The Republic of Czechoslovakia achieved independence from the Austro- Hungarian Empire at the end of World War I. In 1993, it split into the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Although the exquisite city of Prague was inundated by Westerners after the collapse of the Soviet Union, the rest of the country is less explored but equally fascinating. Not far outside of Prague, the landscape quickly becomes idyllic, with mountains, waterways, castles and châteaux. To the east, central Moravia is distinguished by pungent cheeses and baroque cathedrals; west of Prague, the 13th-century town of Pilsen, provenance of the best-known Czech beer, sits at the confluence of four rivers. The region farther toward the German border is known for mineral springs and mountain winter resorts.
The Czech Republic experiences cool, dry winters and warm, showery summers. The western part of the country has the coldest winters and warmest summers.
To phone hotels and restaurants in the Czech Republic, dial 011 (international access) + 420 (Czech Republic code) + city code and local numbers in listings.
Six hours ahead of New York (EST).
Koruna (CZK). Fluctuating rate valued at CZK21.85 = US$1.00 as of October 2017. Prague hotels quote rates in euros (€); €1.00 = US$1.18 as of October 2017.
Prague, Tel. 257-022-000.
Passport (valid for three months beyond end of stay and containing at least two unstamped pages). Visit travel.state.gov, and for travelers’ health information, cdc.gov.
Andrew Harper members have access to full travel-planning services through Andrew Harper Travel.
1 (800) 375-4685
Open M-F 8:30AM-5:30PM CT
