Official language: Czech
Capital: Prague
Currency: Czech koruna. Czechia is currently preparing to adopt the euro.
Population as % of total EU: 2.07
Joined EU: 2004

Did you know?

• Czechia was formed following the dissolution of Czechoslovakia on 1 January 1993. Czechoslovakia split into two independent nations, Czechia and Slovakia – the split was peaceful and is commonly referred to as the “Velvet Divorce”, a reference to the non-violent 1989 Velvet Revolution that led to the end of one-party rule in Czechoslovakia.
• Broadly speaking, Czechia is split up into three historical regions: Bohemia in the west, Moravia in the east and Czech Silesia in the north-east (bordering Poland). Bohemia is known for mountains and breweries and Moravia for wine.
• Beer consumption in Czechia is higher per capita than any other country, with an average of around 143 litres drunk per person, per year. Czechia is also the birthplace of pilsner (a type of lager), which originates from the city of Plzeň in the west of the country, where it was first produced in 1842.
• According to the Guinness Book of Records, Prague Castle is the largest ancient castle in the world. It was built in the ninth century and was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1992.
• We have the Czech language to thank for the word “robot”. It comes from the Czech word for forced labour, robota, and was first used in Czech writer Karel Čapek’s 1920 play R.U.R. (Rossumovi Univerzální Roboti or Rossum’s Universal Robots).

Looking back and dreaming ahead (one last time)

Regular readers of the blog might be starting to tire of this kind of introduction, but the Czech Republic was yet another stop on my late teens Interrailing holiday. It’s also another country I am positively itching to visit again, and the research for this post has certainly added fuel to my fire. In the short term, however, this does mean another trip down memory lane, accompanied by some speculative suggestions for a future itinerary. Please do hang in there and enjoy the ride – and hopefully we can travel to Cyprus (our last stop) together soon.

The only city I visited in Czechia on that trip was the capital, Prague. And this was probably where I started to really get into what is now my absolute favourite thing to do when in a new place – wander around aimlessly and drink up the atmosphere. And Prague is an absolutely stunning place to do that – from its glorious castle to its creepy ossuary to its many parks and green spaces. I remember in particular strolling around Prague Castle in the bright sunshine, being bowled over by its size and scale; it’s not just one building but a whole complex spread over 18 acres. It has three courtyards, lots of historic buildings and even an ancient street, Golden Lane (Zlatá ulička). What I’d anticipated would be a half hour stop ended up taking the bulk of a day, punctured by the Changing of the Guard in the middle of it.

Prague was also the stop on my trip where I finally started to relax and spend more time getting to know the people I encountered. My most vivid memory is an afternoon spent with a Canadian lady I met in my hostel. She was a vegetarian like me – something surprisingly hard to come by, especially on that trip – and together we searched out a perfect restaurant.

We found it in the shape of Lehká Hlava (meaning ‘clear head’), a restaurant with three quirkily decorated rooms. We were seated in the aptly named ‘heaven’, a dimly lit place with cosy booths. The ceiling was painted to resemble the night sky and was illuminated with tiny bulbed stars – a magical effect. I remember that the place basically blew my budget, being a real restaurant and all, but was worth every penny.

I kept in touch with my dining companion for several years after the trip, meeting up in different cities across Europe. We’re still connected on Facebook now, and I know that she would be a friendly face if I ever found myself heading across the pond to Canada.

So, what will I be seeking out when I next get the opportunity to travel to Czechia?

• Revisiting Prague: head back to the capital and have another wander around. Take the Guardian up on most of its local Prague tips. Take in some unusual statues, including a mirrored, moving bust of Kafka, Sigmund Freud dangling above the Old Town and yellow penguins. Most of these bizarre installations are the work of Czech artist David Černý; you can find out more about his work here.
• Olomouc cheese: bravely chow down on some smelly, rotten cheese. I could try and describe it, but Rick Stein has already done so brilliantly. For an even more memorable experience, sample it in the city that gives the cheese its name, off the beaten tourist track.
• Sky Walk: walk up a 55-metre-high slope and take in panoramic views across the Morava river valley, before sliding back down on a 100-metre slide? Yes please. You can even lie back on a net at the top to gaze into the sky. Find out more here.
• Karlovy Vary: visit this spa city in West Bohemia. Taste the mineral water, wander the many beautiful colonnades, and eat giant wafers. Delve into more suggestions in this detailed blog post. The city also hosts one of the oldest film festivals in the world every summer.
• Wine tasting: travel to one of the many vineyards in Moravia and sample some delicious Czech wine. In the walled town of Znojmo, you can also enjoy views over the Podyjí National Park and explore medieval tunnels under the streets.
• Bohemian Paradise: visit the protected landscape area of Český ráj in Bohemia. The area’s name translates into English as the idyllic sounding ‘Bohemian Paradise’ and there is a 118-kilometre trail through it called the ‘Golden Path of Bohemian Paradise’, which takes in some of the key sites. This includes medieval castles, rock formations and natural springs. Some highlights are summarised here.

I did some intense internet digging to rustle up my shortlist of top Czechia suggestions, and have linked to my favourite resources in the above bullet points. However, I’d also like to give a special shout out to Czech by Jane, a website dedicated to tips for travelling around the country.

Is there anything else you would recommend? Please do send me a message if you have any suggestions.