Czech Republic

The Czech Republic is a place where the air feels thick with legends and the scent of hops. Often called the “Heart of Europe,” it is a land of more than 2,000 castles, secret underground bunkers, and a beer culture that is treated with the same reverence as a religion.

Your journey starts in Prague, the “City of a Hundred Spires.” Walking across the Charles Bridge at dawn, before the crowds arrive, is a transformative experience—the 30 blackened baroque statues stand like silent sentinels over the Vltava River. The Prague Castle complex, the largest ancient castle in the world, dominates the skyline, but the city’s true magic is found in the “New World” (Nový Svět), a quiet, winding lane just behind the castle walls that feels like a village from the 1600s. In 2026, keep an eye out for the newly renovated Petřín Funicular, which offers a modern, illuminated ride up to the lookout tower for the best views of the city.

Beyond the capital, the country unfolds into a series of fairy-tale landscapes. Český Krumlov, in South Bohemia, is a UNESCO-listed masterpiece where a red-roofed town is tightly hugged by a horseshoe bend in the river. It looks like it was plucked directly from a medieval painting. For those seeking wellness, Karlovy Vary (Carlsbad) offers elegant colonnades where you can sip healing thermal waters from porcelain cups. If you’re feeling adventurous, head to Bohemian Switzerland National Park to see the Pravčická Brána, the largest natural sandstone arch in Europe, which served as a filming location for The Chronicles of Narnia.

And then, there is the food. Czech cuisine is hearty and unapologetic. You must try Svíčková, tender beef in a creamy vegetable sauce served with fluffy bread dumplings and a dollop of cranberry jam. For a snack, grab Chlebíčky (open-faced sandwiches that look like edible art) or Trdelník, a cinnamon-sugar spit cake found on every corner. Whether you’re exploring the “bone church” in Kutná Hora or tasting the original Budweiser in České Budějovice, the Czech Republic proves that the best stories are written in stone and served with a side of dumplings.