Independent travel is gradually becoming fashionable among Russians. Many have already gone to the resorts of hot countries more than once, planning a trip only on their own. As it turned out, this is not at all difficult, and the impressions from such an adventure are much more than from the usual tourist package with a lot of imposed services. One of the most popular routes among our compatriots is Europe, and the most attractive country is the Czech Republic. Such attractiveness is explained by the relative cheapness, all-season availability and extraordinary medieval beauties that can be found in any Czech city at almost every step. A trip to the Czech Republic can turn into a great honeymoon or Christmas vacation, and planning it all is quite simple and without the involvement of travel agencies. Interested how? You will find all the answers to your questions in this article.
Czech Republic: historical monuments and he alth resorts
Tourist trip to the Czech Republic can give you a lot of pleasant experiences, in different seasons it appears in completely different guises and plays like a precious stone with its facets. Holidays in this country will definitely appeal to the whole family, everyone will find something special for themselves - excellent Czech cuisine, delicious live beer from local breweries, ancient castles and healing mineral springs.
Depending on how ready you are to feel the spirit of the Czech Republic, this country will open up to you. Of course, it is best to see several different cities, but if you do not have such an opportunity, then choose Prague. It has retained that special medieval character that tourists come here for.
Karlovy Vary is also an excellent choice, this resort is famous all over the world for its healing waters. Of course, many tourist packages include an excursion to this city, but you can only really get to know it on your own. Therefore, if we have convinced you that a trip to the Czech Republic is easy and simple, then let's start planning your upcoming trip. Where does it all begin?
What do you need to travel to the Czech Republic?
If you are not quite an experienced tourist, then remember that the key to a successful trip is a detailed preparation for it. Without this, it is difficult to count on the fact that everything will turn out well, because in a foreign country it is quite difficult to change dramaticallyyour plans or hope for a chance - everything must be carefully prepared and planned.
What do you need to travel to the Czech Republic? First of all, an excellent plan, which should take into account all the nuances of the upcoming trip. We can say that the plan is conditionally divided into two large parts:
- preparatory;
- excursion.
The first part, of course, is the most extensive. It includes the following items:
- determination of the travel budget;
- choice of season;
- drawing up a route;
- hotel booking;
- buying tickets to the Czech Republic;
- getting a visa.
Usually the entire list can be completed in one to two months. During this period of time, you will have the opportunity to perfectly prepare, draw up all the documents and approach the preparation of the excursion program.
Don't think that upon arrival you will decide where you would like to go. Your budget depends on how often you are going to visit museums and other popular tourist places. After all, a trip to the Czech Republic on its own leaves tourists with a fairly wide selection of attractions that you can visit. The main thing is not to get carried away and correctly calculate your strength. Otherwise, you will not be happy with the long-awaited trip to the Czech Republic. The reviews left by tourists on various Internet portals always contain useful information that allows you to choose the most interesting historical monuments and places in the country.
Travel budget:how much money do you need?
A trip to the Czech Republic alone will cost our compatriots much cheaper than buying a travel package. Therefore, you can safely begin to form a travel budget without worrying that you will not have enough money for something. The Czech Republic is considered the most inexpensive country in Europe, which is the reason for its incredible attractiveness for tourists from all over the world.
The most costly items of expenditure will be the cost of travel, accommodation and meals. Depending on the choice of transport to the Czech Republic (we will talk about this a little later), the cost of the journey will vary from fifteen to thirty thousand rubles.
An average room in a hotel in Prague costs three thousand rubles for two, and food will cost about two to three thousand rubles a day. Thus, a trip for two for a period of ten days will cost the family about eighty thousand rubles. You also need to add some money for the tour and the purchase of souvenirs. For a rich excursion program, a thousand rubles a day will be enough for you.
Of course, we took far from the lowest prices as a basis. If desired, and with some luck, a trip to the Czech Republic can cost you much less. But it's better to always put some extra amounts in the expense item, so you will feel much more confident in a foreign country.
Czech Republic: the best time of the year to travel
So, you have a trip to the Czech Republic. What you need to know in order not to make a mistake with the choice of season? When is the best time to visit the Czech Republic? In fact, the answers to these questionsextremely simple. We will help you decide on travel dates.
The best time to walk around Prague and not only is spring. Since mid-April, a stable positive temperature has been established in the country, usually the thermometer does not fall below twenty degrees Celsius. Orchards and numerous jasmine bushes begin to bloom. Cities are literally immersed in a sweet dope, and walks turn into a real exquisite pleasure.
You can come to the Czech Republic in the summer, but for many tourists it becomes quite difficult to wander around the cities under the scorching sun. Moreover, you will have to walk a lot.
Until November, the Czech autumn pleases tourists with excellent weather and magnificent views. Surprisingly, an autumn trip to the Czech Republic attracts a lot of couples in love who fall under the charm of ancient cities on the eve of winter.
In winter, the country becomes quite uncomfortable, it often rains and cold winds blow. The only exceptions are Christmas days, when Prague and other cities are lit up with festive lights, and the falling snow reminds of a fairy tale come to life. In the rest of the winter months, the Czech Republic looks gloomy and harsh, but for many travelers it is at this time that it seems to be the most attractive. It shows sharp medieval features that best emphasize the history of the country.
Experiencing the Czech Republic: where are we going?
The Czech Republic is not a very big country, so here you can see the main sights in a few days. And forit is worth visiting several cities, because it is impossible to form an opinion about the country only in Prague, where tourists usually go first of all.
So, let's look at the most important tourist destinations in the Czech Republic:
Prague
This city is praised by poets and artists, its ancient beauty makes you forget about everything in the world. Therefore, it is hard to imagine that a trip to the Czech Republic can be complete without visiting this amazing city.
If time permits, then allocate four to five days to explore Prague. This will be quite enough to immerse yourself in the atmosphere of the city. Most often, tourists walk along it on foot, because literally every alley and house in Prague is a historical monument. For especially long distances, you can use public transport, it works here around the clock and runs strictly on schedule.
2. Karlovy Vary
Former Soviet fellow citizens associate this resort with something incredibly European. Almost all tourists want to visit here, but in principle there is nothing to see in this city. Literally one day is enough for you to appreciate the old mansions, modern luxury hotels and taste the healing mineral water. It is also worth visiting the medieval castle and the Geyser Colonnade, and exotic lovers can afford to sip the famous "bekhterevka", which is sold everywhere here.
3. Cesky Krumlov
Tourist groups rarely get to this town, but believe me - it's worth doing. The solo traveler canafford to make a trip from Prague with transfers to literally find yourself in the past.
The town itself is home to only fourteen thousand people, but it is truly unique. The fact is that Krumlov looks exactly like in the Middle Ages. Each of its streets, as if descended from illustrations or films about medieval Europe. You will not see such beauty anywhere else in the country.
4. Brno
This city is quite large for the Czech Republic and quite noisy, but you should go here for local delicacies, a variety of beers and to see the old churches, of which there are a great many in Brno.
Keep in mind that the number of cafes in the city and all the goodies that are sold there can significantly harm your figure. Many return from this town for a couple of kilograms more than before the trip. And it's not always about food, it's simply impossible to refuse beer in Brno. It is sold on every corner, and breweries invite tourists to visit their own museums and taste different types of beer. But do not pay more than two euros for it - this is the most reasonable price in the Czech Republic.
Fans of skiing will also find their use in the Czech Republic. The country has many comfortable and well-equipped resorts. YOU can go, for example, to Harrachov or Pec.
If your goal is to improve your he alth, then in Marianske Lazne and Podebrady you will be welcomed with pleasure and an individual he alth program will be compiled. But keep in mind that in this case, the cost of the holiday will increase significantly.
Trip to the Czech Republic by car or bus
As we have already specified, there are many ways to get to the Czech Republic. It seems to many inexperienced tourists that the best option is to travel to the Czech Republic by car or bus. But in fact, this option has too many "buts".
First of all, please note that the journey from Moscow will take about twenty hours and this is at best! Some travelers said that they traveled to Prague in about fifty hours (of course, this included stops and overnight stays). Imagine that you have to spend at least a day in an uncomfortable position. This is not only inconvenient, but also dangerous to he alth, because in the process of long sitting, edema is formed and the work of many internal organs is disrupted.
In addition, the gasoline spent on the trip makes it quite expensive. Is it worth choosing an expensive, long and uncomfortable route at the same time? We think not. So focus on other means of transportation.
Train: an alternative way to travel
Trip to the Czech Republic by train is possible only from Moscow and St. Petersburg. Experienced travelers say that in spring and summer, a similar option is also available to residents of Yekaterinburg.
Despite the fact that the Moscow-Prague railway is one of the oldest, it is, alas, not the fastest and most convenient. You will have to get there for about a day, and for many tourists this is a rather unpleasant moment. The cost of a round-trip ticket for one person varies within four hundreddollars, which is clearly not cheaper than air travel.
One of the advantages of traveling by train is the picturesque scenery outside the window, but if you are not a connoisseur of such paintings, give up such a tedious journey.
Flight to the Czech Republic
The most convenient trip to the Czech Republic from Moscow will be by air. Literally in five hours you will already be standing at the airport of Prague or Karlovy Vary in anticipation of the upcoming adventures.
Two airlines deserve attention on this route:
- "Aeroflot".
- "Czech Airlines".
The cost of a round-trip flight varies within nine thousand rubles. Most often, tourists choose direct flights, but you can also stay on transit flights. They will be significantly cheaper. Keep in mind that buying tickets early saves you about ten to fifteen percent of the amount. You will definitely find how to spend this money in the Czech Republic.
Accommodation: the nuances of choosing a hotel
In order to process documents for a trip to the Czech Republic, you will need a hotel reservation. Therefore, before collecting paperwork for a visa, you should choose and book a hotel room.
Here, as in any other business, there are nuances and peculiarities. Keep in mind that in the Czech Republic you will have to walk a lot - you will leave the hotel early in the morning and return only at night. Thanks to this, you should not choose an expensive hotel complex with a lot of additional services, a small room withclean bed and bathroom in a good area. And there are plenty of such hotels in the Czech Republic.
If we are talking about accommodation in Prague, then you should not look for a hotel in the center. Not all tourists know this trick. The fact is that public transport works well in the city and it is quite safe at any time of the day, so even at night you will quickly get to your hotel. And the cost of living will be significantly lower than in advertised hotels in the center of Prague.
Few people know that Prague is divided into districts under numbers. The most acceptable for tourists are the following areas: 1, 2, 3 and 6. But even in this case, you should check the map before booking, some areas are quite large and your hotel may be on the very outskirts of the city.
Do not look for a hostel in Prague and the Czech Republic in general. Here, such accommodation is very unprofitable for tourists. For example, an average hotel room costs forty dollars, and a room for ten in a hostel is thirty-five dollars. The comparison will clearly not be in favor of the latter.
Features of the visa regime
What documents do you need to travel to the Czech Republic? Take care of your he alth insurance first. Recently, it can be issued not only in the offices of various companies, but also via the Internet. This makes the process much easier, but remember that your policy should cover approximately €30,000.
To travel to the Czech Republic you need a visa, its execution is quite typical for Schengen. But for those who first encounter such actions, this process may cause some difficulties.
Documents for a trip to the Czech Republic must be collected three months before the intended trip. In this case, you will have the opportunity to prepare well for your visit to the visa center. The package of documents for a visa looks quite standard:
- passport;
- tickets and hotel reservations;
- certificate of income;
- bank statement;
- he alth insurance;
- questionnaire.
All these papers can be taken to the visa center or the Consular Section (it all depends on which city you live in). For many Russians, it is the visa issue that is the most difficult when they decide whether they can afford to travel to the Czech Republic on their own. A visa costs thirty-five euros and another one thousand rubles will need to be paid extra for the services of the visa center. Nothing complicated, right? In ten working days, and in many cases even earlier, you will have a stamped passport in your hands.
Food in the Czech Republic
Even if you are traveling on your own for the first time and are very worried about eating in an unfamiliar country, the Czech Republic will not give you absolutely no trouble finding cafes and restaurants. There are a huge number of them in every city of the country, but only national pubs will give you a complete picture of Czech cuisine. Here, these are special places where people come to relax, chat, try new beers and, of course, eat delicious food.
Dishes in such establishments are distinguished by their exceptional taste and inexpensive price. For example, a dinner for two with severalglasses of beer, soup and a pork knee will cost you about a thousand rubles. After such a lunch or dinner, you will definitely not want to eat for the next ten hours. The secret lies precisely in the pork knee, the national Czech dish, which even a hungry company cannot always master. Therefore, it is usually ordered one for the whole table. Basically, food in the Czech Republic is quite oily, but surprisingly tasty. This applies to appetizers, meat dishes and desserts. The latter are distinguished by some special sophistication that you will not find anywhere else.
The Czech Republic is a great country to start independent travel. It will give you invaluable experience and a lot of unforgettable impressions. And that's what tourists expect from their trips, isn't it?
