Czech Republic Holidays

Several metres beneath Prague’s modern streets lies an older version of the city. Beneath the Old Town Hall, Romanesque and Gothic cellars survive from as far back as the 12th century. Guided visits descend to former street levels, medieval market spaces and rooms later used as dungeons. It is an unusually tangible reminder of how much Prague has changed vertically as well as outwardly.

Charles IV founded Karlštejn Castle in 1348, choosing a dramatic position above the forests outside Prague. It served a purpose far more important than simply providing another royal residence. The heavily fortified Gothic castle was designed to protect imperial treasures, including crown jewels and sacred relics of the Holy Roman Empire.

Propaganda posters sit alongside household objects, reconstructed interiors and archive film at Prague’s Museum of Communism. Together, they build a picture of everyday life in Communist-era Czechoslovakia. One of the more unsettling displays is a reconstructed interrogation room, which places the political history of the Cold War into a much more personal setting.

Terezín began as an 18th-century military fortress. During the Second World War, the Nazis converted it into a Jewish ghetto and transit camp. The memorial is a sobering and emotionally difficult place to visit. Preserved barracks and execution grounds remain, while exhibitions include drawings and other artwork created by children imprisoned there.

Another layer of Prague’s history lies beneath its streets in Cold War shelters designed to protect the population during a possible attack. Heavy steel doors open into stark concrete spaces where gas masks, radios and survival equipment still remain. They offer a very different experience from the city’s castles, palaces and medieval cellars.

Mining shaped the mountains along the Czech-German border for centuries. Krušnohoří, now UNESCO-listed, became one of Central Europe’s major centres of silver production. Its surviving mines, water channels and engineering systems show how advanced medieval mining became here, and how closely the industry was tied to the development of regional and international currencies.

Špilberk Castle stands above Brno and has had several very different lives. It began as a royal residence before later becoming one of the Habsburg monarchy’s most notorious prisons. The underground casemates survive, along with sections of the old military complex, and can be explored today.

At 35 metres high, Holy Trinity Column in Olomouc is impossible to miss in the city’s main square. Built in the early 18th century, it represents one of the finest surviving examples of Central European Baroque sculpture. Local artists created the monument as an expression of religious faith and gratitude after the city survived a devastating plague.

Beer is woven into everyday life in the Czech Republic. The country has a long brewing history and still records one of the highest rates of beer consumption per person anywhere in the world. In many towns and cities, the local beer hall is as much a social meeting place as it is somewhere to drink. A glass of Pilsner with a plate of traditional Czech food is a familiar combination.

Traditional Czech cooking is hearty and built for colder days. Roast meats, rich sauces and dumplings appear often, particularly knedlíky, which may be made from bread or potatoes. One dish worth knowing is svíčková: beef served with a creamy vegetable sauce. It is rich, filling and firmly rooted in Czech home cooking.

Prague has a strong connection with Art Nouveau, and Alphonse Mucha is central to that story. His work is instantly recognisable for its decorative lines, elegant figures and elaborate floral detail. Mucha became especially famous for his theatrical posters, but his work extended well beyond them. Stained glass, decorative panels and large paintings can still be seen in museums, galleries and historic buildings around Prague.

The Czech Republic has produced some of Europe's best-known composers, including Antonín Dvořák and Bedřich Smetana. Their music remains part of the country's cultural identity, but the tradition goes far beyond those two names. In Prague, classical concerts are held throughout the year in churches, concert halls and opera houses, many of them in historic buildings that add something extra to the evening.

Name days, known as svátek, are still widely observed in the Czech Republic. Different names are assigned to particular dates in the calendar, giving people another occasion to celebrate alongside their birthday. The occasion is usually modest. Flowers, a small present or a drink with friends, relatives or colleagues is often enough to mark the day.

Litomyšl Castle dates from the 16th century and is one of the country's notable Renaissance landmarks. Its façade is covered in detailed sgraffito decoration, which gives the exterior an intricate, almost patterned appearance. The castle is now a UNESCO World Heritage site and continues to play an active cultural role, particularly as a venue for major classical music festivals.

Holašovice offers a glimpse of rural South Bohemia as it looked centuries ago. The village is known for its collection of 18th-century farmhouses built in the regional Folk Baroque style, many of them gathered around a broad central green. The layout has been unusually well preserved, making Holašovice an important surviving example of traditional village architecture and historic country life.

There is very little gentle build-up to a tandem skydive near Prague. The aircraft climbs to around 4,000 metres, the door opens and, moments later, the Bohemian countryside is rushing up from below. The freefall is fast and intense, but the parachute descent is much calmer, with fields, rivers and distant castles spread out beneath. A professional instructor remains attached throughout.

Děčín is a brilliant place to swap ordinary sightseeing for something more physical. The via ferrata routes climb sandstone cliffs above the Elbe River, following fixed steel cables, iron rungs and footholds cut into the rock. The higher sections bring wide-open views across the river canyon, while climbers stay clipped into the safety system for the full route.

Kopřivná's wooded slopes are built for a bit of speed. Downhill bike trails twist through the trees with tight corners, steep drops and sections that need quick handling. Drift trikes use the same sort of terrain but feel completely different, especially when the back wheels start sliding through the bends.

Bohemian Switzerland is the sort of place where the scenery changes quickly. One stretch of trail can pass through thick forest, while the next opens onto sandstone towers, ravines and broad valley views. Pravčická brána, Europe's largest natural sandstone arch, is the headline sight, although many of the quieter trails are just as rewarding.

Warm summer days around Hradec Králové bring plenty of people out onto the water. Cable parks pull wakeboarders around the lake using an overhead system, so there is no speedboat involved. Beginners can stick to the basics, while more confident riders can head for the ramps and obstacles dotted around the course.

Few activities show off Český Krumlov quite like a trip down the Vltava. The river curves through the middle of town, carrying rafts and kayaks beneath old bridges and past the huge castle complex above the banks. The rapids are generally gentle, leaving enough time to actually look around rather than spend the whole journey battling the water.

Once the snow settles in the Jizera Mountains, hundreds of kilometres of groomed trails open up through pine forest and across higher ground. The area has long been one of the country's main cross-country skiing centres, with routes ranging from easy-going forest tracks to longer days out in the mountains.

The Punkva Caves hide one of the Czech Republic's stranger boat journeys. Small boats travel along an underground river through the Moravian Karst, slipping beneath low limestone ceilings and into dark chambers far below ground. It feels a world away from the countryside sitting directly above.

The Prosek bobsled track in Prague packs a surprising amount into its roughly 1,000-metre run. There are steep drops, banked corners and plenty of quick twists, with a handbrake giving riders control over how fast things get. The track also operates after dark, when the lights make the run feel noticeably more dramatic.

Prague already has a strong musical character, but during May it becomes much more noticeable. Concerts spill beyond the usual halls into churches, monasteries and other historic venues, with major orchestras, soloists and chamber ensembles arriving for the Prague Spring International Music Festival. Some evenings feel wonderfully formal, while others are surprisingly intimate, particularly when the venue is a centuries-old church.

Late winter in the Hlinecko region can be cold and grey, but the Shrovetide processions are anything but. Villagers appear in elaborate traditional costumes, musicians accompany the procession and tables fill with doughnuts, sausages, black pudding, pork crackling and other local food. Homemade plum brandy often makes an appearance too. The custom has survived for generations and is recognised by UNESCO.

Few Czech festivals are quite as visually memorable as the Ride of the Kings in Vlčnov. Horses are covered in colourful decorations, traditional costumes appear everywhere and folk music carries through the village. The celebration has been taking place for more than 200 years, yet it still feels very much part of local life rather than something staged purely for visitors. UNESCO has recognised the tradition for its cultural importance.

On 30 April, bonfires began appearing in towns and villages across the country. Straw figures representing witches are thrown onto the flames, families gather outside and the evening tends to involve plenty of food, drink and music. The origins are much darker, going back to medieval beliefs about witchcraft and evil spirits, but the modern celebration feels closer to a lively welcome to spring.

Petřín Hill is always popular, but 1 May brings a noticeable increase in couples wandering beneath the trees. Czech tradition says that kissing beneath a flowering cherry tree on this day keeps love strong for another year. The custom is linked with Máj, the famous romantic poem by Karel Hynek Mácha. It is a charming contrast to the marches and political associations that May Day has elsewhere.

During the festival weekend in June, Strážnice becomes a whirl of embroidered costumes, brass music, dancing and busy outdoor performances. Events are spread around the castle park, vineyards and open-air museum, rather than being confined to a single stage. Groups arrive from across the Czech Republic and abroad. The traditional Verbuňk dance is a highlight, particularly as it is recognised by UNESCO.

Kutná Hora suits medieval costumes remarkably well. At Royal Silvering, usually held towards the end of June, the town revisits the era of King Wenceslas IV and Queen Sophia through historical processions, decorated streets, knights and public performances. With the old stone buildings already providing the backdrop, very little imagination is needed to picture the town during its wealthy silver-mining years.

Český Krumlov is atmospheric on an ordinary day, so covering its narrow streets with banners, torches and Renaissance costumes takes things considerably further. The June festival remembers the Rosenberg family, who ruled the town for three centuries. Craftspeople demonstrate old trades, costumed processions pass through the centre and torchlight changes the mood completely after dark. The live chess game is one of the stranger spectacles on the programme.

Karlovy Vary changes personality during its July film festival. The normally elegant spa town becomes busier, younger and noticeably more energetic, with screenings running throughout the day and actors, directors, journalists and cinema fans moving between venues. Premieres and red-carpet appearances bring the glamour, although smaller screenings can be just as interesting. The Crystal Globe is the festival's main award.

The first thing that stands out at Colours of Ostrava is not necessarily the music. It is the setting. Stages sit among the blast furnaces, pipes and iron structures of Dolní Vítkovice, a former industrial complex that looks unlike a conventional festival ground. Once the performances begin, Czech and international artists cover a wide mix of genres. The combination of live music and enormous industrial architecture gives the festival much of its character.

Pardubice becomes the centre of Czech horse racing when the Velká Pardubická is held in October. This is not a gentle racecourse afternoon. The steeplechase is known for a difficult cross-country course and has earned a reputation as one of the toughest races of its kind in continental Europe. The long history of the event adds to the sense of occasion.

Cold evenings suit Czech Christmas markets. Historic squares are strung with lights, wooden stalls serve hot food and the smell of spices hangs around the busiest corners. A cup of svařák, the local version of mulled wine, helps with the winter temperatures. Prague has the largest and most famous markets, but smaller towns often feel more relaxed and local.

Czech Easter has a noticeably springtime feel, with decorated eggs, seasonal food and traditions that stretch beyond church services. Easter Monday is particularly important, with customs varying between families and regions. Food plays its part too, including mazanec, a sweet festive bread commonly made with ingredients such as almonds and lemon. The result is a mix of Christian observance, family time and much older seasonal traditions.

For anyone who follows athletics, Golden Spike Ostrava is one of the dates worth watching. The June meeting has been running for decades and attracts leading international athletes alongside Czech competitors. There is little ceremony once the events begin. The focus is firmly on fast races, big performances and the energy of a crowd that understands its athletics.

Dětenice does not aim for subtle historical interpretation. Straw covers the floor, fires burn in the room and the evening entertainment includes swordsmen, fire-eaters, belly dancers and live medieval-style music. Food is hearty, the atmosphere is deliberately rowdy and eating with hands is part of the experience.

Stodolní has long carried the nickname ‘the street that never sleeps’. More than 60 pubs, bars and clubs are concentrated around this part of Ostrava, making it one of the country’s best-known nightlife districts. Weekends are when it becomes busiest, drawing both local crowds and visitors.

Prague’s cabaret shows mix several forms of entertainment rather than sticking to a single theatrical style. Dance, live music, comedy and acrobatics can all appear during the same evening. The result has a vintage cabaret flavour, but the production itself is distinctly modern.

The setting alone makes Colours of Ostrava stand out. The international music festival takes place within a former steelworks complex, where stages sit among blast furnaces, iron towers and other remnants of the city’s industrial past. Major international artists perform alongside a much wider programme across the site.

Action Park is aimed squarely at groups looking for something playful rather than serious sport. Giant beer pong, football darts, inflatable bubble games and human table football are among the activities on offer. It works particularly well as a social afternoon when the weather cooperates.

Families in Brno have a useful bad-weather option in BRuNO Family Park, although much of the complex extends outdoors too. The attraction combines climbing mazes, bumper cars, water play, zip lines and other activities for children across different age groups

Black light theatre has become one of Prague’s more unusual performance traditions. UV lighting, glowing costumes and brightly coloured props are used against an otherwise dark stage. As the performers themselves can disappear into the background, objects appear to float or move independently through the air. Music and visual effects complete the illusion.