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Where is the country of Czech Republic located? The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe.  The Czech Republic has three different climates: a moderate maritime climate, with mild summers and fairly mild winters (type Cfb according to the Köppen classification), a temperate continental climate (type Dfb) with cooler winters and reasonable annual precipitation, and a cool continental climate (type Dfc ). The lower temperatures and higher precipitation amounts mainly apply to the higher areas of the Czech Republic. The lower areas around Prague (Central Bohemia) and Brno (South Moravia) are considerably drier than the rest of the Czech Republic. With precipitation averages of about 400 to 600 millimeters on an annual basis, it is also a lot drier here than in the Netherlands, where an average of 700 to 800 mm falls per year.

Due to its location, the Czech Republic has some influence from the sea, but this is very limited. Depression and precipitation are often kept at bay by the mountains, making the lower areas in the country relatively dry. Because the average height of the mountains and plateaus is not too bad, the temperatures do not drop as much as in Austria further south.

Summer in the Czech Republic

The summer months in the Czech Republic are fairly warm and wetter than the winter months. In Central Bohemia and southwestern Moravia the weather is summer on many days with about 12 to 16 days of precipitation, about 6 to 8 hours of sunshine per day and generally little wind. Due to the supply of warm air from Russia, temperatures can rise to tropical values ​​of thirty degrees and higher during the day. It is also warm in the higher areas, but the temperature usually does not rise as much as in the valleys. Rain and thunderstorms that come in or arise over the Czech Republic can sometimes cause heavy showers with large amounts of rain in the summer.

Those who don’t necessarily want to spend whole days at the pool or beach, but want to experience a really different culture within a reasonable distance with a reasonable chance of pleasant weather, can go to the Czech Republic for a summer holiday. The prices of hotels, campsites and private homes in combination with the sometimes very impressive nature make the Czech Republic a popular holiday destination.

Extreme weather

Due to its sheltered location, the Czech Republic has no chance of hurricanes and the chance of storms is also quite small. On average, the wind force is already quite low in many places, it is mainly areas with more height differences where a strong wind can occur due to a hair dryer effect. What the Czech Republic does have to contend with are floods, which can mainly occur in late autumn and early summer. Heavy rainfall that can sometimes last for days sometimes causes major flooding across the country, with regular deaths and the damage sometimes enormous.

Although the amounts of precipitation in the spring are still not too bad, it is mainly the combination of meltwater with rain that ensures that the rivers have insufficient capacity to drain all the water. The snow that falls in the Bohemia and the Giant Mountains melts in the spring, with a significant peak in April and sometimes May.

Winter

The winter in the Czech Republic is a bit cooler than in the Netherlands. In the valleys, daytime temperatures are slightly above freezing and light to moderate frost occurs most nights. When precipitation falls, it is regularly in the form of snow, which can sometimes cause nuisance due to larger amounts of snowfall within 24 hours. Because winter is the driest period in Central Bohemia (including the capital Prague) and Moravia, it is usually not too bad. The total precipitation amounts in these areas are around 20 to 35 millimeters per month in winter.

In the higher areas it is a different matter. With temperatures that are below freezing for most of the period from December to February and precipitation amounts significantly higher than in the valleys, the Czech Republic is a country that has many areas that are white in winter due to snow and ice. On average, the ski slopes here are less spectacular than in Austria and Switzerland, but certainly for novice skiers and families with young children who want to go on winter sports, the Czech Republic is an excellent destination. Most ski areas can be found in the Giant Mountains, where you will find about 75 kilometers of ski slopes at altitudes between 1000 and over 1600 meters. The ski resorts in the Ore Mountains and South Bohemia are less guaranteed to snow and a lot smaller in terms of skiing options. The ski season in the Czech Republic runs from November or December to the end of March.

Climate figures

The figures below are based on long-term average climate statistics. The temperatures are displayed in degrees Celsius (°C).

Best time to visit the Czech Republic

Do you want to know when is the best time to travel to the Czech Republic? You can determine the best time to travel to a destination based on the weather and climate. In addition, there are other factors that are not directly related to the weather and that can influence the best travel periods for a travel destination. Think, for example, of holidays or festive periods, which makes traveling more interesting or not, because daily life comes to a standstill as a result. The Czech Republic, centrally located in Europe, has a mix of almost flat lowlands, hilly landscapes and a number of mountain ranges, which often serve as national borders. The climate of the Czech Republic mainly consists of a mix of a moderate maritime climate with a moderate continental climate. In the mountains you will also encounter the tundra climate at higher altitudes. Because the Czech Republic is located in Europe, you have to deal with four seasons that are almost equal to our seasons.

Most pleasant months

The best time to travel for a holiday in the Czech Republic is from mid-May to mid-September. This is the warmest and sunniest time of the year. The summer period is just not the driest time of the year in the Czech Republic. On average, winters are drier than summers. This is mainly because during the hottest time of the year, thunderstorms can easily form that can cause quite a bit of rain in a short time.

City trip or active holiday in the Czech Republic

Are you going to the Czech Republic to be active or for a city trip, for example to Prague or Pilsen? Then the period from May to September is the best time to travel. The months of July and August can be a bit on the warm side. On average, the maximum temperatures are around 23 to 27 degrees Celsius, but the erratic climate of the Czech Republic can sometimes cause tropical weather. At temperatures that can sometimes exceed thirty for several days in a row, it is just a bit too hot for walking, cycling or for a city trip. Especially in the months of July and August, the days can sometimes be hot. In June, that chance is already a lot smaller.

Sun holiday

The Czech Republic is a suitable sun destination in summer. The lack of a sea or coast does not mean that you cannot enjoy the sun here. Summer weather in combination with a swimming pool or more ensure that you can celebrate a wonderful summer holiday in the Czech Republic. The months of July and August are the best travel time for a sun holiday in the Czech Republic. The bathing water is warmer in August than in July. If you go camping at one of the many campsites in the Czech Republic, you should take into account the risk of thunderstorms in the summer, which can sometimes be very spicy.

Winter sports

Those who want to can do all kinds of winter sports in the Czech Republic in the winter. At Lipno nad Vltavou and in the Giant Mountains you can ski and snowboard. If it is cold enough you can make beautiful ice skating trips on Lake Lipno. The Czech Republic is less snow-sure than the higher ski areas in popular winter sports destinations such as Austria and France. The Giant Mountains have higher ski areas than Lino, so the chance of good natural snow there is greater. The best time to travel for a winter sports holiday in the Czech Republic is from mid-January to the end of February.