Czechia travel guide

The most common Czechia trip sees the castle and old town in Prague, then continues to Český Krumlov.

Foreigners must carry their passport at all times in Czechia, and the emergency number is 112.

Don't try to do both towns in one day; give each its own days. Prague Castle's buildings have different opening times, so starting in the morning gives you time to spare.

The metro, trams and buses all transfer on one ticket. Český Krumlov Castle tours run on different days depending on the season, so read the official information before you go.

Visa and entry requirements for Czechia

Whether you need a visa, how long you can stay and which pre-arrival forms apply all depend on your nationality and the purpose of your trip. Check the official source below, and your own government's travel advice, before you book.

This country is in the Schengen Area. The EU Entry/Exit System (EES) registers non-EU travelers at the external border, and the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) is scheduled to apply to visa-exempt travelers; check the official EU site for who needs it, the start date and the fee. For visa-exempt travelers, Schengen stays are limited to 90 days in any 180-day period, counted across all Schengen countries, and your passport should be valid for at least three months beyond your planned departure date. Foreigners must carry their passport at all times in Czechia.

• Information for foreigners (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) (Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic)
• ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorisation System) (European Union)
• EES (Entry/Exit System) (European Union)

Prague is divided by the Vltava into the Prague Castle district and the Old Town. Give the castle its own day and walk the Old Town and Charles Bridge on another. Český Krumlov is a small town where a castle tour and an old-town stroll take half a day to a day.

UNESCO inscribed both the Historic Centre of Prague and the Historic Centre of Český Krumlov as World Heritage sites in 1992: Prague for the influence of its urban architecture and its religious and cultural importance, and Český Krumlov for the preservation of a small medieval Central European town that grew over some five centuries. With four nights or more, link the two.

Based on UNESCO and official information.

Continue with Prague (in Korean) and Český Krumlov (in Korean).

For visa-exempt travelers, Schengen stays are limited to 90 days within the 180 days before your last departure. If you travel between Czechia, Germany and Austria, your days in all of them are added together.

Foreigners must carry their passport at all times in Czechia; failing to show it when the police ask can lead to a fine of up to CZK 3,000. Don't leave your original passport at your hotel and rely on a photo.

From Prague Airport, trolleybus 59 runs to Nádraží Veleslavín, where you change to Metro Line A for the Old Town and the castle. Prague Integrated Transport says the trip to the city takes about 35 minutes. A 90-minute ticket costs CZK 50 on paper or CZK 46 in the app. Because you transfer, a 30-minute ticket is not enough; buy the 90-minute one.

The Airport Express (AE) takes about 45 minutes from Terminal 1 to the main station and has its own CZK 200 fare. Terminal 1 serves flights to and from outside the Schengen Area, and Terminal 2 flights within it. Validate paper tickets once in the yellow machine at the metro entrance or on board. An unvalidated ticket counts as fare evasion, with a surcharge of CZK 1,500 per person, or CZK 800 if paid on the spot.

Czechia's all-purpose emergency number is 112, with English available. Police 158, municipal police 156, fire 150 and ambulance 155. If you need a report for lost belongings, the foreigners' police can help at +420 974 851 750.

Save your own embassy's contacts too. Don't carry valuables in a backpack on your back; keep them close to your body.

First check that your passport is valid for at least three months beyond your planned departure. EES and ETIAS information can change, so reread the official EU pages before you go. Some Prague Castle buildings close temporarily for maintenance or events, and Český Krumlov Castle tours run on different days by season. Check both on the official sites and note the dates in your plan. Travel times between the towns vary by date, so book once those dates are set.

Pre-departure checklist

• Check your passport is valid for at least three months beyond your planned departure
• Check the EES and ETIAS information
• Check for temporary closures at Prague Castle
• Check Český Krumlov Castle tour days
• Save the emergency number 112 and your embassy's number

• For the castle and old town: split Prague's castle and Old Town across different days.
• For a small town: combine the castle tour and old town in Český Krumlov.
• For both: four nights or more; check travel times first.