Czech Republic or Poland – where is it better to relax in 2021

Among the countries of Eastern Europe, two amazing powers that have preserved their unique historical and cultural heritage are especially popular as tourists. These are the Czech Republic and Poland. They attract travelers with ancient architecture, famous medical resorts and extensive entertainment opportunities. Their undoubted advantages include a developed hotel base, a high level of service and a short flight. Majestic castles, magnificent palace ensembles, cozy medieval streets, historical squares, ancient fortifications, famous bridges and legendary Gothic cathedrals – Czech and Polish cities are famous for all these sights. National protected parks with a variety of landscapes amaze with the pristine beauty of nature. Czech Republic or Poland – where is it better to relax? The answer to this difficult question depends on the individual preferences of travelers.

Flight and distance

The fastest and most reliable way to travel to the Czech Republic is by air. The distance between Moscow and Prague is about 1,700 kilometers. Companies such as Aeroflot and Czech Airlines operate regular direct flights from the Russian capital. Travel time takes about three hours. The minimum cost of the flight will cost passengers 2,285 rubles.

Getting to the Polish capital is faster and easier by plane. Daily non-stop flights are operated by LOT Polish Airlines and Aeroflot. The air transport will overcome the distance of more than 1,200 kilometers between Moscow and Warsaw in two hours. The optimal ticket price is 3,320 rubles.

A considerable number of international and domestic airlines fly to the Czech Republic and Poland with transfers. The cost of the cheapest ticket can reach 1,871 rubles. However, transit flights increase travel time from 5 to 20 hours.

Visa

Citizens of Russia who plan to travel to the Czech Republic or Poland for tourism purposes need to apply for a Schengen visa category C. It entitles them to single, double or multiple entry into the countries. In this case, the total period of stay should not exceed 90 days. To open a visa, you can contact both the Consulates General of the countries and the official visa centers.

The package of documents to be submitted for obtaining a visa includes:

When applying for a visa, citizens must be fingerprinted. The fingerprinting procedure is carried out at consulates or visa centers. The term for consideration of an application for obtaining permission to visit these Eastern European countries takes from five to 30 days.

The best time to relax

The Czech Republic and Poland are among those European countries that welcome guests all year round. They offer an interesting and memorable holiday, regardless of the season. Summer and winter trips to Czech and Polish cities will be a bright and exciting event. The mass influx of tourists falls on the Christmas holidays, May holidays and summer months. Architectural monuments, medieval castles, palace complexes are equally beautiful under the rays of the hot sun, and surrounded by the spring flowering of nature, and during the snowfall.

The health season at balneological resorts lasts 365 days a year. The climatic conditions on the Baltic coast of Poland guarantee a favorable holiday from June to August, when the sea temperature is acceptable for swimming. The Czech Republic is landlocked, but beach lovers can spend wonderful days on the banks of reservoirs, lakes and rivers in spring and summer.

Regardless of the season, vacationers enjoy the richness of the natural landscapes of the Czech and Polish territories. Forests alternate with spacious meadows and medium-altitude mountains. Valleys of lakes and full-flowing rivers are key elements of landscapes.

Popular resorts

The Czech Republic offers tourists a great opportunity to spend an exciting and memorable vacation. The territory of the country is saturated with thermal springs with healing properties, healing resources for the soul and body. The unique combination of traditional medicine and nature has contributed to the development of the tourism industry. The picturesque landscapes and interesting architectural monuments give the resorts a pleasant atmosphere and unique charm.

Among the Czech balneological centers, such resorts as Karlovy Vary, Jáchymov, Marianske Lazne, Frantiskovy Lazne and Podebrady are especially popular. Dense forests, spacious green meadows, crystal-clear lakes and mountain valleys surround these amazing cities of the republic. They have a developed network of hotels and health resorts, as well as magnificent old palace buildings. A variety of trees and flowering shrubs grow in numerous landscaped park complexes. The air brought by the wind from the mountains has a beneficial effect on the human body.

Fans of skiing are welcomed by the villages of Spindleruv Mlyn, Vitkovice and Harrachov. These are wonderful places where there are excellent tracks of various difficulty levels for both professional and beginner athletes. The snow cannon system ensures perfect skiing throughout the season.

Poland is a state with an extensive resort area. The north of the country is washed by the waters of the Baltic Sea. The southern territories are surrounded by mountain ranges, the height of which reaches 1,300 meters. The coast of the Polish Baltic is 500 kilometers of well-maintained sandy beaches. Seascapes coexist with coniferous forests, pristine lakes and picturesque hills. Fresh iodized air helps to increase immunity, strengthen the nervous system and get rid of allergic diseases.

The main Baltic resorts are Gdynia, Sopot, Krynica Morska, Leba, Kolobrzege, Miedzyzdroje. Cities are famous for luxurious hotels, cozy boarding houses and modern health resorts. Here you can enjoy a beach holiday and water activities, go in for active sports, take courses of wellness procedures with mineral waters, take a walk along the well-groomed embankments. Ancient temples, palaces, fortresses and castles have been preserved in the cities.

Noteworthy are the highland regions of Poland. The winter capital of the country is the town of Zakopane, located at the foot of the Tatras. Skiers expect high-quality tracks of any level of difficulty. The ski area stretches at altitudes from 600 to 2,000 meters. Admirers of a quiet pastime will be happy to admire the mountain landscapes, forests, lakes and caves, as well as get acquainted with the folklore traditions of the locals. Interest is caused by original samples of wooden architecture.

Excursions

Entertaining and meaningful excursions in the Czech Republic are a great chance to feel the atmosphere of the medieval era and get acquainted with the expressive sights of the state. Russian-speaking guides organize individual walking or car tours. Route programs cover visits to ancient cities, quarters and squares, where a unique historical appearance has been preserved. Expedition members can see numerous Gothic cathedrals, royal castles, ancient monasteries and palace complexes.

In the Czech capital, the architectural ensembles of the Old Town, Prague Castle, Vysehrad, Lesser Town and Wenceslas Square are of interest. An indelible impression will be left by a memorable meeting with the snow-white pearl of the South Bohemia – the castle of Hluboka nad Vltavou. Tourists are advised to go to the fabulously beautiful city of Cesky Krumlov, which is included in the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage List. It is famous for its grandiose fortress, towering over a rocky cliff, and also attracts attention with an abundance of Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque buildings.

Sightseeing tours of Polish cities allow travelers to understand what the Eastern European country is proud of and famous for. Its impregnable castles, majestic cathedrals, medieval cobbled streets and ancient architectural monuments form an amazing mosaic that can be admired endlessly.

Professional guides invite tourists to see the sights of Krakow, Warsaw, Wroclaw, Gdansk and Gdynia. Numerous historical masterpieces of architecture are concentrated in these world-famous cities. Of particular interest is the Baroque Wilanow Palace, the Wawel Royal Castle, the Gothic Church of St. Mary, the Town Hall of Wroclaw, St. Mary's Cathedral. Trips to national reserves are popular.

Connoisseurs of pristine nature can visit the valley of blue lakes, climb mountain peaks, walk through endless green meadows. One of the picturesque tourist routes is boat rafting on the Krutynia River. Along the riverbed stretches a forest area dominated by oaks. Spreading deciduous trees cast a shadow on the water surface, forming a beautiful alley.

Entertainment

In the Czech Republic, tourists will find a considerable number of activities for themselves. Amusement parks, nature reserves, museums, educational exhibitions, cinemas, planetariums and all kinds of scientific institutions – all this will add variety to the cultural and excursion program of recreation. Travelers can expect sports complexes, gyms, fitness centers, saunas, solariums, horse riding grounds and various festivals.

Prague impresses not only with its magnificent architectural ensemble, but also with an abundance of entertainment venues. Popular Czech beer taverns, dance and music clubs and casinos are concentrated in the capital. Fans of exciting and active leisure can go to the “Aqua Palace” with numerous water slides, fly in a wind tunnel or in a hot air balloon, drive supercars or karts, walk around the pond in a huge inflatable transparent ball and make a bungee jump. Visiting medieval castles with horror halls and going through quest rooms will allow you to escape from the gray everyday life at home and immerse yourself in an exciting adventure.

Poland provides tourists with a wide range of entertainment for every taste. Ancient cities such as Warsaw, Gdansk, Wroclaw, Krakow, Lodz give their guests the opportunity to have a varied and entertaining time. In addition to numerous pubs, bars, restaurants, nightclubs and discos, there are zoos, museums, theaters, botanical gardens, sports centers and many other institutions at the disposal of vacationers.

Kayaking on the Vistula River or horseback riding through picturesque meadows will bring a lot of pleasant impressions. Admirers of outdoor activities will appreciate the playgrounds offering plenty of archery or gun shooting, paintball or golf.

Theme parks with original and extreme rides and water slides are especially popular. In some of them, visitors can come face to face with dinosaurs, ghosts or mythical creatures, as well as move into the world of the Wild West and find themselves among fantastic landscapes. Ornately twisted carousels, Ferris wheels and dizzying slides will not leave anyone indifferent.

Hotels

Countries have a developed hotel base. Tourists have access to a wide range of hotels of various star categories, private apartments, hostels and boarding houses. A considerable number of Czech and Polish hotels are located in the immediate vicinity of expressive sights. For the most demanding travelers there are apartments in historical buildings and castles. Modern household appliances miraculously harmonize with antique furniture and antique interiors.

Among budget options, cozy mini-hotels operating on the “bed + breakfast” system are popular. The decoration of the rooms of hotels with two and three stars is devoid of signs of luxury, but the guests are guaranteed comfortable living conditions with all amenities. The best luxury five-star hotel complexes are equipped with spas, gyms and swimming pools. Lobby bars and restaurants invite guests to taste delicious dishes of national cuisine.

Service

The tourism infrastructure of both countries offers a high level of services to the givers, corresponding to the first-class European standard. All hotels, guest houses and sanatoriums have the necessary comfortable conditions for living and treatment. Qualified courteous staff provides guests with professional service. Medical institutions attract people with all kinds of health and rehabilitation procedures, sports and rehabilitation programs.

Tour prices

The Czech Republic is a popular and affordable destination, as evidenced by the abundance of various offers from travel agencies. The country is visited by about 50 million people a year. The cost of a voucher for 7 nights starts from 13,774 rubles per person. The price level depends on the choice of hotel, city and season.

Citizens of Russia can get to Poland on their own by car. The option of traveling on your own gives you the opportunity to visit and explore more cities with numerous attractions. Booking a hotel, hostel or private apartment in advance through online aggregators will not cause any particular difficulties. The average budget for a seven-day trip, taking into account the cost of fuel, accommodation, food and entertainment, will be approximately 20,000 rubles per person.

Vacation with children

Hospitable countries welcome tourists of all ages with open arms. A family trip to these Eastern European countries will bring a lot of positive impressions. A short flight and developed infrastructure, reasonable prices for accommodation and meals, a lot of entertainment and a huge number of interesting sights – all this serves as the basis for a memorable vacation with children. Travelers expect friendly attitude and care from hotel and cafe workers.

In Czech and Polish cities there are theme parks with attractions, interactive and scientific museums, aquariums, planetariums, zoos, water parks and numerous picturesque town hall squares and cozy squares. Acquaintance with amazing architecture, historical buildings, as well as visiting medieval castles will be an educational event for children. The recreation program can include river walks and trips to national nature reserves, where travelers will have the opportunity to see alpine landscapes, mountain ranges, forests and lake valleys.

shopping

In the Czech Republic, vacationers expect a large number of various shopping centers, department stores, boutiques and souvenir shops. They represent a great range of products of well-known brands that can be purchased at affordable low prices. Outlets deserve special attention. These are specialized stores where clothes, shoes, jewelry, luxury perfumes and various accessories are for sale with significant discounts up to 80%. Tourists are also attracted by exquisite original products made of Czech glass and crystal. Out of competition – beer, the variety of varieties of which is amazing.

Shopping lovers will find many brand stores, hypermarkets and colorful shops in Poland. Several outlets are open on the territory of the country, which unite dozens of boutiques of world famous brands. In them you can buy at the lowest prices a variety of goods: clothes, shoes, cosmetics and accessories. Traditional Polish souvenirs are jewelry with red and green amber, carved figurines.

Conclusion

The Czech Republic and Poland attract their guests with an interesting history, expressive masterpieces of architecture, resort areas and natural resources. Both countries are equally worth visiting. They are dominated by the unique charm of the medieval era, which is ideally combined with the modern attributes of a developed infrastructure.

Original old Czech and Polish cities are famous for their UNESCO World Heritage Sites. A considerable number of attractions and entertainment facilities are concentrated on their territories. Tourists are offered a varied type of recreation for every taste: sightseeing, wellness, beach, skiing, gastronomic and extreme.