Among the countries of Eastern Europe, two amazing powers that have preserved their unique historical and cultural heritage are especially popular with tourists. These are the Czech Republic and Poland. They attract travelers with ancient architecture, renowned health resorts and extensive recreational 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, historic squares, ancient fortifications, famous bridges and legendary Gothic cathedrals - all these attractions are famous Czech and Polish cities. National parks with varied landscapes amaze with the pristine beauty of nature. Czech Republic or Poland - where is the best place to relax? The answer to this tricky question depends on the individual preferences of travelers.
Flight and distance
The fastest and safest 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 capital of Russia. The journey 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. LOT Polish Airlines and Aeroflot operate daily direct flights. Air transport will cover the distance of more than 1,200 kilometers between Moscow and Warsaw in two hours. The optimal ticket price is 3 320 rubles.
A large number of international and domestic airlines fly to the Czech Republic and Poland with transfers. The cheapest ticket can cost up to RUB 1,871. However, transit flights increase the travel time from 5 to 20 hours.
Visa
Russian citizens planning to travel to the Czech Republic or Poland for tourist purposes must apply for a Schengen visa of category C. It gives the right to a single, double or multiple entry into the territory of the countries. Moreover, the total period of stay should not exceed 90 days. To open a visa, you can apply both to the Consulates General of the countries and to the official visa centers.
The package of documents that must be submitted to obtain a visa includes:
- valid international passport
- visa application form filled in Latin letters
- a copy of all pages of the civil passport
- copy of birth certificate (for minors)
- two color photographs 35 × 45 mm
- medical insurance covering treatment in the amount of 30,000 euros
- confirmation of hotel reservation and flight tickets
- a certificate from the place of work about wages or a certificate from the place of study
- bank statement
- visa fee of 35 euros
When applying for a visa, citizens must be fingerprinted. The fingerprinting procedure is carried out at consulates or visa centers. The processing time for an application for a permit 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 vacation regardless of the season. Summer and winter travel to Czech and Polish cities will be a bright and exciting event. The massive influx of tourists occurs during the Christmas holidays, the May holidays and the summer months. Monuments of architecture, medieval castles, palace complexes are equally beautiful under the rays of the hot sun, and surrounded by the spring bloom of nature, and during the period of snow.
The health season at the spa resorts lasts 365 days a year. The climatic conditions on the Baltic coast of Poland guarantee a pleasant 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 shores of reservoirs, lakes and rivers in the spring and summer.
Regardless of the season, vacationers enjoy the rich natural landscapes of the Czech and Polish territories. Forests alternate with spacious meadows and medium-altitude mountains. Valleys of lakes and deep rivers are key elements of the landscape.
Popular resorts
The Czech Republic invites tourists to spend a wonderful and memorable vacation. The territory of the country is full of thermal springs with healing properties, health-improving resources for body and soul. The unique combination of traditional medicine and nature has contributed to the development of the tourism industry. Picturesque landscapes and interesting architectural monuments give a pleasant atmosphere and unique charm to the resorts.
Among Czech balneological centers, such spas as Karlovy Vary, Jachymov, 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 well-developed network of hotels and health resorts, as well as magnificent old palace buildings. Numerous landscaped park complexes are home to a variety of trees and flowering shrubs. The air brought by the wind from the mountains has a beneficial effect on the human body.
Ski enthusiasts are welcomed by the villages of Spindleruv Mlyn, Vitkovice and Harrachov. These are wonderful places with excellent tracks of various difficulty levels for both professional and beginner athletes. The snow cannon system ensures perfect skiing all season long.
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-groomed 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. The cities are famous for their luxury hotels, cozy boarding houses and modern health resorts. Here you can enjoy beach vacations and water activities, do active sports, take courses of health procedures with mineral waters, take a walk along the well-groomed embankments. Ancient temples, palaces, fortresses and castles have been preserved in the cities.
High-mountainous regions of Poland deserve attention. 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 difficulty level. 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 local residents. Interest is aroused by original examples of wooden architecture.
Excursions
Entertaining and informative excursions in the Czech Republic are a wonderful 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 include visits to ancient cities, quarters and squares, where a unique historical appearance has been preserved. Participants of the expeditions 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, Mala Strana and Wenceslas Square are of interest. An indelible impression will be left by a memorable meeting with the snow-white pearl of South Bohemia - the castle of Hluboka nad Vltavou. Tourists are advised to go to the fabulously beautiful town of Cesky Krumlov, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 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 and famous for. Its inaccessible castles, majestic cathedrals, medieval cobbled streets and ancient architectural monuments form an amazing mosaic that you can endlessly admire.
Professional guides invite tourists to explore the sights of Krakow, Warsaw, Wroclaw, Gdansk and Gdynia. Numerous historical architectural masterpieces are concentrated in these world famous cities. Of particular interest are the Baroque Wilanow Palace, the Wawel Royal Castle, the Gothic Church of St. Mary, the Wroclaw Town Hall, 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 along endless green meadows. One of the picturesque tourist routes is boating on the Krutynya River. Along the channel there is a forest area dominated by oaks. Sprawling deciduous trees cast a shadow on the water surface, forming a beautiful alley.
Entertainment
In the Czech Republic, tourists will find a lot of things to do. 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. Sports complexes, gyms, fitness centers, saunas, solariums, riding grounds and various festivals await travelers.
Prague amazes 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 go-karts, walk across the reservoir in a huge inflatable transparent balloon and make a bungee jump. Visiting medieval castles with horror halls and passing quest rooms will allow you to escape from the gray everyday life and plunge into an exciting adventure.
Poland provides tourists with a wide range of entertainment for every taste. Ancient cities such as Warsaw, Gdansk, Wroclaw, Krakow, Lodz provide their guests with a varied and entertaining time. In addition to numerous pubs, bars, restaurants, nightclubs and discos, tourists have at their disposal zoos, museums, theaters, botanical gardens, sports centers and many other institutions.
Kayaking on the Vistula River or horseback riding through picturesque meadows will give you a lot of pleasant impressions. Fans of outdoor activities will appreciate the playgrounds offering plenty of archery or gun shooting, paintball or golf.
Theme parks with original and extreme attractions 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 to the world of the Wild West and find themselves among fantastic landscapes. Ornate carousels, Ferris wheels and dizzying slides will not leave anyone indifferent.
Hotels
The countries have a developed hotel base. Tourists have access to a wide selection of hotels of various star categories, private apartments, hostels and boarding houses. A large number of Czech and Polish hotels are located in the immediate vicinity of impressive sights. For the most discerning travelers, there are apartments in historic buildings and castles. Modern household appliances wonderfully harmonize with antique furniture and old interiors.
Among the budget options, cozy mini-hotels operating on the "bed and breakfast" system are popular. The decoration of the rooms of hotels with two and three stars is devoid of any signs of luxury, but the guests are guaranteed comfortable living conditions with all the conveniences. The finest luxury five-star hotel complexes feature spas, gyms and swimming pools. Lobby bars and restaurants invite guests to taste delicious national cuisine.
Service
The tourist infrastructure of both countries offers high level of services, corresponding to the first-class European standard. All hotels, guest houses and sanatoriums have created the necessary comfortable conditions for living and treatment. Qualified and polite staff provides guests with professional service. Treatment-and-prophylactic institutions attract people with all kinds of health-improving 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 ticket for 7 nights starts from 13,774 rubles per person. The price level depends on the choice of hotel, city and season.
Russian citizens can get to Poland on their own by car. The option of traveling on your own makes it possible to visit and explore more cities with numerous attractions. Advance booking of a hotel, hostel or private apartment through online aggregators will not cause much difficulty. 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 a well-developed infrastructure, affordable 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 holiday with children. Travelers expect a friendly attitude and care from the staff of hotels and cafes.
Czech and Polish cities have theme parks with attractions, interactive and science 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 will find a large number of various shopping centers, department stores, boutiques and souvenir shops. They represent an excellent assortment of well-known brands that can be purchased at affordable low prices. Outlets deserve special attention. These are specialized stores selling clothes, shoes, jewelry, luxury perfumes and various accessories with significant discounts of up to 80%. Also, tourists are attracted by exquisite original Czech glass and crystal products. Beer is beyond competition, the variety of varieties of which is amazing.
Shopping enthusiasts will find many branded stores, hypermarkets and colorful shops in Poland. Several outlets have been opened on the territory of the country, which unite dozens of boutiques of world famous brands. There you can buy a variety of goods at minimal prices: 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 corners 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.
The distinctive old Czech and Polish cities are famous for UNESCO World Heritage Sites. A considerable number of attractions and entertainment establishments are concentrated on their territories. Tourists are offered a varied type of recreation for every taste: sightseeing, wellness, beach, ski, gastronomic and extreme.
