What to Pack for Travelling to the Czech Republic: Tips from Experienced Travellers

What are the most common associations most people have with the Czech Republic? Many people will probably remember the mineral spas of Karlovy Vary. Literature lovers will say that this country is the birthplace of the brave soldier Schweik. And gourmets will mention the hearty national cuisine and the world's most delicious beer. The charm of the medieval history and architecture of the Czech Republic, mysteriously beautiful castles, delicious cuisine, and relatively low prices attract thousands of tourists to this country every year.

If you are planning a trip with your kids to the Czech Republic, it is important to pack the right clothing and gear to ensure a comfortable and enjoyable trip. The weather in the Czech Republic can be unpredictable, so it is important to pack layers that can be easily added or removed as needed. Additionally, the country has a rich history and culture, so it is important to pack appropriate clothing for visiting museums, churches, and other cultural attractions. In this article, we will provide tips and advice from experienced travelers on what to pack for a trip to the Czech Republic.

From comfortable walking shoes to a lightweight raincoat, we will cover all the essentials to ensure that you are prepared for whatever the Czech Republic has in store for you. Whether you are planning to explore the cities or venture into the great outdoors, our packing tips will help you make the most of your trip to this beautiful country.

Traveling with children has its peculiarities. Even at the planning stage, it is necessary to be well prepared, mainly concerning the collection of documents. Often, tourists are also interested in what to take children to the Czech Republic, what medicines for the child may be helpful, and what clothes are needed. Let us focus on these questions and try to answer them in detail.

We offer you a list of necessary documents that may be required on your trip:

• Passports for all family members, ID cards, EU social security/health care ID card (for EU citizens, optional)
• Entry Visa. Citizens of countries with which the visa-free regime is concluded do not need a visa, provided they have a biometric passport. For all others, it is necessary to issue a visa. Please note that when applying for a Schengen visa, when a child travels with one of the parents, the consulate may require a notarized letter of consent from the second.
• Children's birth certificates.
• Notarized permission from both parents to take children abroad. It is required if the child is traveling as part of a group. The migration service of your country should ask whether such a document is needed if the child is traveling with one of the parents.
• Travel voucher or a copy of the document confirming the hotel (apartment) booking.
• Insurance policy.
• Airline tickets.
• Driver's license, if you drive your own car or are going to rent it in the Czech Republic.
• Green Card, an international insurance policy that must be issued by everyone who plans to travel abroad in their own car.
• Cash and bank cards.

What clothing you and your young travelers should pack depends on the time of year, the age of the children, and the purpose and duration of the trip. Here are some general recommendations on the number and type of clothing for a week. In the summer, light shirts, shorts, or dresses will be needed and will be most comfortable for city walks and excursions.

For the youngest travelers, you should take at least one set for the day. As children get older, they become neater, so you can take fewer things. Here is a rough list of summer clothes:

• Jeans, pants, windbreaker.
• Dresses, sundresses.
• Underwear.
• Socks.
• T-shirts, shorts.
• Headgear: bandana, panama or cap.
• Pajamas.
• Rubber slippers and bathing suits: they can be handy in a water park or spa complexes.
• Walking shoes.

The beautiful old streets of Czech cities are usually paved with cobblestones, so heeled shoes can be a hassle.

In spring and fall, demi-season clothes are suitable, and for winter walks and excursions — regular winter clothes. With the onset of cold weather, ski resorts open. We will give some recommendations on what is better to take in the cold season to conquer the ski slopes:

• Thermal underwear.
• Ski overalls or ski suits for skiing on the slopes.
• Hat, scarf.
• Warm gloves.
• Comfortable waterproof shoes.
• Warm fleece sweatshirt.
• Woolen socks.

A distinctive feature of the locals is that they are used to getting up early and going to bed early. Therefore, most stores and establishments are open only until 18.00 and on Saturdays until 13.00. The only exceptions are supermarkets and stores on the main streets of big cities. They can be open until 22.00.

You can buy any goods and things at quite reasonable prices. However, it is worth buying some accessories before you leave. Here is an approximate list of what you should take to the Czech Republic for the little tourists:

• Diapers. A small pack will be enough for the road and the first few days.
• Diapers for bathing. It will be useful if you visit water parks or thermal resorts.
• Wet wipes.
• Diaper, on which you can change the little tourist.
• Children's cosmetics, comb.
• Sunscreen in the summer season.
• Sling, ergo backpack.
• Baby travel tableware set.
• Pacifier (if required).
• A travel potty for the baby.
• Compact stroller.

The list of things for an older child is much shorter. Take wet wipes, baby cosmetics, and in the hot season — baby sunscreen.

When going on vacation, consider what you need from small household appliances. Before leaving, check that they are in good working order and have chargers, batteries, and accumulators.

Download your favorite cartoons, apps, or movies. A list of the most useful gadgets on any trip:

• Mobile phone.
• Tablet.
• Laptop.
• A camera.
• A fumigator.
• Blender.
• Power bank.

Most hotels were built at a time when there was not yet a wide variety of electrical appliances. Therefore, rooms usually have two or three outlets. If you want to charge cell phones, tablets, or laptops, there are not enough outlets for all your devices. In this case, a 3-outlet power strip will help.

Invite your little one to pack his own small backpack. He will probably enjoy the new activity — packing for a trip. But before that, be sure to explain that you should take with you only the most petite favorite toys.

Pack several books, magazines, coloring books, sketchbooks, felt-tip pens or pencils. You can take a small travel board game; it will entertain you in the waiting room, not only the children but you. If you plan to visit a water park, take inflatable armbands and an inflatable vest.

The main peculiarity of Czech pharmacies is that almost all medicines require a European-style prescription from a doctor.

Only antipyretics, cough lozenges, simple pain relievers, vasoconstrictors, and other drugs are available without a prescription.

Pharmacies operate on the same schedule as stores. Prices for medicines are lower than the European average. Before you leave, ensure your first aid kit has everything you need. Before the trip, visit your local pediatrician or family doctor. After examination, he may give additional recommendations on what to take on vacation from medicines.

What medicines should you take to the Czech Republic? Here is the list:

• Antipyretics.
• Antispasmodics, analgesics.
• Ointment or spray for burns.
• Tablets, syrup, or spray for sore throat.
• Drops for a runny nose.
• Ear drops.
• Allergy medicine.
• Diarrhea medicine.
• Antiemetic.
• External antiseptics to treat minor wounds.
• Sorbents, intestinal antiseptics.
• Chronic disease medication with a European prescription.
• Bactericidal plaster, regular plaster, bandage, elastic bandage.
• Thermometer.

What to take on vacation to the Czech Republic from baby food is another critical question. We have a separate article dedicated to local cuisine and baby food. You can buy ready-made baby purees, formula, and porridge in any supermarket or pharmacy. And if you rent an apartment and are going to cook, you can be sure that the food in local supermarkets is of excellent quality and the prices are reasonable.

Cafes and restaurants will offer your little ones quality food. Most of them have children's and dietary menus. Children will be delighted to try sausages, Svíčková na smetaně, and local pastries. Soup with dumplings is sure to please even the picky eaters. Parents of babies often ask whether they should take any special baby formula or buy it locally.

In case of any diseases or features of the baby that require diet, you should make a stock of necessary food for the whole stay in the Czech Republic. Otherwise, there is a risk that you will not find suitable food due to translation difficulties and completely different names.

In this section, we will tell you what currency to take to the Czech Republic. To begin with, we will note that this country is a member of the European Union, but the national currency is the Czech koruna (CZK). Local authorities explain this because the national economy will not withstand the transition to the euro, and there may be a prolonged financial crisis. For the last ten years, the krone exchange rate has been relatively stable, about 22-24 CZK per EUR.

It is most favorable to bring euros or dollars, which can be exchanged for the Czech koruna at exchange offices or bank branches. You can also pay with a Visa or MasterCard bank card. It is worth considering that local banks often use this trick: when you request to withdraw cash from your card, the screen will display a proposal to convert your currency into euros and then into koruna.

• Best Czech Republic resorts for vacation with children

Then it suddenly turns out that all these currency conversion procedures took place at a very unfavorable exchange rate for you and legally. Therefore, it is best to bring a certain amount of euros in cash.

How much money to take depends only on your wishes and possibilities. Here are the approximate prices:

• public transport ticket — 30 CZK;
• a three-day bus pass — 330 CZK;
• excursions — min. 350 CZK;
• lunch in an inexpensive café — min. 200 CZK;
• ice cream — min. 30 CZK;
• a cup of coffee — min. 50 CZK;
• beer — min. 40 CZK;
• magnets — min. 50 CZK.

As in all EU countries, you can't bring meat, any meat and dairy products, or canned goods:

• Any meat and dairy products, tinned food.
• Firearms, ammunition, explosives.
• Fireworks.
• Medicines containing narcotic substances cannot be imported without a prescription.

According to local customs laws, you can import:

• Baby or special medical food weighing up to 2 kg.
• 1 liter of alcohol (or 2 liters of wine or liquor).
• 500 g of coffee, 200 g of coffee extract, 100 g of tea.
• A limit of €430 is set for the total value of goods transported in personal baggage. This limit is reduced to €150 for children under 15 years old.

Before you close your suitcase, check everything again and think it over. Some things you can buy at a local shop. What should you not take to the Czech Republic, but rather buy when you arrive? Here is a small list of things you can leave at home:

• Baby food, nappies. Do not take a large stock of nappies and baby food. It is advisable to take only the necessary amount for the road and for the first few days, and then add them as needed. The only exceptions are special diet food or hypoallergenic nappies that are suitable for your baby.
• Too many clothes for all occasions. Do not overload your suitcase with unnecessary clothes, it is better to provide for the possibility of washing them.
• Household chemicals. If necessary, it can be bought in any shop.
• Pram. It is necessary to take with you only if you plan long excursions or city walks. For short excursions will be quite enough sling or "kangaroo".

We wish you a pleasant journey and new impressions!