Czechia
Sandstone rocks, fairytale towns and lakes in South Bohemia.
Where do you go when you want to head off with the kids, the car and the tent? On this page we've gathered everything about Czechia for you: what there is to see, where to camp and what you need to know on the way.
Compiled and checked by Arjan (Zuidlaren) · sources are given with the text · updated 20 October 2026 · About this site
Introduction
To Czechia with the family
The Czech Republic is close by and is therefore a nice first destination for a car holiday in Eastern Europe. You can easily switch between nature and small towns: rocks and gorges in Bohemian Switzerland, medieval Český Krumlov and lakes in southern Bohemia.
Overview
In brief
- Travel time
- 8–12 days (our estimate)
- Best time to travel
- mei–sep (our estimate · Full table)
- Distance from London
- ± 1,200 km to Prague (approx., via route planner · plus the Channel crossing by Eurotunnel or ferry)
- Driving days
- 2 driving days (our estimate)
- Tolls and vignettes
- E-vignette mandatory (10 days 300 Kč) (Details and source)
- Paying
- Czech koruna (CZK)
- EU member
- yes
Distances were calculated once with OpenStreetMap (OSRM) from London to the capital; your actual route may be longer or shorter. For London, the Channel crossing (Eurotunnel or ferry) is not included. Driving days assume at most about 750 km per day with children (our estimate).
Practical
Good to know
Money and payments
You pay with the Czech crown (CZK). Take off at an ATM and, if the screen offers to settle in euros, select the local currency: Then convert your own bank, which is usually cheaper (our tip). In cities and larger campsites, you can often pay by card; In the countryside, on small campsites and in markets, cash is practical (our experience).
Language and handy words
A few words work wonders, even with the campsite neighbour's kids:
- Dobrý den: good day
- Děkuji: thank you
- Prosím: please
- Na shledanou: goodbye
Documents and border
This is an EU country: you travel with a valid passport or ID card, and children also need their own valid travel document. Check the travel advice just before you leave.
Source: nederlandwereldwijd.nl (travel advice)
More about what is compulsory in the car
Photo: Horizon206 · CC0 · all photo credits
Health and safety
Take your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC, on the back of your health insurance card or available from your health insurer): it gives you necessary care in public healthcare under local conditions. Travel insurance is still wise, for example for repatriation. The European emergency number is 112.
Source: europa.eu (EHIC)
Photo: Friedrich Haag · CC BY-SA 4.0 · all photo credits
Traffic rules that matter
In the Czech Republic, there is an absolute ban on alcohol, even for cyclists. You also drive during the day with low or daytime running lights. From 1 November to 31 March winter tyres are mandatory in snow, ice or corresponding danger. Mandatory in the car: warning triangle, high-visibility vest, bandage box and a spare wheel or tire repair kit. Children under 150 cm drive in a suitable child seat.
Source: ANWB
More about tolls and vignettes
Photo: Igor123121 · CC BY 4.0 · all photo credits
Best time to travel
May to September. In summer you can swim in the lakes; In May and September, it is quieter in Prague and the Bohemian region (our assessment).
Always check the current rules (tolls, vignette, entry requirements) just before you leave.
🚗 Getting there & distance from Utrecht (NL)
- Destination
- Prague
- Distance
- ± 866 km (one way)
- Driving time
- ± 8.7 h (one way)
- Route via
- NL → DE → CZ
- Fuel (estimate)
- ± € 242 (return)
Estimate for the return trip: 6.5 l/100 km Euro 95 at each country's average price (EU Weekly Oil Bulletin, price date 19-10-2026). - Vignettes
- Czechia: 10-day e-vignette (300 CZK): € 12.37
- Tolls
- none
Route: OSRM/OpenStreetMap, calculated 21-10-2026, without breaks or traffic. 2026 vignette prices from the official sellers, checked 21-10-2026. For an 8-day trip, 7-day vignettes count twice.
On the road by car
Tolls and vignettes
Yes: every four-wheeled vehicle up to 3.5 tonnes needs an electronic vignette on the Czech toll motorways. You buy it in the official state web shop edalnice.gov.cz (Státní fond dopravní infrastruktury). A 10-day vignette costs CZK 300 for a car running on conventional fuel. (Source: eDalnice.gov.cz, 2026)
| What | Price passenger car | Where to arrange it | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electronic vignette, car up to 3.5 t (standard fuel) | 10 days 300 Kč · 30 days 480 Kč · Year 2,570 Kč | Official state web shop edalnice.cz; also at Česká pošta and petrol stations | eDalnice (Czech state) price checked Oct 2026 |
Destinations
Most beautiful places in Czechia
Bohemian Switzerland
Sandstone rocks and gorges on the border with Germany. Known is the rock gate Pravčická brána; In the gorges near Hřensko you can go a bit by boat.
South Bohemia and Lipno
The Lipno reservoir and the Šumava area: forests, cycle paths and campsites by the water.
Giant Mountains (Krkonoše)
The highest mountain range in the country, with hiking trails and cable cars.
Where are you going?
Regions explained
Bohemian Switzerland
Sandstone rocks, gorges and forests just beyond the German border. The rock gate Pravčická brána and the boat trips in the chasms at Hřensko are highlights. Nice for wandering families.
Source: npcs.cz
More about where to stay by country · More about campsites in this country
South Bohemia and Lipno
A quiet area with lakes, forests and the town of Český Krumlov (World Heritage Site). On the Lipno reservoir there are campsites, bike paths and a treetop path.
Source: UNESCO: Český Krumlov
More about where to stay by country · More about campsites in this country
Giant Mountains (Krkonoše)
The highest mountain range in the country, with cable cars, mountain meadows and hiking trails. In summer cool and green, with many short routes.
Source: krnap.cz
More about where to stay by country · More about campsites in this country
Prague
The capital is full, but with children nice for one or two days: the castle, the Charles Bridge and the large zoo on the river.
Source: visitczechia.com
More about where to stay by country · More about campsites in this country
On the road
Suggested route by car
A round of 8 to 12 days, with short distances from the German border (our assessment). Check the travel times in your route planner.
- Days 1-3: Bohemian Switzerland: Pravčice Gate and a boat trip in the gorge.
- Days 4-5: Prague, with a campsite on the edge of the city.
- Days 6-9: South Bohemia: Český Krumlov and Lake Lipno.
- Optional: the Giant Mountains instead of Prague.
Where to stay
Camping
Where do you camp?
Auto camps at lakes and rivers
Czech campsites are often called 'Autokemp'. You will find them on lakes in southern Bohemia and on rivers such as the Moldova, where canoeists also spend the night. Often simple and cheap (our experience).
Source: visitczechia.com
More about wild camping and campsites by country · More about camping gear
Campsites near Lipno
On the Lipno reservoir are several campsites on the water, practical for swimming, cycling and for the treetop path.
Source: stezkakorunamistromu.cz
More about wild camping and campsites by country · More about camping gear
No camping in national parks
In the national parks you are not allowed to camp or make fire outside of designated places; Sleep at a campsite just outside the park.
Source: krnap.cz
More about wild camping and campsites by country · More about camping gear
Gear for this region → (tent, gas, mosquitoes, sleeping bag)
Outings
With kids
Lipno Treetop Walkway
A wooden path high between the treetops with observation tower; It goes down a long slide.
Source: stezkakorunamistromu.cz
Pravčická brána
A large natural rock arch made of sandstone, accessible via a forest path. Combine it with a boat trip through the gorge near Hřensko.
Source: npcs.cz
Outings
Fun activities with kids
Water parks, karting, trampolines, bowling, zoos and outings for a rainy day: concrete addresses, chosen with children of about 7 and 9 in mind. We only mention places with their own website, which we checked on 14 October 2026. Opening times and prices change: always check the website.
Our favourites
Zoo Praha
A large, green zoo on the Vltava; allow a whole day.
🎟️ Tickets/tour via Viator → 🎟️ Also on GetYourGuide → Ad · affiliate link
Photo: Karelj · CC BY-SA 3.0 · all photo credits
iQLANDIA
science centre on four floors; the website recommends it from 8 years (iQPARK next door: 3-8 years).
🎟️ Tickets & info → official website
Photo: VitVit · CC BY-SA 4.0 · all photo credits
Aqualand Moravia
According to the website the largest aquapark in Czechia, with indoor and outdoor pools.
🎟️ Book tickets → official website
Photo: Palickap · CC BY-SA 4.0 · all photo credits
Pravčická brána
The largest natural rock arch in Europe, reachable on foot.
🎟️ Book tickets → official website
Photo: Pudelek · CC BY-SA 4.0 · all photo credits
DinoPark Plzeň
A park with life-size dinosaurs and play equipment.
🎟️ Book tickets → official website
Photo: DinoTeam · CC BY-SA 3.0 · all photo credits
Prague Castle
The largest castle complex in the world, with a cathedral and the Golden Lane.
🎟️ Tickets/tour via Viator → 🎟️ Also on GetYourGuide → Ad · affiliate link
Photo: Arwin Meijer · CC BY-SA 3.0 · all photo credits
Tours and tickets in Czechia
Bookable tours and entrance tickets in this country. Prices and availability are set by the provider; check the conditions before you book. (Ad · affiliate link)
- Small Group Prague Aviation Tour at the National Technical Museum
🎟️ Viator → - Karlstejn Castle Scenic Bike Small Group Day Tour
🎟️ Viator → 🎟️ Also on GetYourGuide → - Cesky Krumlov Castle Interiors Baroque Theatre and Town Tour
🎟️ Viator → 🎟️ Also on GetYourGuide → - From Prague Tour to Cesky Krumlov and Hluboka Castle
🎟️ Viator → 🎟️ Also on GetYourGuide → - Small Group Bohemian Switzerland National Park Day Trip from Prague
🎟️ Viator → 🎟️ Also on GetYourGuide →
Winter
Winter sports in Czechia
Czechia has low mountain ranges with many ski areas; the largest is in the Giant Mountains (Krkonoše).
Ski areas (checked on the official websites, October 2026)
- Špindlerův Mlýn: The largest ski area in Czechia. The official season opening is on 12 December 2026. Website: skiareal.cz
Snow reliability: altitude 700–1235 m; pistes with snowmaking. Source (2026): skiareal.cz - Klínovec: Highest peak of the Ore Mountains, on the German border. Website: klinovec.cz
When we checked on 20 October 2026, most 2026/27 prices had not yet been published; see the ski area's website for current rates. We only quote amounts that appear in an official price list.
Renting skis: at home or on the spot?
At the ski areas above you can rent skis, snowboards and boots from rental shops by the lifts or in the village; you can often book online in advance.
Example from the official Skiareál Špindlerův Mlýn price list (2025/26 season): adult Performance set (without helmet) CZK 940 per day, children's set CZK 560 per day; the 7th day is free. Source: Skiareál Špindlerův Mlýn, ceník půjčoven 2025/26
Renting on the spot saves carrying and car space, and you can swap boots that pinch. Renting at home or bringing your own gear makes sense if you combine several ski areas, already know which boots fit, or the area is small with little choice.
Winter packing list
Pack layers (thermal underwear, fleece, waterproof jacket and trousers), ski socks, gloves, a hat, goggles and sunscreen. A helmet is strongly recommended for children.
Insurance
Check whether your travel insurance covers winter sports; it is often a separate add-on. Also check mountain rescue and transport after an accident (for example by helicopter). Some ski passes include mountain insurance, as in Bansko.
Winter tyres and snow chains
- Winter tyres are mandatory in winter conditions, from 1 November through 31 March. Source: ANWB: traffic rules, Czechia
More rules per country: winter tyres and mountain passes.
🏨 Stay in Špindlerův Mlýn on Booking.com*🎟️ Winter tours nearby on GetYourGuide*🚗 Rental car (ask for winter tyres) via DiscoverCars*
* Affiliate link: if you book through one, we may receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you.
Rules
Rules, fines and quiet places
Wild camping, fines, camper stops, quiet places, smoking, alcohol and nature rules in this country, only with a verifiable source.
Show all rules (15)
Wild camping and fines
- Šumava National Park: camping and making a fire is only allowed within built-up areas or at places marked as campsites. There are also 'emergency overnight sites': one night only (from 6 pm to 9 am), with no fire (including camping stoves) and no smoking. Source: npsumava.cz, npsumava.cz
Alcohol
- Drivers: total alcohol ban, also for cyclists. Source: anwb.nl
Emergency numbers and breakdown
- Emergency number: 112. Police 158, ambulance 155, fire brigade 150. Source: ANWB: travel preparation, Czechia
- Green card: recognised, but not mandatory. Source: ANWB: travel preparation, Czechia
Health, drinking water and ticks
- The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) is valid here for medically necessary, state-provided care. It is not travel insurance. Source: European Commission: European Health Insurance Card
- Tap water is chlorinated and safe to drink, but it can cause stomach and bowel complaints; bottled water avoids that. Source: ANWB: travel preparation, Czechia
- Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE): ECDC reported 6.7 cases per 100,000 inhabitants in 2022 (EU/EEA average in 2022: 0.81). Protect yourself against tick bites; ask your doctor about vaccination. Source: ECDC: annual epidemiological report on tick-borne encephalitis 2022
Money and mobile
- Currency: Czech koruna (CZK). Source: ANWB: travel preparation, Czechia
- Debit and credit cards are accepted almost everywhere; there are enough cash machines. Source: ANWB: travel preparation, Czechia
- You can pay contactless with a watch or phone. Source: ANWB: travel preparation, Czechia
- Within the EU you pay no extra roaming charges thanks to 'Roam like at home'. Source: Council of the EU: 'Roam like at home' and the Western Balkans
Fuel and LPG
- For LPG you need the dish (schotel) adapter, a filling nipple for your tank inlet. Source: Prins Autogassystemen: refuelling LPG
Winter tyres and mountain passes
- Winter tyres are mandatory in winter conditions, from 1 November through 31 March. Source: ANWB: traffic rules, Czechia
Children in the car
- Children under 150 cm must be in a suitable child car seat. Source: ANWB: traffic rules, Czechia
- If a child sits rear-facing in the front, the airbag must be switched off. Source: ANWB: traffic rules, Czechia
Rules and fines may change and confuse by municipality. Each line contains the source; see if you're in park management before you go. This isn't legal confuse.
All countries compared: rules, fines and quiet places → · Smoking and alcohol by country → · Practically by country →
Local cuisine
Food to taste
A few dishes you can try with the whole family:
Show all dishes (4)
Svíčková
Beef in a creamy vegetable sauce, with dumplings, cranberries and cream.
Smažený sýr
Breaded fried cheese with chips and tartare sauce: a favourite with children.
Ovocné knedlíky
Sweet dumplings filled with fruit, such as plums or strawberries, with butter and sugar.
Kolače
Round pastries with quark, poppy seed or jam, at every bakery.
Look further
Discover more
Campsites by name, day trips, events and things you had better avoid, each with a source.
Show all tips (4)
Featured campsites
On the Lipno reservoir in southern Bohemia at ACSI Eurocampings are camping Lipno Modřín and Autocamp Jenišov. For Prague, Camping Sokol Praha and Camping Triocamp are convenient, and Camping Rožnov is located in the Beskiden Mountains. Wild camping is prohibited, in national parks is strictly controlled.
Source: ACSI Eurocampings: Czechia
Treetop Walkway near Lipno
At Lipno nad Vltavou you walk on a wooden path between the treetops to an observation tower with a view over the lake and the Böhmerwald. Nice for children; Times on the official page.
Source: stezkakorunamistromu.cz
Day trip: Adršpach rock town
In the northeast you walk through a labyrinth of high sandstone rocks, with stairs, narrow gorges and a small lake. A round is well feasible with children; Tickets and times on the official page.
Source: skalyadrspach.cz
Avoid: driving into Prague by car
Park outside the center on a P+R square ('Transferium') and continue with the Öffis. In old towns, cobblestones can be very smooth in rain, and trams always have right of way.
Source: ACSI Eurocampings: Czechia
Camping & on the road
Rules worth knowing
Electronic vignette
For cars up to 3.5 tonnes, an electronic vignette is mandatory on motorways. Buy them on the official state website; A trailer is not included. Source: edalnice.cz (official vignette shop)
More about wild camping and campsites by country · More about camping for beginners
Photo: Tucquero · CC BY-SA 3.0 · all photo credits
Camping in national parks
In Czech national parks, camping and firemaking outside designated places are prohibited. In the NP Krkonoše this also applies to gas cookers with an open flame, and in Bohemian Switzerland you are not allowed to spend the night in nature. Source: krnap.cz and npcs.cz (park management)
More about wild camping and campsites by country · More about camping for beginners
Sources
Where does this information come from?
- edalnice.cz (official vignette shop)
- krnap.cz and npcs.cz (park management)
- npcs.cz
- UNESCO: Český Krumlov
- krnap.cz
- visitczechia.com
- stezkakorunamistromu.cz
- zoopraha.cz
- ANWB (traffic rules)
- ACSI Eurocampings: Czechia
- skalyadrspach.cz
Checked on 14 October 2026. "Our estimate" is personal advice, not official information.
Affiliate disclaimer: Some links on this site are affiliate links. If you book or buy through one, we may receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you. Our experiences and tips remain independent.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a vignette in Czechia?
Yes: an e-vignette is required (10 days CZK 300). Prices, where to buy it and the official source are in the ‘Tolls and vignettes’ block on this page. To tolls and vignettes
Can you wild camp in Czechia?
No, it is prohibited, with strict checks in national parks. (source: ACSI Eurocampings)
What is the best time to travel to Czechia?
May to September. In summer you can swim in the lakes; In May and September, it is quieter in Prague and the Bohemian region (our assessment).
How far is Czechia from London?
From London to Prague it is about 1,200 km (calculated with OpenStreetMap; check your route planner). The Channel crossing is not included: with the Eurotunnel (LeShuttle) it takes 35 minutes according to the operator; a Dover–Calais ferry is the alternative. With children, expect about 2 driving days (our estimate).
What must you carry in the car in Czechia?
Mandatory in the car: warning triangle, high-visibility vest, bandage box and a spare wheel or tyre repair kit. Source: ANWB. All traffic rules are on our page Traffic rules & equipment. To traffic rules · ANWB
Which travel documents do I need for Czechia?
This is an EU country: you travel with a valid passport or ID card, and children also need their own valid travel document. Check the travel advice just before you leave.