A holiday stay in Prague and the Czech Republic just has to include a walk on the Charles Bridge. An artist paints rhythmically in time to the tones of the street musicians. He paints of the bridge he is sitting on, Borghöjden which sits above, the Vltava river which flows below and a newly in love couple who have parked in front of a sculpture of a Catholic saint. The only thing that does not stick to his canvas are the sweet stanzas of the music and the loud murmur from the cafes under the bridge.

Population: 10.1 million

Capital: Prague

Language: Czech

Prague’s most famous resident, the author Franz Kafka, did not want his books published? However, his friend Max Brod – fortunately – went against the author’s wishes and published all his writings.

Neil Armstrong played the Czech composer Antonin Dvorak’s symphony From the New World, on the Moon?

Prague

With its 1.2 million inhabitants, the Czech capital is the country’s largest city – about a tenth of the country’s population lives here. The city spreads along the banks of the Vltava River, or Vltava as it is called in Czech. West of the river are Mala Strana (the small side) and Hradcany, Prague Castle which is known for the Old Royal Palace and the huge Gothic St. Vitus Cathedral. Here is also an old and idyllic craftsman center with low, colorful houses that once served as homes for the castle soldiers and none other than the author Franz Kafka – a shy and withdrawn man who after his death was subjected to the whims of fate and is now considered public property and one of the major attractions of the tourism industry.

Kafka is celebrated in many places in the city, for example in the Jewish district of Josefov east of the river. Here is a bronze sculpture of the author sitting on a headless human body – perhaps a greeting to Kafka’s absurd and alien universe. Josefov is also home to a number of synagogues, the Jewish cemetery and several exciting kosher restaurants with food prepared according to the Jewish cooking rules written down in the Torah.

East of the Vltava River is also Stare Mesto (the old town) with its old, 9000m2 square Staromestske namesti. Every day, a large number of people gather here at a given time outside the town hall and the astronomical clock (Prazsky orloj), to be impressed by the colorful chimes and puppets. On the same side of the river is the newer, more lively district of Nove mesto with shopping and entertainment streets around Vaclavske namest, also known as Wenceslas Square, a neighborhood that is also home to the National Theater and the famous Laterna Magika. Hybrid theater is played here with a mix of ballet, pantomime theater, music and film.

Western Czech Republic

More films can be seen in Karlovy Vary in West Bohemia, where an internationally recognized film festival is arranged every year, where, among other things, the Crystal Globe Prize for best film is awarded. The city, which in German is called Karlsbad, is also the Czech Republic’s most famous health resort. The city’s heyday goes back a number of centuries, but even if it is no longer Beethoven, Schiller and Chopin – or Karl Marx for that matter – that gild the city’s streets, the springs with their high salt mineral content and temperatures of between 40 and 70 degrees are nonetheless interesting..

Continue the journey to Márianske Lázné, the second most popular health resort. Or go on an enjoyable holiday to the small bohemian town of Frantiskovy Lázné. Also experience the medieval town of Loket Plzen and its brewery museum where you can acquire solid knowledge of one of the Czech Republic’s great prides – beer. Another option is to continue the journey to the Sumava National Park, which boasts the Czech Republic’s largest lake, Lipnosjön.

South and East Bohemia

South Bohemia is rich in old castles and East Bohemia in old Gothic churches, including the Kuyna Hora Cathedral. Bohemia is also widely known for its crystal. Take a turn past the glass museums in Novy Bor or Harachov. In the Czech Republic’s second largest city, Brno, located in southern Moravia, there is the opportunity to stroll down the country’s largest promenade, which is lined with pleasant cafés and shops. Of course, many of the stores sell crystal in all its shapes and sizes.

In the opposite part of the country you can get acquainted with one of Europe’s darkest history chapters – the concentration camps in Theresienstadt and its museum.

In summary, it can be said that a trip to the Czech Republic offers a mixture of extremely interesting history, exciting cultural experiences and beautiful nature.

Climate and weather Czech Republic

Read more about the Czech Republic’s climate and weather – from the capital Prague to Brno and Ostrava in the eastern parts of the country.

	JAN	FEB	MAR	APR	MAY	JUN	CHRISTMAS	AUG	SEP	OCT	NOV	DEC
Prague
Daytime temperature	0	3	8	13	18	21	23	23	19	13	6	2
Night temperature	-5	-4	-1	3	7	11	12	11	9	4	0	-3
Precipitation (mm)	24	23	28	38	77	73	66	70	40	31	32	25
Brno
Daytime temperature	0	3	9	14	20	23	25	24	20	14	7	2
Night temperature	-5	-3	0	4	8	11	13	13	10	5	1	-3
Precipitation (mm)	25	24	24	32	62	72	64	56	38	31	37	27
Ostrava
Daytime temperature	0	3	8	14	19	22	24	23	19	14	7	2
Night temperature	-6	-4	-1	3	7	11	12	12	9	5	1	-3
Precipitation (mm)	27	30	34	52	91	104	91	92	59	42	45	34

According to Top-medical-schools, the Czech Republic is a generally lush and green country thanks to its many rivers such as the Elbe and Danube. The Czech Republic has a mainland climate and since the country is an inland state, there is quite a big difference between summer and winter and the many level differences also mean that the climate varies a lot.