The Czech Republic (Czechia in short) is a small country in the Central Europe. It is a country of lower mountains, forests and rolling hills dotted with medieval towns and castles. Rich history has left a mark on every corner of its landscape. Once you get there, make sure you leave the capital to explore what else this country has to offer.
Krkonoše National Park | photo credit: pixabay.com
7 Reasons to Discover the Heart of Europe
I know exactly how it feels to open up the map of the world and think about your future adventures. Shall I go to the sunny beaches of Sri Lanka or Thailand? Shall I climb the roof of the world in Nepal? Or shall I simply go to less prominent places and discover something unexpected?
You do not certainly have the Czech Republic on the list of top "must be seen" places to go for vacations. It does not have sunny beaches, the highest mountains, the best cuisine nor the best wines. However, this is exactly the place where I recommend you to go. There are several reasons for choosing the Czech Republic for your next adventures.
Lake in Adršpach Rocks | photo credit: pixabay.com
1. Beautiful Nature for Great Outdoor Adventures
The Czech Republic has a beautiful and diverse landscape. Rolling hills, forests, low mountains, rivers and countless artificial lakes provide many opportunities for adventures such as hiking, climbing, biking, canoeing, camping, fishing or skiing and cross-country skiing.
You can enjoy a truly picturesque hiking, not even an hour from Prague (the biggest city in the Czech Republic), which is almost unimaginable for people living in most of the capital cities in the world.
Czech Countryside | photo credit: pixabay.com
Small country roads with low traffic meandering the valleys and hills are great for relaxing biking and motorbiking. The rock climbers will find plenty of opportunities for climbing on sandstone, limestone, granite or basalt. The canoeists will enjoy peaceful and flat inland waters for their adventures. And what's more, with the fishing licence you can truly experience an unforgettable fishing in both rivers and artificial lakes.
Krkonoše National Park | photo credit: pixabay.com
The Czech mountains are not that high, but provide lots of opportunities for skiing and cross-country skiing. The highest point is the #Sněžka mountain (1 603 m) in the #Krkonoše National Park, which is great for hiking in the summer and cross country skiing in the winter. And even though Sněžka is not that high mountain, the winter weather can be challenging there.
I was grateful several times for a refuge inside the local Post Office on the top of the mountain. (I know it sounds weird, but there is, indeed, a post office). Local Post Office offers not only shelter and postal services, but also hot drinks and basic food.
Krkonoše National Park | photo credit: pixabay.com
Apart form Krkonose National Park, The Czech Republic has three more National Parks -#Sumava National Park, #Podyji National Park and Bohemian #Switzerland. You can hike all of them on the marked trails except for the most protected parts.
2. The Countryside Dotted with Medieval Towns and Castles
The Czech Republic is a small country in the Central Europe with a population over 10 million. It is very easy to combine outdoor adventures in the countryside with exploring spectacular and fairytale castles, charming chateaux, ancient ruins and medieval towns.
Bouzov Castle | photo credit: pixabay.com
The biggest tourist attraction is Prague. However, other big cities worth visiting are Brno, Ostrava, Olomouc, České Budějovice, Hradec Králové, Pardubice and Plzeň. All of them are vibrant university cities with rich history, producing tens of thousand of graduates every year.
Town Hall in Olomouc | photo credit: pixabay.com
Historical sites in Olomouc, Brno and twelve other places in the Czech Republic are listed on the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage List.
Pilgrimage Church of St John of Nepomuk, Žďár nad Sázavou | photo credit: pixabay.com
3. Safe and Inexpensive Country for Travelling Families
Do not be afraid to take your family with you for your adventures! You will be warmly welcomed! Czechia is a very family friendly country with great health care, infrastructure and safety. Czechs travel and go to the nature with their #kids. You meet families everywhere.
The currency is the Czech Crown (Česká Koruna) despite the fact that the Czech Republic is part of the European Union since 2004. It is an inexpensive country that is considered to be one of the safest and the most peaceful countries in the world.
4. Great Public Transportation and Infrastructure
Traveling in the Czech Republic is easy. If you do not have your own car or you do not think of renting one, the public transport is a great option. The country has a high density of railways and bus lines. The public transport is of high quality. It is reliable and inexpensive. If you decide for public transport, the best website offering information for all kinds of connections is IDOS timetables.
Vranov nad Dyjí Chateau | photo credit: pixabay.com
Hitchhiking is no longer popular. About 15 years ago I remember myself hitchhiking every week from my university town to my home town. I do not see any hitchhikers on the road any more now. Internet connection is standard in most cafés, hotels, libraries, and sometimes even town halls.
As soon as you get to the remote areas and small towns and villages (less touristy places), locals will be much warmer to visitors but they will not speak much English. It mainly concerns the older generation that did not grow up with language education. That is why I would recommend to learn some basic Czech words and phrases.
Train - Czech Republic | photo credit: pixabay.com
5. The Best Marked Hiking Trails in the World
Regardless of whether you want to go cycling, hiking or simply discovering the historical and cultural sites of the Czech Republic, you will need to get a map first. As a foreigner coming to the Central Europe you will almost certainly have a travel guide that will help you to plan basic trips.
Once you know where to go I recommend you to visit a local bookstore and ask for the hiking maps made by the Czech Tourist Club (Klub Českých turistů, KČT). You will find many but no worries, only one or a few will fit your particular journey. If you are not sure, which one to choose, ask someone in the store. Maps are not in English, but they are easy to use.
Czechs are passionate hikers and the Czech Tourist Club makes sure that all hiking trails are well marked and well maintained. If you are fond of cycling or cross-country skiing you do not have to worry. Since cycling and cross-country skiing has been very popular among Czechs, the Czech Tourist Club includes cycling and cross-country skiing trails in the maps too.
Jeseníky Mountains | photo credit: martina
6. Inexpensive Accommodation and Endless Camping Opportunities
Apart from hotels and different airbnb options there are also plenty of camping opportunities. Obviously this is the cheapest option requiring your own gear. You can rent a cabin in certain camping areas, however these should be booked in advance.
The Czechs love camping and everything that comes with it like sitting by the fire, roasting sausages on the wooden stick, drinking beer, playing guitar and singing folk songs. The camping is the way to spend part of their summer holidays.
Roasting of Sausages | photo credit: pixabay.com
For places to camp look for universal tent pictogram or autocamping signs on the map. Free camping is prohibited, esp. in National Parks, Protected Landscape Areas and National Nature Reserves.
7. There Is Always Something to Do All Year Round
The climate in Czechia is quite varied. Generally, I can say that summers are warm and winters are cloudy, snowy and cold. The coldest parts are the mountainous regions near the country's borders, whereas South Moravia producing world-class wines is the warmest region. The average temperature in summer is around 17 degrees Celsius. The average winter temperature drops to -5 degrees Celsius in January.
The best time to visit is from mid May to mid October for most outdoor activities. If you like music, come in the summer when music #festivals are held all over the country. Hiking or cycling can be done throughout the whole year. Even though there have been milder winters in recent years, you can go for winter sports in the mountains every winter. Before going I recommend to check the snow conditions.
Cross Country Skiing Trails - Czech Republic | photo credit: pixabay.com