What Czechs do in the summer, some of which may even surprise you
Summer, or at least the summer holiday, starts in the Czech Republic at the end of the Ice Hockey World Championship, which is the most popular sport here in terms of cheering for the players. Once the national team finishes playing its final game, all reasons to stay inside end with it, and the time for grilling, delightful beer gardens, and every cultural event imaginable begins. What else can you expect from the locals if you’re planning on visiting the heart of Europe for your summer holiday? Whether it’s in Pilsen or Brno, on the mountains or by the water, Czechs know how to enjoy summer, so come and join them for a wonderful time.
Czechs and cycling
Comparing Czechs to the Danes or Dutch, who ride their bikes to work, when grocery shopping, and to pick up their kids from school, would be a bit of a stretch. Nevertheless, Czechs are definitely near the top when it comes to recreational cycling. If you too are planning a bike trip to the Czech Republic, you’ll be pleasantly surprised by the dense network of well-marked bike paths. When going for a trip in this country, you won’t ever get lost, even if you’re only going on foot, and that’s because here you can make use of the most absolute and densest network of trail markings in the world.
Swimming and trips to the water
Even though the Czech Republic isn’t by the sea, it still boasts a great number of rivers, ponds, dams, and outdoor swimming pools and reservoirs. Czechs love to spend time by the water, just as they enjoy cooling off in their pool at home. Maybe you’ll be surprised to hear that it isn’t just the rich who have a pool at home. Another summer water-related joy is floating down rivers in canoes. Together with a group of friends, they set out on multiple-day voyages, sleeping in tents and enjoying the evenings at camps while roasting sausages. The most popular rivers include the Vltava, Otava, and the Ohře. When it comes to the necessary equipment, there is an array of rental stores that handle everything you need.
Mushroom hunting
Communism and the empty stores of those days have taught the Czech people to utilise everything they have at home, and this wisdom is passed down from generation to generation. Czechs make their own jams, pickle their own cucumbers, and fry their own “pancakes” made from mushrooms they gathered in the forest. Real mushroom hunters don’t mind when it sometimes showers during the second half of the summer, as that means the mushrooms will grow even bigger. Nearly every family closely guards their tips on good places where mushrooms are guaranteed to grow, just as they do with their mushroom sauce recipes. If a Czech offers you one of their mushroom specialties, don’t be afraid to give it a try. Most are well versed enough to know which mushrooms are edible and which aren’t.
Cottages and cabins
Back before the Velvet Revolution, when Czechs weren’t allowed to travel, many families owned a cottage, garden, or cabin somewhere in the countryside. Even though they’ve been able to travel now for more than 30 years, and many of them do, the coronavirus pandemic proved that having a cottage with a garden is a win. Around the lakes, rivers, in the mountains and valleys, in the countryside and nearby cities, you’ll find them in the thousands. Alongside Airbnb, servers exist in the Czech Republic where people rent their cottages and cabins. If you need help in choosing where to stay, the server Amazing Places is a good place to start.
