLine

Calling your friends in Czech is vital to make sure you have a good time together. Yet, it can be challenging if you use a conventional number from your home country due to signal problems and roaming fees. Buying a local SIM card is also a problem because it is too expensive for short-term use.

Fortunately, those things will never be your problem if you download MySecondLine and get a Czech national number in a virtual mobile format. Calling your friends in Czech can be cost-efficient, yet the signal is constantly strong as it relies on an internet connection.

Investing in MySecondLine is a must, especially if you need a national number for temporary usage. The global coverage of this virtual mobile system allows you to use your phone anywhere in the world without needing to change your format or drain your money for the roaming fees.