The Czech government is considering extending compulsory preschool education from one year to two, meaning children could be required to attend kindergarten from the age of four. Education Minister Robert Plaga (ANO) said the proposal aims to provide earlier support for children who may need additional help before starting primary school. “Schools need more psychologists, special educators and other experts who can support both children and teachers. This support must begin as early as possible, already in kindergarten,” Plaga said in a video published on Facebook. He added that early intervention can improve children’s chances of success later in life. Currently, preschool education is compulsory in Czechia only for children who turn five before the start of the school year. The minister argues that earlier attendance could help children from disadvantaged backgrounds or those facing difficult situations at home. “A child’s more challenging behavior is not always caused by a lack of interest in education. In some cases, children are dealing with difficult circumstances and need support before their problems become more serious,” Plaga said. He added that helping children develop their abilities or overcome difficult periods represents a long-term investment in society. Lack of kindergarten places remains a challenge...
Prague’s Kotva department store will reopen in 2028 after an extensive redevelopment, with Italian luxury fashion, dining and hospitality brands among its first confirmed tenants. Owner Generali Real Estate announced that fashion house Dolce & Gabbana, hospitality group Cipriani, and Italian food retailer Eataly will all open locations inside the renovated complex. The company also said luxury menswear brand Kiton, based in Naples, is expected to join the project at a later stage. The redevelopment aims to transform Kotva into a high-end retail and public destination while preserving one of Prague’s best-known modernist buildings. According to Generali Real Estate, the renewed complex will combine international brands with spaces focused on design, gastronomy and contemporary urban life. Kotva has been closed for a major renovation that is expected to be completed in 2028. Once finished, the building is intended to serve not only as a shopping destination but also as a place for dining, leisure and public events. Kotva first opened in 1975 and was designed by architects Věra and Vladimír Machonin. Its distinctive hexagonal structure has made it one of the country’s most recognizable examples of Czechoslovak Brutalist architecture. The building received cultural monument status in 2019, recognizing its architectural...
Prague’s Asian dining scene has expanded quickly in recent years. Korean food in particular has moved from niche to mainstream, helped by the popularity of fermented dishes like kimchi and a growing appetite for meals that are more interactive than passive. Han.sik is located inside the Masaryčka building, designed by Zaha Hadid Architects, is one of the newer openings pushing that shift further. The restaurant sits on the first floor, away from the busiest walkways. It is not immediately obvious on a first visit, and many people hesitate before finding the entrance. Once inside, the atmosphere changes completely. The space, designed by NEUHÄUSL HUNAL, is built around wood, open surfaces and restraint. There is an open kitchen and a sushi counter, but nothing feels decorative for its own sake. The focus remains on the tables and the food. Han.sik is, above all, a Korean barbecue restaurant. Each table has a built-in grill with integrated ventilation, removing the need for overhead chimneys. The room feels open and uncluttered, with attention kept firmly on the dining experience. The meal begins with the meat selection: Black Angus beef, Iberico pork and A5 wagyu sit among the highlights. Guests cook everything themselves at the...
The Czech Republic is set to experience its most impressive solar eclipse in decades on August 12, when the Moon will pass between the Earth and the Sun. Astronomers say it will be the country’s most significant partial solar eclipse until 2075, making it the standout astronomical event of 2026. While Czech observers will see most of the Sun obscured, those traveling to parts of Spain, Iceland and Greenland will witness the eclipse in its total phase. Researchers note that it will also be the closest total solar eclipse to the Czech Republic until 2081, making it a rare opportunity for both amateur and professional skywatchers. The path of totality will cross Greenland, Iceland, northern Russia, the Atlantic Ocean, Spain, and a small part of northwestern Portugal. Across much of Europe, including the Czech Republic, the event will appear as a partial eclipse. When to watch in the Czech Republic The eclipse will unfold during the evening as the Sun approaches the horizon. The phenomenon is expected to begin shortly after 7:19 p.m. CEST, reaching its maximum around 8:11 p.m. In southern and western Bohemia, the Moon will cover more than 86 percent of the Sun’s visible surface. Astronomers say...
For many people considering a move abroad, feeling welcome can be just as important as career opportunities or quality of life. While some countries are popular tourist destinations, not all make it easy for newcomers to settle, find work, build friendships and navigate everyday life. That’s the thinking behind a new study from international insurance provider William Russell, which has ranked the world’s most welcoming countries and cities for expats in 2026. Experts crunched six factors, including real expat experiences, migrant population size, foreign-born employment rates, local attitudes towards immigrants, and safety and visa openness, to work out where newcomers can happily build a life. The world’s most welcoming country? Iceland, scoring 8.94 out of 10. The land of fire and ice has the highest foreign-born employment rate in the study, with a whopping 84.2 percent of international residents in work – meaning expats aren’t just tolerated, they’re properly woven into the economy. Luxembourg took second place (more than half its residents were born abroad, the highest share in the world), while New Zealand rounded out the podium. The rest of the top 10 is mostly a parade of wealthy nations like Australia, Switzerland and Ireland, with one glorious outlier:...
Just a short walk from Prague’s Main Railway Station, a café is quietly redefining the idea of sitting down for coffee. The Healthy Longevity Café sits in a carefully designed space filled with greenery, natural light and minimalist furniture. Yet it is more than a café. It is directly connected to a preventive diagnostics centre on the first floor, creating a concept that combines hospitality with science-based prevention and wellness. Alongside coffee and food, the menu includes drinks blended with ingredients such as MCT oil, ghee, chaga and cinnamon, as well as nutritionally balanced lunches developed with longevity-focused principles in mind. Visitors can also head upstairs for preventive diagnostic assessments, lifestyle evaluations and personalised programmes based on detailed biological data. The project is part of the Longevitytech.Fund ecosystem, which invests in companies focused on extending healthy human lifespan. In Prague, the café and diagnostics centre serve as a practical testing ground for these ideas, making advanced preventive diagnostics more accessible in an everyday setting. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Healthy Longevity Café Prague (@healthylongevity.cafe) The preventive diagnostics centre is located on the first floor. There, visitors can undergo a range of preventive assessments...
The Danish retail chain Normal will officially enter the Czech market next month, opening its first two stores in Prague and bringing its distinctive shopping concept to local customers. The retailer has confirmed that its Czech debut will begin on August 12 at Atrium Flora, followed by a second store opening on August 14 at Galerie Butovice. The company says Prague will serve as the starting point for its expansion into the country. Unlike traditional discount retailers, Normal does not rely on temporary sales, promotional campaigns, or loyalty schemes. Instead, the chain focuses on offering internationally recognized brands at stable, competitive prices throughout the year. “We are very happy to begin our expansion into the Czech market with the opening of two stores in Prague,” said CEO Jakob Frölich Maarbjerg. “We believe Czech customers will appreciate our concept, which combines well-known brands, consistently low prices, and a broad product selection.” One of the company’s defining features is the design of its stores. Rather than using conventional aisles, customers follow a maze-like route that leads them through the entire assortment before reaching the checkout. The layout is intended to encourage shoppers to discover products they might otherwise overlook. Normal’s range includes...
Tesco is considering selling its operations in the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary, according to a report by the Financial Times. The British supermarket group is reportedly holding discussions with bankers about a possible sale of its Central European business as it looks to sharpen its focus on the UK market. Tesco declined to comment on the report, saying it does not respond to market speculation. A sale would affect a business employing around 22,000 people across the three countries. More than 10,000 employees work in the Czech Republic alone, making Tesco one of the country’s largest private-sector employers. Tesco entered the Hungarian market in 1995 before expanding into the Czech Republic and Slovakia the following year. Since then, it has built one of the region’s largest retail networks. According to its latest annual report, the company operates 561 stores across the three countries. Despite its size, the Central European business contributes only a small share of Tesco’s overall earnings. The company’s European division generated £4.5 billion (around CZK 128 billion) in revenue during the last financial year, while adjusted operating profit reached £115 million. By comparison, Tesco’s total group sales stood at £66.6 billion, with adjusted operating profit of...
The annual Night of Castles and Chateaux takes place on August 22. The program includes night tours, tours with lanterns and candles, theatrical performances, concerts, shows and other amusements. Highlights include torchlight displays in Prague’s Baroque gardens, 1930s swing and fashion in Brno’s villas, and a hunting-season atmosphere at Hluboká Chateau. Visitors can also join candlelit tours in Buchlovice, discover a secret passage at Bezděz, or listen to French chansons in Častolovice. You can try contemporary fare in the castle kitchens, have a look in places where visitors usually never get to see, or you can walk around the château with a flashlight and hear stories that sent chills down the spine during previous generations. The following Prague landmarks participate in this event every year: the Senate of the Czech Republic, the Gardens below Prague Castle, Invalidovna, and Chvalský Castle. The Night of Castles and Chateaux is an annual celebration organized by the National Heritage Institute starting in 2010. Its goal is to showcase these sites in a new light, at an unusual time of day, and with a special program. Unlike Museum Nights, it is not a requirement that the events be free for visitors; on the contrary, it...
Prague will celebrate the 669th anniversary of the laying of the foundation stone of Charles Bridge on Wednesday and Thursday with a series of historical events, lectures, and free museum activities. The main celebrations will take place on Thursday, July 9, beginning before sunrise. At 5:00 a.m., a ceremonial procession portraying Holy Roman Emperor and Czech King Charles IV, accompanied by his wife Anna of Świdnica, Bohemian knights, medieval squires, drummers, musicians, and soldiers, will depart from the Lesser Town Bridge Towers and make its way across Charles Bridge. The procession will arrive at Křižovnické Square, where, at exactly 5:31 a.m., Charles IV will symbolically strike the bridge’s foundation stone. The ceremony recreates the precise moment when construction officially began on July 9, 1357, following the famous numerical sequence 1-3-5-7-9-7-5-3-1, believed at the time to bring prosperity and good fortune. After the reenactment, Křižovnické Square will host a historical and cultural program featuring medieval dances by Regii Caroli regis, traditional music performed by Řemdih, and appearances by the royal drummers and standard-bearers of the Fedrfechtýř group. The day’s program will conclude with a 7:00 a.m. Mass at the Church of St. Francis of Assisi, led by Grand Master Josef Šedivý....
For many expats in Prague, Tretter’s is far more than a cocktail bar. Over the years, the brand has grown into a collection of venues known for their atmosphere, elegance, and long-standing place in the city’s social life. Behind the brand is Michael Tretter, one of the most recognized names in Czech hospitality. During a recent conversation, he shared the story behind Tretter’s, its philosophy, and some lesser-known details that help explain its enduring popularity. “Our goal was to create places that leave a lasting impression,” Tretter says. “We wanted our venues to feel as though they had existed for decades—even when they were brand new.” That idea of timelessness has guided the company from the beginning. From interior design and music to lighting and service, every detail is carefully considered to create a sense of character and history. One of the most remarkable parts of the Tretter’s story is the American Bar inside Prague’s Municipal House. Hidden beneath the building’s marble staircase, the venue first opened in 1912 and is considered one of the oldest cocktail bars in Europe. Its original features have largely survived, including artwork by painter Mikoláš Aleš and historical design elements linked to the era...
The planned Depo Písnice station on Prague’s new Metro Line D could become a key transport hub connecting the capital with several towns in the Central Bohemian Region. The terminal station is expected to stand close to Prague’s southern border and could allow passengers to travel from the city centre almost directly to surrounding areas. According to current plans, the station entrance will be built near the border of Prague. The first trains on this section of Line D are expected to operate around 2032. Depo Písnice is designed as more than just a metro terminus. The project includes a P+R parking facility with space for 409 cars, a bus terminal and a transfer point for passengers from nearby towns such as Dolní Břežany, Vrané nad Vltavou, Jílové, Jesenice and Benešov. The Prague Public Transit Company estimates that around 5,500 passengers could use the station every day. The new metro line is also expected to reduce pressure on existing transport hubs, especially Kačerov and Budějovická stations, which currently handle large numbers of passengers travelling from southern Prague and surrounding municipalities. Plans for the area around Depo Písnice include the development of a new public space with a square, housing and...
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