A new public aquarium costing around CZK 700 million is planned for the Brno Exhibition Centre, with construction expected to begin in 2027 and the first visitors arriving in the second half of 2028. The project, called Green Planet: National Aquarium, will occupy Pavilion C at the Brno Exhibition Centre. It is expected to contain around 100 aquariums and water tanks holding more than four million liters of water. The facility will be home to about 400,000 animals representing roughly 500 species, including rare species. Developers say the project will rank among the largest aquarium complexes in Europe. Brno Mayor Markéta Vaňková said the aquarium could attract around 500,000 visitors during its first year of operation, including people from across the South Moravian Region and neighboring countries. The main attraction will be a 2.5 million-liter ocean tank featuring a 55-meter underwater tunnel. Visitors will be able to walk through the tunnel while observing marine life around and above them. The aquarium will also feature hundreds of other aquatic species across its various tanks. The developers say the number of animals will put the complex among Europe’s largest aquariums. They estimate that it will contain around 36 times as many animals...
Czech Statehood Day falls on Monday, September 28, giving people across Czechia a three-day weekend. But anyone planning to shop should be aware that many large stores will be required to close. The public holiday commemorates Saint Wenceslas, the patron saint of the Czech lands and one of the most important figures in Czech history. September 28 has been observed as Czech Statehood Day since 2000 and is a statutory day off. For shoppers, however, the key issue is the country’s restrictions on retail opening hours. Which shops will be closed on September 28 Under Czech law, shops with a sales area of more than 200 square metres must close on September 28. This means most large supermarkets, hypermarkets and shopping centres will not be able to operate as normal. The restriction does not apply to all businesses. Smaller shops with a sales area of up to 200 square metres can remain open, although individual owners decide whether to operate during the holiday. Some types of businesses are also exempt from the restrictions. These include pharmacies, petrol stations and shops located at airports and major railway stations. Restaurants, cafés and most other services are not covered by the retail law...
With cooler temperatures and autumn colours arriving, September and October are among the best months for cycling in Czechia. The country’s extensive network of marked trails makes it easy to plan anything from a relaxed day trip to a multi-day adventure. Here are seven routes worth considering this autumn. 1. Prague–Mělník–Litoměřice One of the easiest options for Prague residents is to head north along the Elbe. The route passes through Mělník, known for its vineyards and historic centre, before continuing towards Litoměřice. Along the way, cyclists can see Roudnice Chateau, Mount Říp and the historic fortress town of Terezín. Mělník is particularly appealing in September, when its wine season is in full swing. 2. Znojmo Wine Route For a combination of cycling and wine, South Moravia is hard to beat in autumn. The 63-kilometre Znojmo Wine Route connects vineyards and villages around Znojmo and is suitable for cyclists of different abilities. September and October are also the region’s main wine-harvest season, with numerous wine and burčák events taking place. 3. Mikulov and Pálava The Mikulov Wine Trail offers another relaxed way to explore South Moravia. The route takes cyclists through vineyards and the countryside around Mikulov, with the Pálava hills...
Foreigners from outside the EU insured with Maxima pojišťovna can now collect prescription medicines at selected pharmacies without paying upfront. The Czech insurer has expanded its network of partner pharmacies through a new agreement with LÉKÁRNA U MUZEA in Prague 1. Under the arrangement, the pharmacy and insurer handle the reimbursement directly, bringing the process closer to the system used by patients covered by Czech public health insurance. The change is aimed at simplifying access to medicines for foreigners, who can face difficulties navigating the Czech healthcare system and understanding the costs associated with medical treatment. According to figures cited by the insurer, nearly 900,000 people from non-EU countries have been living in the Czech Republic on a long-term basis. They account for about 8.2 percent of the country’s population. How the new system works Previously, foreign clients with commercial health insurance could be required to pay for prescribed medicines at the pharmacy and then submit the receipts to their insurer for reimbursement. Under the new arrangement, this step is eliminated. Eligible Maxima clients can collect their prescribed medicines through the partner pharmacy, while the financial settlement takes place directly between the pharmacy and the insurance company. The model has...
Dozens of hot air balloons are expected to take to the skies over eastern Bohemia this week as the Balonové Nebe festival returns to Hradec Králové, Jaroměř and nearby areas. The five-day event will run from Wednesday, September 2, through Sunday, September 6, with a program combining competitive balloon flights, mass launches and evening shows. All public events are free to attend. Weather will play a major role in the festival schedule. Balloon flights can only take place under suitable conditions, meaning launch sites and departure times may change at short notice. Organizers say the exact location of each flight will depend mainly on wind direction and other weather conditions. Planned flights may also be postponed or cancelled if conditions are unsuitable. The festival has established itself as one of the country’s major hot air balloon gatherings. Last year’s event set a Czech record when 81 balloons flew into the sky at the same time. The 2026 edition will once again feature morning competitions, during which pilots will complete a series of tasks while large groups of balloons rise over the region. Evening programs will offer a different spectacle, with balloon shows planned for spectators. The precise locations of these...
The Czech Republic has spent roughly CZK 19 billion on COVID-19 vaccines since 2020, but fewer than half of the 41 million doses supplied under its pandemic-era procurement agreement were ultimately used in the country. More than 18 million doses expired and had to be destroyed, representing a value of about CZK 8 billion. A further four million doses were donated to other countries, according to information provided by the Czech Ministry of Health in response to a request from the Czech Technical Committee. For the 2026-27 vaccination season, around 900,000 doses will be available in the country. By comparison, fewer than one-third of that number was administered during the previous season. The vaccination season runs from September through the end of August the following year. Demand for COVID-19 vaccination has fallen sharply since the initial rollout. More than 15 million doses were administered during the first year vaccines were widely available. A year later, demand had fallen to roughly one-fifth of that level. Between 2022 and 2023, interest dropped by more than 80 percent, followed by further declines of about one-third in subsequent years. Only about 1,500 doses had been administered by July 26 this year. Most vaccinations, however,...
Of the nearly one million pupils attending Czech primary schools last academic year, almost 8% were foreign nationals, most commonly from Ukraine. According to the Czech Statistical Office (CSO), Prague recorded the highest proportion, with foreign pupils making up 18% of all children in its primary schools. Compulsory education is mandatory for Czech citizens as well as citizens of other European Union member states who reside in the Czech Republic for more than 90 days. The requirement also applies to foreign nationals with long-term residence permits. Their children therefore have the same rights as Czech children, including access to free education, school meals and extracurricular activities. The number of foreign pupils increased significantly after Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, nearly doubling that year. Their numbers have continued to rise ever since. Today, children from Ukraine account for 5% of all pupils in the Czech Republic. The trend is similar in secondary schools, where the proportion of foreign pupils reached its highest level in the past 10 years, at almost 5% of the total. Although the number of children in primary schools has remained relatively stable at just over one million in recent years, a sharp decline is expected in...
The Czech fast food market is expanding beyond its established players, with new international brands entering the country and existing chains opening restaurants in smaller cities. McDonald’s and KFC continue to build their networks, while brands from Germany, the United States and Poland are looking for opportunities in the Czech Republic. The expansion is increasingly moving beyond Prague and other major cities, with retail parks becoming an important location for new restaurants. Burgermeister prepares Czech debut One of the newest international brands preparing to enter the Czech market is Germany’s Burgermeister. The Berlin-based burger chain plans to open its first restaurant on Wenceslas Square at the beginning of next year. The company already sees its Prague location as more than a single restaurant. It is also considering further locations across the country. Popeyes and Burger King continue expanding Burger King entered the Czech market 18 years ago and now operates around 70 restaurants. Popeyes arrived much later but has expanded quickly, opening 19 locations during its first three years in the country. The companies are building a network that stretches from smaller regional towns to central Prague. In Králův Dvůr, a town of around 11,000 people, both Burger King and...
The number of Czechs who have nothing left from their paycheck at the end of the month is rising. This year, 13 percent say they have no money left after covering their expenses, up from 9 percent last year. Meanwhile, 84 percent have at least a small amount left over, five percentage points less than in 2025. The findings come from a May survey conducted by loan provider Provident Financial among 1,000 respondents. According to the survey, Czechs’ ability to save is declining. Only 43 percent of respondents have at least 20 percent of their monthly income left after covering their expenses, down nine percentage points from last year. Almost half of Czechs nevertheless regularly set aside part of their paycheck each month. At the same time, their overall financial resilience appears to be improving. More than a quarter of respondents have enough savings to cover their expenses for more than a year, compared with just 15 percent last year. The share of people with no financial reserve at all has also fallen, from 18 percent in 2025 to 13 percent this year. The gap between men and women in the amount of money left at the end of the...
Prague residents willing to get up early on Friday, August 28, will have a chance to witness a partial lunar eclipse, with almost the entire Moon passing into Earth’s shadow shortly before it sets. The eclipse will reach its maximum at 6:12 a.m. CEST. By then, only a narrow section along the Moon’s northern edge will remain illuminated. In Prague, the Moon is expected to set at approximately 6:17 a.m., leaving only a few minutes to observe the eclipse at its peak. The partial phase will begin at 4:33 a.m. As the event progresses, Earth’s shadow will gradually cover the lunar surface, reducing the bright portion of the Moon until only a thin illuminated crescent remains visible. Astronomers at the Silesian University in Opava say observers will need an unobstructed view towards the southwest, as the Moon will be low above the horizon throughout the most important part of the event. The eclipse follows another major astronomical event visible from the Czech Republic earlier this month, giving skywatchers a second opportunity to observe a rare celestial phenomenon within a short period. Unlike a solar eclipse, observing the Moon does not require protective eyewear. The eclipse can be seen with the...
Bolt has introduced self-service kiosks in the Czech Republic that allow customers to order a ride without a smartphone, mobile data or the Bolt app. The first kiosk is now operating at Westfield Chodov in Prague. A second will open at Westfield Černý Most on September 1. The company says it plans to consider other high-traffic locations in the future. The kiosks use TapBox technology and provide access to the same Bolt driver network, pricing and safety standards available through the app. Customers can place an order directly at the screen, making the service available to people who do not use smartphones or cannot access their phones at the time. Both shopping centres have also introduced dedicated parking spaces for Bolt drivers collecting passengers. Customers are directed to these designated areas rather than having to meet drivers at potentially unsafe stopping points such as bus stops. How Bolt kiosks work Ordering a ride takes several steps. Customers enter their destination, select a ride category and provide their phone number. The available categories are Standard, Comfort, Premium and XL. Payment is made by card. Once the booking is completed, the kiosk prints a confirmation and sends an SMS containing the vehicle...
A growing number of companies in the Czech Republic are experimenting with a four-day working week, with some reporting higher productivity and greater employee satisfaction. But politicians remain reluctant to make the arrangement a standard option across the country. Under the model, employees work four days instead of five while keeping their full salaries. Companies that have introduced the system say workers can maintain their output while having more time to rest. At Trinity Group, the arrangement has been in place for five years. Jan Hanulík, the company’s product and marketing director, said productivity had risen despite employees working one day less each week. “Although we have one working day less, productivity has increased,” Hanulík said, adding that the company’s results have roughly doubled since the system was introduced. A survey cited in the report found that around 70 percent of employees in the Czech Republic would welcome a four-day working week. Politicians remain cautious The idea has already been adopted in different forms elsewhere in Europe. In Belgium, for example, employees can request to work their weekly hours over four days rather than five. The system therefore does not necessarily mean fewer working hours. Czech politicians, however, argue that...
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