A holiday in the Czech Republic is most conveniently planned for May, June and September: in these months it is warm in Prague and at the resorts, and the queues to the sights are shorter than in July. In winter, people go to the thermal springs in Karlovy Vary and Marianske Lazne, when accommodation prices are lower. The flight from Almaty takes from 10 hours with a connection, and at least 5-7 days are set aside for exploring the country.
Visa and documents for a trip to the Czech Republic
Tours to the Czech Republic begin with paperwork, and haste only hurts here. The package for a trip from Almaty is assembled in advance, not a week before departure.
Schengen category C: where and when to apply
An application for Schengen category C is submitted to the consulate or visa centre in Almaty. Processing takes time, so the papers are prepared several weeks before the trip. Fingerprints for Schengen are submitted once every 59 months, and some tourists already have their biometrics in the database. If the fingerprints were submitted earlier, the procedure is not repeated. Appointments at the visa centre in Almaty fill up quickly in high season. A trip to the Czech Republic is planned with a margin so as not to postpone the dates.
Financial documents and insurance: what to prepare in advance
A bank statement for the last months is prepared in advance, because the consulate looks at both the balance and the account activity. Insurance for a trip to the Czech Republic is needed with coverage from 30,000 euros. Confirmation of accommodation booking in Prague or at a resort is attached to the package. Photographs are taken according to Schengen requirements, otherwise the package will be returned for revision.
How to get from Almaty: flights and connections?
The journey from Almaty to the Czech Republic takes a whole day, and the route is planned in advance. A holiday in the Czech Republic begins with a successful connection, not with buying a ticket at the last moment.
There are no direct flights: convenient options via Istanbul, Dubai and Warsaw
There are no direct Almaty — Prague flights, so the route is built via Istanbul, Dubai, Frankfurt or Warsaw. A connection in Istanbul is convenient with a short flight, but in high season tickets get more expensive. It is better to buy them several months before the trip to the Czech Republic. Dubai means a long flight and a night connection, but there are many flights. Warsaw is convenient because from there you can reach Prague by ground transport. Frankfurt suits those who fly with one transfer and without haste. The route via Istanbul is chosen most often because of the frequency of flights.
Transfer from Prague airport to the centre
From Prague airport to the city centre there is bus No. 119 to a metro station and an express to the main railway station. Bus No. 119 takes you to the green metro line, then you travel on a single ticket. The express goes to the main railway station, from where the Old Town is within easy reach. A taxi in the capital costs noticeably more, and the price is best agreed in advance. Luggage on the bus is placed in the luggage compartment, and this is convenient on a long flight. Transport tickets are bought from a machine at the exit from the terminal.
Money and expenses during the holiday
Expenses in the Czech Republic are counted in crowns, not in euros, and this is the first thing worth remembering. A holiday in the Czech Republic costs less than in neighbouring countries if you keep an eye on the exchange rate.
The Czech crown, exchange offices and card payment
The Czech crown is the national currency, and euros in shops and cafes are accepted rarely and at an unfavourable rate. Exchange offices in the tourist centre of Prague give a worse rate than banks and branches in residential areas. Visa and Mastercard are accepted almost everywhere, but a small reserve of crowns in cash will come in handy for markets and small cafes. The rate at the airport is also unfavourable, so it is not worth changing a large sum there. In Prague it is convenient to withdraw crowns from ATMs at bank branches.
Tips, the lunch menu and the everyday budget
Tips in Czech establishments are not included in the bill, and it is customary to leave about 10% or round up the amount. The lunch menu on weekdays is noticeably cheaper than the evening one, and this is the best way to save on food. In Prague, lunch in the centre costs more than in areas away from tourist streets. Coffee and pastries on the street are inexpensive, and this is a convenient snack between walks. In Karlovy Vary prices are higher than in ordinary Czech cities.
Getting around the country and within cities
Between Czech cities it is convenient to travel by ground transport, and this is cheaper than renting a car. Tours to the Czech Republic from Almaty are often built to cover both the capital and the resorts.
Trains and buses between cities: tickets online
Trains and buses between Czech cities are cheaper and often faster than renting a car with parking in the centre. Train tickets around the Czech Republic are more profitable to buy online in advance, because on the day of travel the carrier's price is higher. From Prague it is convenient to reach Karlovy Vary and Marianske Lazne, these are popular destinations. Buses between cities run frequently, and the schedule is checked in the carrier's app. At the railway station in Prague tickets are bought from a machine or at the ticket office. Seats on the train are best booked together with the ticket, especially at weekends.
Prague public transport and car rental
Prague public transport works on single time-based tickets, and they need to be validated on entry. The ticket is valid on the metro, tram and bus, so transfers do not require extra payment. Inspectors check tickets in the carriages, and the fine for an unpaid fare is high. Car rental in the Czech Republic is convenient for trips around the regions, but in the centre of Prague parking is expensive. For passenger cars on toll sections the e-Toll system applies, and when renting a car the fee is usually included in the tariff.
How to ensure health, communication and help during the trip?
Pharmacies and communications in Czechia work predictably, but it is useful to know where to turn in an emergency. Holidays in Czechia are rarely overshadowed by illnesses, however it is worth putting together a first aid kit at home.
Pharmacies, medicines and medical care
Pharmacies in Czechia are marked with a green cross, and prescription medicines are not sold without a doctor's prescription. Duty pharmacies in Prague work around the clock, their list is posted at the entrance to an ordinary pharmacy. A doctor under insurance is found through the insurance company's assistance service, the phone number is indicated in the policy. In Karlovy Vary and Marianske Lazne there are pharmacies next to the resort areas. Cold medicines and painkillers are better to take from home.
Emergency numbers and useful contacts
Emergency services in Czechia — the single number 112, ambulance 155, police 158. A call from a Kazakh SIM card goes through roaming, but the number is dialled the same way. A local SIM card is bought at an operator's shop in Prague, for this a document is needed. Internet in hotels and cafes is usually available, but for navigation a mobile tariff is more convenient. Useful contacts are saved in the phone before the trip to Czechia.
Visa and entry rules change: check with the primary source — the Embassy of the Czech Republic in the Republic of Kazakhstan, https://mzv.gov.cz/astana/ru/vizy_i_konzulskie/index.html. The information on this page was verified on 11.09.2026.
In brief
- It is better to plan the trip 2–3 months before departure from Almaty.
- In summer Prague is warm and crowded, in winter it is calmer at the resorts.
- The Czech koruna is more advantageous than the euro in payments throughout the country.
- Trains and buses connect Prague, Karlovy Vary and Marianske Lazne.