Formerly part of Czechoslovakia and landlocked in the middle of Europe, the Czech Republic is about the size of the U.S. State of New York with a population of 10.2 million. It gained total independence in 1993 (splitting from Slovakia), with each forming a separate country.

Tourism is a major industry here, especially in the beautiful city of Prague, with its art nouveau architecture, castle, historic bridges, cobblestone streets, and much, much more. In essence, the Czech Republic is a large plateau surrounded by mountains, with a large slice of central lowland.

The Bohemian Plateau and Moravian Heights of the south both slope to the dissecting river valleys. Bordering mountain ranges include the Carpathian, Ore, Sudetic and the Bohemian Forest mountains of the southwest.

The climate in Czech Republic is continental, with somewhat hot summers and the winters are normally cold, cloudy and sometimes snowy. The summer is when most of the rains falls.

The warmest month of the year is July, then August and June. The country’s climate is quite varied due to the geographical position of the mountain ranges.

Metro
The Metro trains operate daily from 5am to midnight and run every 2 to 6 minutes. On the three lettered lines (A, B, and C, colour-coded green, yellow, and red, respectively), the most convenient central stations are Mustek, at the foot of Václavské námestí (Wenceslas Sq.); Staromestská, for Old Town Square and Charles Bridge; and Malostranská, serving Malá Strana and the Castle District.

Electric Tram & Bus
The 24 electric tram or streetcar lines run practically everywhere. You never have to hail trams; they make every stop. The most popular trams are nos. 22 and 23 and are known as the "tourist trams" and the "pickpocket express", so make sure you are on your guard and they go past the top sights such as the National Theatre and Prague Castle. Regular bus and tram service stops at midnight, after which selected routes run reduced schedules, usually only once per hour. You will find schedules at all stops.

Taxi
You can hail taxis in the streets or in front of train stations, large hotels, and popular attractions.  Rates usually aren't posted outside on the taxi's door but on the dashboard once you're inside it's a bit late to haggle. Try to get the driver to agree to a price and write it down before you get in.