Husbil i Tjeckien - detta behöver du veta

What about travelling with a motorhome in the Czech Republic? Yesterday we wrote a post about travelling with a motorhome in Poland and today we continue with the Czech Republic. We have travelled in both countries during these three weeks, and we have also travelled in both countries before, both with and without a motorhome.

So here are some facts, mixed with our personal experiences, about travelling with a motorhome in the Czech Republic. If you have more, similar or different experiences, please share them!

Table of contents

How are the roads?

Many of the roads in the Czech Republic are excellent, and we never really ended up on such bad roads as we sometimes did in Poland. However, road construction is going on everywhere. It is of course good that they rebuild and renew, but the problem is that when they rebuild, they simply shut down. There is rarely any information about where you can go instead, and for this reason there are sometimes long detours.

Do you pay motorway tolls?

If you want to travel on motorways in the Czech Republic with a motorhome up to 3.5 tonnes, you need a vignette to be attached to the inside of the windscreen. The vignette is sold at petrol stations in border areas and you can find out more at www.motorway.cz. If you have a motorhome weighing more than 3.5 tonnes, you will have to buy an odometer at the border instead.

How is the traffic?

We didn't experience any major problems in traffic except that, as in Poland, some people make stupid overtaking manoeuvres.

Which traffic rules apply?

The blood alcohol limit in the Czech Republic is 0.0 and, as in Poland, talking and texting on a handheld phone is prohibited (while hands-free calls are allowed). You may also want to know that 'Pozor' means warning.

Tjeckien camping — Strachotin in southern Czech Republic

READ MORE: Beer spa in the Czech Republic - how does it work?
READ MORE: The fairytale town of Cesky Krumlov in the Czech Republic

Can you drive a large motorhome in the Czech Republic?

You can definitely drive a large motorhome in the Czech Republic. Most roads are good and big buses run everywhere. We ended up on a very narrow road at one point, but that was because the regular road was closed. However, if you have a motorhome that weighs more than 3.5 tonnes, you should consider getting an odometer instead of a vignette (see the section on motorway tolls above).

How much does it cost to refuel?

Refuelling is relatively cheap and diesel currently (2017) costs about 11 kr/litre. Diesel is referred to as 'Nafta' in Czech.

Peter on the Czech lake Vodní Nádrž Nové Mlýny

Can you fricamp?

Free camping is only allowed with the permission of the landowner. You can, for example, ask if you can stay and sleep outside a hotel or similar, but otherwise, free camping should be done with caution.

Are there car parks?

There are pitches, but not nearly as many as in some other countries. We didn't look specifically, but we saw one site outside an inn and another by a river. Because there are lots of campsites, and because they are cheap, we tend to choose camping.

What are the campsites like?

Many Czech campsites are simple, and on most of the ones we visited the standard was similar to Poland. You usually stand on grass and we have experienced both being allowed to stand wherever you want and being assigned a spot.

Emptying of black water can sometimes be done in a pipe in the ground, grey water emptying is often lacking and the electricity poles are usually equipped with a normal electrical plug (not a European glove). The service centres are usually ok and WiFi is available relatively often. Take a look at our list of campsites we have visited (you can always find it under "Scaffolding" in the menu).

Camping Free star — Camping Free Star in Strachotin

READ MORE: Spa in Czech Republic - experience the spa triangle
READ MORE: Litomerice in the Czech Republic - castles, football and camping

What is the cost of camping in the Czech Republic?

We have paid between 130 and 175 SEK per night including electricity (2017). If you do not want electricity, it will be cheaper. Where there has been WiFi, it has been included in the price. Note that it is often cash payment that applies!

Med husbil i Tjeckien — At camping Paradijs outside Cesky Crumlov we paid 175 kr including electricity.

Husbil i Tjeckien — At camping Olsovec in Blansko we paid 135 kr including electricity.

Do you need anything special with you?

Apart from the obvious things like passports and driving licences, you have to remember the vignette or the odometer. We didn't manage to find a toilet tank remedy in the Czech Republic either, so that's a good thing to have...

Can you manage in English?

We have done well with English everywhere. Most people we have met have either spoken a little English or really good English. If there is a problem somewhere you can help with some body language ... If you know German (which we don't) you can try that too.

What is the situation in rural areas?

Driving through the Czech countryside is, like in Poland, very green. You also drive past a lot of magnificent castles ...

Borg Tjeckien — Český Šternberk - one of the castles we drove past

What is available in shops and restaurants?

There are many different grocery chains and the selection is fairly similar to the Swedish one, except that there is wine, beer (in the biggest bottles we have seen!) and more sausages... In the restaurants there is always meat (preferably served with dumplings), sausages, and various soups. The prices? It's cheap of course!

Rådjurskött — One day we bought this for dinner! (Deer according to "Google translate" although it may look like a deer?)

READ MORE: What to do in Prague - 30 tips for sights and experiences

20 Comments

Add yours →

Britt-Marie Lundgren says:

Thanks for two great overviews on motorhome travellers in Poland and the Czech Republic!
There are two countries that are definitely on the "to-do list", (this is a long one, so when the snow is falling outside the window we have to sit down and prioritise).

19 July 2017 - 6:14

- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Glad you appreciate the posts! And certainly there is a lot to choose from when prioritising travel ... but rather so than the other way around! 🙂
  
  19 July 2017 - 9:24
  
Kenneth Risberg says:

As usual well written and interesting. Now there was a bit about food/shops. Just this with buying your own food/drink can be fun.
Also sees the Czech Republic as an interesting country to visit.
Although I find it a bit complicated with vignettes, boxes and counters to know when to wear what?

19 July 2017 - 8:18

- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  These boxes and counters are a bit complicated if you have a motorhome over 3.5 tonnes. Both Poland and the Czech Republic require a special box/counter and that requires you to find out a few things, register and find the place of purchase ... If you have a motorhome under 3.5 tonnes, it is less complicated. In Poland you don't do anything (except pay if you get caught in a toll) and in the Czech Republic you get the vignette.
  
  19 July 2017 - 9:26
  
Mr Nils-Åke Hansson says:

Did you buy the Vignette?
Is it necessary to have the Vignette?
When camping is so cheap, you choose it. The site is very centrally located and the restaurants are great to find.

19 July 2017 - 8:57

- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  I hoped no one would ask, haha 😉 We missed the part about the vignette, i.e. we realised too late that we should have one. It is a must if you drive on motorways and "signposted expressways". I'm not sure if we hit one, but if you do, you should have the vignette. You can get a fine otherwise. Next time we will buy one!
  
  19 July 2017 - 9:28
  
Daniel@BringBlingToTraveling says:

Thanks for all the great tips and great posts!

19 July 2017 - 9:13

- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Great if it comes in handy! 🙂
  
  19 July 2017 - 9:28
  
Mr Steve says:

Like Poland, quite an ok motorhome country with some pluses and minuses.

19 July 2017 - 10:59

- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Yes, you can say that it is! We like both Poland and the Czech Republic 🙂
  
  19 July 2017 - 21:57
  
Bengt-Göran says:

Hello!!! This is great information for our future motorhome trips!
Thank you please ?

19 July 2017 - 13:57

- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Great if it comes in handy! 🙂
  
  19 July 2017 - 21:57
  
Matts Torebring says:

Same answer as yesterday. We appreciate what you share with the rest of us. Thank you, please, for all your experiences and tips. They mean so much.

19 July 2017 - 19:07

- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Very nice if what we write is appreciated and useful! 🙂
  
  19 July 2017 - 22:00
  
BP says:

Great tips for motorhome owners thinking of travelling to the Czech Republic. Just as good as your recommendations for Poland.
I also really appreciate the fact that talking and texting on a handheld phone is banned. Sweden, which is otherwise so good at prohibitions, seems to be far behind here.

19 July 2017 - 20:20

- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  You often hear people say that we have stricter rules for everything in Sweden compared to other countries, but that's not always the case ... I also think that this is a good law!
  
  19 July 2017 - 22:01
  
Jan-Åke Stegå says:

How does electricity work at campsites? You write that it usually does not work with an EU glove, but you have to have a regular plug. Do you know where you can buy an adapter so you can use your EU glove or how did you handle it when you were in the Czech Republic.

13 March 2018 - 15:16

- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Peter says that adapters are available at e.g. Jula.
  
  14 March 2018 - 7:39
  
Mr Anders Lindqvist says:

Can you drive a motorhome over 3.5 tonnes on minor roads, i.e. not motorways, without a vignette or km counter?

10 September 2018 - 17:38

Magnus says:

Thank you for all the tips. We are now travelling this summer to Poland, Czech Republic and Germany and have greatly benefited from your blog. Good review of campsites. Many thanks.

24 February 2019 - 15:48

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Travelling with a motorhome in the Czech Republic - all you need to know

How are the roads?

Do you pay motorway tolls?

How is the traffic?

Which traffic rules apply?

Can you drive a large motorhome in the Czech Republic?

How much does it cost to refuel?

Can you fricamp?

Are there car parks?

What are the campsites like?

What is the cost of camping in the Czech Republic?

Do you need anything special with you?

Can you manage in English?

What is the situation in rural areas?

What is available in shops and restaurants?

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20 Comments

Britt-Marie Lundgren says:

Helena says:

Kenneth Risberg says:

Helena says:

Mr Nils-Åke Hansson says:

Helena says:

Daniel@BringBlingToTraveling says:

Helena says:

Mr Steve says:

Helena says:

Bengt-Göran says:

Helena says:

Matts Torebring says:

Helena says:

BP says:

Helena says:

Jan-Åke Stegå says:

Helena says:

Mr Anders Lindqvist says:

Magnus says:

1 Pingback

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