Published 11 Oct 2026 · Updated 12 Oct 2026
For a first trip to the Czech Republic, spend four nights in Prague with a day trip to Kutná Hora, then take the bus to Český Krumlov for the last night. Budget roughly ₹1.05 to ₹1.5 lakh per person for six days including flights, and start the Schengen visa at least six weeks before you fly.
Visa and entry rules for Indians
Indian passport holders need a Schengen short-stay visa (type C) for tourism in Czechia, applied for in advance. We checked the Czech embassy’s Schengen visa page for New Delhi and the European Commission’s applying for a Schengen visa page on 11 October 2026, and they say:
- Where to apply: applicants legally residing in India apply at a VFS Global centre. Diplomatic and service passport holders can apply directly at the embassy’s consular section in New Delhi.
- Fee: the EU-wide fee is €90 for adults and €45 for children aged 6 to 12, in force since 11 June 2024. Using a visa service centre may add a fee. The VFS India page blocked our automated request, so we could not confirm the current service charge or the rupee total. Check both when you book the appointment.
- How early: you can apply no earlier than 6 months before travel. The embassy strongly recommends applying at least 3 weeks before departure.
- Processing: the embassy says a short-term visa takes normally up to 15 calendar days, up to 30 days in individual cases and up to 60 in exceptional cases.
- Insurance: travel medical insurance valid for all Schengen states is required.
- Documents: the embassy’s list includes a passport issued in the last 10 years with at least two blank pages and valid three months past your return, two recent photos with a white background, a return flight booking, proof of accommodation, a signed cover letter with your itinerary, copies of the passport’s first and last pages, and supporting papers that depend on your job and marital status.
The embassy page is dated July 2018, so treat its details as background and follow the current VFS checklist. A Czech visa lets you enter all Schengen countries, and the process is the same as in our Spain plan for Barcelona, Seville and Madrid and Italy itinerary. More facts are on the Czechia hub.
Apply only through VFS Global or the embassy. Look-alike “Czech visa” sites charge large fees for the same appointment. Book flights on a refundable or flexible fare until the visa is in hand.
What it costs in rupees
Per person, sharing a mid-range double room, for six days (four nights in Prague, one in Český Krumlov). These are our estimates for typical fares and rates, and they swing with season. One Czech koruna is roughly ₹3.8 to ₹4.3, so check the day’s rate.
| Item | Approx. cost |
|---|---|
| Return flights Delhi or Mumbai, one stop | ₹45,000 – ₹65,000 |
| Visa fee (€90) plus VFS service charge | about ₹10,500 |
| Hotels, 5 nights (half a €80–110 room) | ₹20,000 – ₹28,000 |
| Food, about €25–35 a day | ₹14,000 – ₹20,000 |
| Day trips, Prague transit pass and bus to Český Krumlov | ₹5,000 – ₹8,000 |
| Attractions (Prague Castle, Kutná Hora, Český Krumlov Castle) | ₹5,000 – ₹8,000 |
| Travel insurance, eSIM, small extras | ₹4,000 – ₹6,000 |
| Total | ₹1.05 – ₹1.5 lakh |
Prague is cheaper than Western Europe for food and local transport, and the saving is the main reason this trip costs less than our Italy or Spain plans. Sharing a room halves the hotel line.
Day-by-day itinerary
Days 1–4: Prague
Day 1. Arrive at Václav Havel Airport, drop your bags and walk the Old Town Square to see the astronomical clock. Cross the Charles Bridge at night, when it is quieter and the statues are lit.
Day 2: Castle side. Go to Prague Castle when it opens, see St Vitus Cathedral and the Golden Lane, then walk down through Malá Strana (the Lesser Town) to the river. Stay for the view from the castle terrace at the end of the afternoon.
Day 3: Old Town and Jewish Quarter. Start at the Jewish Quarter (Josefov), with its synagogues and old cemetery, then climb the Old Town Hall tower for the rooftops. In the evening, walk along the Vltava from Rašín Embankment to Vyšehrad.
Day 4: Kutná Hora. Take a train from Prague’s main station to Kutná Hora, about an hour each way. See the Sedlec Ossuary, the church decorated with human bones, and the Gothic St Barbara’s Cathedral. Return to Prague in the evening.
Days 5–6: Český Krumlov
Take a morning bus from Prague to Český Krumlov, about three hours. Walk the old town inside its bend of the Vltava, climb the castle tower for the view, and have dinner in a riverside restaurant. Next morning, walk the castle gardens before the day-trippers arrive, then take the bus back to Prague for your flight. Book the bus tickets online in advance and leave a buffer of at least five hours before an international departure.
Eating in Prague as an Indian traveller
Czech cooking is meat and dumplings. Vegetarians should look for smažený sýr (fried cheese in breadcrumbs), bramboráky (potato pancakes), halušky and knedlíky with mushroom sauce, plus salads and soups. Ask for “bez masa” (without meat), and check whether soups are made with meat stock. The menu of the day at lunch is the cheap meal. Jain food is hard, so carry dry snacks. Prague has many Indian restaurants, particularly around the centre, and several vegetarian cafés.
Best time to go
April to June and September have mild weather and long days, with the heaviest crowds in July and August. December brings the Christmas markets in Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square, but it is cold, and hotel prices rise. For the same season in another country, see our Germany Christmas markets plan. January and February are cheapest and coldest, and can have snow.
Practical tips
- Money: the Czech Republic uses the koruna, not the euro. Cards work almost everywhere, UPI does not. Use a bank ATM for cash and skip street exchange booths.
- Transport: Prague’s metro, trams and buses share one ticket system, and a multi-day pass is cheaper than single tickets. Validate paper tickets before boarding if you buy them.
- Pickpockets: the Charles Bridge, Old Town Square and tram 22 to the Castle are known for them. Keep your phone and passport in a zipped pocket.
- SIM: an eSIM bought before you fly saves queueing at the airport.
- Plugs: Czechia uses the two-round-pin Type C/E plug at 230 V, so pack an adapter.
- Border check: you may be fingerprinted and photographed under the EU’s Entry/Exit System on arrival, so allow extra time at immigration.
- Paperwork: keep your visa, insurance certificate, hotel bookings and bus tickets in one folder.
Related guides
Want another Schengen trip on the same visa? See the Spain 8-day plan, the Italy 8-day plan, the Netherlands tulip season plan, the Switzerland honeymoon guide or the Austria plan for Vienna, Salzburg and Hallstatt the Budapest 5-day plan or the Poland plan for Warsaw, Kraków and Zakopane. All facts for Czechia are on the Czechia hub.
Frequently asked questions
Do Indians need a visa for Prague and the Czech Republic?
Yes. Indian passport holders need a Schengen short-stay visa (type C) for tourism in Czechia. The Czech embassy says applicants living in India apply at a VFS Global centre. The visa allows up to 90 days in any 180-day period across the Schengen area.
How much is the Czech Schengen visa fee for Indians?
The EU-wide fee is €90 for adults and €45 for children aged 6 to 12, in force since 11 June 2024, and VFS adds a non-refundable service charge. We could not load the VFS India page, so confirm the rupee total and the service charge there when you book the appointment.
How long does the Czech visa take from India?
The embassy says a short-term visa normally takes up to 15 calendar days, up to 30 in individual cases and up to 60 in exceptional cases. It recommends applying at least 3 weeks before departure. In practice, apply six to eight weeks ahead.
How many days are enough for Prague?
Three full days cover the Castle, Old Town, Jewish Quarter and Vyšehrad. Add a day for Kutná Hora and one or two for Český Krumlov, which makes the 6-day plan here. With only 4 days, skip Český Krumlov.
How much does a Prague trip cost from India?
Roughly ₹1.05 to ₹1.5 lakh per person for six days, sharing a mid-range hotel room, including return flights from Delhi or Mumbai, the visa, day trips, food and attractions. Flights in peak summer and December are the biggest swing.
Is Prague good for vegetarians?
Traditional Czech food is meat-heavy, but vegetarians manage. Smažený sýr (fried cheese), bramboráky (potato pancakes), halušky, knedlíky with mushroom sauce and many salads are easy. Prague also has plenty of vegetarian cafés and Indian restaurants.
Can I use UPI or rupees in Prague?
No. The currency is the Czech koruna, not the euro, and UPI is not accepted. Cards work nearly everywhere. Withdraw koruna from a bank ATM and skip the airport exchange counters and street money-changers, which give poor rates.
