Czech Republic eSIM

Prague is one of Europe's most visited cities and the old town can be overwhelmingly crowded in summer. Visit Charles Bridge and Old Town Square early morning — before 8am you'll almost have them to yourself. The real Prague lives in neighbourhoods like Žižkov, Vinohrady and Holešovice where locals live and prices are reasonable.

Czech beer is world-famous and also cheap — a half-litre of Pilsner Urquell or Kozel in a traditional pub (hospoda) often costs less than €2. Beer culture is serious: beer is poured carefully, the foam matters, and you don't tap glasses on the table. Hospodas outside the tourist centre are more authentic and much cheaper.

Prague's public transport is excellent and cheap. A 24-hour pass costs around €3 and covers metro, tram and bus. The tram is the best way to explore the city — line 22 passes through the most beautiful parts of old Prague. Taxis and Bolt/Uber are inexpensive but watch out for unmetered taxis at the airport or near tourist attractions.

Beyond Prague, Czech Republic has beautiful other cities and castles. Český Krumlov — a UNESCO World Heritage town with a castle above the river — is just 3 hours by bus from Prague and one of the prettiest places in Central Europe. Karlovy Vary is famous for its spas and healing springs. Kutná Hora with its famous bone church is just one hour from Prague.

Svíčková (beef sirloin in cream sauce with dumplings) and trdelník (the chimney cake) are both everywhere but only one is genuinely traditional. Trdelník is actually a tourist invention — delicious but not a Czech classic. Go to a real hospoda instead and order Svíčková or Vepřo-knedlo-zelo (roast pork with dumplings and sauerkraut) for an authentic Czech meal.