Czech Republic: My Top Ten

So many people I know go to Czech Republic and only do Prague. I would be lying if I said I did enough of the country to really write this post, but a friend asked me for my favorites list from the Czech Republic so here it is.

10. Pilsner Urquell: Don't sell it short because it is a Pilsner. It's a pretty damn good beer.

9. Church: I went for Christmas Eve, and it was an incredible experience. Make sure to go to church at least once. Just to say you did.

8. Walking: Even in Prague I didn't use public transit. It's such a pretty city. Spend one day just walking around. Pack some water, a map, and put on your good boots. Stop for a beer when you need a break.

7. Student Agency Bus: Way cheaper tickets, and excellent service. I was having trouble and they emailed me back instantly. Make sure you are on the Czech/Hungarian website (look for the .cz at the end of the web address) and not the European one, as tickets are more expensive. You do not need to be a student to use these services, though students do get a cheaper rate.

6. Dumplings: Yum!!!!! They mostly stuff them with smoked meat. Find the gravy smothered ones.

5. Local Beer: In general the beer in Czech Republic is amazing. You can find a lot. Find someone who knows and ask for tips or do some research. There are so many places to get good beer. I ran out of money so I didn't get to try them all, but the Beer Museum is a good place to start because they have a lot of the local ones on tap and can help you decide which breweries to visit.

4. Free Tours: So yes, you tip at the end, and therefore they cost money, but you get a good local feel for things and many pointers. It's great to do at the start of your trip as a way to help you figure out the layout of the city, and what to do. Be sure to ask for advice about things you are interested in. All the cities I visited in Czech Republic had these available.

3. Pilzen: Do not skip out on Pilzen. Take the day trip from Prague or Cesky Krumlov. Go and do the tour and spend either the morning or afternoon just roaming the town. Not a lot to see, but that beer straight from the cask was one of the best I have ever had. (other than Double Day Tripper, and Furious on tap at the breweries.)

2. Hiking: Go to a little city and then ask around or research paths online. I went to Cesky Krumlov and hiked Klet Mountian. It was an incredible experience to just be in nature by myself in a foreign country.

1. Christmas Markets: Of course this won't exist at certain parts of the year, but where else can you get a 3 Euro sausage and 1.5 Euro glass of mulled wine? But don't get suckered into the expensive ham which is sold by the kilo....

Maybe I can crawl my way back to the good beer.....