What is the best way to go to the Czech Republic? Ways to reduce the cost of a trip to the Czech Republic

The well-deserved title of one of the most beautiful countries The Czech Republic received Europe a long time ago, and just as long ago it has been popular among tourists from all over the world. Everyone, even if they have not been to the Czech Republic themselves, definitely has a friend who vividly described their trip to this country and promised to return. It’s convenient to start your acquaintance with Europe from the Czech Republic - the trip will be eventful, quite budget-friendly and in no case will disappoint you. And, perhaps, one of the main advantages for many is that organizing your trip to the Czech Republic will not be difficult for anyone, even an inexperienced traveler.

In this article we will tell you in detail how to buy air tickets to the Czech Republic and book hotels yourself, how to get a visa to the Czech Republic, when is the best time to go and what currency to take with you, how to travel independently by public transport and get from Prague airport to the city center, what see and where to go in the Czech Republic.

Visa to the Czech Republic on your own

To visit the Czech Republic you need a Schengen visa, which we have already described in detail in the article “”. Each state may have a couple of its own rules for applying for a visa, but in general, the list of documents is always the same, so those who have previously received a visa to Europe should not have any difficulties. Just as there will be no difficulties in submitting that same application upon receipt, because their visa centers are open literally throughout the country: in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Kaliningrad, Murmansk, Rostov-on-Don, Sochi, Krasnodar, Saratov, Samara, Kazan, Perm, Ufa, Nizhny Novgorod, Yekaterinburg, Omsk, Novosibirsk, Krasnoyarsk, Irkutsk, Khabarovsk and Vladivostok. Whatever you say, this destination is extremely popular for Russian tourists, and the Czech visa center takes care of our convenience by opening more and more visa centers.

The cost of a visa to the Czech Republic is 35 euros, plus a visa center fee of 1000-1500 rubles. They will issue a visa quickly - 5-7 working days, and they will also notify you of readiness by email or phone. Of course, to calm your nerves, it would be better to take care of your visa in advance - after all, each visa center may have delays and different force majeure situations. Agree, it would be terribly disappointing to cancel your trip because you were late with your visa. You can submit your application 3 months before the start date of the trip, not earlier.

Buy a plane ticket to the Czech Republic yourself

There are several ways to get to the Czech Republic: by train, by plane or by car. But the main assistant in saving time is, of course, the airplane. From the capital of Russia, for example, a plane flies to Prague in only 2 hours and 50 minutes. So how to choose and buy tickets that are optimal in price and time?

To find air tickets to the Czech Republic, the easiest way is to use online services; it is more convenient and efficient than contacting a travel agency. After all, a travel agency will select a ready-made tour for you with departure and arrival on a certain day and at a certain time, and with the airline with which they have an agreement. You will have to shift your plans here and there to take the exact flight the travel agent says you should take. And with online purchase tickets are getting simpler - you choose from all possible flight options, of which there are often several hundred. Isn’t it true that among them there will certainly be a flight that is ideal in terms of time and price? We answer, there will be.

There are a great many sites on the Internet that offer the service of searching for air tickets. Their task is to find according to the given parameters (date of departure and arrival, price, number of transfers, airport of arrival, airline) and select for you as many as possible suitable options, and then redirect to the partner’s website to purchase a ticket. How to do this can be read in the detailed article “”. Now we will simply show how much a flight to the Czech Republic and back can cost. Take, for example, a flight from Moscow to Prague and back.

I use the service, through which we will look for suitable air tickets to the Czech Republic. Remember - it is best to look for tickets somewhere a few months before the trip, since all the most convenient options are already on sale, but have not yet been sold out. And now, we are looking at tickets for six months from the date of writing the article, that is, for October 2015.

So, on October 13-20, flights Moscow-Prague and Prague-Moscow will cost us, at the very least, 8553 rubles. This offer belongs to the company UIA, Ukrainian Airlines. The disadvantage is transfers in Kyiv, both there and back. It’s still faster than taking the train, but you don’t want to sit at the airport for 5 hours either. Therefore, we will choose the options for direct flights and get the cheapest option for 11,942 rubles from the Transaero company.
You can right now see the price of a flight for a date convenient for you, just enter the required numbers in the form below and click the “Find” button.

How to get from the airport to the center of Prague

There are several ways to get to the center of Prague from Ruzyne Airport. Firstly, this is, of course, a taxi or transfer. A taxi will cost you about 500 crowns (that’s about 1000 rubles), but the travel time will be only 20-30 minutes, which is faster than other types of transport. The transfer will usually take tourists traveling as part of a tour group to their hotels, but you can also contact your hotel specifically in advance and see if they can arrange a transfer.

Getting to the city by public transport is very easy. This can be done by buses N 100, 119, 191, 510 (night) or by AE - Airport Express. During the day, we can safely say that within 10 minutes you will wait for one or another route to the city. The cost of travel by bus is 32 CZK; a ticket can be bought at the airport at information kiosks or in a special terminal. The express runs every half hour, and the ticket costs 40 CZK or 60 CZK depending on the destination. Some routes will take you to the city center, and some to the final metro stations, it is better to check this in advance at the information desk.

Book a hotel in the Czech Republic yourself

The question “Where should we live in the Czech Republic?” It’s also worth asking in advance, especially if the trip is lost for tourist season(May-September and new year holidays). The likelihood that all accommodation will already be booked if you start looking for a hotel too late is very high.

To select a hotel, there are also several services on the Internet that will help you choose the most suitable one from a variety of accommodation options, and then book it (and pay, if required). The most popular resource - here it is convenient to read verified reviews of hotels and look at the overall picture of prices and offers. In addition to those listed, there are a huge number of sites offering the same services, but I would like to highlight one of them - this is a service that not only searches for hotels , hostels and mini-hotels according to specified parameters, but also compares their prices from the largest booking systems (including ), offering you the best. Let's see on this site how much housing in Prague for October 13-20 can cost for two.

In total, he finds 1,445 accommodation options for us. There are plenty to choose from! Let's look at the most popular - Ventana Hotel Prague, 5 stars, where 7 nights will cost you 54,638 rubles (or 7,800 rubles per night). The cheapest is A&O Prague Metro Strizkov, 3 stars, where the same 7 nights cost only 7,328 rubles (or 1,050 rubles per night at the exchange rate as of May 2015). The most expensive hotel in Prague for these dates will cost you 411 thousand rubles, so, as you can see, the spread between the cheapest and the most expensive option is huge, which means there is a choice. To make it easier to choose something suitable, use the filters - select the star rating, Additional services and distance to the city center.
You can look at the prices for the dates you need right now, just click the Find button in the search form below:

In addition to the hotel, there is another comfortable view accommodation is an apartment. The easiest way to rent an apartment abroad is through the AirBnB website. How to do this is described in our article “”.

Currency of the Czech Republic

The official currency of the Czech Republic is the Czech Koruna (CZK or Kč). The exchange rate as of May 2015 is 1 crown equal to 2.1 rubles, which is very convenient for calculations; it is enough to multiply local prices by two to understand the cost in rubles. Euros are sometimes accepted in major tourist spots, such as at a train station or airport, but you won't like the exchange rate, so it's best to pay in crowns.

It is better to exchange rubles for crowns on the spot - in the Czech Republic itself. Of course, due to the popularity of this country among Russian tourists, major cities In Russia, many exchangers offer to exchange rubles for crowns, but the rate for the most part will be unfavorable. But you shouldn’t go to the Czech Republic with rubles either; the best option is to exchange your money for euros and go on a trip with them. There are many exchange offices and banks scattered throughout Prague (and other large cities), so it won’t be difficult to find a favorable exchange rate in the city within the first half hour. There is also no need to change money at the airport.

Weather in the Czech Republic

The climate in the Czech Republic is very mild, so in winter you will definitely not find yourself in severe frost, and in summer you are unlikely to die from stuffiness. So you can safely go to the Czech Republic at any time of the year, the nature and cities there are beautiful both in the fall, when the landscape turns golden, and in the spring, when nature wakes up and everything begins to bloom. average temperature in winter - 0 degrees Celsius, and in summer - 25 degrees.

Public transport in the Czech Republic

Transport in the Czech Republic is one of the most convenient for tourists in the world. Everything is simple and clear, and most importantly - at stations and information kiosks you can take free cards and booklets in Russian. So, in the cities of the Czech Republic several types of public transport are common: metro, trams and buses. All these types of transport are subject to single tickets, which differ only in how long they last.

The most common ticket is valid for 90 minutes, starting from the minute you first punch it. It costs 32 CZK and gives you the right to travel on public transport for one and a half hours. That is, with one ticket you can travel on the metro, and then use it to board the bus, provided that by the end of the trip 90 minutes have not yet expired. There are also tickets on sale for 30 minutes (24 CZK), 1 day (110 CZK) and 3 days (310 CZK). Please note that a 1-month pass costs only twice as much as a 3-day pass, i.e. 670 CZK. If the trip is long, then this is the best option that will quickly pay for itself. A monthly pass can only be purchased at PID ticket offices (Prazska integrovana doprava), which are not available at all stations. They will tell you where to buy it at the information kiosk at the airport or at any metro station.

The metro in the Czech Republic starts operating daily at 5 am and ends at 12 am. Trams run from 5:00 to 24:30 with an interval of 4-7 minutes, but in addition to daytime routes, there are also night ones from 03:00 to 05:00. Buses run around the clock, the only difference is that some route numbers run during the day, and others at night.

Main attractions of the Czech Republic

The Czech capital, which annually attracts hundreds of thousands of tourists from all over the world, and for good reason! Ancient architecture, many museums, all kinds of pubs and restaurants with traditional cuisine, a rich night life- everyone will find something to do here. Here is just a short list of Prague attractions: Charles Bridge, Tyn Church and Old Town Square, Vysehrad and St. Vitus Cathedral, Golden Lane and dozens more places that you definitely need to see at least once.

Well-known medical resort rich in sources healing water. But not only illness can bring a tourist to Karlovy Vary. It is also a very cozy, ancient town, surrounded by hills. Here you can simply walk along the embankment, explore museums (Art Gallery, Local History Museum or Glass Museum) or visit one of the classical music festivals (international classical jazz festival, Beethoven Days in August, Mozart and Karlovy Vary festival in June or ancient music in July) - the choice is yours!

It is easy to get to Karlovy Vary not only from the capital of the Czech Republic, but also from Moscow - Karlovy Vary has its own airport, where direct flights regularly fly from Sheremetyevo. It is convenient to travel from Prague by buses departing from Florence bus station every hour. The cost of a one-way ticket is about 100-140 CZK. Travel time is one and a half hours.

A city with a history that goes back more than a thousand years. Former capital Moravia, now Brno is one of tourist centers Czech Republic. Many Gothic churches and cathedrals, old Town Hall, many Baroque buildings and rich collections of art galleries - all this will not leave you indifferent if you spend at least a day on this special city in the Czech Republic.

You can get to Brno from Prague in two to three hours by train or bus. Trains run hourly from Prague's main station, tickets cost from 200 CZK. For the same price you can buy a bus ticket at the Florence bus station, which runs from 03:30 to 00:30 every half hour.

All historical Center This city in the south of the Czech Republic is included in the UNESCO heritage list - what is not a reason to visit Cesky Krumlov? The main attraction of the city is Krumlov Castle, which also includes a huge garden, a theater, a castle tower and various buildings built in different eras.

From Prague to Cesky Krumlov there are buses from the Na Knizeci bus station at 07:00, 7:35, 9:00, 11:00, 13:00, 15:00, 17:00 and 19:00. The ticket price is about 200 CZK, and the travel time is three hours.

Ceske Budejovice

The small town of Ceske Budejovice is surrounded on all sides by enchanting nature and is located at the confluence of two rivers - the Vltava and Malše. The city is small and you can allocate from one to three days to explore it, but it is important not to forget about the surrounding area - after all, near Budejovice there is one of the most beautiful castles in the Czech Republic - the pre-Gothic castle of Hluboká nad Vltavou.

You can get to Ceske Budejovice from Prague by bus or train. Trains depart from the main station every one and a half to two hours, a ticket costs about 300 CZK, and the travel time is just over 2.5 hours. Buses run from the Na Knizhecy bus station, and their price is 200 CZK.

A trip to the Czech Republic on your own will be practically no different from a neighboring city in Russia, although you will first need to take care of a Schengen visa if you don’t already have one.

Flights to Prague

The first point you will need to go to Prague and back. Airfare to eastern Europe quite low compared to Southeast Asia And South America, so this point will not cause you any difficulty.

Housing in the Czech Republic

Next, you will need to think about whether you will be staying in hotels or hostels on site. If you are not a budget tourist, then a guesthouse would be best for you. In the Czech Republic, boarding houses are apartments for rent in private houses and they differ better from the so-called guest houses. It is advisable to immediately book accommodation along the entire route of your trip, and not just for the first 2 days. Very often, good accommodation in the Czech Republic is booked a couple of months in advance, so you shouldn’t rely on chance.

Insurance to the Czech Republic

You will need to buy travel insurance for independent trip to the Czech Republic, since this item is required for receipt in the country. You can buy insurance from the insurance company closest to your home, or you can keep it simple and book it online.

If you do not have a Schengen visa, then go to the website of the Czech Consulate and see the list of documents for a visa. Next, make an appointment at the Czech Consulate and submit all documents along with the completed application form. If there is no consulate in your locality, it will be much easier if you go through a visa center or travel agency. Excessive independence at this point, except for wasting time, will not give you anything.

Guide and map of the Czech Republic

You will also need to take care of good guide and a map with which you will travel in the Czech Republic on your own. Most tourists in the Czech Republic visit only Prague, leaving the rest of the cities for the next trip. If you go traveling here for at least 2 weeks, then during this time you can travel around the entire country, since its territory is very small, and the population of the republic is smaller than the population of Moscow.

The most important ones that you should visit are: Charles Bridge, Vysehrad, Wenceslas Square (Vaclavak), the Dancing House, Prague Castle and Old Town Square with the astronomical clock.

Brno

At a distance of 200 km from Prague there is the second largest city, the capital of South Moravia. There is no metro in this city, and the city center itself can be explored on foot in a couple of hours. The center of Brno is considered to be Freedom Square, and the symbol of the city can be called Shbilberg Castle.

You can get to the city of Brno from Prague either by bus in 3 hours from the Florenc bus station (Florenc metro station of the same name), or by train from the railway. Hlavní nádraží station (metro station of the same name). And the bus station and railway. The train station in Brno is located nearby in the city center, and all the most interesting things in here are located compactly so that it is convenient to explore on foot. It will be enough to set aside 1 day to explore this city.

At the beginning of this year I visited the Czech Republic for the second time in my life, this time without the help of travel agencies and organized excursions. How to go to the Czech Republic on your own, what difficulties an independent tourist may encounter when traveling around the Czech Republic and how to prevent them - read the material.

How to get to the center from Ruzyne airport?

So, a visa giving you the right to travel not only in the Czech Republic, but also in other countries of the European Union, has been received, fortunately, you did not miss the plane, and now you are already receiving your luggage at Prague Ruzyne Airport.

It is logical that you are faced with the question: how to get from the airport to the city center/your hotel? The simplest answer is a taxi. However, the public transport system in Prague is so well developed that getting to your desired location from the airport by bus is not a problem at any time of the day.

What options are there?

1. Bus number 119 will take you to the Dejvicka metro station (green line), from which you can reach almost anywhere in Prague.
2. Bus number 100 goes to Zlicin metro station (yellow line).
3. In addition, you can get to the main Prague railway station(just the city center) by express bus.
4. At night, bus number 510 runs from the airport. On it you need to get to the Divock Sharki stop and transfer to the night tram number 51, which will take you to the center.

Search problems bus stop should not arise at the airport: it is located right next to the exit from Terminal 1, where planes from Russia and Ukraine arrive.

The fare for the express bus is 60 CZK, for other routes it is 32 CZK. In addition, a ticket purchased for 32 crowns gives you the right to travel on any public transport for one and a half hours.

The journey from Ruzyne to the center will take you 40-60 minutes.

Transport in Prague

You can travel on the Prague metro, trams, buses, and funicular with the same ticket. It all depends on the timing of its action. Prices for the main types of tickets used by tourists are as follows: 30 minutes - 26 CZK; 90 minutes – 32 CZK; one day - 110 CZK; three days – 310 CZK. This is the cost of tickets for adults, children's prices are half as much.

Buying a ticket for a person coming to Prague for the first time is not an easy task. And if you could buy a bus ticket from the airport directly from the driver, then to move around the city you will have to get acquainted with the vending machines. In fact, everything is not as scary as it might seem. The most important thing is to have some change ready, as the ticket machines do not accept banknotes. All you need is to go to one of the yellow pillars standing at stops and metro stations, press the button opposite the cost of the desired ticket as many times as you need tickets (in Czech - “ezdenok”), and throw coins into the receiver .

Operating the ticket machine is intuitive even for a child, but if you have any difficulties, you can buy a ticket at the so-called traffic - kiosks at stops and metro stations where newspapers and cigarettes are sold. Just keep in mind that after eight in the evening you will still have to use the machine.

Be aware: the purchased ticket does not give you the right to travel. For a ticket to become valid, it must be validated in the yellow composters that are located at metro stations, trams and buses. Only after the departure stop and the start of the ticket validity are printed on your ticket, you cease to be a “hare”.

During my two weeks in Prague and intensive use of public transport, I only encountered inspectors twice. But you shouldn’t rely on the luck and kindness of the inspectors: the fine for traveling without a ticket is 800 CZK and the inspector doesn’t care whether you are a malicious stowaway or a harmless tourist who couldn’t figure out how to pay for the fare.

It is important to note that the tram network in Prague is very developed. Ground transportation runs strictly according to the schedule indicated at the stops, with intervals of 5-7 minutes during the day and half an hour at night. Opening hours of the Prague metro are from 5-00 to 24-00.

Visual and very understandable maps of urban transport can be taken for free at some metro stations (for example, at Visegrad - the red line) or downloaded in advance on the Internet.

What to see in Prague

Almost every street in the center of Prague breathes history, and every house has its own legend. Therefore, if you want to see “something interesting”, just go to the center!

But still, in the Czech capital, from the great variety, one can single out the Top 5 attractions, not seeing which is tantamount to not visiting Prague at all.

1. St. Vitus Cathedral (Malostranska metro station - green line) is the main Catholic cathedral of the Czech Republic, the majestic building of which was built over the course of 600 years and combines various architectural styles - from Gothic to Art Nouveau. Open daily until 5 p.m., entrance fee: CZK 100.
2. Old Town Hall with the famous astronomical clock (Staromestska metro station - green line). Every hour, crowds of tourists gather under the clock to watch the “performance” - the 12 Apostles emerge from the windows to the chimes of the 12 Apostles.
3. (Staromestská metro station - green line) - the third symbol of Prague, built in the 15th century and connecting the historical districts of the city - Old city and Mala Strana, which were once separate cities on the map.
4. Wenceslas Square (Museum and Müstek metro stations – green line) – favorite place walks of Prague residents, as well as the shopping and business center of the capital of the Czech Republic.
5. The Jewish Quarter is one of the most mysterious places a city where, according to legend, several centuries ago a local rabbi created a man from clay - the Golem.

Do not deprive yourself of your attention - it is a very unusual structure.

Food, bars and restaurants in Prague

After walking around the sights and satiating yourself with spiritual values, you will certainly think about your daily food. Prague establishments are ready to satisfy the hunger of any tourist, regardless of the size of his wallet. By the way, even in quite expensive (by local standards) restaurants you will be pleasantly surprised by the prices. And in simpler establishments you can easily count on a hearty set lunch with beer for 150-200 CZK.

What is a must-try in the Czech Republic? Firstly, veprovo knee - whole baked pork shank, served with vegetables. When ordering this main national Czech dish, keep in mind that one serving is enough for two, or even three, people.

Secondly, discover dumplings. This is a side dish made from dough or potatoes in the form of cut balls.

Thirdly, do not deny yourself tasting various types of Czech beer, which is brewed here in small breweries and can have flavors that are quite exotic for Russian people - for example, cherry or banana. Prices in the Czech Republic for the more traditional and famous “Krušovica” are about five times less than in Russia! So, a bottle of dark wine will cost you only 15-17 crowns.

During the cold season, hot tea and mulled wine are sold on the streets, which are especially pleasant to drink with aromatic Czech pastries with the funny name Trdlo.

Around the suburbs of Prague

Two weeks will be enough for you not only to get to know Prague, but also to see interesting settlements, located an hour or two drive from the Czech capital. During my trip I was able to visit the following:

Karlshtein. Karlštejn Castle is a 45-minute drive from Prague. You can get to it by train from the main railway station of Prague (Hlavni Nadrazi metro station - red line). The train runs every half hour and a return ticket for two costs 154 CZK. The station ticket office is located directly opposite the main entrance to the station under the escalators. When choosing the train you need (usually the double-decker City Elephant, red), look for the one that goes to Beroun. There are excursions around the castle at any time of the year, except for February - I went to the Czech Republic at that time, so I can’t tell you anything about them, I only had to admire the architecture from the outside.

Křivoklát — another interesting one medieval castle, which is definitely worth a look. A trip to Křivoklát (it’s a pity that I only realized this later) can be successfully combined with a trip to Karlštejn, since the path to the first castle lies directly through Beroun. So, at the main Prague station you buy tickets to Krzyvoklat (for two round-trip - about 250 CZK). Don't be alarmed by the fact that you will need to change trains in Beroun to Rakovnik. Czech trains are perfectly connected, you don’t have to wait - as soon as you arrive in Beroun, the next train will already be waiting for you. If your train is delayed, the train to Rakovník will wait.

After visiting the castle, be sure to stop by the restaurant “U Olenya” on the way to the railway station. Here, in a medieval interior, you can taste pheasant and venison dishes at very reasonable prices.

Miller- a small town located just 30 km from Prague at the confluence of the Vltava and Elbe rivers, famous for its castle with an art gallery and a wine museum, as well as the Church of Saints Peter and Paul with a ossuary (keep in mind that it is open to the public until 16:00). 00). There is a route to Melnik from platform No. 10 from the bus station (Nadrazi Holešovice metro station - red line, do not confuse it with the Florenc bus station!) regular bus, fare – 48 CZK.

After walking around the town, stop by the pastry shop located in the castle. Here you can enjoy ice cream or chocolate in luxurious baroque interiors.

Kutná Hora is one of the most interesting cities in the Czech Republic. Here are located the Cathedral of St. Barbara (the second most important in the Czech Republic after the Cathedral of St. Vitus) and the Ossuary - a church interior decoration which was entirely created from the bones of 40 thousand people. To get to Kutna Hora by train, you need to buy tickets (58 -100 CZK depending on the class) at the already familiar Main Station (Hlavni Nadrazi). If you want to see the Church of St. Barbara, take tickets to the Kutna Hora main site, the Ossuary - Kutna Hora Sedlec. You will need to change trains to these directions at the Kutna Hora Glavni Nadrazi station. As I already said, transferring from train to train in the Czech Republic will not cause you any trouble.

Trip to Karlovy Vary

To visit the Czech Republic and not visit the favorite resort of the Russian aristocracy of the 19th century, Karlovy Vary, is nonsense.

What to see? Openwork, cake-like houses, colonnades with hot springs mineral water, Old Castle, museum of the main alcoholic drink of these places - “Becherovka” (something between vodka and “Bittner’s balsam”).

How to get to Karlovy Vary from Prague? The easiest way is by Student Agency buses, which run between these cities every hour. A one-way ticket for one person cost me 163 Czech crowns. But tickets were bought directly at the bus station in Prague, where buses depart from (Florenc metro station - the intersection of the red and yellow lines). If you purchase tickets through the company's website, it will be even cheaper. You will be pleasantly surprised by the service on the bus for the money: free hot drinks to choose from, TV, radio, Wi-Fi, toilet.

What to bring from Karlovy Vary? Children - the famous platki (wafers), men - of course, Becherovka, women - cosmetics made using local mineral waters.

What currency should I take with me to the Czech Republic?

The Czech currency is Czech crowns, so if you take cash with you, you should think about the exchange methods in advance. In my opinion, the most convenient way is to take euros with you and exchange them for crowns in the Czech Republic.

In the city center there are exchange offices on almost every corner, but when choosing them you need to be as careful as possible. You shouldn’t be fooled by “0%” signs - as a rule, the interest-free commission only applies to the purchase of crowns, but for their sale it can reach almost 10%! Therefore, before you give your hard-earned money to such a sweetly smiling Arab (and in Prague, as a rule, they are the ones who run the exchange offices), be sure to ask him to show you the final amount on the calculator. Always keep in mind that for 1 euro you should be given about 25 crowns. No identification documents are required for exchange.

What about the language?

Many tourists going out for the first time to the Czech Republic on your own, are very afraid of the language barrier. Nonsense! Czech youth are fluent English language, and people of the older generation speak Russian quite well. If you suddenly need to know something, be sure that it will be explained to you, even in sign language.

Maria Lobareva, Novosibirsk,

Going to the Czech Republic on your own is a great decision. You will have access to many more options for organizing your holiday, it will be more varied and more interesting than that what travel agencies offer. In addition, the planning process itself does not take much time, which more than pays off with positive emotions, joyful memories and interesting acquaintances during the trip.

Traveling on your own to the Czech Republic can be either inexpensive or quite expensive. This is one of the most important features independent rest– only you determine the budget; spend the money on what you want. Of course, there are some tricks that experienced independent travelers use that allow them to save a lot and not lose in comfort. How to properly organize your trip is what this article is devoted to. So, let's move on to what you need to know.

Flights

Flights to the Czech Republic (round trip) cost from 140 € (Moscow – Prague – Moscow). The most convenient way to search for them is on and. These are search services that scan airline offers and offer to purchase tickets at the best prices. best prices. Without these services, searching for air tickets takes several days: while you go to several dozen airline websites, compare prices, conditions, and look at reviews about the company. But Aviasales and Momondo exist specifically for the convenience of travelers, so take advantage and save time and money.

Most planes arrive at Vaclav Havel Airport Prague (PRG, Czech Republic). But other cities in the Czech Republic also have their own airports, so whatever vacation spot you choose, you can always quickly get to it from the airport by bus or taxi.

You can fly to the capital of the country, Prague, in 3 hours on a direct flight (including departure from Moscow). With transfers you will be there in 5-10 hours.

Calendar low prices for air tickets

Check airfare prices:

Hotels

I recommend booking hotel rooms on the website. This way you will find accommodation at the best price/quality ratio. This is also a search engine that scans all available accommodation options in any city and displays the most “appetizing” options in the results. The service is completely free and safe, millions use it independent travelers Worldwide. So I advise you to go to Roomguru right now and find the right accommodation.

Find inexpensive hotel from Roomguru right now:

Documentation

In order to enter the Czech Republic you will need the following documents:

• international passport
• Schengen visa

But to obtain a Schengen visa, you will also need medical insurance (issued in a few minutes via the Internet). The cost of processing a visa application is 35 euros + you will have to pay a consular fee. Most often, a visa is issued within one to two weeks; in some cases, consideration of the application can take up to 30 days. You need to submit documents to the visa service center or to the Consular Section of the Czech Embassy. As you may have already understood, in order to travel to the Czech Republic on your own you do not need many “official papers”.

We have written about how to get a Schengen visa on your own and about medical insurance.

Money

Despite the fact that the Czech Republic is a member of the European Union, payments in the country are made in Czech crowns. Perhaps in a few years the country will switch to the euro, but for now it’s like that. Of course, euros are accepted in most stores, but not at a very favorable rate. So it’s better to take euros with you and exchange them for Czech crowns upon arrival in the Czech Republic. This can be done in banks or exchange offices, which occur quite often.

You can also easily pay with a bank card, be it Visa or MasterCard, and it does not matter in what currency the account is opened, in rubles, hryvnias, dollars, euros or tugriks. About what bank cards suitable for overseas shopping please read .

Attractions

Traveling independently in the Czech Republic can be extremely diverse. Although the country itself is small in size, it has a lot of attractions. There are more than 1000 locks alone. It is best to purchase a guidebook and decide for yourself what is worth seeing, because... Everyone has different interests and recommending something specific is not entirely correct. I’ll just list the most popular attractions:

• Wenceslas Square (Prague)
• Noble district of Hradcany (Prague)
• Zvikov Castle
• Charles Bridge (Prague)
• Karlštejn Castle (near Prague)
• Konopiste Castle (near Prague)
• Ossuary (Kutna Hora)
• Moravian Kras (Brno)
• Prague Castle (Prague)
• Cathedral of St. Barbara (Kutna Hora)
• St. Vitus Cathedral (Prague)
• Old Town Square (Prague)
• Dancing House (Prague)
• Tyn Church (Prague)
• Cesky Sternberk Castle (Prague)

For a wider coverage of attractions it would be a good solution. This way you can quickly and comfortably travel to different parts of the country, and you will have many more vivid impressions. During your vacation you can see so many interesting places that the charge of positive emotions will be enough for the whole next year.

Budget

You need to calculate the cost of a trip to the Czech Republic yourself. It is necessary to understand that everyone has their own budget, some can spend money on a 5-star hotel and business class on an airplane, but for others this is not available or they are simply reluctant to spend a lot of money where they can save a lot and spend money on others goals. Therefore, it would be better to simply provide data on how much the average person spends on a trip to the Czech Republic (two people, a 10-day trip, accommodation in Prague, departure from Moscow):

• Round trip flights = 350 €
• Hotel room 3* = 550 €
• Food = 300 €
• Public transport = 150 €
• Attractions = 200 €
• Shopping = 300 €
• Visa = 35 €
• Other minor expenses = 100 €

Total: 1985 €. This amount can be either significantly reduced or increased, it all depends on the travelers themselves. If you want to travel around the world for little money (40-60 € per day), then read, I will warn you right away, it is not suitable for everyone, but only for those who really want to travel cheaply and are ready to take concrete steps for this. For independent travel V Czech Republic this guide will also come in handy.

How to save money

You can vacation in the Czech Republic on your own for little money. These tips and recommendations will help you save a lot.

An independent trip to the Czech Republic can be organized in just a few hours, but most often it will take several days. Some people don’t plan anything at all, but immediately go on vacation with the motto “we’ll figure it out there”, this is much more interesting, but problems may arise that will be difficult for most people to cope with, so it is better to prepare thoroughly for the trip. Best wishes to you!

Many people in our country dream of going to the Czech Republic to see all its attractions or simply spend a weekend with interest in another country. You can organize the trip yourself - this is convenient, since you can create your own individual route, and profitable, because you do not need to overpay for the services of a travel agency. Reviews on the Internet will help you decide on the choice of route, hotel or car rental company.

Safe and profitable travel - 7 main aspects

1. How to get to Prague on your own. Any trip to another country begins with a visa. It will take from two to three months. When all the documents are ready, you can go buy your plane tickets. From the regions of our country, a flight to the Czech Republic will be much more expensive than traveling, for example, from Moscow or St. Petersburg. Most the best option- is to fly with low-cost airlines. In this case, the flight will be fast and inexpensive, which is always pleasant for any tourist.

2. Public transport - how to get around the country and in the capital. In Prague, all bus and train stations are metro stations. This makes travel easier for the tourist, since the name bus stations and metro stations coincide. International flights Usually arrive at Florenc train station, from here you can easily reach the city center by any public transport. You can travel around the Czech Republic in comfortable buses from the Student Agency company. For example, if you want to see Karlovy Vary, you need to pay 6 euros, and you can buy a ticket online in advance. A modern bus will take tourists to their destination in comfort and in a short time.

It is very important that public transport in Prague it runs even at night. At the stop you can find blue signs with the night schedule. It must be remembered that this country has a complex system travel tickets. Their validity period begins immediately after purchase or activation. These can be short-term tickets (for half an hour) or long-term (up to three days). The cost depends on the age of the passenger; you can see the price in a special price list at the ticket office.

3. Accommodation for tourists. The trip will be successful if a hotel or inn room is booked in advance. If this is not done, then in the Czech Republic you can stay on the street at night. Many tourists come here and therefore hotel bookings are popular in this country. Moreover, the sooner a person books accommodation, the more money he will save. Many travelers prefer to stay in rented apartments, but in this case it is necessary to read reviews on the Internet and look for exactly the kind of housing for which not only good description, but there are also comments or gratitude from tourists for using this service. It is the reviews that will help you see the real picture about the landlord and his houses and apartments provided for temporary use.

4. Attractions. A trip to the Czech Republic on your own means, first of all, getting to know Prague. The capital of this country has many different interesting monuments architecture and other attractions. However, besides Prague, other cities also have interesting places, castles, complexes architectural structures, cathedrals and sculptures. Each tourist can go on excursions on their own, or you can hire a guide and move around the country with him. The guide will help you organize unforgettable journey in the Czech Republic, because he knows where the most beautiful palaces and temples are located, the historical values ​​of the country and much more.

5. Food in the Czech Republic is a paradise for gourmets. People often travel to this country by gastronomic tours, because Czech cuisine offers very tasty national dishes. However, if you go to Prague on your own, you can also try unique dishes of poultry and game, baked fish, pork and lamb, and much more. Many tourists wonder where to go in Prague so that they can have a tasty meal without consequences for the stomach? It is better to give preference to restaurants and cafes, as eating on the street may not be safe. Soup in bread, baked partridges, baked pork ribs and pork knuckle - all this has a unique taste if prepared by a real Czech chef.

6. What to bring as a gift from the Czech Republic. When traveling on your own, you always want to not only see the sights, but also bring a surprise from a foreign country for your family and friends. It is believed that the trip will be successful if you manage to collect many different gifts - original and extraordinary. Here you can buy a unique smoking pipe, a stylish and fashionable hat, handmade paper, jewelry and various antiques. It is worth remembering that Bohemian crystal and porcelain products, which travelers love to buy, are very fragile and can break on the road. Therefore, it is better not to buy such items.

7. Resorts - relaxation with benefit. In the Czech Republic you can relax on a worldwide famous resorts. These are ski resorts thermal spas and various sanatoriums. In general, in Prague and other cities of the country you can not only see the sights on your own and go on excursions, but also improve your health. You should look up where exactly to go in advance on the Internet, since there are 33 sanatoriums in the Czech Republic that receive up to a million people annually.

Average prices for hotels, museum visits and car rentals

When planning a trip on your own, you should think in advance about how much money to take with you. To do this, you need to know how much housing costs in Prague. Online reviews will help you book a hotel so that your trip is successful. Standart room You can book a hotel for two for a week for 60,000 rubles. This price will include breakfast. Some hotels also include airport transfer and insurance in the price. If a tourist is only interested in accommodation, then you can save money and buy a room at half the price. In general, every traveler chooses what suits him.

Where does a tourist go upon arrival in Prague? Of course, to museums, because any trip always begins with a visit to these attractions. There is always something to see in the museum; here you can get a lot of positive emotions and learn something new. All excursions involve viewing museum exhibits, but tourists also want to save money. In Prague you can go to museums completely free of charge, you just need to know how and when it will be available. At any European country There are special days, knowing about which you can see paintings and sculptures completely free of charge. You can learn about these days on many information resources on the Internet.

Car rental in this country is from 14 euros per day. Thanks to this service, it becomes possible not to travel organized excursions, or you can drive across the expanses of the country along your own route.

Where can you go by car to see all the interesting things? This is a question every tourist asks. It’s worth going straight to Karlovy Vary. This resort is located 133 kilometers from the capital of the country. There is a unique atmosphere of comfort and tranquility here - your vacation will be unforgettable.

It is worth postponing all excursions and going by rented car to Krumlov. This will be a fascinating journey into the Middle Ages, which is considered a UNESCO historical heritage. Where to go next is up to everyone to decide personally, because this country has a lot of interesting and unique things.