Central Europe
Fairy-tale spires, cheap beer, and a castle on every hill.
Czechia sits in the exact middle of Europe and feels like it — a compact country of storybook towns, Gothic and baroque spires, and the best and cheapest beer on the continent. Prague is the obvious front door, one of the only great European capitals to survive the 20th century with its old town intact, but the countryside of castles, spa towns and vineyards rewards anyone who ventures out. Easy, walkable and astonishing value once you're off the main square.
What things cost: Czechia is mid-range and a genuine bargain outside the Prague tourist core — a world-class beer costs a couple of euros, and a hearty meal not much more. Prague's old town is priced for visitors; step a few streets away and prices drop fast. When a zone below says 'low', that means low for Czechia.
Sometimes the event picks the city for you.
For four autumn nights the city's facades and squares become screens for light art and projections, and half of Prague follows the trail after dark. Free, spectacular, and a great reason to visit off-season.
Prague · Citywide
The Old Town and Wenceslas squares fill with wooden stalls, a giant tree, mulled wine and hot trdelník, snow more often than not — one of the most atmospheric Christmas markets in Europe. Cold, magical, busy; wrap up warm.
Prague · Old Town Square & Wenceslas Square
The spring cousin of the Christmas markets — painted eggs, plaited willow whips, craft stalls and folk music on the Old Town Square, with the first warm days of the year. Smaller and gentler, and a lovely time to be in the city.
Prague · Old Town Square
The country's great classical-music festival, opening every year on the anniversary of Dvořák's death with his 'Má vlast' — three weeks of world-class orchestras and soloists in Prague's finest concert halls. Book ahead for the big nights.
Prague · The Rudolfinum & city halls
