Weather in the Czech Republic: Climate, Seasons, and Average Monthly Temperature

The Czech Republic has a mostly temperate climate thanks to its landlocked location in Eastern Europe. All four seasons are noticeably present and while the summers can get quite hot and the winters inversely cold, extreme weather is rare. Visitors are likely to encounter cooler temperatures in the northern part of the country and the mountainous areas, whereas things tend to be slightly warmer in the southern part of the country. While temperatures vary based on the elevation, spring and fall have the most favorable climate, in general, for being outdoors.

Regions of the Czech Republic

Bohemia

The western part of the Czech Republic is known as Bohemia. Since Bohemia encompasses such a large amount of the country, the weather within the region can vary significantly. For example, as Bohemia’s urban center, Prague is often slightly warmer than the rest of the region. 

Cities in the northern part of the region, such as Liberec, tend to be a bit cooler than those to the south due to the close proximity to the Jizera Mountains. The slightly lower temperatures make it a nice place to visit in the summer. In the winter, this part of the country gets a significant amount of snowfall and is very popular for downhill skiing. On the opposite end of the spectrum, Žatec in northwest Bohemia is the driest part of the entire country, seeing the least amount of rainfall on average.

Moravia

The region of Moravia makes up the majority of the eastern part of the Czech Republic. It tends to be warmer than Bohemia overall and has a later winter season, sometimes not seeing snow until January. Brno, the biggest city in the region and second biggest in the country, often has clear blue skies but occasionally gets hit with sudden storms in the summer.

Moravia’s mild climate makes it the perfect place for growing wine. Up to 96 percent of the country’s vineyards are located in the region. Travelers are able to visit vineyards and wine cellars throughout the year, but the big wine festivals hosted in the small Moravian winemaking towns are a truly special event.

Czech Silesia

Czech Silesia is the small piece of the historical Silesia region that falls within the borders of the Czech Republic. It is located in the northeastern part of the country along with Ostrava, the biggest city in the region and third-largest city in the country. The area around Lysá hora, the highest mountain in the Moravian-Silesian Beskids mountain range, receives the highest annual rainfall in the country. When it’s not raining, this is a great spot for hiking in the summer and skiing in the winter.

Spring in the Czech Republic

Spring starts out relatively cold with average temperatures in March being 50 degrees Fahrenheit (10 degrees Celsius) during the day and 36 degrees Fahrenheit (2 degrees Celsius) in the evenings. Things start to warm up by May, though, with average temperatures of 67 degrees Fahrenheit (19 degrees Celsius) during the day and 50 degrees Fahrenheit (10 degrees Celsius) at night. May is one of the rainiest months of the year but the Czech Republic also sees a lot of sunshine in the spring.

What to pack: Since spring weather in the Czech Republic can be unpredictable, it’s best to pack a lot of layers for easy adjustments. It’ll still be a bit chilly in the early months of spring, especially at night, so make sure you have a moderately warm jacket packed. Since it also tends to be somewhat rainier during this period, especially in May, packing an umbrella and boots is never a bad idea. 

Summer in the Czech Republic

Summers in the Czech Republic have gotten hot in recent years. Prague hit a new record high temperature in 2019 by pushing the mercury to 100.22 degrees Fahrenheit (37.9 degrees Celsius). While the days may be scorching, the long daylight hours and still relatively hot summer nights are perfect for enjoying a beer at a local beer garden or going for an evening stroll. This is the high tourist season, so you’ll want to get an early start to your day to beat the heat and the lines.

What to pack: Be sure to pack light, breathable clothing that can be washed or swapped out easily if you need to freshen up. Air conditioning is not common in the Czech Republic; check with your accommodation to find out what your sleeping situation will be ahead of time so that you can pack accordingly. Whether you plan to spend your days sightseeing or hiking through one of the country’s beautiful national parks, you’ll want to pack some sunscreen and a hat to block out harmful rays. It’s also a good idea to invest in a spray to prevent tick bites if you’re planning to spend a lot of time outside.

Fall in the Czech Republic

The Czech Republic has beautiful weather in the fall. The summer heat burns off by early September but the days stay pretty warm, with average temperatures of 66 degrees Fahrenheit (19 degrees Celsius) during the day, dropping down to 48 degrees Fahrenheit (9 degrees Celsius) in the evening. These delightful temperatures combined with beautiful fall foliage and fewer tourists, make this a great time of year to visit the country. Temperatures will decrease significantly in the next couple of months with averages of 43 degrees Fahrenheit (6 degrees Celsius) during the day and 34 degrees Fahrenheit (1 degree Celsius) at night in November.

What to pack: You’ll want to pack a light jacket and layers when visiting the Czech Republic in the fall. If you’re visiting later in the season, you may want to pack heavier layers and boots as the temperatures drop significantly in November. Fall is a great time for hiking and exploring the country’s scenic national parks, so be sure to pack your hiking gear if that’s on your agenda.

Winter in the Czech Republic

Winter in the Czech Republic can get pretty chilly but it rarely reaches extreme levels of cold. Despite average temperatures dropping to 36 degrees Fahrenheit (2 degrees Celsius) during the day and 28 degrees Fahrenheit (-2 degrees Celsius) at night in December, this is still a great time to visit the Czech Republic thanks to its beautiful Christmas markets and free-flowing mulled wine. The Czech Republic also looks even more magical with a light dusting of snow.

What to pack: Since the temperatures tend to hover around freezing at this time of year, be sure to pack warm layers to bundle up in. Layers are key as most restaurants and shops will be pretty warm inside. A hat, scarf, boots, and gloves are essential as you’ll likely spend a significant amount of time outside sightseeing or enjoying the Christmas markets. When packing gloves or mittens, take a moment to test out whether they are flexible enough to hold a steaming hot cup of mulled wine because, at these temperatures, it won’t be enjoyable to have to remove them while you’re enjoying your beverage.