Czechia
Czech Republic
Europe
- Capital
- Prague
- Native name
- Česko
- Population
- 10,909,500
- Area
- 78,871 km² · 30,452 sq mi
- Continent
- Europe
- Languages
- Czech
- Currency
- Czech Koruna (CZK)
- Time zone
- UTC+01:00
- Calling code
- +420
- Drives on the
- Right
- Demonym
- Czechs
- Internet domain
- .cz
- Landlocked
- Yes
- Government
- unitary parliamentary republic
Places to visit
- Prague
- The Old Town Square, Charles Bridge, and the castle district give you a dense walk through centuries of stone streets, towers, and river views.
- Český Krumlov
- Its tight medieval centre and castle above the Vltava make it one of the easiest places to feel the old Bohemian town layout.
- Kutná Hora
- The Gothic St Barbara’s Church and the Sedlec Ossuary are unusual and memorable stops, with clear traces of the silver-mining wealth that built the town.
- Telč
- The main square is lined with Renaissance and Baroque façades that are unusually well preserved and pleasant to explore on foot.
What to eat
- Svíčková na smetaně
- Beef sirloin served in a creamy vegetable sauce, usually with bread dumplings, cranberry, and a slice of lemon.
- Vepřo knedlo zelo
- Roast pork with dumplings and sauerkraut, a common hearty plate in pubs and home kitchens.
- Smažený sýr
- A fried cheese cutlet, often served with tartar sauce and fries or potatoes.
- Trdelník
- A sweet rolled pastry baked over heat and coated with sugar and cinnamon, sold especially in tourist areas.
Culture & history
Coffee houses, beer halls, and village pubs are still part of daily life, and eating tends to be generous rather than fussy. The land carries layers of Bohemian and Moravian history: Gothic churches, Habsburg-era towns, and reminders of the Communist period all sit close together. People often value directness and dry humour, and the Czech language is heard everywhere from trams to small family restaurants.
Learn a few words
Dobrý den
DOH-bree den
Good day / hello
Děkuji
DYEH-koo-yee
Thank you
Prosím
PRO-seem
Please / you’re welcome
Na zdraví
nah ZDRAH-vee
Cheers
Did you know?
The Prague Astronomical Clock on the Old Town Hall still draws crowds for its hourly show, and it has been ticking in some form since the 15th century.
One more thing
Czech is the official language of Czechia.
The song of the day
Škoda lásky
Jaromír Vejvoda
This polka is one of the best-known Czech tunes worldwide and is often recognized internationally in its melody rather than by title.
The flag
The flag has two horizontal stripes, white over red, with a blue triangle at the hoist; the colors are traditional Slavic colors.