Travelling to Czechia for 15 days

October 26, 2024

Travelling to Czechia for 15 days

I’ve always loved Europe, especially its medieval and early modern architecture, atmosphere, history, culture, art, and scenery. After exploring more than ten European countries, I decided to take a deep dive into one.

In October 2024, I spent a half month in Czechia (Czech Republic), joined some walking tours, and before the trip I did a lot of homework to get to know this country well. So, even with so many travel tips online, there are still some useful things I’d like to share—some of which I didn’t realize until I experienced them firsthand.

TRAVEL PLAN

Day 0: ✈

Day 1: Prague, 4 nights in Prague

Day 2: Prague

Day 3: Prague

Day 4: Prague

Day 5: Český Krumlov, 2 nights in Český Krumlov

Day 6: Český Krumlov

Day 7: Český Krumlov → Telč, 1 night in Telč

Day 8: Telč → Brno, 2 nights in Brno

Day 9: Moravian Karst

Day 10: Brno → Prague, 5 nights in Prague

Day 11: Karlovy Vary

Day 12: Terezin and Bohemian/Saxon Switzerland Tour

Day 13: Pilsen

Day 14: Kutná Hora

Day 15: ✈

TRANSPORTATION

A. From the Airport ✈

T-bus 59 + Subway

T-bus Route & Schedule

Take T-bus 59 to Nádraží Veleslavín subway station.
Runs every 6 minutes from 04:23 to 23:42.
The ride takes around 30 minutes.

Bus stop location: In front of Exit E, Terminal 1 🔗[Map].

Nádraží Veleslavín Subway Station

Located on Line A (green line) in the upper left of the 🔗[Prague Subway Map].

Where to Buy Tickets

Kiosks are available by Exit E (opposite the Visitor Center).
Additional kiosks are also located at the bus stop.

Ticket Fare

Buy a 90-minute/CZK 40 ticket (since the T-bus takes about 30 minutes, you'll have 60 minutes to take the subway), and a CZK 20 luggage ticket if your luggage exceeds 25×45×70cm.
Alternatively, buy a 24-hour/CZK 120 ticket or a 72-hour/CZK 330 ticket, which includes luggage.

Stamp (Validate) Your Ticket

Remember to stamp the ticket! Every ticket without a stamp or double-stamped is invalid!
Stamp machines (orange) can be found at the bus stop and on buses.

Stamped 90-minute and luggage tickets

Opposite direction: Take T-bus 59 from Nádraží Veleslavín subway station to the airport.

Airport Express (AE)

Route

Drop off at Prague Main Train Station (Praha Hlavni Nadrazi)—a good choice if your hotel is nearby.

Schedule & Ticket Fare

Runs every 15–30 minutes from 05:30–21:00.
Ticket Fare: CZK 100

Bus Stop Location

In front of Exit G, Terminal 1 🔗[Map].

Uber/Bolt

Uber/Bolt is much more reliable than local taxis.

B. Intercity Transport

České Dráhy (Train)

Strongly recommend to download the České Dráhy app to track train delays, platform changes, available seats, etc.
Round-trip tickets are cheaper than two single tickets.

České Dráhy app: Platform number and transit information

České Dráhy app: Available seats (Red indicates reserved seats.)

On the train: Labels indicate reserved seats.

Student Agency (Yellow bus) & Flixbus (Green bus)

Overview

Both are reliable options, with a few differences:

Student Agency

Free seat selection
Free coffee (though I did't see anyone drinking)
In-car entertainment (but it didn't work on my four rides)
Departure Info: Displayed online 🔗[SA Departures and Arrivals] in addition to station boards

Flixbus

Charges for seat selection
Newer buses with faster USB chargers (in my experience)
Departure Info: Available via the Flixbus app in addition to station boards

Luggage Policy

Student Agency 🔗[SA Luggage Policy]

Hand baggage: Max. 15×25×35 cm
Luggage: Max. 30×60×80 cm, up to 30 kg (2 pieces free)

Flixbus 🔗[FB Luggage Policy]

Hand baggage: Max. 7x12×16 in
Luggage: Max. 12x20×31 in, up to 50 lbs (1 piece free)

Overall, I'll say "Let the price decide."

THINGS GOOD TO KNOW

UNESCO World Heritage Sites: UNESCO Czech Heritage
Currency: Koruna (English: Czech Crown)

If you have old Koruna banknotes (issued in 1995–1999), except for CZK 500, exchange them at the Czech National Bank’s cash offices. 🔗[Details]
Credit cards are widely accepted across Czechia, but in smaller towns or for low-value purchases, they may not be accepted.
Here are some places from my visit that only accepted cash (some accepted Euros but at a higher exchange rate):

Some restrooms
Prague: Some stands at the Farmer's Saturday Market
Český Krumlov: A trdelník shop
Telč: Some souvenir shops, a restaurant, and a hotel (Credit card acceptance is less common here.)
Karlovy Vary: A spa cup souvenir stand

Recommended Currency Exchange Sites:

Prague

Český Krumlov

N°59

💥 Fraud Alert: Do NOT exchange money in the street!

Left to Right: Prague Astronomical Clock, Telč No. 61, Český Krumlov Castle Tower

Water

Tap water is safe to drink.

Food and Restaurants

Try traditional dishes such as pork knee, duck leg, and beef with dumplings—each cooked to be soft and tender. Don’t miss chlebíček (an open-faced sandwich) and Kofola, the "communist coke."
Bageterie Boulevard offers crispy and delicious baguettes and fresh salads that provide a good portion of the daily vegetables. Plus, they have free restrooms for tourists! ❤
Read Google Maps ratings and comments to avoid tourist traps.
Popular restaurants require reservations, most offer online booking via Google Maps.
Tipping: It's optional; popular restaurants usually suggest a 10% tip by default.
💰 Try the "Daily Menu" (WEEKDAY lunch menu) for cost-effective meals. The selection is limited and often written in Czech. If you're worried about the language, try Lokál, they have daily menu written in English.
💰 Dinner Discounts (Sleva): Some restaurants offer discounts 1 hour before closing, such as Dhaba Beas, Sushi Time, and Jizerske Pekarny.

Supermarkets

💰 Many supermarkets offer membership discounts for certain products.
Czech Fruit Travel Agency s.r.o. provides membership cards for Billa, Lidl, Tesco, and Rossmann. If you book their tour or simply add them on LINE, you'll get the membership barcodes.

Stamps and Postcards

"A" stamp or stamp with a price are for domestic mail, "E" stamps are for Europe, and "Z" stamps are for other countries.
If you enjoy stamp collecting, visit the Prague Main Post Office 🔗[Map] on WEEKDAYS. The stamp counter is to the right of the main entrance. Don't forget to look "up" at Mucha's paintings.

The weekday stamp counter is behind the staircase.

This beautiful and memorable stamps marked Z and E cost CZK 94.

BASIC GREETINGS IN CZECH

Hello

Dobrý den (formal)—Highly recommend to remember this one since you'll hear it everywhere, such as in shops, on trains, and more.
Ahoj (informal, used with friends)