Travel News

8 best places to visit in Czechia

A historic cobblestone bridge leads to a medieval gate with pointed towers during sunrise

By now, just about every savvy traveler knows about the beauty and vitality of Prague. Yet fewer know that the rest of Czechia also enchants, and its capital is by no means the country’s only beautiful city.

Towns like Olomouc, Český Krumlov and Karlovy Vary showcase stunning historic architecture. Protected areas like the Czech Switzerland National Park offer unexpected natural beauty. And throughout the country, you’ll find offbeat attractions – like Kutná Hora’s bone church – that you won’t soon forget.

What’s more, it’s easy to get around Czechia to see it all. Roads are excellent, and a public transport network of trains and buses serves every corner of the country. The country is small enough that just about anywhere is within a few hour’s reach of Prague.

Here are some of the best places to consider including on any Czechia itinerary.

Prague was one of the most important cities in Europe in the Middle Ages – a legacy that endures through the city’s stupendous architecture. Tomas Sereda/Getty Images

1. Prague

Best for medieval architecture

In the 14th century, Prague was a true megalopolis: the capital of the Holy Roman Empire and one of Europe’s largest cities. And you can still see what that city looked like today. Stroll around Old Town Square and gawk at the medieval Astronomical Clock, then cross the Gothic Charles Bridge before climbing up to Prague Castle, by some accounts the world’s largest castle complex. Explore the Prague Jewish Museum and tour beautifully manicured baroque gardens, like the one at Wallenstein Palace.

Prague, of course, is also a vibrant 21st-century European capital, with the galleries, museums, restaurants and pubs to match. Enjoy a vaunted Czech beer at a restaurant like Lokál, or traditional Czech duck or schnitzel at restaurants like Hostinec na Výtoni or Výčep.

Women stand on the terrace of a modern villa next to a curved, floor-to-ceiling glass window
Villa Tugenhat in Brno is an early modernist masterpiece by famed architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe. Peter Turansky/Shutterstock

2. Brno

Best for cafes and bars

Czechia’s second city, Brno brims with authenticity and a youthful vibe, evident in a local bar and cafe scene that feels buzzier than Prague’s. Bars like the secretive Super Panda Circus or centrally located Bar, Který Neexistuje (the “Bar that Doesn’t Exist”) set a trendy, speakeasy tone. Emerging coffee shops like Kimono and Kafe Friedrich keep the scene fresh.

Between pit stops, check out quirky underground attractions like the Labyrinth…

Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at Stories – Lonely Planet…