Broadly safe for most visitors, with only routine travel precautions needed. Public health and infrastructure are well developed.
Regional breakdown
Most travel to Czechia centres on Prague, the capital, which handles the bulk of foreign arrivals. The historic core around Old Town Square, Wenceslas Square and the Charles Bridge sees heavy tourist traffic year-round. Pickpocketing is the most reported issue in these areas, along with the trams and metro lines that link them. Thieves often work in groups and target distracted visitors near ticket machines and crowded carriages. Outside Prague, the spa triangle of Karlovy Vary, Mariánské Lázně and Františkovy Lázně in the west draws a quieter crowd and reports fewer incidents. Brno, the second city and a growing tech hub in Moravia, is generally calm but sees occasional football-related disorder on match days. Český Krumlov, Olomouc and the Bohemian Switzerland national park near the German border are popular day-trip destinations with no specific advisory concerns flagged. Border regions with Germany, Austria, Poland and Slovakia are open and well policed under Schengen rules. Travellers should still expect occasional spot checks. Rural areas in South Bohemia and the Beskydy mountains are quiet. Though winter driving conditions can deteriorate quickly and hiking trails in higher terrain require proper preparation.
Recent advisory changes
The UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office last updated its Czechia guidance on 18 February 2026. The most recent change focused on the European Entry-Exit System (EES) and how it affects UK passport holders crossing into the Schengen area. The official advisory guidance does not warn against travel to any part of the country and points readers to its general guide on entry rules. Safety, health and local laws. The official advisory guidance reissued its Czechia advisory on 8 January 2026 at Level 1, the lowest of four tiers. Telling travellers to exercise normal precautions. The notice flags petty crime, especially pickpocketing on public transport and in tourist zones, as the main risk. It also warns that large-scale demonstrations tied to local politics can pop up with little notice and asks travellers to avoid protest crowds and follow instructions from Czech police. No ordered departure or restricted zones apply.
What travellers should know
Czechia is part of the Schengen area, so travellers can stay up to 90 days in any 180-day period without a visa. From October 2025 the EES records biometric data on entry, which can mean longer queues at land and air borders during the rollout. Carry your passport with you, since Czech police can ask for ID at any time. Travel insurance that covers medical care and repatriation is strongly recommended; the EHIC or GHIC card covers state healthcare but not everything. On the ground, watch out for pickpockets on the Prague metro line A, the number 22 tram and around the main railway station. Use licensed taxis or app-based rides such as Bolt rather than hailing cars on the street, since overcharging by unmarked taxis is a long-running complaint. Drink-spiking has been reported in some Prague nightlife venues, so keep drinks in sight. Drink-driving laws are strict with a zero-alcohol limit for drivers. Winter brings snow and ice across much of the country, and mountain rescue call-outs in the Krkonoše and Šumava ranges spike from December to March.