Czech Republic
TL;DR
I visited the Czech Republic three times in three years, and each visit reflected a different stage of my life. My first trip introduced me to the magic of Prague and the breathtaking Bohemian Switzerland National Park. My third visit became the starting point of an epic 22-day, 12,000-kilometre solo road trip across Europe in a Czech-built Škoda Kodiaq. It gave me one of the most emotional parenting moments I have ever experienced. More than castles, bridges, and Christmas markets, the Czech Republic gave me memories that shaped who I am today.
The Lost Mumbaikar says:
“I arrived in the Czech Republic searching for beautiful places. I left carrying stories that will stay with me forever.”
“Some countries impress you once. A few quietly become part of your life. The Czech Republic did both.”
When I first landed in Prague in 2017, I thought I was simply adding another beautiful European country to my growing list. Little did I know that within the next three years, I would return twice more, each journey becoming completely different from the previous one.
The first time, I arrived as a curious solo traveller eager to discover Central Europe.
The second time, Prague became the starting point of one of the greatest road trips of my life.
The third time, I returned with my family and discovered that some of the most unforgettable travel memories have nothing to do with monuments or museums.
Looking back today, I realise I wasn’t simply revisiting a country.
I was revisiting different versions of myself.
The explorer.
The adventurer.
The husband and father.
Some countries become destinations. The Czech Republic became a chapter of my life.
The First Journey: Discovering The Czech Republic Beyond Prague (2017)
Like millions of travellers, my relationship with the Czech Republic began in Prague.
And what an introduction it was. Walking through Prague for the very first time felt like stepping inside a history book that had somehow remained untouched by time.
Like every first-time visitor, I had my own list of must-do experiences in Prague.
The colourful Baroque buildings.
The magnificent Gothic churches.
The narrow cobbled streets that seemed to whisper centuries of history.
Street musicians performing in hidden corners, filling the air with timeless melodies. One particular performance of Eurythmics’ “Sweet Dreams” stopped me in my tracks, reminding me that sometimes a song can become part of a travel memory just as much as a landmark.
High above it all stood the magnificent Prague Castle, watching over the city as it has done for more than a thousand years.
And then there was Charles Bridge.
No matter how many photographs you see before visiting Prague, nothing prepares you for that first walk across the bridge. The statues, the artists, the musicians, the gentle flow of the Vltava River below, and the medieval skyline beyond create a scene that feels less like a tourist attraction and more like stepping into another century.
Every corner of Prague had a story. Every street invited me to slow down.
And every step made me understand why Prague is considered one of Europe’s most beautiful cities.
Leaving Prague Behind
One of the greatest advantages of travelling solo is the freedom to change your plans whenever curiosity takes over.
Mine did.
Instead of spending another day inside Prague, I hired a bike and drove towards one of the country’s greatest natural treasures; Bohemian Switzerland National Park.
Almost immediately, the landscape began to change.
The city disappeared behind me. Busy roads became quiet country lanes. Historic buildings gave way to forests.
Small villages replaced tourist crowds. This was an entirely different Czech Republic.
The one I was hoping to find. Sometimes the best part of travelling is not arriving somewhere. It is watching the scenery slowly change along the way.
The further I travelled, the quieter everything became. The air felt fresher. The roads became emptier.
And for the first time during the trip, I felt like I was seeing the country rather than simply visiting it.
Bohemian Switzerland National Park
Some places leave you speechless. Bohemian Switzerland National Park was one of them.
I spent the day trekking through peaceful forest trails before continuing on foot towards one of Europe’s most spectacular natural wonders; Pravčická Gate, the largest natural sandstone arch in Europe.
Standing beneath it, I had a strange feeling. The landscape looked incredibly familiar. Not because I had visited before. But because it looked like one of those breathtaking desktop wallpapers that appear on computer screens around the world.
The towering sandstone cliffs. The endless forests stretching into the distance. The peaceful silence broken only by birds and the wind passing through the trees. It almost felt unreal.
Photographs never truly capture scale. Only when you stand beneath Pravčická Gate do you realise how extraordinary nature can be. It reminded me of something I have discovered repeatedly during my travels.
The soul of a country rarely lies only in its capital city. Sometimes you have to leave the famous landmarks behind before a country reveals its true beauty.
For me, that moment happened in Bohemian Switzerland. Prague introduced me to the Czech Republic. Pravčická Gate made me fall in love with it.
A Home, Not A Hotel
That evening, I checked into a small family-run guesthouse in one of the nearby villages.
It wasn’t luxurious. There was no grand lobby. No spa. No infinity pool. Just one comfortable room inside a family home.
Looking back, I wouldn’t change it for any five-star hotel. The owners welcomed me warmly.
We spoke as much as language allowed. Travel has taught me that kindness rarely needs translation.
That evening, they prepared a traditional homemade Czech dinner. We shared stories over food. I wasn’t simply another booking on their calendar.
For one evening, I felt like a guest in someone’s home. Experiences like these remind me why I continue to travel the way I do. Hotels become rooms you eventually forget. People become memories you carry forever.
The next morning, after a simple breakfast, I thanked my hosts, packed my bags and continued my road trip.
Austria was waiting. But a part of me was already certain. I would return to the Czech Republic one day. I just didn’t know how soon.
Returning Again… This Time, Prague Became the Beginning of an Adventure
The Czech Republic wasn’t finished with me yet. Later in 2017, I found myself back in Prague once again.
This visit was much shorter.
The real destination was Norway, where I planned to spend seven unforgettable days exploring one of the most beautiful countries I had ever seen.
But once again, Prague became my gateway to another adventure.
I spent a little more time wandering through the streets that had already started feeling familiar before continuing my journey through Hungary and eventually flying north to Scandinavia.
At the time, I didn’t realise I would be back again. Or that my next visit would become one of the greatest road trips of my life.
Returning With My Family… And Beginning an Epic European Road Trip (2019)
By 2019, the Czech Republic had become more than just another destination. It had become the perfect place to begin an adventure.
This time, I wasn’t travelling alone. Sunitha, Julius and Jordan were with me. Prague welcomed us with its magical Christmas atmosphere.
We stayed close to Charles Bridge, explored the Christmas markets, admired the festive lights, and introduced the kids to one of the Czech Republic’s sweetest traditions; Trdelník.
Evenings ended with one of my favourite Czech dishes. A perfectly roasted pork knuckle, crispy on the outside and incredibly tender inside.
Prague had become more than a beautiful city. It had become a place where our family was creating memories together.
The Morning Jordan Got Lost On Charles Bridge
It was around 8 AM in Prague.
Cold.
Quiet.
Almost no tourists.
Exactly the kind of morning when Charles Bridge feels less like a famous landmark and more like a private moment with the city.
We had just finished a beautiful Czech breakfast near the bridge. The streets were still calm, the city was slowly waking up, and Jordan was completely drawn to trdelník, the famous Czech sweet pastry.
Like children often do while travelling, he started walking a little ahead.
At first, nothing felt unusual. Then suddenly, he was gone. For the next three or four minutes, panic took over.
Sunitha and Zulu moved forward, calling and searching.
I rushed back towards the opposite side of Charles Bridge, near where we had started crossing.
Those few minutes felt much longer than they actually were.
Jordan tried asking people for help to call us, but nobody stopped. Maybe they did not understand him. Maybe they were in a hurry. But the important thing is that he did not panic.
He listened. He waited. Then he heard Zulu shouting his name.
“Zakk! Zakk!”
Immediately, he shouted back.
“Zulu! Zulu!”
They kept calling out to each other until they finally found one another. Sunitha saw everything unfold with fear, tears, relief, and a smile all mixed together.
I was still running around on the other side like a headless chicken before finally reaching them.
That moment changed the morning.
Instead of rushing to the next attraction, we walked down to the bank of the Vltava River. We spent some quiet time watching children play, ducks moving through the water, and fish beneath the surface before heading towards the Opera House.
Travel teaches children things that classrooms cannot always teach.
It teaches awareness. It teaches calmness. It teaches common sense. It teaches them that when something goes wrong, the first response should not be panic but presence of mind.
That morning, Jordan reminded me of something powerful. As parents, we think we are showing our children the world. But sometimes, the world is quietly preparing them for life.
The Day I Broke the “Unlimited Mileage” Promise (Without Breaking Any Rules)
Prague wasn’t our final destination. In many ways, it was only the starting point of one of the biggest adventures our family had ever planned.
After spending a few magical days exploring the Christmas markets, wandering through the streets of the Old Town and introducing the kids to the famous Czech Trdelník, it was time to leave the city behind. Waiting for us was an ambitious itinerary that would take us across nine countries in twenty-two days, covering more than 12,000 kilometres before returning to Prague.
When I collected the rental vehicle, the staff handed me the keys to a beautiful Škoda Kodiaq. Somehow it felt right that a journey beginning in the Czech Republic should be completed in a Czech-built SUV.
Before signing the paperwork, I looked at one line on the agreement and couldn’t resist asking a question.
“So… the mileage is really unlimited?”
The gentleman behind the counter smiled confidently.
“Yes, absolutely.”
I looked at him again and asked, “What happens if I drive 22,000 kilometres in 22 days?”
For a second, he wasn’t sure if I was serious. Then both employees laughed.
“Enjoy your holiday!”
I laughed too.
Then I casually explained our plan.
“We’ll start here in the Czech Republic, drive through Austria, Liechtenstein, Germany, Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Slovakia and Hungary before coming back to Prague.”
The laughter slowly disappeared.
One looked at the other. The other looked back at me. Then they both smiled politely, the kind of smile that politely says, ‘This gentleman has clearly spent too much time planning on Google Maps.’
I’m fairly certain they expected us to drive around Prague for a few days, visit a couple of castles and return the car with a few hundred kilometres on the odometer.
Instead, we packed our luggage, settled the kids into the back seats, started the engine and quietly disappeared into Central Europe.
For the next twenty-two days, the Škoda Kodiaq became much more than a rental car. It carried us over Alpine mountain passes, through the unrestricted sections of the German Autobahn, across tiny villages in Slovenia, along the breathtaking Croatian coastline and through countless roads that connected one unforgettable experience to the next.
By the end of the journey, it had crossed nine countries, driven through every kind of weather imaginable and carried us safely over 12,000 kilometres without a single complaint; No puncture, No warning light, No breakdown and No mechanical issue.
It simply did what good travel companions do, quietly got on with the job while we focused on making memories.
Twenty-two days later, we rolled back into Prague and returned to the same rental office.
The gentleman recognised us immediately. He smiled, looked at odometer and casually said,
“So… you drove around 1,200 kilometres.”
I couldn’t help smiling. “I think you deserves another look.”
He saw the odometer again, frowned for a moment and then called his colleague over. Now there were two people staring silently to it.
One of them slowly looked up.
“It can’t be…”
He checked again.
Then both of them looked at me with expressions I wish I had photographed.
“Twelve thousand kilometres?”
I simply nodded.
The same people who had laughed when I described my travel plans three weeks earlier suddenly realised I hadn’t been joking at all.
For a few seconds, nobody spoke.
I don’t know what they were thinking, but I suspect one of them was mentally rewriting the company’s definition of ‘unlimited mileage.’
I walked out of the office smiling. Not because I had proved anyone wrong.
But because our family had just completed one of the greatest road trips of our lives, and every kilometre had given us another story to tell.
Looking back today, I often smile at that conversation. Sometimes the craziest travel plans sound impossible until they become memories. And sometimes, the best part of a journey isn’t the destination at all. It’s the look on someone’s face when they realise you actually did exactly what you said you were going to do.
Why I Believe Czech Republic Is One of Europe’s Most Underrated Countries
Many travellers visit Prague for two or three days and move on.
I understand why.
Prague is magnificent. But the Czech Republic deserves far more than a weekend.
Leave the capital and you’ll discover peaceful villages, scenic roads, friendly people, beautiful national parks, and places like Bohemian Switzerland National Park that many visitors never experience.
It is also one of the best countries in Europe for a road trip.
Excellent roads. Historic towns. Affordable compared to many Western European destinations. Fantastic food. Beautiful countryside.
And a perfect gateway to explore Central Europe.
Whether you are travelling solo, as a couple, or with family, the Czech Republic offers something that many destinations have lost.
It feels genuine.
The Lost Mumbaikar Reflections
Some countries give you beautiful photographs. Some give you unforgettable road trips. Some give you life lessons.
The Czech Republic gave me all three.
My first visit taught me to look beyond famous cities. My second visit became one of the greatest adventures of my life. My third reminded me that the most important journeys are not measured in kilometres but in moments shared with the people we love.
I still remember standing beneath Pravčická Gate.
I still remember driving a Czech-built Škoda Kodiaq for more than 12,000 kilometres across Europe.
I still remember the look on the rental staff’s faces when they realised I hadn’t been joking. But more than anything, I remember a little boy who stayed calm when every adult around him was panicking at Charles Bridge.
Perhaps that is the greatest gift travel gives us. It doesn’t just show us the world.
It quietly prepares us for it.
After three visits, the Czech Republic stopped being another country on my travel map.
It became one of the chapters that shaped “The Lost Mumbaikar”.
Because in the end, countries don’t stay with us because of their monuments. They stay with us because of the memories we create while we’re there.
Your Turn
- Have you ever returned to the same country at different stages of your life?
- Did the country change… or did you?
I’d love to hear your story in the comments.
Frequently Asked Questions About Czechia
1. Is Czechia safe for tourists in 2026?
Yes. Czechia is one of the safest countries in Europe for tourists. Cities like Prague, Brno, and Český Krumlov are generally safe, although pickpocketing can occur in crowded tourist areas.
2. Is Prague worth visiting?
Absolutely. Prague is famous for Charles Bridge, Prague Castle, Old Town Square, the Astronomical Clock, and its beautiful medieval architecture. Beyond the landmarks, its cafés, hidden streets, and local neighbourhoods make it one of Europe’s most rewarding cities.
3. What are the best places to visit in Czechia?
Some of the top places to visit in Czechia include:
- Prague
- Český Krumlov
- Kutná Hora
- Karlovy Vary
- Karlštejn Castle
- Brno
- Bohemian Switzerland National Park
- České Budějovice
4. How many days are enough for Prague?
Three days are ideal for exploring Prague’s major attractions. If you want to visit nearby towns like Český Krumlov or Kutná Hora, allow 5–7 days for your Czechia itinerary.
5. What is the best time to visit Prague?
The best months are April to June and September to October, when the weather is pleasant and the crowds are smaller. December is also popular for Prague’s famous Christmas markets.
6. What food should you try in Czechia?
Don’t miss these traditional Czech dishes:
- Svíčková
- Goulash with dumplings
- Roast pork with cabbage and dumplings
- Fried cheese (Smažený sýr)
- Trdelník
- Koláče pastries
- Czech beer
7. Is Prague expensive for tourists?
Prague is more affordable than many Western European capitals like Paris, London, or Zurich. However, restaurants and hotels around Old Town Square and Charles Bridge tend to be more expensive than other parts of the city.
8. Can you visit Český Krumlov as a day trip from Prague?
Yes. Český Krumlov is around 2.5–3 hours from Prague by car or bus, making it one of the most popular day trips in Czechia. Staying overnight is even better if you want to experience the town after the crowds leave.
9. Is Czechia good for a road trip?
Yes. Czechia is perfect for road trips thanks to its short driving distances, scenic countryside, medieval towns, castles, and national parks. Renting a car allows you to explore places beyond Prague.
10. Why should you visit Czechia?
Czechia offers a unique mix of history, medieval architecture, castles, beautiful countryside, excellent beer, affordable travel, and warm hospitality. Whether you’re visiting Prague or exploring smaller towns, it’s one of Europe’s most rewarding destinations for first-time and experienced travellers alike.
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