The Czech Republic is an amazingly beautiful country known for its sights. In order to visit as many interesting places with a rich history as possible, it is better to plan the entire trip route in advance.
Visa
The Czech Republic is a territory subject to the rules of the Schengen zone, therefore, to visit it, it is imperative to issue a tourist visa.
This can be done independently through visa agencies, Czech consulates on the territory of the Russian Federation or at the Consulate General (Yekaterinburg, St. Petersburg). You can do it in person or by sending the necessary list of documents and certificates in electronic form to the visa department. A regular visa will cost 80 euros, an urgent one - 140.
In addition to providing documents, you need to confirm your financial status. Visa Application Center or Czech Customs must ensure that the applicant has sufficient funds to travel. Also, staff may require you to provide return tickets, a personal statement, a voucher confirming the presence of a hotel reservation and medical insurance.
Way to the Czech Republic
The most convenient way to get to the capital of the Czech Republic is by plane. Liners from different companies fly to Prague on a regular basis, so there will be no problems with departure and return. If the final destination is another Czech city, then from the capital you can take a bus or train to anywhere in the country.
Ticket prices vary greatly depending on the departure location. For example, flying from million-plus cities is cheaper than from regional airports. If it is not possible to purchase inexpensive tickets, then it is better to use the tourist offer, which already includes flight, transfer and accommodation. Among the tours, you can pick up the one in which there is a lot of free time for independent visits to the sights.
Intercity transport
Prague is the main city of the Czech Republic, which has a dense network of roads and railways connecting the capital with other cities and leading to other countries.
A special feature of the Prague road connection is that the train and bus stations are also metro stations. They are also called the same.
When traveling alone, it is more profitable to choose a bus, the cost of such a ticket is several times lower. You can buy it online over the Internet. Having dropped the data on the gadget, it is enough to show the ticket to the driver in electronic form.
Another pleasant bonus for tourists is the round-the-clock operation of trams and buses. Their timetables are indicated on separate dark blue plates. They stop working half an hour before the opening of the metro. For convenience, the timetable for ground transport and metro can be downloaded to a smartphone or tablet.
In the capital of the Czech Republic, there is no usual payment for a trip; instead, it is necessary to purchase travel passes for a period of 15, 30 and 90 minutes or a day and 72 hours, a month, etc. They are versatile and suitable for travel by bus, metro or tram. The countdown starts from the moment of activation when entering the vehicle with it.
Long-term coupons are more profitable if many trips are planned, since transport in the Czech Republic is very expensive. You can buy them at a bus stop, special machines or via SMS.
Several special historical and nostalgic tram routes run in Prague to familiarize tourists with the main attractions of the capital. They pass the most significant and important places in the city.
Accommodation
In the Czech Republic, guests from other countries are required to pay a tourist tax for living on its territory. According to the new regulation, it is charged on the spot to employees of hotels, resorts and hotels at the time of check-in (earlier it was possible to include it in the general bill for the entire stay at the hotel). Now it is equal to 21 CZK (about 60 rubles) per person per day.
Accommodation price depends on the season. It would be better to book seats during the excitement and mass tours - New Year's and Christmas, summer time - a few months before the trip. This will save you an impressive amount.
In the Czech Republic, you can stay not only in hotels, inns and sanatoriums. Many residents offer to rent a room or an apartment from them for daily and short term rent.
Standard check-in time in hotels is after 14:00. Tourists who arrive ahead of schedule are offered to leave their luggage for storage until the room is fully ready.
After placing in the room, you must familiarize yourself with the service and prohibitions of the hotel. What services will be paid, how much they cost, what they include, when to make the calculation. This information booklet is located in an open area in every issue.
Regardless of the type of hotel or sanatorium, one rule applies to everyone - smoking is strictly prohibited and is punishable by a fine of up to 100 euros.
Meals are usually included in the price in the form of a buffet breakfast. The rest of the meals are paid additionally in the hotel restaurant.
On the eve of departure from the hotel, it is necessary to clarify: the time of departure and whether there are outstanding invoices for additional or paid services.
Excursions
When visiting the Czech Republic for the first time, it is better to stay in Prague and carefully study it, since it is a solid attraction in itself. It is worth starting with a walk through the Old Town, namely the Old Town Square, acquaintance with the famous Town Hall with the astronomical clock and the Tyn Church.
Then you can go to Prague Castle, St. Vitus Cathedral, Charles Bridge, Vysehrad Fortress, Malastrana.
Beautiful buildings and structures erected using various architectural styles will amaze and leave an indelible mark on the heart of any tourist. The unique architectural ensemble of Prague is intertwined and adjacent to old buildings and structures in the Gothic and Baroque styles with modern technologies and elements.
In addition to the historical and beautiful places of Prague, the following famous sights of the Czech Republic are worth visiting:
- Brno;
- Eagle's Nest;
- Pardubice;
- Lednice;
- Kutna Hora;
- Ossuary in Sedlec;
- Dancing House;
- Cathedral of St. Barbara;
- Karlstein;
- Clementium;
- Perstein Castle.
Gastronomic Czech Republic
A tourist trip can be stopped in the semblance of a gastro tour. The locals are very proud of their cuisine. Their recipes are passed down from generation to generation and are sacredly revered.
The most popular dishes that you should definitely try while in the Czech Republic include:
- pork dishes: they can be served with various side dishes or sauces. These are shanks, ribs, rolls, goulash, steaks, etc. Czechs are very fond of pork, preferring it to any other type of meat.
- svichkova, gremelin, snack sausages, boar knee, trdlo, fried cheese, hermelin (type of cheese), drowned, bramboraki.
- dumplings: made from dough or potatoes, then boiled. Serve as an independent dish with filling, in other cases they are served with main courses.
- soups: Czechs have a wide variety of them, among which attention should be paid to the beer or the traditional first course from the tripe. In restaurants it can be served on a bread plate.
- burchak and local beer, among which there are very exotic varieties: nettle, alum, banana, coffee, etc. One cannot but recall Becherovka and Slivovitsa.
And, of course, a wide variety of traditional desserts. Often in the Czech Republic, in restaurants you can find an unusual creative way of serving dishes. The portions themselves are quite impressive. It is worthwhile before ordering to clarify the size of the dish and, if necessary, agree on a reduction in the portion.
Souvenirs
Tourists traveling to the cities of the Czech Republic can find traditional or original souvenirs for themselves and as a gift to relatives and friends at every corner. There are many antique and souvenir shops, small shops for tourists in any city of the country.
The main thing during shopping is to remember the customs rules for export. For some categories of goods, it is necessary to have identification documents and they can only be exported in limited quantities (products made of ivory and tortoiseshell, rare varieties of plants, objects of art). For example, alcohol is allowed to be exported with a volume of no more than 3 liters.
Restrictions also apply to clothing and products. Their number should be in the amount necessary for personal consumption.
Recommended Gift List:
- crystal from the Moser plant;
- pomegranate decorations from the Turnov factory (representative - Granat Turnov chain of stores);
- Vltavin stone decorations;
- figurines, toys and other things depicting a mole from the famous Czech cartoon Krtek;
- ecological Czech cosmetics (it is better to buy near the spa areas);
- beer mugs;
- food products (cheese, meat products, alcoholic beverages, Karlovy Vary waffles - payments, confectionery and pastries, cofola);
- art supplies in beautiful packaging, including handmade;
- commemorative and souvenir coins;
- porcelain.
With the knowledge of how to get there, triple and usefully spend time in the Czech Republic, you can get an unforgettable experience for a long time, significant savings for the budget and quality souvenirs for friends.
