Things to do in Czech Republic
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Estates Theatre
The Estates Theatre is the oldest theatre in Prague, famed as the place where Mozart conducted the premiere of Don Giovanni on 29 October 1787. Mozartissimo – a medley of highlights from several of Mozart’s operas, including Don Giovanni – is performed here several times a week from May to August (see www.bmart.cz); the rest of the year sees various opera, ballet and drama productions.
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Embassy Restaurant
The in-house restaurant of the Embassy Hotel is a destination in its own right. The dining room is richly atmospheric and the food, mostly Czech standards like roast pork or duck, is top notch. There's an excellent wine list, and in nice weather they sometimes offer outdoor seating.
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El Cid
A highly regarded Spanish and tapas restaurant that manages to straddle the line between elegance and comfort. You'll find lots of excellent fish dishes on the menu, as well as an appetising array of tapas plates and paellas. Try to book a table on the terrace in nice weather.
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Drápal
It’s hard to go wrong with this big historic pub on a busy corner near the centre. The unpasteurised 12° Pilsner Urquell is arguably the best beer in Olomouc. The smallish menu is loaded with Czech classics, like the ever-popular Španělský ptáček (literally ‘Spanish bird’), a beef roulade stuffed with smoked sausage, parsley and a hard-boiled egg.
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DinoPark
Adjacent to Zoo Plzeň is this dinosaur park, with life-sized replicas of some 30 dinosaurs, as well as films and playgrounds. You can buy a combined-entry ticket for both the DinoPark and the Zoo (adult/concession 190/130Kč).
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Diana Lookout Tower
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Church of the Holy Spirit
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Church of Sts Peter & Paul
The impressive Orthodox Church of SS Peter & Paul, with five polished onion domes and art-nouveau exterior murals, was apparently modelled after a similar church near Moscow. One of the church's most prominent decorations is a relief depicting Tsar Peter the Great.
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Church of St James
This austere 15th-century church contains a baroque pulpit with reliefs of Christ dating from 1525. But the biggest drawcard is a small stone figure known as the 'Nehaňba' (The Shameless): above the 1st-floor window on the south side of the clock tower at church's west end is the figure of a man baring his buttocks towards the cathedral. Local legend claims this was a disgruntled mason's parting shot to his rivals working on Petrov Hill.
During our visit in 2012, the church was undergoing reconstruction to open up the cellars for visitors. Check with the tourist office for details.
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Castle Spa
Most KV accommodation offers some kind of a spa treatment for a fee, but if you're just a casual visitor or day-tripper, consider Castle Spa, a modernised spa centre complete with a subterranean thermal pool. Consult the website for a full menu of treatments and prices.
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Café Hostel
No, it's not a hostel, but it is a cosy cafe-bar with occasional DJ sets and live music. The scruffy rear garden could most charitably be described as a work in progress.
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Buena Vista Club
This funky multipurpose space hosts everything from emerging Czech live acts to an eclectic range of DJs. English-language movies are occasionally screened.
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Budweiser Budvar Brewery
One of the highlights of a trip to České Budějovice is a chance to see where original Budweiser beer was born. Brewery tours depart daily at 2pm from April to November. The tour highlights modern production methods, with the reward being a glass of Budvar deep in the brewery's chilly cellars. The brewery is 3km north of the main square.
In the 19th century, the founders of US brewer Anheuser-Busch chose the brand name Budweiser because it was synonymous with good beer. Since the late 19th century, both breweries have used the name, and a legal arm-wrestle over the brand continues. The legal machinations subsided slightly in 2007, with Anheuser-Busch signing a deal to…
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Brno Underground
In 2011, the city opened the first of what will be several opportunities to explore the underground passages of the medieval city. This tour takes around 40 minutes to explore several of the cellars situated six-to-eight metres below the Cabbage Market. The cellars were built for two purposes: to store goods and to hide in during wars.
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Bernard
This cosy pub with a backstreet location is a nice choice for well-prepared Czech specialties like pork knee (served in tradtional style with a side of mustard and several hunks of bread). The beer, from the small Bernard brewery, is a welcome change of pace from the larger national brands.
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Avia
Popular student cafe/restaurant situated on the ground floor of the Jan Hus Congregational Church, a landmark Functionalist building from 1929. The architecture and location, close to the university, lend an intellectual atmosphere. When you’ve tired of talking Proust, you can shoot pool in the adjoining billiard room.
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AVE Bicycle Tours
Cycle touring specialists.
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Archdiocesan Museum
The impressive holdings of the Archdiocesan Museum trace the history of Olomouc back 1000 years. The thoughtful layout, with helpful English signage, takes you through the original Romanesque foundations of Olomouc Castle, and highlights the cultural and artistic development of the city during the Gothic and baroque periods.
Don't miss the magnificent Troyer Coach, definitely the stretch limo of the 18th century. Spring for the 20Kč English-language audioguide to get more out of the visit. Admission includes entry to the Olomouc Museum of Art.
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Archbishop's Palace
This expansive former residence of the archbishop was built in 1685. Entry to see the lavish interiors is by guided tour only (free audioguide provided in English). It was here that Franz-Josef I was crowned Emperor of Austria in 1848 at the tender age of 18.
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Amazing Walks of Prague
Guide Roman Bílý is especially strong on WWII, the Communist era, and the Jewish Quarter.
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Aberdeen Angus Steakhouse
For our money, this may be the best steakhouse in all of the Czech Republic. The meats hail from the nearby Angus Farm, where the livestock is raised organically. There are several cuts and sizes on offer; lunch options include a tantalizing cheeseburger. The downstairs dining room is cosy; there's also a creekside terrace. Book in advance.
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Nepal
Located in a popular Irish pub, this Nepalese-Indian eatery is the place to go for something a little different. The 100Kč buffet lunch is the best deal, but loyal patrons say the quality of the food is better in the evening.
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The Colonnades
The spa proper starts at Poštovní bridge, where rows of late-19th- and early-20th-century mansions face off against the blockish communist-era (1976) Hotel Thermal sanatorium across the river.
The 13th spring is the most famous but there are 15 springs housed in or near five colonnades (kolonády) along the Teplá.
The first is the whitewashed and wrought-iron Park spring colonnade.
Further on is the biggest and most popular, the neo-Renaissance Mill colonnade, with five different springs, rooftop statues depicting the months of the year and a small bandstand. Petra Restaurant, opposite, is the spot (but not the original building) where Peter the Great allegedly stayed…
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La Cabana
Rustic and authentic Spanish food (the owners cooked in Spain for several years) can be enjoyed either in the Castilian-style garden or in the lovely heritage interior here. After tapas or mains (including paella for 23Kč), ask to see the amazing upstairs room that was entirely hidden for many centuries.
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Vinárna Solnice
This clean and friendly wine bar offers an amazing selection of the best Czech wines, as well as carefully selected bottles from Austria, Germany, Italy and elsewhere. They also have light appetisers, soups and salads to nibble on between sips.
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