Czech Republic (CZ)
Czech Republic is a landlocked Central European parliamentary republic of 14 regions, home to the fairy-tale spires of Prague — one of Europe's best-preserved medieval capitals — as well as world-famous Bohemian crystal and glasswork, the birthplace of Pilsner lager, a thriving startup and tech scene anchored in Prague and Brno, and one of the lowest unemployment rates and most stable economies in the EU.
Daily Life
Practical day-to-day information for living in Czech Republic.
🛒 Supermarkets
Part of the Ahold group. Wide range including fresh produce, deli counter, and good bakery. Found throughout Czech cities and many towns. Albert Hypermarket (larger stores) have extended ranges.
Austrian-owned chain with good quality fresh products, strong bakery, and reasonable prices. Popular with families. Locations across all major Czech cities.
German hypermarket with large stores, wide range, and good value. Particularly strong for fresh meat, cheese, and household goods. Mostly in retail parks on city outskirts.
German discount chain with excellent value, rotating weekly special offers (Lidl akcí), and increasingly good quality. Very popular. Good for organic products at lower prices than competitors.
Budget German chain (REWE group) with competitive prices. Fewer locations than Lidl but good for everyday essentials at low cost.
Large hypermarket with excellent fresh food counters (butcher, fishmonger, deli), bakery, and very wide selection. Czech-favourite for big weekly shops. Own brand products good value.
British chain with presence in Czech Republic, particularly hypermarkets. British-style product range including some imported UK goods. Good for international food items.
Small local grocery shops (often Vietnamese-owned and operated, known as Vietnamské obchůdky) — typically open long hours including Sundays and public holidays. Essential for last-minute purchases when supermarkets are closed.
Opening Hours
Large supermarkets (Albert, Billa, Kaufland): typically Mon–Sat 07:00–22:00, Sun 08:00–21:00. Lidl/Penny: Mon–Sat 08:00–21:00, Sun 09:00–20:00. Small potraviny shops: often 07:00–22:00 seven days. Restaurants: lunch 11:00–14:00, dinner 17:00–22:00 (some all-day). Pubs (hospody): often open from 11:00 until midnight or later. Banks: Mon–Fri 08:00 or 09:00–17:00. Post offices (Česká pošta): typically Mon–Fri 08:00–18:00, Sat 08:00–12:00.
Sunday Rules
Czech Republic does NOT have a Sunday trading ban — most supermarkets are open on Sundays. Shopping centres and retail parks also operate on Sundays. This is a key difference from Germany, Austria, and some other neighbouring countries. Smaller shops and local businesses may close or have reduced hours on Sunday.
Recycling
Třídění odpadu (waste sorting) is mandatory. Standard containers in apartment building yards: žlutý (yellow — plastics/metals/cartons), modrý (blue — paper), zelený or bílý (glass coloured/clear), hnědý or oranžový (bio waste in participating municipalities), šedý or černý (mixed residual). Sběrný dvůr (recycling centre) available in all municipalities for special items. Záloha (deposit) system for PET bottles and cans being rolled out in 2025/2026.
Dining Out
Czech restaurants offer excellent value, especially traditional Czech cuisine (česká kuchyně). Lunch menus (polední menu/denní menu) in non-tourist areas: CZK 120–200 for a two-course meal with a drink. Dinner: CZK 250–500 per person for a good restaurant outside tourist areas. Tourist trap restaurants around Prague Old Town can charge 3–5x more. Beer in a pub: CZK 35–60 for 0.5L in a non-tourist location, CZK 80–150+ in tourist areas. Reservations recommended for popular restaurants on weekends.
Utilities & Internet
Electricity and gas are provided by ČEZ, E.ON, Innogy/RWE, and several smaller suppliers. Average monthly utilities for a 1-bedroom Prague apartment: CZK 2,000–4,000 (heating, electricity, water, building maintenance fees/fond oprav). Central heating (often district heating — dálkové teplo — or gas central heating) is the norm. Internet: CZK 400–700/month for fast broadband (100–1000 Mbps). Mobile: CZK 300–600/month for unlimited calls and data.
Cultural Tips for Expats
- → Hospoda (pub) culture is central to Czech social life. The local pub is where Czechs discuss politics, sport, and daily life over a pivo (beer). Beer is drunk in půllitry (0.5L glasses) and toasting properly — make eye contact and say Na zdraví! — is important.
- → Czech people are known for their dry wit, scepticism of authority, and resistance to over-enthusiasm. The literary archetype of the "good soldier Švejk" (Švejkism) — passive resistance through apparent compliance — is a cultural reference point.
- → Chata (cottage) culture: many Czech families own or rent a weekend cottage (chata or chalupa) and decamp to the countryside every weekend in summer. This is deeply embedded in Czech identity.
- → Bureaucracy (úřady) can be frustrating — Czech public offices often require you to appear in person, bring specific documents, and queue. Czech is the only language used. Patience and preparation are essential.
- → Czech breakfast culture: dark rye bread (chléb) with butter, cold cuts, and cheese is typical. Rohlíky (bread rolls) from the bakery are a morning staple.
- → Smoking is banned in all restaurants, bars, and enclosed public spaces (since 2017). Designated smoking areas exist outside. Czechs smoke more than the EU average.
- → Dogs are very welcome in Czech pubs, many restaurants, and on public transport (with muzzle and leash on metro).
Quiet Hours
Czech law (zákon o přestupcích) and local municipal regulations govern noise. Night quiet hours (noční klid) are legally protected. Violations can result in fines from the municipal police (městská policie).
All residential areas. Loud music, parties, construction, and other disturbances are prohibited during these hours.
Construction noise and power tools are generally prohibited. Neighbours expected to keep noise minimal.
Older apartment buildings and residential streets may have informal afternoon quiet expectations, particularly in smaller towns.
- •Playing loud music after 22:00 — neighbours may call municipal police
- •Drilling or using power tools on Sunday
- •Loud gatherings in courtyards or communal gardens after 22:00
- •Car alarms or vehicle noise near residential areas late at night
Municipal police (městská policie) can issue on-the-spot fines (CZK 1,000–5,000) for noise violations. Repeated offences can escalate to higher fines from the magistrate.
Postal Services
Česká pošta (Czech Post) is the national postal operator. Reliable for domestic letters and parcels. PPL, DPD, GLS, and Zásilkovna are major private parcel carriers. Zásilkovna (Packeta) parcel pick-up network is extremely popular and well-integrated with e-commerce.
Zásilkovna has an extensive network of pick-up points (výdejní místa) — shops, petrol stations, pharmacies. Z-BOX automated lockers are growing. InPost parcel lockers (Paczkomaty from Poland) are also expanding into Czech Republic.
Czech Post requires ID for registered/recorded parcels and some packages. Česká pošta registered mail (doporučená zásilka) requires signature. Official government correspondence often sent by doporučená zásilka — collect immediately from post office within 15 days.
Doporučená zásilka (registered letter): CZK 45–55 for domestic. Includes tracking and signature. Required for most official/legal correspondence. If uncollected, Czech law deems it delivered after two failed attempts plus 10-day collection period.
Česká pošta offers mail forwarding (přesměrování zásilek) service — request in advance if moving. Annual fee applies.
- →Collect all registered mail from the post office promptly — legal correspondence is "deemed delivered" even if uncollected after the deadline.
- →Zásilkovna is the most convenient parcel delivery option for online shopping.
- →Czech Post app allows tracking and collection slot management.
- →For important documents, use doporučená zásilka with confirmation of delivery (doručenka).