The most English-friendly cities in the Czech Republic

 

Some might have been pleasantly surprised, while others reserve their stories for striking terror in the hearts of their friends. The truth is always a bit less romantic but always pleasantly surprising.

 

The 2018 First English Proficiency Index ranks the Czech Republic as the 20th out of 88 countries worldwide, right below Portugal and above Hungary, with a “high proficiency” index. This is a new development because even in 2015, the index for the Czech Republic was still at “moderate”.

 

But which places within Czechia are the most English Friendly? We’re here to answer that.

 

 

Prague is a no-brainer. As the capital of the Czech Republic, an international city with over a million inhabitants, and a strategically situated town in the middle of Europe, Prague attracts millions of foreigners annually. Some come to admire Prague’s architecture while others look for a fully furnished accommodation in Prague and sometimes stay for over a year.

 

 

Prague is truly a place for English speakers. Despite being relatively small, the 2018 English Proficiency Index ranked 10th place worldwide (even above such cities as Berlin or Paris).

 

So whether you’re looking to work in Prague remotely or it’s a stop on your way through Europe as a digital nomad, you won’t have to hurriedly learn a few phrases in Czech to get by (though the locals will certainly appreciate it if you do).

 

 

Brno is the second-largest city in the Czech Republic and the regional capital of Moravia. While Brno is nowhere near as metropolitan as Prague, it is the city of students – many of whom come from all around the globe.

 

It has a vibrant cultural life and many opportunities for ex-pats of all ages while being a pleasant and relatively calm place to live. The locals call it “the smallest city, but the largest village” in Czechia.

 

 

English proficiency is good, but it will depend on who you’re talking to. The general rule of thumb is that the younger the person is, the more likely they are to speak English (apart from toddlers, of course).

 

The English language lessons in schools for Czechs didn’t become nationwide until the fall of communism in 1989. That’s why many people in the older generation may struggle with speaking English, even if they understand it well enough.

 

 

The last place to mention here is Olomouc. Being even smaller than Brno, with some 100 000 inhabitants, it’s closer to a town than a city. But this has its benefits. The living costs are much more manageable than in the cities above, and the university culture lives very strong in Olomouc.

 

hrow in a busy nightlife and easily accessible countryside, and you have a recipe for a beautiful remote working experience.