Czech Republic , properly.

Most first-time Czech trips work best at 7 to 10 days. A long weekend covers Prague alone; a week lets you add Český Krumlov or Karlovy Vary as a 1–2 night insert; 10–12 days extends into Moravia for Brno + Olomouc without compressing.

Prague as a 4–5 night anchor + one or two Bohemia inserts (Český Krumlov, Karlovy Vary, or Kutná Hora as a day trip). This is what the country's geography and transport network actually reward. Adding Moravia is for second-time trips or 12+ day windows.

No — stay overnight. Český Krumlov is one of central Europe's most photogenic small towns, but the day-trip version (arrive 11am, leave 4pm) is its worst form, when tour buses dominate. The town's character only emerges after 5pm when the day-trippers leave.

Late April through June and September through early October are the most reliable months — terrace weather, manageable Prague crowds, clear sight lines. December for Christmas markets (cold and atmospheric, daylight ends by 4pm). July–August fine but the Old Town genuinely fills and heat indoors is real.

Prague's Old Town Square market is genuinely strong but heavily touristed — go midweek and before 6pm. Smaller markets (Brno, Olomouc, Český Krumlov) feel more local. Daylight ends by 4pm so plan indoor anchors and pace heavy on early afternoons.

Trains (ČD InterCity) connect Prague to Brno, Olomouc, Karlovy Vary, and Kutná Hora efficiently. Buses (RegioJet, FlixBus, Student Agency) are often cheaper and faster for Český Krumlov specifically — the train route is indirect. Book online a few weeks ahead for the best fares.

Almost never — point-to-point fares are usually cheaper than passes for a 3–4 stop Czech trip. Passes only make sense if the Czech Republic is one leg of a wider central-European trip with many long-distance legs in a tight window.

Rarely — Prague's old town is car-hostile (limited parking, congestion zones) and the main inter-city routes are well-served by ČD trains and RegioJet buses. A car is only useful for Moravian wine country (Lednice-Valtice, Mikulov) or remote Bohemian routes off the main rail lines.

Bohemia (Prague, Karlovy Vary, Český Krumlov) is the western half — beer-led food culture, more crowded with international tourists, the canonical 'Czech Republic' image. Moravia (Brno, Olomouc, the wine country) is the eastern half — quieter, wine-led, fewer tourists, more locally distinctive. Both are worth visiting but expect different rhythms.

Yes for travellers who want a Czech city that isn't Prague — Brno is more architectural (Villa Tugendhat is a UNESCO Mies van der Rohe house), less crowded, and sits near serious Moravian wine country. Two to three nights is enough; combine with Olomouc as a Moravian pair.

If a grand-hotel spa-town experience appeals, yes — Karlovy Vary's colonnades, hot springs, and the Becherovka distillery are genuinely distinctive. Otherwise it can be skipped in favour of more time in Prague or Český Krumlov. The Karlovy Vary International Film Festival (early July) is its annual peak if your timing aligns.

In Prague, English works for almost all tourist interactions. In smaller cities and rural areas, English coverage drops noticeably. Learning prosím, děkuji, and dobrý den is appreciated and useful in restaurants, shops, and small-town interactions.

One of central Europe's cheapest destinations — meaningfully less expensive than Austria, Germany, or Switzerland. Prague is the most expensive Czech city and still significantly cheaper than Vienna or Munich. Beer costs €2–3 even in tourist Prague; meals run €10–18 at sit-down restaurants outside the worst tourist traps.

Round up or add 10% at sit-down restaurants. Tell the server the total amount when paying ("two-fifty" for a 230Kč bill), not what you want to add. Some tourist-area restaurants in Prague auto-add 10% service — check the bill before tipping again. Cash tips are standard but card tipping works in newer restaurants.