Brno
Brno is the Czech Republic's second city with a strong student scene, cheap nightlife, and quirky attractions including an underground ossuary and a modernist UNESCO villa.
Country
Czech Republic
8 cities and towns
The Czech Republic offers some of the cheapest beer in Europe (often just a couple of euros, and cheaper still outside Prague), a rich castle-and-town heritage, and a food scene built around hearty, affordable portions. The historic centers of Prague, Cesky Krumlov, and Olomouc are free to wander, and most of the pleasure is in the squares, bridges, and riverside walks that cost nothing. Getting around by train and bus is easy and inexpensive, making it perfect for multi-city budget trips, and visiting in spring or autumn keeps Prague room prices well below the summer peak. Other useful bases include Brno, Karlovy Vary, Kutna Hora, and Pilsen.
Where to go
Cities and towns in Czech Republic
Each one with what it costs to spend a day there.
Ceske Budejovice
Home to the original Budweiser brewery and the largest square in Central Europe, this south Bohemian city runs on Czech beer prices and genuine local atmosphere.
Cesky Krumlov
Český Krumlov, known historically as Böhmisch Krumau, is a medieval town whose castle sits on a loop of the Vltava river and whose layout has changed so little since the 17th century that UNESCO listed it in 1992.
Karlovy Vary
Karlovy Vary is a grand spa town where visitors can taste hot springs for free from public fountains and wander colonnades lined with pastel buildings.
Kutna Hora
A silver-mining town 80 km east of Prague, reachable by direct train in 55 minutes. The Sedlec Ossuary, a small chapel decorated with the bones of an estimated 40,000 people, is the main draw. The Gothic Cathedral of St Barbara, built by the same workshop as St Vitus Cathedral in Prague, is equally impressive and far less crowded.
Olomouc
Olomouc is a hidden gem with a UNESCO Holy Trinity Column, a vibrant university atmosphere, and prices that make Prague look expensive.
Pilsen
Pilsen is the birthplace of Pilsner beer, offering brewery tours, a beautiful town square, and the authentic Czech pub experience at local prices.
Prague
Prague and Vienna were both capitals of the Habsburg Empire for centuries, and that shared history is visible in the architecture, the coffeehouses, and the way both cities hold their 19th-century grandeur with a certain studied nonchalance.
Coverage of Czech Republic is still thin. The full list is here.
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