Officially called Czechia since 2016, though Czech Republic remains widely used, this landlocked country in the heart of Central Europe punches well above its weight as a travel destination. It packs medieval old towns, fairytale castles, rolling Bohemian countryside, and one of the world's great beer cultures into a compact and very easy-to-navigate country.
Prague dominates the tourist map — and rightly so, it's stunning — but the country rewards those who venture further. Brno, Moravia's capital, is a lively university city with a fraction of Prague's crowds. Český Krumlov is arguably the most beautiful small town in Central Europe. The spa towns of western Bohemia, the wine country of South Moravia, and the sandstone landscapes of Bohemian Switzerland all have their own distinct appeal.
The country has been independent since 1993, when Czechoslovakia peacefully split into the Czech Republic and Slovakia. The communist period left its marks — some industrial cities feel heavy with that history — but the historic cores of most towns came through the 20th century remarkably intact.
Czechs are not effusive by default, but they warm up quickly over a glass of beer. The pub (hospoda) is the true center of Czech social life.
