From a statistical perspective, this was a successful period: the number of guests was the highest recorded since 2012, while the number of overnight stays reached the second-highest level for the same period. Domestic tourists accounted for the majority of visitors, making up 76% of all guests in accommodation establishments. The largest numbers of international visitors came from Germany, Slovakia, Poland and Austria. The latest data on visits to collective accommodation establishments was published by the Czech Statistical Office.
Visitor numbers in Central Bohemia gradually increased throughout the first quarter of 2026. January saw the lowest number of guests, with almost 59,000 visitors staying in the region. In February, the figure rose to nearly 63,000, while March brought the highest number of tourists, with 81,000 arrivals. January was the only month to record a year-on-year decrease in visitor numbers, down by 2%. February and March, however, showed positive growth, with visitor numbers increasing by 8.6% and 6.1% respectively.
Alongside the growing number of visitors, the region also recorded an increase in overnight stays. In the first quarter of the year, hotels, guesthouses and other accommodation establishments registered a total of 432,840 overnight stays, up 7.9% year on year. This represented the third-highest increase in the Czech Republic. Despite the significant year-on-year growth, the figure marks the second-highest number of overnight stays in Central Bohemia since 2012, with the record still held by the beginning of 2024.
The average length of stay in the region reached 2.14 nights per guest in the first quarter. Compared with the national average of 2.55 nights, stays in Central Bohemia remained shorter.
“The first quarter of this year confirmed that Central Bohemia has plenty to offer visitors even during the winter months. I am very pleased that the number of guests in our region was the highest since 2012. An even more important signal for us is the nearly eight-percent increase in overnight stays. This shows that visitors are no longer coming only for short trips, but are increasingly choosing multi-day stays, which has a direct positive impact on the local economy and the development of services in the region,” says Václav Švenda, Councillor for Culture, Heritage Preservation and Tourism.
“The results confirm that Central Bohemia remains an attractive destination for both domestic and international visitors throughout the year. We are pleased not only with the growing number of tourists, but also with the higher number of overnight stays, which shows that people are spending more time in the region and making use of its diverse offer. The continued growth in international visitors, particularly from neighbouring countries, is also a positive sign. Among foreign visitors, the number of overnight stays increased by as much as 15%. In the coming months, we want to build on our successful campaigns and continue supporting tourism outside the main season,” says Jakub Kulhánek, Director of the Central Bohemia Tourist Board.
Domestic and German Tourists Lead Visitor Numbers
Domestic tourists continued to dominate accommodation statistics. Residents accounted for more than three quarters of all guests, at 76.1%. Compared with the same period last year, their number increased by 3,600, representing growth of 2.4%.
International visitors, however, showed even stronger momentum. Central Bohemia welcomed 4,800 more foreign guests than a year earlier, an increase of 11%. From a historical perspective, the number of domestic visitors was the highest since 2012, while international arrivals achieved the second-best result for the same period.
Among foreign visitors, tourists from Germany traditionally made up the largest share, accounting for almost one third of all international guests at 31.9%. They were followed by visitors from Slovakia, with a share of 15%, Poland at 7.8% and Austria at 7.7%. All four of the largest source markets recorded year-on-year growth.
The strongest increase was seen among visitors from Austria, whose number rose by a significant 50.7%. More tourists also arrived from Poland, up 12.3%, Slovakia, up 10.9%, and Germany, up 4.1%. Central Bohemia also recorded a 62.4% increase in visitors from the United States.
“The excellent visitor results confirm that our off-season campaigns are working. In autumn and at the end of the year, we implemented several targeted campaigns on both domestic and international markets. In cooperation with CzechTourism, we ran an online video campaign on social media in a number of European countries. For the third time, we also focused on the Slovak market through digital advertising in Bratislava at the Nivy bus station. Press trips for international journalists and winter online campaigns with themes such as Cities That Never Sleep and Castles and Chateaux Open Even in Winter also played an important role,” adds Veronika Štičková, Head of Marketing at the Central Bohemia Tourist Board.