Inside Story: What to do in Berlin
04/10/2024 · By Ian Holt
Visit Berlin with Great Rail Journeys, uncovering a vibrant city that showcases the history of 20th-century Europe through iconic and emotive landmarks
Read moreThe Czech Republic is a new country with a long history. Since gaining independence from Slovakia in 1993, this melting pot of culture, history and natural beauty has wasted no time in establishing itself as a desireable tourist destination. In that respect, the Czech Republic has much to offer and an escorted rail tour with Great Rail Journeys offers guests a means of exploring this exciting and rewarding country in comfort.
At the heart of the rail network lies Prague, capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. An eleven-hundred-year history has bestowed this beautiful city with a wealth of remarkable historic buildings and cultural attractions, the extent of which has earned Prague's central area UNESCO World Heritage Site status.
Find out more with a free brochure and enjoy weekly travel inspiration and offers in our e-newsletter.
Our guided rail tours in the Czech Republic combine wonderful views of the country's remarkable and unspoiled landscapes with visits to its greatest cities. We take care to ensure that each of our Czech Republic train holidays gives our guests an exciting and memorable introduction to its many highlights whilst delivering the best value for money.
Once you've paid for your rail tour in the Czech Republic with us there are no further costs to consider other than your own spending money. All transport by rail or otherwise, an interesting and varied programme of destinations and excursions, hotel accommodation and a selection of meals where applicable are all included in the cost.
Furthermore you'll have the services of one of our friendly and capable Tour Managers. Available to assist, answer questions and provide information and guidance whenever it's needed, our Tour Manager will do everything they can to ensure that your travels in the Czech Republic are thoroughly enjoyable and memorable.
You'll also enjoy quality accommodation that has been hand-picked by us for the quality of its location, value, comfort, amenities and standards of service. We appreciate just how important good accommodation is, and we'll often select local family-run hotels for their personalised service and relaxing informal atmosphere.
Bordered by Slovakia, Austria, Germany and Poland it's perhaps unsurprising that much of the Czech Republic's culture and architecture has been historically influenced by immigrants from its European neighbours. Nevertheless, the modern-day Czech people are proud of their country's heritage and natural beauty and understandably pleased to share it with visitors.
The Czech Republic enjoys a typical continental climate with warm, dry summers and cold winters. January is the coldest month and whilst the country can experience heavy snows these are generally short-lived with the exception of mountainous regions. Between May and September days are warm and dry, nights cool and rainfall minimal, making this the best time to visit.
Czech cuisine requires a healthy appetite; dieters may need to choose with care. A typical Czech meal might consist of pork or beef served in a sauce and with sliced dumpling. Rice and potatoes are equally popular accompaniments. The soups enjoyed most commonly are onion or garlic, although fish soup made from carp is served on special occasions. Other specialities include Svičková (pronounced svitch-ko-va) which is an intriguing concoction of meat, sauce and cream and Smažený Sýr (smaz-nee seer) which is fried cheese served with potatoes.
Our guided tours of the Czech Republic by train highlight the very best of the cities we visit, but if you wish to further explore Prague on your own we recommend travelling by the Metro which is a clean, well-policed and inexpensive way of getting around.
Traditionally there is no tipping culture in the Czech Republic although this has changed in Prague within the past few years. As the price of your tour includes tipping, your Tour Manager will see that rewards for good service are given where appropriate.