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...
Prague is preparing a major expansion of its municipal housing stock, with plans for up to 8,000 new city-owned apartments over the coming years. While construction remains limited today, the city says dozens of projects are moving through the planning process as it seeks to increase the supply of affordable rental housing. The programme is being coordinated by the Prague Development Company (PDS), a city-owned organisation established in 2020 to prepare residential developments on municipal land. According to its latest annual report, PDS has been entrusted with around 90 hectares of land, where more than two dozen projects are planned. The apartments are intended primarily for people who struggle to find affordable housing, including seniors, people with disabilities, single parents and workers in key public services such as healthcare, education, the police and the fire brigade. Despite these ambitions, only a small number of municipal apartments are currently being built. Data from Prague’s Institute of Planning and Development (IPR) shows that since 2019, around 50 to 60 municipal apartments have been completed each year, almost all of them developed by individual city districts. Among the latest projects are a building with 29 municipal apartments in Modřany, developed by Prague 12,...
The Czech government plans to increase defense spending by 36 billion CZK next year, allowing the Czech Republic to meet its NATO commitment of spending 2% of GDP on defence for the first time. Prime Minister Andrej Babiš announced the plan before departing for the NATO summit in Ankara, where allied leaders are expected to discuss military spending, the war in Ukraine and the future direction of the alliance. The Ministry of Defense received 154.79 billion CZK in this year’s state budget, equivalent to roughly 1.8 percent of GDP. An additional 30 billion CZK is expected to support defense-related projects through other parts of the state budget, but the government has acknowledged this will still fall short of NATO’s methodology for reaching the alliance’s spending benchmark. Earlier this year, Defense Minister Jaromír Zůna said NATO estimates Czech defense spending at 1.78 percent of GDP in 2026. His ministry has proposed increasing the budget to around 190 billion CZK next year to meet the alliance’s target. Speaking before the summit, Babiš described the gathering in Ankara as one of the most important NATO meetings in recent years. He said the Czech delegation would attend as the country’s new coalition government, emphasizing...
A new open-air event inspired by Barcelona’s street culture is coming to Prague. Groovy Market Fest will take place on 1 August 2026 in Riegrovy sady, turning the park into a one-day urban market focused on food, design and music. The concept is built around a simple idea: slow down the pace of the city and create a space where people can spend time outdoors without a fixed programme or pressure to move between stages. The organisers describe it as a mix of market, social space and informal cultural gathering. The festival is divided into three main areas. Food Garden will bring street food concepts prepared on site, with an emphasis on simple recipes and fresh ingredients. Palm Street will focus on bakery products, small food producers and craft brands working with local and regional ingredients. The Design Zone will present independent designers, fashion labels and small creative studios with a focus on original production. Music will run throughout the day with DJs and a curated programme designed to support the atmosphere rather than dominate it. A signature drink prepared on site will also be part of the experience. According to co-founder Marek Novák, the goal is not to replicate...
The Prague City Council has approved a new transport strategy that will shape the city’s public transport system from 2026 to 2030. The plan focuses on improving capacity, reliability and service quality across the Prague Integrated Transport (PID) network, which also connects to the Central Bohemian Region. Despite rising operational costs, the city has again ruled out any increase in public transport fares. This position remains unchanged even as the financial gap in the system continues to grow. Prague remains among the cheapest Czech cities According to the plan, Prague still has one of the lowest public transport costs among major Czech cities. With an annual pass, the daily cost of travel is roughly 10 CZK. Annual ticket prices in selected cities: Prague – 3,650 CZK Brno – 4,750 CZK Ostrava – 4,400 CZK Plzeň – 4,656 CZK Liberec – 3,990 CZK Growing gap between costs and revenues Behind the political decision to keep fares unchanged is a widening financial gap. In 2019, Prague set a goal for fare revenue to cover roughly a quarter of the operating costs of the PID system. That target is no longer being met. Last year, fare income reached a record 5.41 billion CZK,...
Escape the crowds without leaving the city. These three Prague restaurants with gardens offer the peace, greenery, and honest Czech cuisine you’d expect in a quiet village — not the capital. While Prague boasts hundreds of places to eat, very few offer the rustic charm of a countryside inn. These spots combine great food, outdoor seating, and relaxed atmosphere, making them ideal for summer lunches or long evening dinners under the trees. 1. Na Květnici: Classic Czech Fare Under Chestnut Trees Behind the Nusle Town Hall, in a former Sokol community building, you’ll find Na Květnici — a well-known local spot with the feel of an old-school Czech pub. Its spacious garden can seat up to 450 people under the shade of mature chestnut trees, but it still manages to feel calm and personal. Staff serve tank Pilsner and honest Czech meals, including roast meats, dumplings, and grilled dishes prepared outdoors. Locals come here regularly, but the place also draws people from other parts of Prague, especially in the summer. The restaurant organizes barbecues, concerts, and events for children, and even brews its own beer, Květ, which is light and refreshing. It’s one of the few places in the city...
The highest-paid jobs in the Czech Republic continue to be concentrated in top management and senior leadership roles, according to data published by Platy.cz. The figures show a clear gap between executive positions and the national average wage. At the top of the ranking is the General Director, with an average gross monthly salary of 216,592 CZK. Development Directors follow in second place with 199,417 CZK, while IT Directors take third position at 180,914 CZK. Further down the list, Country Managers and Directors earn on average 169,740 CZK per month. Heads of leasing departments report salaries around 148,256 CZK, while Economic and Financial Directors reach 147,989 CZK. Site manager earn approximately 145,989 CZK monthly. Directors of logistics follow closely with 141,989 CZK. Heads of legal departments complete the top ten, with an average salary of 139,773 CZK. Pilots also appear in the ranking, earning around 152,352 CZK per month. For context, the average gross salary in the Czech Republic reached 50,282 CZK in the first quarter of 2026, according to the Czech Statistical Office. This represents an annual increase of 8.1 percent. After inflation, real wages grew by 6.4 percent. Wages remain highest in Prague, where the average is close...
Prague continues to grow steadily, with official data showing that the capital has already passed 1.4 million residents. According to the Czech Statistical Office (ČSÚ), the population of Prague stood at 1,405,551 at the end of March 2026. This figure includes 686,987 men and 718,564 women, meaning women accounted for 51.1 percent of the population. During the first three months of 2026, the city recorded a decline of 1,533 residents. At the end of 2025, the total stood slightly higher at 1,407,084. Different institutions, however, present a more complex picture of how many people actually live in the capital. The Institute for Planning and Development of the City of Prague (IPR) has previously estimated that the real number of residents, based on mobile data and long-term movement patterns, ranges between 1.1 and 1.4 million people. The difference stems largely from residence registration rules. The 2021 census counted 1,301,432 people with usual residence in Prague and 1,261,304 with permanent residence. IPR estimates that around 12 percent of people living in the city are not officially registered there, while a similar number are registered in Prague but live elsewhere. According to Matouš Hutník from IPR, this group includes mainly younger, single residents...
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