Like a Czech: 7 typically Czech things you simply have to experience or taste (vol. 2)

We’ve selected seven of the most famous Czech phenomena to give you a better insight into the Czech mindset. Every true Czech tries these at least once in a lifetime. You give them a try, too!

1. Go mushroom hunting

The Czechs are renowned as the most passionate mushroomers in the world! They say that the Slavs were born with a basket in their hand, while the Czechs were born in one. More than 70% of the population of the Czech Republic head out into the forest to pick mushrooms at least once a year, a phenomenon unmatched anywhere else in the world. Just to give you an idea, in 2021 one mushrooming household collected an average of around 6 kilos of wild mushrooms!

Endless mushrooming potential

Czechs are obviously lucky in that, unlike other European countries, people can go mushroom hunting almost anywhere in Czech forests and can take home as many fungi as they want. There’s no risk of a fine.

When and where to go mushrooming in Czechia

Generally, wild mushrooms start growing best in warm weather after heavy rain. The main season starts in July and ends in September. You can’t go wrong if you try the woods in the picturesque Vysočina region. The statue of a mushroom hunter in the little town of Svratka just goes to show that this is a real mushroomer’s paradise.

So dust off your basket, pack your knife, put on your wellies and go "hunting"; the mushrooming season is about to start! You can dry your haul in the sun and then use it to rustle up something like Kuba, a traditional Czech dish.

OUR TIP: Did you know that wild mushrooms can also be made of stone? If not, go and take a look at Broumovské stěny rocks!

Could come in handy, or How to say these things in Czech…

Je to jedlá houba? - Is that an edible fungus?
Ztratil jsem se. - I’m lost.
Je mi špatně, jedl jsem houby. - I feel ill. I ate some wild fungi.
Je to na houby. - It’s hopeless. (literally "It is for mushrooms.")
Víš houby s octem! - You know nothing! (literally "You know mushrooms with vinegar!")

2. Raft down a Czech river

It’s generally true that if you’re a Czech, you’re a rafter. You won’t find many real “landlubbers” in Czechia who have never held a paddle in their lives. Whether you’re a true water baby or have never tackled the smallest wave, Czechia’s rivers are the best place for some adventures on the water. Nearby you’ll find everything you need for a perfect rafting or canoeing holiday, from boat hire to camps right by the river bank.

Can you raft down Czechia’s longest river? Can you tame the Czech Amazon? Or dare you ride one of the most difficult “tourist” rapids on the Sázava River?

OUR TIP: Try your hand on the water without setting foot outside Prague! At Sportcentrum Troja you can enjoy a laid-back sail on the quiet waters of the Vltava, or take an adrenalin-packed ride down the rapids of a man-made channel!

Could come in handy, or How to say these things in Czech…

Ahoj! - Hi! (the traditional sailors’ greeting, but also a common way to say hello to friends in Czechia)
Dá se tudy plout? - Can we sail here?
Bacha, peřeje! - Watch out, rapids!
To je olej! - That’s oil! (water so calm and slow-moving that you can’t tell which way it’s flowing)
Já háček nebudu! - I’m not going to be the hook! (hook = the crew member at the front of the boat with the fewest rights and the most duties 😊 the boat’s engine)
Chci být porcelán! - I want to be porcelain! (porcelain = the crew member sitting in the middle, who generally doesn’t paddle - children, dogs, etc.)
Mám díru v lodi! - I’ve got a hole in my boat!

3. Off to Switzerland...?!

Every Czech takes a trip to Switzerland at least once in their life. But we’re not talking about alpine peaks or Lake Geneva... We’ve got our own here in Czechia – Bohemian Switzerland. The spectacular towers of sandstone towns, deep ravines and gorges, crystal-clear streams, breathtaking views… And the biggest sandstone gate in Europe! That’s the Czech national park by the border with Germany. If you’re taking a holiday in the Czech Republic, this is a must for your itinerary. You’re sure to have an amazing experience. That goes without saying, as Bohemian Switzerland is considered the cradle of European tourism!

OUR TIP: Head off to Bohemian Switzerland on your bike along the Elbe Cycle Route. Or ride right alongside the Elbe! From Děčín or Ústí nad Labem you can take a trip through the Elbe Canyon (which, incidentally, is the deepest sandstone canyon in Europe) to the gateway to the national park on a sightseeing cruise boat.

Could come in handy, or How to say these things in Czech…

Kudy k Pravčické bráně? - How do I get to Pravčická brána?
Kde je přístaviště? - Where is the wharf?
Kolik je hodin? - What time is it?

4. Get yourself a glass souvenir from Crystal Valley

The box of Christmas decorations in pretty much every Czech household includes a sparkly bauble from a Czech glassworks! Czech glass Christmas decorations are a real classic. Jablonec nad Nisou even has a museum with the largest collection of Christmas decorations in the world! And if that weren’t enough, the production of glass bead ornaments in the Giant Mountains is protected under the UNESCO Heritage List! Come and see how these cute little glass baubles are made, and take home some “trinkets” for your own Christmas tree.

OUR TIP: Try your hand for a while at the work of the master glassmakers in one of the many traditional Czech glassworks in Crystal Valley! Czech glass is a true global phenomenon!

Could come in handy, or How to say these things in Czech…

Veselé Vánoce! - Happy Christmas!
Vezmu si je všechny. - I’ll take them all.
Jsou tyhle na prodej? - Are these for sale?
Pozor, křehké! - Caution, fragile!

5. Visit Karlštejn Castle

Karlštejn is undoubtedly close to the heart of the Czech nation as a whole. A fairy-tale castle near Prague, built by Charles IV – one of the most important figures in Czech history (yes, that’s the Charles that Czechia’s most famous bridge is named after) – as royal treasure house.

One treasure after another

Besides the fact that the castle chapel gives you the chance to see the largest collection of Gothic panel paintings in the world, not to mention the country’s biggest portrait gallery showing pictures of its rulers, another attraction on display at Karlštejn is a replica of the Saint Wenceslas crown of the Czech kings. What better reasons could there be for most Czechs visit this castle in Central Bohemia?

Come and join them! You can’t fail to be impressed by the majesty of Karlštejn, not to mention the special atmosphere it arouses amongst its proud Czech visitors (some of whom are most probably visiting this Czech spectacle for the very first time).

OUR TIP: Treat yourself to a special tour of Karlštejn Castle, including the exquisite Chapel of the Holy Cross with its wholly unique collection of Gothic paintings, after dark!

Could come in handy, or How to say these things in Czech…

Kde je vlakové nádraží? - Where’s the railway station?
Kudy na hrad? - How do I get to the castle?
Máte volno na prohlídce v angličtině? - Is there a space available on the English-language tour?

6. Give a Czech carp a chance

And while we’re talking of holidays… Czech carp is an essential part of Czech Christmas! However, this freshwater fish is not only the traditional Czech Christmas Eve dish. It’s a real delicacy, so good that it should definitely feature on your list of “Things to taste in the Czech Republic”!

Fish with gingerbread?!

There are lots of different ways to enjoy your carp. Fried like a schnitzel, in black sauce, where the recipe even includes sweet gingerbread, or as “chips”. South Bohemia has plenty of restaurants that serve up this Czech treat. Try it - you’ll be astonished how good carp can be!

Třeboň ponds

And why in South Bohemia? The most famous carp comes from Třeboň ponds, one of the wonders of Czechia listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You can explore them on the bike or visit for the traditional autumn catch. Třeboňsko is a charming region whatever the season.

OUR TIP: Take a journey around the World. It’ll only take you an hour! Got more time? So ride your bike around the biggest pond in the world!

Could come in handy, or How to say these things in Czech…

Kapra, prosím. - Carp, please.
Pomoc, mám kost v krku! - Help, I’ve got a bone stuck in my throat!
Děkuji, zachránil jste mi život. - Thank you, you’ve saved my life. ;-)

7. Burn out the worm! Plum brandy from Moravia

When it’s time for a toast or to celebrate something, and if this liquid treasure is available, the Czechs reach for – ideally homemade – plum brandy (slivovitz). It’s a real treasure! Plum brandy is something the Czechs give one another as a gift, it is often used as a form of payment between friends and neighbours, and many Czechs, especially in Moravia, bury slivovitz (often made with plums from their own orchard) in the ground when a son is born. This treasure then remains there until it is dug up just before his wedding.

Medicine with zest

Since time immemorial, plum brandy has been considered a precious font of healing, and even now Czechs still occasionally have a shot just to “burn out the worm”.

Hectolitres of liquid currency

The most famous plum brandy is from East Moravia, where you can also find what could be described as the capital city of this spirit, Vizovice. Distilleries were built there back in the 16th century, and now the town is home to the world’s biggest producer of fruit spirits, Rudolf Jelínek. Want to know how plum brandy is made? Visit Vizovice to take a tour of the Rudolf Jelínek distillery. They will of course let you try a shot of this fragrant treasure.

OUR TIP: To discover the mysteries and the history of real Moravian plum brandy, check out the R. Jelínek Slivovitz Museum in Prague.